Mistakes of Youth: The Blog (Powered by EXCELLENCE!)

Original Post

It certainly has been a while since I’ve done one of these! Before I address this current comic, I’ll go back a bit and leave some commentary on the previous one. The artwork turned out ok, but nothing great. I’m trying to develop a way to draw quickly, but still have things look good. As you can see, it’s a little rough, but I think it turned out fine. I’m not going to explain the joke, because it’d ruin the mystique. Once I get around to updating the long out of date reference guide, I’ll let the secret be known. Until then, just check the comments section for that comic…

This comic is also quickly drawn, and quite lazy. The idea was to make something quick to get back on my schedule of completing the comic a week before it’s due, but considering I finished this just yesterday, that plan failed. The one picture used throughout is fine, but Tina’s pose at the end is pretty bad. Her shoulders are too broad, and her head is too small and pushed in. The script is based off of something a Sophia University student said to me, so to that end this comic is based off of something someone actually said to me. Cool, huh!

In another bit of site news, Mistakes of Youth now has an IRC channel. Just as the link says, the server is irc.synirc.net and the channel is #mistakesofyouth. A bunch of other people have already joined, so it’s already quite lively!

The new anime season is off to a typical start. There are some real showers, and some really average titles. Shin Mazinger is probably the most exciting offering, and K-ON! is well done, but hasn’t really captured my interest completely yet. It’s cute, though. What’s sad, however, is the new Hayate series. It’s not bad–it’s in some ways quite good–but it lacks the energy of the former series, which is exactly what I feared. J.C. Staff is playing it pretty safe, which is fine, but there’s no real soul to it. It is nice to see the characters in animated form again–this time rendered by J.C. Staff’s expert artists–but it lacks the tension (in the Japanese sense) that made the first series great. That said, it’s only four episodes in, but it’ll probably stay this way. Truly a sad state of affairs. I still bought the new Nagi figure, though.

Anyway, that’s it. I’m going to try to make an effort to start blogging regularly again over the next week, and push out more artwork. But for now, I need to watch the first Gurren Lagann movie before I go off to see the second one tomorrow. Later!

Channel: #mistakesofyouth

Server: irc.synirc.net

I hate to also do a WHY I’M NOT POSTING post, but I feel I should, since I really want to post, but I still haven’t found a good way to organize my time over here. Sorry!

Original Post

Uhhhhh….

In no mood to rant, really. It’s been pretty crazy over these past couple of weeks. If you want some kind of insight into my time in Japan check up on the blog.

Guy: Yeah, I like Nanoha. Fate is my favourite character.

Me: Oh, I have a friend who really likes Fate as well.

Guy: She’s really cute. I… bought her dakimakura.

Me: You like dakimakura too??

Guy: You like them??? NAKAMA!!

We then shook hands.

I was young. I was naive. She took advantage of me.

I woke up dazed and confused. She was laying down next to me. In her hand was 30000 yen. 30000 yen that was once in my wallet.

I didn’t talk to her for a day after that, but today I sat down and had a quick chat before I had to go. She seems nice, but just a tad bit forceful.

—

I don’t “like” Akiba yet. To me, liking Akiba right now is like liking the person who just viciously raped me.

But I’m warming up to it.

Freshman week. Lots of people.

Can’t see a thing. Crowded. This scene is right out of Genshiken.

None of these clubs look interesting. I’m searching desperately the one.

I turn right and see…

The Strongest Fairy.

This can be no other club but…

The Sophia University Comics Society!!

Akihabara is not a paradise. It is not a wonderland. It is not heaven.

Akihabara is rape.

Even now, the events that transpired between 13:00 and 20:00 are fuzzy at best. At some point I bought a bunch of shit, and at another point I noticed I was down 30000円. I have no clue as to how any of this happened. It just did.

Akihabara exceeded all expectations. In the same way that no one really articulated to me just how crowded the “crowded Japanese train” can be (note: it’s crowded), no one really articulated to me just how much one can spend in Akihabara. My seven hours there were dream like–I was lead around by the eroge peddling Hen Da Ne guy, along with some other denizens from the internet, being taken on a tour of multi-coloured moé madness. I recorded some things for a potential podcast, but instead of anything funny or interesting the whole thing more or less turned into “AKB for dummies.” I’ll probably post it up anyways.

I’m sure subsequent visits will be less scaring, but this initial visit was too much for me. I had no idea so many great things could exist in such a small area. Once I get my wits about me, I can see myself visiting on a weekly or bi-weekly basis.

My head hurts. Ever since I’ve gotten to Japan, the misguided and borderline retarded cries of English language anime fandom have driven me crazy. I need to let off some steam.

In an attempt to clear my head, I take a walk. Even though I’ve been in Japan for under a week, the walk from my dwelling to the train station already feels familiar. There’s a bunch of vending machines on the way, and one thing I’ve noticed about Japan is that I’m using them way more than I do in the States. It’s mostly because the selection is so varied, and the products are pretty good.

The first stop on my walk is the local DVD and game shop. The name is rendered entirely in kanji, so I’m unable to read it. I am however able to read “パソコン　DVD　ゲーム” so I knew this place would be my hangout right when I got here. First stop: used DVDs. I spot two volumes of the first Hayate series sitting around for 15 dollars a piece, each DVD containing 4 episodes. I’d consider this if the show wasn’t already being released in the US. Or should be. There’s a whole host of other titles, and there are surprisingly a few that I have not heard of. Only a few, though.

I quickly scan the game section–it’s littered with tons of Gundam games which never saw the light of the day in the US. Whether they’re good or not is your call, but it’s a sad state of affairs nonetheless.

After a cursory scan of PS2 and PS3 games, I head to the narrow 18+ section. One side is lined with AV DVDs, while the other is lined with eroge. I spot Shuffle! sitting around for about 40 bucks. My main aim, however, is a good loli-centric yarugee, but I can’t find anything that meets that description here. Perhaps the trip to Akiba tomorrow will be more fruitful.

I spend the rest of my time just aimlessly wandering around, and while doing so I come across a poster advertising the DS release of Really? Really! I’ll snap a picture of it tomorrow on my way to AKB.

Next stop is Kogo Books. I’ve come across two bookstores in my area, and this one is by far my favourite. The manga selection is larger, and they actually have Megami on sale. I’ve yet to buy it, though. I’m saving my first otaku purchase for Electric Town. The first thing I see when I walk in is a complete run of Gundam: The Origin. Along side that is a bunch of awesome looking Gundam spinoff manga that I had no idea existed. I doubt I can read Operation Troy, but the cover art is positively amazing.

In my time browsing through the manga section, I notice a whole bunch of adaptations of light novels and popular anime. I had no idea so much of this junk existed. I wonder if any of them are good?

Kodomo no Jikan finds itself under three or four shelves of porn featuring busty women, which I find a little hilarious. Opposite that is a whole smörgåsbord of more 18+ comics, just sitting out near the entrance of the store. None of it interests me, though. The only loli stuff is poorly drawn. Across from this island is another, and on it is the infamous Comic LO, just sitting out for anyone to look at it. My small gaijin head can’t get around the fact that this positively dirty publication is just sitting out for anyone–even an old lady–to see.

Truly, this is the greatest country.

I’m getting closer to the station. Nearby is a game center. I’ve been in once before, but I’ve yet to take a good look. I first head upstairs to all the gambling games. Beyond all the slots is a fleet of Gundam 0083 card battling machines.

Once again: Truly, this is the greatest country.

There is a display case filled with figures of sexy anime girls, but among them the figure I’m most interested in is a no-nonsense 3D rendering of the great Inspector Zenigata. That one Misato figure is pretty hot, too.

Heading back downstairs now. The place reeks of smoke, but I don’t mind. In any other context I would, but here it just feels natural. There are a number of UFO Catchers, one of which has a some nice Haruhi figures, and the other has some awesome Gundam toys. I’ll try my luck eventually. The selection of games is great, and at some point I’ll have to at least give that one Gundam game a spin, since it looks totally sweet.

I exit the joint stinking of smoke and loving it, only to move on to another smoke-filled joint–a local slots parlor. Evangelion is the big game here, with Eva-themed machines lining the entrance. Most of them are just playing the intro, but one screen had a picture of Rei in some bloomers. A woman who works there welcomed me, and at that point I left because I felt as if I had to play something.

The final stop on this walk was the other book store I mentioned earlier. There’s not really anything of note, except for SUPER MEGAMI DELUXE, which just may contain every Megami Poster ever, printed in artbook form.

Very tempting indeed.

Always served hot, because you are the BOSS.

I did however get a raw this morning. I didn’t know that CR was streaming it, but that’s neither here nor there because those douches block Japanese IPs! I got a sub rip though, and I’ll just watch that later on.

The story so far: A year ago, the final episode of the near perfect first season of Hayate no Gotoku! was punctuated with an announcement of  a second season. After that, details were sparse at best for many months.

Throughout Zettai Karen Children’s run, Synergy SP–the studio that had worked on Hayate–often times had Hayate characters cameo in select episodes. In one episode it was even a small plot point. This lead me–and undoubtedly many others–to believe that Hayate’s second season was to be produced by Synergy SP.

Then the news came.

I don’t remember when, but at some point it was announced that J.C. Staff was going to produce the one off Hayate OVA to promote the new series, which then lead people to suspect that J.C. Staff would also be animating season 2. The rest is history.

Anyway, on to the premier episode of Hayate no  Gotoku!! (take note of the two exclamation marks.) The previous OVA that J.C. Staff put out demonstrated their familiarity with the cast of characters, but also quite clearly demonstrated that they lack the same directorial competence as Synergy SP. The episode flowed like any other anime episode and that’s a big problem, because what set the first Hayate series apart from the rest of the pack was its incredibly energetic pace and crazy direction.

This first episode of the second season proper is not necessarily an improvement in that respect, but I enjoyed it a lot more. The series is resetting the timeline back to that of the manga (probably to please the anal purists out there, and to them I extend a enthusiastic “fuck you”) and opens with Nagi’s attempt at running the marathon–which is incidentally where I left off on in the manga.

What sets J.C. Staff’s work apart from Synergy SP’s work immediately is the visual aesthetic. Synergy SP’s characters had a lot of solidity to them–lines tended to be more straight than curved, and in addition to that the colours weren’t very saturated. This looked great. J.C. Staff’s linework is more fluid–there is a lot more curvature, and the colours this time around are more saturated. The blur effect is gone, too. This looks great. Different, but great.

The key aspect that really sets season 1 and 2 apart is what I outlined above–the direction. I walked into the first Hayate series with no expectations, and came out of episode 1 completely a totally convinced. If I had watched the first episode of this season without any prior experience with the franchise, I wouldn’t be as sold.

That said, I did really like this first episode. Nagi’s struggles to break out of her otaku shell are adorable, and I like how Hayate plays a type of big brother figure for her. Where the show lacks in comedy, it makes up for in moé. There are a lot of very cute moments, and it seems as if they’re making more of an effort to sell the thing on fanservice. Just as I expected, really.

Doing this is fine, but in a way it cheapens the series. I really enjoyed the first Hayate as a brilliantly executed comedy that made references to the likes of Gundam and Evangelion whenever it damn well felt like it. I’m not feeling it here. Which is strange, since I know J.C. Staff has it in them. I don’t know, maybe they’re just too used to making Zero no Tsukaima now.

Season 2 comes with a new opening song, which is unfortunately not by Kotoko, and instead by that ef girl. It’s pretty good, but seems all too serious for what should be a comedy show. The animation that comes with it is good enough. The ending sequence is a real kick to pants for people like me and my comrade mt-i, as it centers entirely around Hinagiku. Hinagiku is a fine character, and I know she has legions of fans, but having an ending sequence focused entirely around someone who is not the main character makes absolutely no sense in my mind. Seriously, what gives?

But the important part was that I liked it. I wasn’t blown away, but more Hayate is always a good thing. Hopefully J.C. Staff will find it in them to flip the bird to the purist douchebags and go Excel Saga nuts with the series after a while. Probably not, though.

Hello!!!
Do you all know animation “Evangelion”?
It is very popular animation in Japan.
But I have not watch “Evangelion” until I play the PACHINKO game.
Here is picture of “Evangelion” pachinko all over Japan!!!

Is not “Evangelion” very interesting!!!!!

Words can’t describe the feelings I had when the Sophia greeters were there upon our arrival. After a meet and greet we were summarily sent off to a nearby hotel to stay in before being taken to our permanent lodgings tomorrow (more like today, as I’m writing this at 2:00)

I didn’t sleep on the plane, so I assumed I’d be able to catch some Zs at The Normal sleep time, but my complete lack of energy use on the plane has left me not able to sleep. The fact that I’m in Japan is present in my mind, but since I haven’t really experienced the country beyond NRT and this hotel, the fact that I’m here just feels weird.

I’m wasting away in front of Japanese TV, which is admittedly mostly crappy, putting it around the level of the TV programs back at home. I did however just witness a Tropic Thunder DVD ad narrated by Wakamoto Norio, so not all is bad. The educational programs on NHK are quite good, too.

The first show I watched was the Japanese “Who Wants To Be Millionaire” which I got into only because I used to watch the show with my grandmother back in elementary school.

I am still without internet access. Once I get to the guesthouse, I’ll hopefully be able to post this epic yarn for all of you out in internet world to take in and be amazed at.

–wah

My 11:10 flight took off at 17:30—some mechanical issue. It forced us from one plane to another—both which are identical; except for the at-seat entertainment system doesn’t work. No biggie, but I have no control over the reading light.

The flight is now set to arrive at New Tokyo International Airport (Narita) at 20:30 JST—three and a half hours after the Sophia greeters are supposed to meet us and take us to our lodgings. I have no idea how to get there. Hopefully they received the numerous emails sent by the host of other Sophia-bound students onboard (me included) during the changeover, and will wait for us. It’s not really clear at this point, though. If they’re not there, all I have are phone numbers, but no phone and no coins. I suppose I could break an 1000 yen note by buying a drink, or something.

Having never flown internationally before, the phenomenon of “chasing the sun” is one that is rather amusing to me. In fact, the scenery outside has only grown brighter as we have progressed, so hopefully we’ll arrive before our current projected time. I doubt it, though. The Pacific is vast.

Over the course of this flight I have finished Zettai Karen Children, watched a bunch of cool anime opening sequences, and played some old AzuDai doozin soft I’ve had saved on this machine since high school. Shooting down cats as Chiyo is quite fun, but rather difficult.

I can never make it past level 0 of “Tiyoruga”

I’ve yet to dive into the three tankobon I’ve dragged with me—probably won’t make much headway, to be honest—but I have read through most of the Otaku USA backlog, right up to the issue that features yours truly. On that note, I need to bother Macias for my お金…

Capsule has been the only thing coming through the headphones attached to my mp3 player. Not really in the mood for anything else.

As of right now I’m over the North Pole with 6% battery life remaining on my laptop. Once I reach a convenient internet connection, this riveting tale will be posted for all to read.

–wah