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

Casshern Sins: I’m actually starting to enjoy it as it nears the end. Kind of feels pointless, though.
Clannad ~After Story~: It’s kind of gotten to the point where I really don’t care, but it’s not that bad. Still very pretty.
Jigoku Shoujo Mistuganae: Episodes alternate between being very good twists on the normal formula, to very… weird. It’s really troubling when the first half of an episode is really happy, because you just know things are going to go south. They’ve been laying off of the damning to hell sequences as of late, which is good.
Kurogane no Linebarrels: My disposable guilty pleasure show. I watch this for the soap opera youth drama, as well as the tits. When the animation gets crappy, it doesn’t really matter because the style is already pretty quick and dirty.
Maria†Holic: While not the best SHAFTXSHINBO combo, I’m starting to find this entry into the team’s resumé to be quite entertaining. The girls don’t really have any moé charms, but I find them rather beautiful.
Michiko and Hatchin: This show continues to be of fairly high quality, but would really shine if Watanabe was actually on direction. The episodes have been getting a bit weak, but still good.
Minami-ke Okaeri: Better than Okawari, but still falls short of the original. If I ever get around to re-watching Minami-ke, I’ll probably just stick to season 1. You did well asread, but not well enough!!
Shikabane Hime: Kuro: For some reason this show is becoming really cheap looking, but I still enjoy it. I hope it ends strongly.
Sora Kake Girl: I’m tempted to label this as my favourite of the season. It’s a wonderful combination of fanservice, science fiction antics, and well-realized moé characters. I smell some fanart coming on.
Sora Wo Miageru Shoujo no Hitomi ni Utsuru Sekai: Since this is only going to be nine episodes (according to MyAnimeList), I guess KyoAni only has to animate one or two new episodes. Or maybe they can stretch the last OVA all the way to episode 9. Who knows. I like it.
To Aru Majutsu no Kinsho Mokuroku: If I put my desire for more Index screentime aside, this has become a pretty decent collection of SF/fantasy centered stories. With some pacing issues, of course, but it’s developed into a pretty good show.
Toradora!: This show is rare case. I think it’s quite good, but I’m not moé towards any of the characters. It slipped up a bit after episode 16, but it’s gotten back on track. It’s pretty good, but I don’t think it’s really worthy of BEST SHOW OF THE YEAR or anything like that.
Tytania: The writing in this show is ever so cheesy, but I love it. It has the Death Note/Code Geass appeal, in which I actually watch it for the ridiculous plot as opposed to other things like character interaction. The characters are quite crap, I think, except for the moé princess and Fan Hyulick.
Zettai Karen Children: It’s ending so soon? Say it ain’t so! I want a second season! A third, even! This could run for 200+ episodes and I’d be totally cool with that.

Kind of started on my 30 disc DVD backlog, and am half-way through a Shuffle! disc. Hoping to burn through my Shuffle! and Air discs before I head off to Japan. I’ll probably bring Gao Gai Gar and Nanoha along with me to Japan.

One prominent theme in Casshern Sins is that of mortality. The story of Sins unfolds in a world in which once immortal machines now face the threat of imminent death, and one of the main driving forces in the show is how the machines deal with this harsh reality.

The one-shot stories in the first half of the series deal with this idea in a variety of different ways, but all boil down to one robot trying to make the most of their limited time on the planet. This theme particularly resonates with me, as I get rather uncomfortable when faced with my own mortality. As such, these stories of people trying to make the most of their life in a decayed world almost gives me hope. Almost.

The series has found itself in the “plot bit” now, with the one-shot stories having concluded and the focus shifting more towards plot developments, as well as entire episodes about stereotypical black guys coming onto robot chicks. This theme of imminent death still drives the narrative, but it’s less of a driving force in each episode’s individual story.

Casshern Sins is an okay series. It has some ideas I really like, but its presentation is a bit too slow for my tastes. Some episodes are really good, but others are terribly boring.

With both the years 2007 and 2008 behind us, it’s time to look ahead to the glorious year of 2009! Well, not really, but there are a number of shows that have come out of 2008 incomplete, so here’s a rundown of the ones I’m watching.

(more…)

Hey hey hey sup 09 what’s happenin bro

Current
Casshern Sins: Sins carries itself on art direction more than anything else, but the light musings on what it means to live are interesting. Casshern has also stopped being a pussy, kind of.
Clannad ~After Story~: I have no idea how the writing in this show is so inconsistent. It ranges from very juvenile to fairly mature and compelling in the space of a few episodes. The consistently great production values keep it very watchable, even if the writing is total crap.
Jigoku Shoujo Mitsuganae: I like Jigoku Shoujo, shutup :(
Kurogane no Linebarrels: They were doing their best when the show was silly, but hopefully it can do seriousness well. If the opening episodes are any indication… they can’t. But I hold out hope!!
Michiko and Hatchin: This show keeps betraying my expectations, but at the same time it never disappoints. I guess they had to sell this is an action show or no one would watch it. It’s a pretty good… crime drama? Is that what it is? Anyway, it’s very good.
Tentai Senshi Sunred: Right when the formula was getting stale, they mixed it up again. Pretty good comedy, but not one of the best. That said, it’s hard to top the brilliance of Gag Manga Biyori and Colorful…
To Aru Majutsu no Index: The writing has gotten a little better, but the pacing is still way off in some episodes. They really need to do a better job of balancing character involvement, since for a show called To Aru Majutsu no Index, Index sure doesn’t do much anymore! Touma also has really lame dialogue. God. I like it, though. Cute girls.
Toradora!: For an otaku-centric romance show, it’s surprisingly very good. I came into this expecting to like it for fanservice and jokes, but as a character drama and romance, it offers up some meaty stuff to chew on. Very well done show.
Tytania: Started off pretty slow, but has developed into a pretty good space adventure. Not as good as the best space adventure, though!
Zettai Karen Children: Almost the best show of the year. Consistently entertaining and lots of fun. I love all of The Children :3

I just finished and will finish a bunch of things.

Current
Casshern Sins: Great art direction but the writing is so boring. I’m pretty sure Casshern says JUST WHAT AM I in every fucking episode.
ChäoS;HEAd: It’s always super special! I like this one a lot.
Clannad ~After Story~: Hit and miss. Needs more Mei and/or baseball episodes.
ef – a tale of melodies: This is like a Shinbo show except not good.
Ga-Rei-ZERO: I mostly like it. Really dig the opening/ending tunes.
Golgo 13: ….
Jigoku Shoujo Mitsuganae: It’s like the writers on this show compete on who can write the crappiest episode.
Kannagi: Yamakan’s direction is great, and the production values are flawless, but the plot stuff lets it down.
Kemeko DX: Nice tits. Humour is hit or miss.
Kurogane no Linebarrels: This show is about man things like robots, tits and giant black men named JACK SMITH who cut airplanes in half.
Kyou no 5 no 2: I guess it’s fine but I still don’t know any of the character’s names.
Michiko to Hatchin: Uneven, but on the whole extremely well done.
Rosario + Vampire CAPU2: This show has moments of genius, actually. Moments of genius mixed with many moments of utter stupidity.
Shikabane Hime: Aka: This show is incredibly trashy, but it takes itself so seriously that I can’t help but take it seriously too. Gainax’s work also really helps it.
Tentai Senshi Sunred: Mostly funny. Some moments fall flat, but mostly funny.
To Aru Majutsu no Index: Pretty entertaining fluff after a string of terrible opening episodes. Let’s hope it stays this way!
Toradora!: I really like this, even though I can’t find a character to like. Taiga is almost cute, but she’s too violent.
Tytania: :V
Yozakura Quartet: This has a really shitty plot, but the direction is ok. Good voice acting, too.
Zettai Karen Children: Not as good as Hayate, but a thoroughly enjoyable year-long show.

Not Current
Windy Tales: Finishing this soon.

Reading
Hayate no Gotoku: Comic version is pretty good so far, but Kenjiro Hata is kind of a bad artist but works around his failings well.
Ikoku Meiro no Croisee: What? There’s only one volume so far? It’s been a year! Where’s volume two :(

I guess I’ll read more of the Tsukuyomi manga soon.

Current
Casshern Sins: Arty retro stuff. Sometimes boring, but mostly good.
ChäoS;HEAd: Moe psychological thriller. I can dig it.
Crannad ~After Story~: The first arc was great, but now it’s getting into “NOT THIS SHIT AGAIN, KEY” territory.
Detroit Metal City: Hahahaha, the rapping episode.
ef – a tale of melodies: Behind on this already.
Ga-Rei -Zero-: I dunno. Kinda good.
Jigoku Shoujo Mitsuganae: Lesbians send you to hell.
Kannagi: JIMI, DA NE. The opening is almost the best part of this show, but the real stuff is mostly good. I wish Nagi and Jin would argue less. It’s not funny like when Kohei and Hazuki do it.
Kurogane no Linebarrels: This show is just funny.
Kyou no 5 no 2: Not as good as the porno OVA, but decent. Kind of boring at times.
Michiko to Hatchin: SASSY, CRASSY, ASSY. Need more episodes~
Rosario + Vampire Capu2: You know those people who hate 0nT but watch it anyway? That’s how I am with this damn show.
Shikabane Hime: Aka: On hold because of FUNimation faggotry. I like it, though.
To Aru Majutsu no Index: Hey let’s talk for 30 minutes then make something exciting happen at the end of the episode only for the following episode to be more talking. This show needs to be fixed soon.
Toradora!: I think I love it. Such great character stuff here.
Tytania: I almost love it. Too gay, though.
Yozakura Quartet: I feel the Kurenai magic every now and again, but overall not that great. Good ending song, though.
Zettai Karen Children: Absolutely Lovely! That’s why it doesn’t lose!

Not Current
Gankutsuoh: Pretty good except all the characters who aren’t the Count are dumb cunts.
Mushishi: Pure brilliance.
Windy Tales: Almost pure brilliance.

Manga
Slowly reading through some manga in both Japanese and English.

Original Post

Personally, I have no problem with Kannagi’s Nagi. She’s not as good as The Real One, but is still decently cute. I retooled this script a lot until it got to the point where it sounded somewhat natural. One decision I’ve made with this comic recently is that I want the scripts to be a little slice-of-life-ish. Of course this is no excuse not to be funny, but instead of trying to make heavy hitting, Penny Arcade style things, I’m going to try for more subtle and… insightful things. Or just write potential excerpts of conversations that real anime fans would have. I don’t know– maybe that’s not exciting, but I write what I know! Well, kind of. I don’t know girls, so that’s kind of lie when it comes to Tina.

The artwork this time around is most certainly better than last week’s abortion, but it’s not great either. Rets’ face in panel two is a bit too fucked up for even him. My favourite part of this comic is probably the first panel which features a screencap from the Most Awesome Game Ever. On that note, I have newfound respect for gaming comics. Drawing hands holding controllers is the most difficult thing in the world. Oh, and I guess another thing I should mention is that Tina’s outfit is totally lifted from Nogizaka Haruka no Himitsu. I feel no shame! No shame!

Lately I’ve been working on another comic project independent of this one. It’s for a friend of mine’s anime club, and I’m roughly half way through. For this I’m actually laying out panels on a page as opposed to arranging illustrations into panels on the computer like I do with this comic. It’s different, but good. The comic is mostly good, and the only real horrible portion is one panel on page 5 which I will “fix in post” as they say in the movies. I don’t really know the details for his anime club, because he hasn’t really given them to me. Once he does I’ll post them up here so, if you’re in the area, you can stop by and buy this comic. If you want, of course. It should be really cheap. Three bucks or something.

One last site related thing I should mention is this Fakku (18+) plug. Thanks Jacob! I got almost 10 times my normal amount of visits when this link first went up. I know not everyone will stick around, but out of 17,000 visits, I’m sure at least some of them will stay! It’s weird though. I believe Fakku linked me once in the past, but that time I didn’t get nearly this amount of traffic. Maybe their userbase significantly expanded or something.

I’ve been watching Windy Tales at MIT over the past month or so. A first I didn’t really like the show, mostly because it felt awkward. Awkward in the sense that the second episode has a character death. Character deaths in general aren’t weird, but this is a show that presents itself as some slice of life sort of thing, and in episode 2 this random old guy dies? Huh? But after that, it finds its way and becomes a nice slice of life show with a flying cats and kids that can control wind. It’s not as good as Kamichu– the characters aren’t nearly as good– but it’s good fun. On that note, I should watch Kamichu again. Eventually.

To Aru Majutsu no Index, which started off well, is already becoming weak. I like it in theory, but the last two episodes have been far too slow paced. The content of the show isn’t problematic, but it’s just too slow. Hopefully it’ll pick up, because I don’t want to drop this. Another show which really sucks, and I have dropped, is Hyakko. This is another case where I think the content has potential, but dear god, the pacing is horrible. It’s directed in the most uninteresting way ever. What’s more, the animation kind of sucks and the production team can’t even be arsed to make a real opening and ending sequence. Lame.

But enough about bad and potentially bad shows– on to good shows! Casshern Sins is great, even if it is just about a guy in a ridiculous costume wandering around in a brilliantly designed post apocalyptic world and occasionally kicking robot ass. My only concern with this one is that I’m afraid it’ll be unable to hold my interest. The first three episodes have been great, but they have, what, 22 left to go? I hope they mix things up in further episodes.

Toradora! has also been impressing me. One thing I keep hearing about this show is, “thank god this isn’t another Zero no Tsukaima.” These comments bother me, since Zero no Tsukaima doesn’t try to be like Toradora! at all. 0nT is about flashing tits, ass and delicious flat chests while also satisfying your tsundere fetish. That’s what it’s about. It’s a candy bar, but it’s Godiva brand. Or a Toblerone. It’s disposable but you eat it again and again because it’s just so well done. Shit, I love Toblerones. Anyway, Toradora!– I will admit it’s something of a refreshing change for Rie Kugimiya, and I really like the dynamic between the characters. There’s also a nice degree of realism present. I’m not saying real highschool students act like this, but the portrayal of these characters is really down to Earth and has something of an exaggerated realism, if that makes sense. Simply put, I find the their situation to be very engaging, funny and believable.

That’ll be it for this week. Aside from watching anime, I have a busy weekend filled with making comics, editing a podcast with a most dangerous guest, and doing Japanese homework! The fun never stops! I haven’t even had breakfast yet! To Starbucks!

Casshern Sins

The breadth of my Casshern knowledge extends to about a frame or two of animation I saw while walking past a screening room at Otakon 2008 late one night. Or that could have been Hurricane Polymar. This, however, is fine, since no prior knowledge of Casshern is needed to appreciate this new iteration, or so I’m told. The first seven or so minutes of this first episode really grabbed me– I liked the retro-but-not-quite art direction (really digging the thick linework) and the general tone of it all. But after that, it gradually sank into tedium. Maybe it’ll get better with further episodes.

Kannagi

If this show didn’t have the staff that it did, I probably would not have cared much about it before hand. Even knowing the staff, I approached this show with cautious optimism. I didn’t think the concept would really work, but the show seems to carry itself well in its opening episode. Good production values all around, and none of the characters strike me as particularly annoying. The opening is also pretty awesome.

Could rank as one of the top 3 of the season.

Rosario+Vampire Capu 2

Rosario+Vampire Capu 2 most certainly won’t rank as a top 3 of anything, however. To be honest, I almost hated the first season of this show, with the only things saving it being panties, Shuuichi Ikeda, and the cute loli witch. All that said, I’m afraid to report that I almost liked this first episode of Capu 2. It could just be that my expectations were set so low by the first season, but this first episode of R+V was… almost good. It managed to entertain me on a very basic level (I like panties, I can’t lie) but the chances of it getting better are slim.

One thing of note is the ending sequence, which is like an Idolm@ster video with Rosario characters. It’s actually pretty good.

Up next is Kyou no 5 no 2, To Aru Majutsu no Index and Kurogane no Engrish.