Yesterday I got this Kannagi DVD that for some reason came with some random Mobile Suit Gundam stickers. Lord knows for how long these have been sitting around the Bandai offices!
Here’s a sexy picture of Hachikuji by tooo.
Happy New Year!
The clock is about to strike 18:00. It’s a cool Spring evening in Nakano, and I’m outside the station orienting myself with this map I printed out from the UFOTable Cafe website, with the goal in mind being to see the Kannagi exhibit currently on display there.
This cafe is farther then I thought. Shit on the map always looks closer than it actually is. After constantly thinking I’m overshooting, I finally look up and find myself at the cafe.
I’m pretty surprised by the vibe as I walk in. The decor is pretty normal looking. In fact, if you didn’t happen to notice the giant display of lineart right across from you, or the table of promotional material right by the door, you’d think this is a normal place. After some waiting awkwardly, the waitress finally notices me tells me I can sit anywhere I please in that cheerful, Japanese service person tone.
I sit down. To my right is a couple on what looks like a date. On the other side is some dude reading manga, and a girl who seems to be studying for midterms. The music coming through the sound system ranges from blues, to jazz, to… is that Shibuya-kei? I’m not well versed in music beyond anime songs, but I’m sure I heard some Brazil 66 and Pizzicato Five. This is the quite the otaku hipster hangout.
After a rather long look through the “Drink+Food Menu”, I holler out the ol’ “sumimasen!” Moments later, the same waitress comes to inquire about my order. I get a curry and pineapple juice. Once my food comes, I ask the woman if I can photograph my curry and juice.
“Sure,” she says, “in fact, you can take photos all over the cafe, except for the exhibit, of course.”
“Is that so?” I reply back, slightly suprised.
This sure isn’t the typical otaku joint–in addition to playing normal music, photography isn’t totally kinshi. Though, I guess they don’t have any reason to charge you 700 yen for a photo with one of the girls. However, the prices certainly are that of an otaku joint. All the drinks are over 400 yen, and the curry in front of me is 880.
That said, the meal was rather filling, and I was quite surprised I could even swing dinner here at all. With my food finished, I go over to the display space. It’s split into two levels, with the lower level being comprised of completed promotional art shown along side its respective lineart, some books, figures, and nice prints of all the ending illustrations. Lots of great artists here; Naruko Hanaharu, Okama, Azuma Kiyohiko, the Type Moon and Key artists… I almost wish I could buy these things, but I’m not that nuts over Kannagi. I should note that these two levels are split in a one-storey building, so I have to be a giant gaijin and duck down to see anything without bumping my head.
The second level is even worse–at one point you have to duck under a ceiling vent to see the rest of the display. It’s not an annoyance or anything, just probably not good for one’s back. The second level is composed entirely of sequences taken from the show.
A lot of key moments are on display, a good few of which I remember. The display opens with shots from the opening, then picks out certain bits in chronological order from the show as you go along. What’s really amazing about this is that each drawing is a beautiful work of art. Even while still, each individual drawing has a lot of movement to it, and you really begin to see why the animation in Kannagi was as kinetic as it was. That said, this display of cleaned pencil drawings isn’t quite as impressive as a display of cels, but you do what you can in this age of digital animation.
After going back and forth through the exhibit, I decide I have enough, pay for my meal, and head out the door. If you’re in the Tokyo area and happen to be a fan of such things, I highly recommend you check out this exhibit. It’s especially interesting if you’re an artist (or wannabe artist, like myself) and want to see what real pro work looks like, stripped of most of its polish. It’s also interesting if you want to see how all of the digital cartoons you watch start as pencil drawings. Go see it soon! I have no idea how long it’s going to be up for!
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The Ol’ Gang from the very first episode (of season 2) come back together for an awesomely nerdy conversation about one of the year’s most dangerous shows! We talk about interlacing, dutch angles and postmodernism. Yeah. We’re cool guys.
Guests
Songs
Provided that you are not jaded as all hell, every year it is not usual to come out with a select few shows you absolutely love, and would most certainly watch again. These are special shows. Shows that you look forward to each week. Shows that touch your heart. Shows that do nothing but fill you with joy. Here’s the shows that did that for me in 2008.
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.
On the whole, Kannagi is a good show. There are parts which are absolutely exceptional, and there are also parts that make me groan. The parts that make me groan are few and far between, but are frequent enough that it pulls the show down from being exceptional, to being just good (but at times great.)
The Good Bits
The Bad Bit
On the whole, though, it’s a good show. If the next six episodes really impress me, I just may watch it again!
I tried to not pay attention to this whole thing, but the story has been getting too much attention for me to ignore it.
Simply put: I don’t care. But that’s mostly because I don’t care for Kannagi’s Nagi all that much. She’s funny, but that’s it. I much prefer Zange. Or Tsugumi.
I do get the whole virgin fetish, though. I mean, thats why I’m such a lolicon. There is an allure to a girl being inexperienced, and if I liked Nagi I’d probably be tearing up manga volumes too. Well, I wouldn’t go that far. I’d probably just make a rude blog entry.
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.
Oh no– don’t let the title give you the wrong idea. This won’t be some long, drawn out essay. This is just something I’ve noticed.
It seems this season some shows are looking back at the fanbase for certain amounts of inspiration. Rather, the people who make these things are probably fans themselves. Openings in particular have been stellar, and some of the best pieces are those that draw upon Nico Nico Douga for inspiration. The Kannagi opening is reminiscent of a Miku video, Rosario + Vampire Capu 2′s opening is a clear homage to iDOLM@S videos, and both Jigoku Shoujo season 3 and Goku Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei have very MAD movie inspired opening numbers.
This dialogue between fans and creators is really cool. It’s nothing new to anime, though– it’s been happening since the 1980s with things like Project Ako– but the advent of new internet culture gives creators more wacky things to make reference to. I mean, look at Pani Poni Dash– the understanding of most of those sight gags and such is dependent on knowledge of Japanese internet culture.
These kinds of references also put the creators on a more personal level with the fans. When referencing anime, you’re referencing something else that another creator at your same level has made. However, when referencing an internet meme, you’re putting yourself on the same level as an average fan, telling them, “yeah, we’re just like you.”
I just think that’s neat.
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.
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