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.

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.

Original Post

No rant today because I’m on break, but here are some quick notes.

• Kurogane no Linebarrels is actually enjoyable now
• So is To Aru Majutsu no Index
• Been making a fool of myself on mixi
• Gundam Musou is still mindless fun

That’s all. Going to catch up on anime today, and try my hand at Perfect Cherry Blossom.

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.

YOU’RE ALREADY DEAD

Kurogane no Linebarrels

Talk about a volatile combination: On one hand, we have the evil forces of Gonzo, Hisashi Hirari and Ali Project going at it; but then again we also have Goro Taniguchi and Ichiro Itano somewhere in the mix. To be perfectly honest, I don’t hold as much a bias towards those three “evil” forces as other people do. Gonzo can sometimes turn out good work (Blue Sub 6, Black Cat, Strike Witches); Hisashi Hirai draws well, but is a horrible designer; and Ali Project has about one good song that they remix to make all their other songs.

However, we’re still dealing with dangerous elements. The positives in this equation are far less influential than the negatives, but pehaps these negative elements can remember what it was like to be good? Sadly, they’re already not doing so well. Like I said, I think Hisashi Hirai has a good art style, but his character design method is something like: take characters from Gundam Seed and change their hair colour. He kind of stopped doing that here, possibly because these designs are based off of manga designs, but they still look pretty bad. Or maybe it’s Gonzo’s fault in rendering the characters. That main guy looked off in way too many cuts. I do admit that Mamiko’s character is decently hot, though.

The story stuff is pretty typical mecha stuff, but I’ll hang around since I dig these types of setups. Though, knowing Gonzo, they’ll probably trip and fall at around episode 3 and never fully pick themselves back up.

Kyou no 5 no 2 TV

The 5-2 TV series is already suffering the fate nearly all remakes suffer from. No matter how hard Xebec tries, they will never be able to live up to what fans expect. I guess that’s why they just decided to completely overhaul the whole thing by redrawing the characters (IIRC they’re closer to the manga designs, but I’d have to check), changing the voice actors, and putting their own unique directorial spin on it. As usual, these kinds of attempts to completely divorce a new work from the original only serve to piss people off even more. So as a result, just after one episode, this show seems pretty hated.

I don’t mind it, though. I like the new designs, and found the first episode to be decently enjoyable. It’s not really as good as the OVA, but I think this first episode carries itself well. The production quality isn’t as bad as people say, either. If anything it’s somewhere between To Love Ru and Kanokon. And hey, if you’re an SA member, watching this version of 5-2 has a lesser chance of getting you banned!

To Aru Majutsu no Index

I came in expecting a less-good Zero no Tsukaima, but instead I got a better Shakugan no Shana. The similarities to Shana mostly lie in the fact that this is another shounen action show with moe lolis and in the general presentation. I really dig the futuristic setting in this one, and for the most part like how they handle the supernatural aspect. The main character is a cool dude, and the main loli, Index, is pretty cute. This doesn’t have best of season written on it yet, though. I need to give it a few more episodes.

Also, some of those male character designs are way too Tite Kubo.