Posts coming

I’m back and I didn’t die!! So for a crazy turn of events, not only have I caught up on what I missed last week but also I picked up two more shows and have caught up on them as well. These two anime are Tamako Market and Suki-tte Ii na yo and I have pretty much fallen for both of them. I plan on releasing my thoughts on Tamako Market today then following up on my other shows in the coming days. 

Off for the next week!

So my spring break officaly starts tomorrow at 5PM so for the next week I'll be hopefully not dying on a beach in Mexico. I will not have internet access so when I come back I'll have to do a full week's catch up on anime and will try to get some good posts out over that weekend. Everyone stay safe this week and I will see you when I get back!

Simcity is fun...if only I could actually log onto the servers...

So if you are like me and have been waiting for the new Simcity game since it was first announced, then you must understand how infuriating it is when the gaming community (you know the people actually paying for the game) warns you (you being the publisher Electronic Arts) well in advanced about having such dependency on servers and an “always online” type game. Since the game’s release, I have been able to get maybe two hours of gameplay in before getting booted off and having my city wiped away. It is unfathomable how such a large company could not be able to have the resources to withhold the Simcity community. It’s like they never heard what happened with Diablo 3’s launch. I don’t necessarily protest DRM since pirating is such a huge issue right now in the pc world but if you cannot get your s#!t together and at least let us play the game, then all you are doing is adding fuel to the fire. The reason pirating is such a huge thing is because of greedy and in this case poor and idiotic business moves. EA, welcome to my s#!t list.

"Sakurasou no Pet na Kanojo" Episodes 17-21 Thoughts

“Wow” is the first word that came into mind after finishing up episode twenty-one of Sakurasou no Pet na Kanojo. I find “wow” a fitting adjective because the past couple episodes have been both excellent and a little over dramatic at the same time (but hey most anime is like that). The events that have transpired in these closing parts of the show have really brought up some real heart cringing moments.

So if you haven’t watched the episodes yet I advise you go do so because even though I am going to skim to the important stuff I don’t want to spoil anything. Essentially what has been transpiring in the final episodes of this anime (assuming that it is going to be a twenty-four episode anime there is only three episodes left) has really brought up a couple lingering central issues that has been present since the beginning of the show; the circumstances revolving around Mashiro and which female character needs Sorata (not in a sexual manner but as a dire necessity). Mashiro was sentenced to live at Sakurasou and not the regular dormitories because it was thought that she would be able to focus more on her artwork. What unfortunately happened (from the perspective of the school board) was she decided to make a career move towards creating manga which put her traditional artwork schedule on hold. She also began to question what she really wants to draw and more importantly why. This puts pressure on the school which in turn decides to commission the demolition of Sakurasou which in turn will require Mashiro to live in the normal dormitories separating her from the people at Sakurasou that seem to be distracting her. In their best efforts to petition the demolition, the group seems to have unfortunately fallen short (not sure apparently the last day was the day the current episode left off on) of the required amount of signatures needed to hold a meeting with the school supervisors. Mix this with Nanami not getting into voice acting school AND Sorata not getting through to the final meeting for his game design and we now have the current situation of overflowing emotions. This is electrified when Sorata opens a letter from the company he was working with addressed to Mashiro asking her to join the company that just turned him down. He once again misplaces his anger (just like earlier on in the season) towards Mashiro like a dumbass. The main concept of this plot device is that if Mashiro never came to Sakurasou, then the building wouldn’t be scheduled to be demolished and Sorata wouldn’t be throwing a hissy fit (even though it was Mashiro’s artwork for his game idea that really got him through the first door). I kind of saw this coming and I find it an interesting way of introducing tension into the anime. This show has proven to be very enjoyable and teeth cringing at the same time (which is hard to do). It HAS proven to be a little melodramatic especially in the recent episodes but it isn’t to the point where it becomes distracting like in The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya (don’t hate me…).

Now on to the fangirl (in my case fanboy) concerns on who really needs Sorata. Both Mashiro and Nanami both give valid arguments to why they should “have” Sorata. Starting with Mashiro she practically cannot live without Sorata because she is a very dysfunctional human being who cannot even dress herself. She also gives Sorata strength to achieve his ambitions (even if he forgets this). Nanami shares a similar need for Sorata except that she can hold her own since she has been working in her spare time and has a goal she wants to achieve. She has though had feelings for Sorata for quite some time and in the current episode demonstrates that at the current moment she desperately needs him for moral support. Also they share the commonality of working extremely hard towards one goal and falling flat on their face (hehe). In my honest opinion, I would love to see Sorata end up with Nanami because she is a very likable character, has good values, has a great shy personality, and (ignore this part) is by far the more appealing character looks wise. She is a character that you just want to hold tight and say “It’s going to be ok” (MOE). I’m not saying that I do not like Mashiro but I would definitely chose Nanami over her (Sorata you lucky bastard). This demonstrates how good the show really is when you don’t despise a character but actually cannot decide who to like more.

This is cute...

BUT HOW COULD YOU EVEN THINK ABOUT PASSING THIS UP!?!?

This show is quite amazing and I have to say that I am very glad I picked it up last anime season. Please if you have spare time on your hands please try this show out. It is a slice of life show that has amazing character development and it really takes off after the initial episodes.

"Mondai-Ji-tachi ga Isekai Kara Kuru Sou Desu yo" Episodes 4-8 Thoughts

So the extremely long titled Mondai-Ji-tachi ga Isekai Kara Kuru Sou Desu yo (Problem Children Are Coming From Another World, Aren't They) has proven to be quite entertaining thus far. Set in an unfathomly large world where animals, humans, and demons co-exist, many different groups (or clans) exist in order to survive. The world revolves around “gift games” which like the name implies, are matches that offer a reward to the winner. The main focus of this story is on the Nobodies group which has lost all of their former glory due to losing a very important gift game. Leader Jin and member Black Rabbit were ready to give up until a plan was set in motion in order to gather help from Earth. Thus enter our heroes Asuka, Izayoi, and You (strange name). I made a point in an earlier post comparing this show to Dog Days and while it does share a very similar plot, this show outshines Dog Days by miles. Coming from different timelines, each of these heroes has a power that makes them very formidable opponents for the people of this strange new world.  

So essentially this show comes off as an underdog adventure story and I’m not going to lie, it does (is doing) a pretty good job doing so. Almost all of our (the viewer’s) attention is placed on this group’s struggle to regain their footing in the world. Throughout the first couple episodes we are introduced to each of our three hero’s powers. Asuka has the power to quite literally demand and force another person or creature to do her bidding (with limitations), You has an amulet given to her by her grandfather that gives her the ability to take powers from different animals, and Izayoi is just a freaking Goku who can shoot out fireballs of death and has the strength to pretty much take anyone out. The fight scenes we see everyone in (especially the ones involving You and Izayoi) are very well done and are pretty much eye candy. Not only are the fight scenes well done but also the everyday, walking around stuff. Each scene has a pretty impressive amount of quality and everything molds together quite well. Studio Diomedea has had a past of outputting some impressive looking stuff (Champione and Squid Girl) and I would have to say that this one beats anything they have made thus far. The sound is pretty good but not over the top amazing. The voice actors seem to have a handle on their characters as they seem to convey their character’s emotions pretty well. The soundtrack is pretty good but nothing in the show has really stuck me as amazing however the song in the ending credits is quite catchy.

So what is the future of the show? Well as of episode eight the nobodies have won a couple key gift games but a new antagonist has shown up and is really messing things up. The relationship between all three heroes, Black Rabbit, Jin, and their floor master Shiroyasha is very convincing. The relationship between Izayoi and Shiroyasha is especially entertaining to watch unfold as their personalities match up to a “T”. I am very much looking forward to this show’s weekly release as it has crept up to my top three list for this anime season.

Best duo ever

I would do the same thing

Currently Watching Anime (Feb. 2013)

So it’s finally March which means…SPRING BREAK!!! I will be going to Mexico with some family and friends this coming week so don’t expect any anime posts for the duration. So far this anime season has provided some surprises and I am proud to say that I have not dropped anything…yet (I don’t count Initial D Fifth Stage because of its weird release dates). Here is what I am currently watching:

Kotoura-san 9 out of ?
Sasami-san@Ganbaranai 8 out of ?
Mondaiji-Ji-tachi ga Isekai Kara Kuru Sou Desu yo? 8 out of ?
Chihayafuru 2 8 out of ?
Ore no Kanojo to Osananajimi go Shuraba Sugiru 9 out of ?
Maoyuu Maou Yuusha 9 out of ?
Boku wa Tomodachi ga Sukunai NEXT 8 out of ?
Little Busters! 21 out of ?
Sakurasou no Pet na Kanojo 20 out of ?
Da Capo III 9 out of ?
Initial D: Fifth Stage