There was some evil downtime due to some server problems. So if you could not get on, it’s probably because of that. Either that or me pulling my hair in sheer anger

Signed, Impz

---

After scanning through the Anime blogging community, I realize that there is absolutely no news or fanfare for these two series. There can only be two main reasons for it. The first reason is that it’s so bad that it does not deserve any attention at all, which is the case for some of the hideous series ever seen on the Japanese shores. The second reason is that all the hype that surrounds a few huge series that are coming out have caused the hidden gems to be well, hidden from the eyes of the viewer.

These two series seem to be rather quiet on the front. Shining Tears X Wind is a RPG adaptation turned into anime series, revolving around a group of students entering into a fantasy alternate world where monsters of all types roam and maliciously hunt down the living. Kaze no Shoujo Emily is a story about a girl, Emily, where her life is depicted through her very eyes as we see the story of loyalty, friendship, hurt and pain living under the roof of another after her father died from an illness.

One of them belongs a little to the first reason, while the other series belongs to the second reason. The moment of truth awaits.

(Sorry for being cheesy. I realize I apparently have an addiction to be cheesy)

---

Shining tears

Summary in a chunk

The story starts with a missing boy like Nakayama, who went missing after some mysterious circumstances that no one knew much. The student council (I think) was discussing about how to resolve the matter, with Saiyoji and Soma stating how if there was any problem, Keira would be able to defend them with his art at the kendo. As they left the meeting room resolving to go, a girl came in to talk to Saiyoji about the incident being similar to a book that she had seen, as they stayed back. When Soma somehow forgot to get something from the meeting room, he returned simply to see the book open with no one in sight. Saiyoji had disappeared and they discussed about him the next morning. They then talked about returning back to school during the holidays to investigate this mysterious incident.

At night, a girl was chasing around to look for a being called “Zero”, as well as a monster who was running away. The next day, Soma and Claire were there first in school as Soma confessed his love to Claire, but Claire seemed resistant as she had an inkling for Keira instead. However, the monster appeared in the school, with the cat-like Mao (the girl chasing) appearing to fight the monster. With Soma and Claire helping her out, she was able to easily defeat the monster as she informed that she was from an alternate universe. However, the monster suddenly broke free from the ropes and broke the mirror on Mao’s chest transporting them to the other world.

Keira and the other girl came to the school, only to notice that the non-blooming Sakura tree in the school was flowering completely, and they were reminded of the words in the book talking about the Sakura bloom. Soma and Claire were now within a dimension meeting “Zero”, an winged angel with rings and black-white wings. He said something about Soma replacing him as they were teleported onto a lush green field. Monsters started to appear and with Claire ineffective, Soma was left to fight on his own. Monsters continued to sprout as Soma told Claire to escape while he stopped them. Eventually, they cleared almost all monsters except a huge ogre as Soma was strangled. Just when the sword of the ogre was about to strike, Claire blocked it with her body. In a dream sequence, Soma grabbed the hilt of a sword representing Claire’s heart and struck the ogre into two as he continued to defend her.

Thoughts

I have seen some favorable reviews from Useless Thoughts and Psgels but I am completely unimpressed. If the quality of a RPG adaptation is supposed to be good with this standard, I think I fully understood why I never bothered consciously with any. I am not saying that it’s not good but it’s not very impressing with either the graphics, the lead up, the basis (that I feel is required in any RPG) and the characters too. Nothing really wowed me, and it’s probably the bad luck of this series to be alongside some of the greatest first episodes in this season.

I seldom dislike an anime and I will be loath to post it up if it is such an anime. It is definitely decent and there are some redeeming things about this. For one, I actually like the monster design, especially the ogre was good design since there is at least a basis from the game itself. I also like the battle style since there is a lot of variety and that the character themselves are pretty good at fighting for a start. It makes for a decent show, but with the many great shows that are going to be out this season, it is definitely hard for me to have any time for it. If you do like a decent fantasy RPG adaptation, this might be for you. It’s not for me though.

---

Kaze no Shoujo Emily

Summary in a chunk

Emily is a girl with a great talent to write from her heart, as her eyes see trees and the wind aunt through her imagination. As she wrote about the emotion of the wind crossing through her heart, her father came to call her back. Emily’s father was sick from a disease but they were together in the same house after Emily’s mother died early in her life. Her father was loving to her and appreciated her abilities to write from the heart. During her 11th birthday, her time with her father was ending, as her father’s condition was worsening fast. He told her that her mother, Juilet, was part of the rich Murray family and she would be able to be adopted once he was gone.

He knew that his time was up and he told her to be strong and believe that love was all around, as long as she continued to seek it. He eventually died as the Murray appeared to see Emily for the first time. Aunt Ruth was suspicious and very vile toward Emily’s father who was a small time reporter and writer. Jimmy and Rola are rather nice people, while Aunt Elizabeth looked harsh and she was in fact the head of the Murray family. They started to talk how Emily’s features took over certain people, but Emily strongly rebutted and said she was her and her only, and not made up of other people. Emily earned a retort from Elizabeth for being unladylike. In the funeral, Emily tried her best not to cry in order not to show any weakness. Ruth said that Emily was so heartless while Elizabeth looked on intensely.

Emily was wondering how her life would be like and prayed hard she would not stay with Ruth. The family then appeared, with Emily hiding under the table as they wondered who would adopt her. Most of them had harsh words for Emily, especially Ruth but after some statements, Emily rushed out of the table and Elizabeth scolded her that eavesdropping was a very dishonorable habit and chased her up. Ruth eventually thought of balloting to choose her adopter.

As Emily finally chose, it was Elizabeth but before she read it out, Elizabeth took the piece of paper without looking, crushed it and said she would take charge. As they finally left, Emily’s cat escaped in the straw bag. A boy came out to disturb Emily after hearing the cat’s calls, and as the cat escaped, it accidentally knocked down an expensive vase as the voice of Elizabeth came. A new dawn would appear at New Moon, the new residence of Emily.

Thoughts

I totally loved this. This anime is based on Emily of New Moon, the first in a series of novels by Lucy Maud Montgomery. I personally like the mellow feeling in the story, especially with the main female lead being a child with a great talent for writing. The set up of the story was excellent too, even if it is a bit predictable who Emily will go to eventually when she gets adopted. I do hope that Aunt Ruth will not be the stereotypical bad woman that will torment Emily so badly that it will be living hell.

It is already apparent that Elizabeth will not take to Emily too kindly considering her harshness, and I know that Jimmy and Rola are token nice people who have no power to shift anything. Hence, I am hoping that either Elizabeth or Ruth will become the role where they are harsh to Emily but eventually helped Emily in times of trouble. One thing that I feel will definitely turn off people is the design of the characters. I mean, what in the world is wrong with the huge forehead of Emily. It looks like someone out there has a forehead fetish, if there’s such a thing in the first place. I believe that the character design can be better for the child but the adults are decent.

I feel that this anime will be the hidden gem of the season, just like how Red Garden is. I might even pick this up for constant blogging, but I am not too sure how it will go. Emily of New Moon or Kaze no Shoujo Emily demands yet another look to see how it goes because I have a feeling that it will have a very compelling story of loyalty, friendship and sheer guts complimenting with the harshness and gentleness of human souls. I will be quietly looking forward to this.

Browse Timeline

• « Bokurano Ep 1 - “It’s time for Battle Mecha Royale…and time to die”
• » Nagasarete Airantou 1- Heaven on Earth my foot! Moishe where the heck is the Synagogue?!

Comments (18)

Add a Comment