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Samurai High School (J-Drama): Pretty Much Live Action Anime

By Mabdese | Published: November 19, 2009

vlcsnap-4552580 One of these things is not like the other~

Something that has always perplexed me is why anime fans don’t watch more Jdramas. I’m sure this could be for any number of reasons but many dramas are based off anime (Hana Yori Dango, Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon, GTO, Nana, etc.) and some seriously seem to have been animes in a past life. That’s where Samurai High School comes in. It’s got all that you ever wanted in an anime ridiculous faces, great acting, awkward shots focusing on things that aren’t important and the absurdest characters in strange places. Yet still these two worlds will never meet eye to eye I suppose.

In that way it’s kind of like the plot for this show. The main character Mochizuki Kotaro (played by Miura Haruma, who also was in Gokusen 3) is an unsuspecting and frankly average high schooler who shares the name of his ancestor, a heroic general from the Sengoku period. While for normal people this would just be an omen of good luck when Mochizuki meets a strange librarian things start to change. When trying to save a classmate he bumps his head and turns into his samurai ancestor!

Posted in K & J-Drama | 8 Comments

SDF Macross Episode 27 – It’s the End of the World as We Know It

By ExecutiveOtaku | Published: November 18, 2009

Given the grand scale of the events of episode 27, I felt it would be best to just do a one episode post this week. Preparations began among the Macross-Britai fleet last time as the main Zentradi force began to defold into Sol system, and now the battle begins. All the various resources of the Macross, Britai fleet, and UN Spacy are at the ready, but the scale of the incursion is massive. Bodolzza even brings the entire headquarters fortress WITH HIM for the battle along with millions of ships and countless soldiers. With the stage set, events occur on both civilizational and personal levels that will forever change the lives of everyone involved.

Posted in Anime, Retroblogging, SDF Macross | 13 Comments

Kampfer 06-07: The Return of Mikoto

By Crusader | Published: November 17, 2009

It is with great relief that we accept your return.

The glorious return of Mikoto was most welcome as not only is she genki but she also fulfills the role of osana-najimi for both Natsuru Girl-type and Akane so already she has a decided advantage when it comes to yuri bliss when compared to Sakura. The Quasi Maid Cafe was so much fun as the exploitation of Natusur Girl-type continued, oh sure there was some idiot boy (must have been Shin in disguise) who ordered a low priced coffee like some cheap bastard. Thankfully the class VP is about as underhanded as Dick Cheney (though so much HAWTER and better) and she gave him a concoction which I suspect was anti-freeze laced with turpentine. Shizuku and Sakura pool their money to get the super expensive escort service though Zeus was most furious that Sakura was trying to go on a date behind Akane’s back. I was most relieved when Mikoto decided to intervene decisively and had Natsuru Girl-type chase her around the school. The fight was fun as Mikoto showed her Yandere side, though it was wrong war, at the wrong place, at the wrong time, and with the wrong enemy. Nevertheless it was a chance for Akane to come to the rescue and she did so marvelously as she grabbed Natsuru Girl-type at the waist and dropped her once the BIG FIGHT started. Mikoto subsequent shock was understandable as Natsuru Boy-type’s meido cosplay was disturbing to say the least…
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Posted in Kampfer | 22 Comments

Inuyasha Kanketsuhen Episodes 05-06 – Magnificent Bastard

By ExecutiveOtaku | Published: November 16, 2009

No individual post for episode 05 due to not much happening during the episode. There wasn’t much to talk about and I also had some fairly pressing constraints on my time, so I decided it would be better to combine episode post. You could call it an executive decision. Now that I’ve gotten in my required groan-inducing pun, let’s recap. In episode 05 Inuyasha meets with Tottosai to discuss the problems with the Tessaiga that have been occurring ever since it integrated the youki-absorbing scales with the blade. Going to see a master recommended by Tottosai, the gang goes to a small town to seek his counsel. After going through this, the next episode is all about Goryoumaru/Mouryomaru and Naraku. Sprinkled throughout are various weapons upgrades as the development of new weapons and new countermeasure continues at a pace rivaling that of The One Year War or the Operation Stardust incident.

Posted in Anime, Inuyasha Kanketsuhen | 3 Comments

Kobato 02-03: Cameos, Umbrellas, and Candy

By Mabdese | Published: November 15, 2009

kobato2 (0) I love you Iroyogi-san, don’t change.

So I’m doing a little catch up since I joined the team mid-season. I really wanted this to be a Samurai High School post but some unfortunate things that made me feel a bit like I had Kobato’s common sense happened and I won’t be able to post it until tomorrow at least.

Moving on! Kobato 2 and 3 gave us a better look at Kobato’s inability to understand anything ever, showed us some love-love magic and also showcased some characters from CLAMP’s other works. Kobato takes to the streets looking for hearts to mend in her nonsense-only fashion only to find that it’s a bit more difficult than that. Kobato becomes employed but not for any money and we don’t find anything out about the backstory of Fujimoto-san at all. Luckily it’s not all failures as Kobato is able to mend her first heart, gains an apartment (and bed), and finds some unlikely friends….

Posted in Anime, Kobato | 8 Comments

Kimi ni Todoke 06: Bravely Bold Miss Yuuka…

By Crusader | Published: November 15, 2009

When Sawako was loli she was able to play with all the other kids…

T’was a most glorious episode as the first of Sawako’s foe’s felt the sting of defeat and were SMASHED INTO ATOMS by their own pride and subsequent inferiority to Yoshida. After being battered and bloodied for their infantile assault on Sawako Kazehaya delivered the coup de grace and voiced his disdain for rumor mongering bitches. While Hirano and Endo have no combat ability they mounted a successful PR campaigned that reaffirmed Sawako as the Zashiki Warashi of the school. All is well as misunderstandings are cleared up and oaths of friendship are taken openly and in a manner most straightforward with the lavatory. The venue mattered little and Yuuka the insolent bully was decisively crushed and she ended up in a manner most fitting. I was over come with glee as Yuuka was forced to beat a brave retreat and after escaping with no wounds begins to weep delicious False Tears that Noe dislikes. Ah that alone was the high point as her hopes and dreams of being with Kazehaya were SMASHED INTO ATOMS it was glorious to have Yuuka feel the revenge of reality despite being spared by Sawako. Long may Yuuko weep and long may she cry hot False Tears of lamentation and deplore her own folly!

Posted in Kimi ni Todoke | 6 Comments

Editorial: Defining Moments in Being a Fan

By ExecutiveOtaku | Published: November 13, 2009

As fans we all have certain moments while watching anime that really capture our hearts. A moment or a scene that we really experience as closely as is possible with a fictional event. Everyone has their own. They may not always be the most technically well done scenes, the most artistic, or those with the most significance to a story. But something about them connects with each of us in a very strong manner. In this editorial I list ten of my own, and invite you to list yours in comments. Or even to write your own post and put a link to it. Join me as I nerd out about my favorite moments and hopefully communicate some of their significance to me as a fan.

NOTICE: THERE WILL BE SPOILERS. I have chosen images and headers that are not spoilers in and of themselves, but if you haven’t seen the series (and don’t want anything spoiled) for Char’s sake scroll down to the next one! I would also ask comments to be setup in a similar way so that people can read the first line and know whether to skip it for spoilers or not.

Posted in Editorials, Miscellaneous | 19 Comments