(NOTE: Meant to get this published while I was out of town last week, but site issues kept me from accessing the draft to publish it. But it’s still technically the holidays, and it’s in before the year is over, at least going by US EST) In accordance with Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei vol. 4, this holiday season I have decided to celebrate Kurushimimasu in place of Christmas. While many out there in the blogging community have posted their best moments and the things from the past year in anime that have made them thankful, in the spirit of Kurushimimasu here’s my listing of anime-related things that made me suffer and/or despair. So, it’s time to hang my disappointments and frustrations from the Kurushimimasu Tree and indulge in some bitterness and you are all welcome to join me in the comments section with your own contributions to celebrate the holiday. It’s the things that I’ve been irked by from the past year and had to endure hearing about or watching, and while it may seem harsh try to remember that it’s all in fun. Merry Kurushimimasu!

Vocaloids

Why is this popular exactly?

Hate me if you want, but this vocaloid shit is ridiculous. The concept itself is kind of cool, being able to make vocals with just a computer program. But people have gone freaking nuts with it. I just do not understand the god damn obsession with Hatsune Miku and the others that has gripped much of the fandom. They’re not even actual characters that have a backstory or development or anything, other than a few traits thrown in for some of them in descriptions. No vocaloid sounds half as good as a real human singing, hate to break that to you fans. Really, I think the obsession people have originates from deep in the hearts of the most twisted nerd/otaku souls: the ‘singer’ isn’t a real person so the crazed fan never has to think of them in any way other than they mental image they have in their head. A vocaloid will never contradict a fan’s obsessed thoughts about them like a real singer would. A vocaloid will never have a relationship with someone, so the obsessed fan can always hold out hope/lift them up as a pure idol. If you think that last comment is too cynical or disparaging, just look at that shitstorm that happened when the author of Kannagi revealed that Nagi had a boyfriend in her past.

The Lack of Mecha This Year

I feel like something’s missing here…

Despite the PURE WIN that was MS Igloo 2, there were only those three episodes plus season 2 of Gundam 00 (which was a poor substitute for a true mecha series) for us mecha fans this past year. You could include Shin Mazinger Z, but I wouldn’t since that’s a Super Robot show and mecha has pretty much come to mean Real Robot shows. And the upcoming winter season is continuing this starvation for mecha fans. I feel like we need to make one of those Save the Children commercials except for mecha fans. Set it to some sad music and have a montage of mecha fans going through withdrawal. Please anime studios, for less than it costs to make yet another harem anime you can feed the thousands of mecha fans in their time of need. To show how your contribution is helping, you’ll receive quarterly earnings reports detailing how your series is selling thousands of model kits and other merchandise. Please, think of the fanboys and fangirls.

Turning Graham Acre into Bushido Bob

Observe how Gundam 00’s writers turned one of their few good characters into crap.

Speaking of. There was a lot to hate about Gundam 00. A lot. The weak, oversimplified, pretentious, uniformed attempts at using real geopolitics and suggesting how to change the world. The insufferable main characters who I wished long and painful deaths upon every moment that I watched the show. The endless deus ex machina that allowed the forces of terror and instability (Celestial Being) to escape the justice that they deserved. There are many examples. But the reason I kept watching the show was because there were a few things that were done well: the ‘bad guys’ who fought against Celestial Being. The people who actually had the best interests of humanity in mind, who bravely faced down the evil that was Celestial Being. And my favorite among them from the first season (alongside Prince Ali al Sarshes) was Graham Acre. He fought the enemy with both professionalism and suave. He was a leader of men, and repeatedly led his squadron of Flag mobile suits (my favorite MS from the series) out in defense of Union. The Flag Fighters worked as a team, and he also had the guts to stand by his men and to get them the very best equipment.

Well, that was in season 1. After his death that no one ever believed for a second was his death at the end of the first season, he reappeared in the form of Bushido Bob, a weaboo solo fighter who imitated Japanese swordsmanship and martial code while not following orders and generally disgracing his former reputation. I should have known that Gundam 00 would ruin one of the few good things about it. Same deal with how Louise actually became a decent, self-confident, and impressive individual, only to be turned back into a docile doll who couldn’t think for herself and had to hang on Saji’s arm all the time. Fuck, at least they didn’t ruin Patrick and Kati by the end.

People Obsessing Over A Few Animation Glitches in Minami Ke: Okaeri

Your disproportionate complaints make Chiaki cry. Is that what you wanted?! Huh?!

While I understand pointing out issues with quality control and whatnot, I was really, really surprised by how much people made a big fuss out of some problems with the animation in Minmi Ke: Okaeri. It went beyond just pointing them out, people just attacked the show for them. And to be honest I barely noticed most of them. Did they affect the quality of the jokes? No. Did they ruin the comedic atmosphere? No. The shut the fuck up and enjoy the comedy. Without Okaeri, we wouldn’t have has such great moments as the Curry no Yousei scene.

The Continuing Degradation of the Once Great Adult Swim

If you’re lucky.

Plenty can be said of the they’re-not-even-trying-anymore, stoner-oriented content that is half of what is aired on Adult Swim these days, but this is an anime blog so I’m going to concentrate on my beef with Adult Swim’s anime series, or should I say the lack thereof anymore. Perhaps I am old and bitter when it comes to AS. I’ve watched it ever since it started back when I was in late elementary or early middle school, and I watched the Toonami Midnight Run eventually turn into AS. Eventually it became an every night thing, showing all different anime series and later on added some original comedy series on Sunday nights. Today it’s 6 days a week comedy, at least half of it anymore being absolute crap (Superjail, Squidbillies, Xavier, etc) though there are some great series as well (Robot Chicken, Titan Maximum, The Boondocks.) But there is only one night of anime anymore, and it’s only ever the big name series like Bleach and Code Geass. Adding insult to injury, in the past year (on one of the few occasions I watched it) the ‘bumps’ during the breaks sometimes even actively made fun of their anime show and the fans of them. What a way to treat the fanbase that got you started.

Back in my day, we walked fifteen miles in the snow…I mean, AS introduced me and so many others to great anime every night, with the premiers on Saturday and Sunday nights. The AS that I knew and loved introduced me to Gundam 0083, Cowboy Bebop, Inuyasha, and Outlaw Star. And it even showed less well known/popular series like Milk-chan and Paranoia Agent. Even if they didn’t go almost completely over to the low budget comedy side of things, I couldn’t imagine AS today taking a chance on the more obscure shows like they did. Granted, this slide towards suck didn’t just occur this year, it just continued along a path it’s been on for a few years now. And it’s not like it’s exactly necessary anymore with the proliferation of high speed connections and fansubbing groups. But it still pisses me off every time I flip past Cartoon Network at night, so I’m writing about it here.

Inuyasha Kanketsuhen Killing Off Two of My Favorite Characters

Kikiyooooo!!! Kaguraaaa!!!

I’m really pleased with the final season of Inuyasha, with the exception of a few leveling up episodes early on, and I’m excited to see the story finally get its conclusion. While I know that deaths are inevitable near the end of the saga, and while I don’t disagree with the need for this, no Kurushimimasu list would be complete without the suffering inflicted on this fanboy by the deaths of both Kagura and Kikiyo, two of my three favorite characters from the show. Both deaths were handled well and the characters got to go out on something of a high note, getting to be with their loves at the end and Kikiyo even getting a final kiss. But god damn if they weren’t upsetting, both in and of themselves and because I liked the characters so much. And their deaths make my two OTPs impossible! I might have to go and make myself taller if anything happens to Sesshomaru, the last remaining member of my fanboy triumvirate. Inuyasha Kanketsuhen has left me in despair!

The highly anticipated sequel to a widely popular dark action show with dead people all over the place. So, how do you follow-up an adrenaline-filled finish to season one? Can you top the emotion and the suspense? The choice was clear, let’s open with Japanese high school in Russia. Can I get an “OH YEAH!”

First off, I don’t think I’ve ever seen a blonde Russian. Perhaps the writers were confusing Russians with their Scandinavian cousins to the west. Or perhaps they are just ignorant. I’ve come down with a case of foot-in-mouth disease. See the next sentence. Although, coming from an American such as myself it may be a bit bold considering the reputation of Hollywood. However, I point out their stupidities as well. Second, somehow I don’t see Russian high school boys acting like blushing girly Japanese guys when asking a chick out. And for fucks sake, isn’t this show supposed to be about people getting electrocuted?

Japanese high school in Russia, complete with cleaning duty. Can’t say I know anything about the Russian school system but I would hope they have janitors there. Think of the economic recovery that could be had in Japan if they didn’t have high schoolers cleaning their schools. Job creation people!

Now that’s more like it

Hoho even better. Finally we got some combat, and what a brutal way to go Teleport-kun. April’s ability was rather underwhelming on its own in season 1, and was only good in conjunction with November 11’s ice ice baby. The teleporting ability was pretty nifty until it was defeated by big drops of water.

Weak start to the episode with high school crap (which is appropriate in other shows but felt really out of place here), but by the end they were piling up the body count just like the good ol’ days. They even shot a cat and a squirrel, pretty rough stuff. Dunno if April is actually dead, people have come back in this show before, but a bodybag is pretty solid evidence, especially after getting cooked by Hei. And where’s my Yin?

With the summer season over and the fall coming up shortly, some reflections on the series this blogger has watched (and in one case, dropped). Done in a short format, your own thoughts and comments on these or other summer series are very much welcome. While two of these series have yet to have their last episodes out subbed, I thought I should include them now before everyone gets caught up in the new season and a post like this become irrelevant.

Bakemonogatari

While I was a little put off by the flow of the first episode, by episode two I was really hooked and the show only got better. I’ve loved everything SHAFT since I started watching the first season of Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei, and in this series they took their unique art style to unconventional and interesting new heights. Very minimalist backgrounds in most cases, repetitive objects (all the cars except for Senjogahara’s dad’s were SR 311 Nissan Fairlady 2000 convertibles, one of my favorites of all time), and scenes with only a few colors/cut ‘card’ scenes with just a color and a few words on it. The characters and monster/spirit stories were all unique and interesting. Dialogue and character relationships were always interesting, quirky,  and well done.  And the ending conversation between Araragi and Senjogahara was just so sweet <3

Notable things: Awesome ED (and to a lesser extent, fun/catchy OP), stuttering (“Ararararagi-kun” ), very unique art style, mythology tie-ins, custom OP for certain episodes.

Sora no Manimani*

*still waiting on last ep subs.

The very enjoyable rom-com centered around a high school astronomy club was so much fun to watch and blog this season. While the show isn’t the most revolutionary in terms of setting or style, it does the basics very well that I ended up enjoying it more than a lot of higher concept shows I’ve watched. Comedy was great, drama was very good but the show probably could have used a little bit more. The real-life astronomy information was accurate and presented well, and not to sound like a huge nerd (though I am one), it restarted my own interest in astronomy. The shipping was also a fun side event, with RabbitPoets, Scamp, and myself raising the banners of Mihoshi, Hime, and Fumie respectively. Though we all (unfortunately) know who is the author’s intended OTP. I’m very much looking forward to the last episode and DVD episode. Another season or some OVAs would be great too.

Notable things: accurate astronomy info, nicely animated night sky scenes, our Queen Fumie!, simple but solid.

Canaan

More than just an action show, though not the deepest thing you’ll ever see. Characters and motives, even after seeing the ending, are still somewhat fuzzy in some respects, but if you just enjoy the interestingly developed characters and their motivations set against a fun action background you’ll find it worth watching. I’m not as big a fan as Crusader, but the central motivation for Alphard, combined with how she carried it out was very interesting and made for a nicely complicated pair of characters. Add in some fun side characters and I had a fun, if not amazing time watching it.

Notable things: SUGOI SUGOI, strong yuri undertones, very accurate and well-researched weapons/vehicles (with the exception of the B-2), very crisp animation.

Zan Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei*

*still waiting on last two eps subs.

The continuation of my favorite comedy anime evar (and there’s at least one more season to come too!), ZSZS has probably been my favorite, tied with the first season, yet. Who would have thought something with so much social and political humor would last this long? More numerous and more scathing social commentary and political jokes, new situations for characters, and some interesting new art styles in one episode. More needs to be done with Tsunetsuki the stalker, but other than that things didn’t get stale. And the tinted glasses segment was A+ good. Lots of Chiri in new outfits in the two most recent episodes didn’t hurt in this blogger’s opinion either

Notable things: current events humor especially about the recent Japanese election, still more paranoia about China and North Korea (“that country”), experimental animation.

Tokyo Magnitude 8.0

This is the series that I ended up dropping, but since I’m commenting on it for three reasons. Firstly, I had great expectations for this show’s premise; second, it seems to have developed a pretty strong following with bloggers; and lastly because I watched half of it so I may as well comment. The premise made me think this was going to be my favorite show of the season. But it felt so sanitized the way that the government response to the earthquake went so well, so quickly. It was like the Japanese government sponsored it to reassure people. I also didn’t like or get into any of the characters, they also just felt unnatural to me or one-dimensional. I’m sure many will disagree, especially with that second point given the cult-like following Yuuki gained. FYI, I continued to follow what happened after I stopped watching via We Remember Love and Scrumptious. Credit where credit is due: I do have to say that the OP animation was eerie as hell for someone who lived in Tokyo for a year and went to many of those places on a regular basis. Big points for that.

Notable things: great premise, great OP song/animation, Cult of St. Yuuki.

Final Thoughts: - Either Bakemonogatari or Sora no Manimani is going to claim the prize for my favorite show of the season. Bakemonogatari had a super-solid last episode, but I’ll wait for the last SoraMani to make my decision. I enjoyed Bakemonogatari more on a technical level (concept and art) but SoraMani is just so much fun even if a much simpler show in artistic terms.

- Of those two favorite shows, I’d love to have more of both. SoraMani is at least getting a DVD extra episode.

- Can SHAFT do no wrong in my eyes?

- I started watching Aoi Hana and fully intend to finish it. But for whatever reason I just wasn’t in the mood after episode 3. Plan to finish by New Year’s at the latest.

I’ve been waiting quite a long time for them to animate the scenes shown in this episode, and I will say I was quite pleased with the results. I still don’t plan on blogging this regularly, but as I said in the last season preview, I did mention the possibility of making some noise whenever some Hina <3 occurred. For more regular coverage of this show I would point you in Zyl’s direction.

How tempting…

I ask of you, are you my Master?

Does the urge to cause you great bodily harm count as her tsun side?

This would definitely be the dere side

Awwwwwwww

I remember the retarded debate that swirled over the order of episodes in the Haruhi DVDs. I found it to be extremely stupid, but maybe that is because I had already seen all of the episodes. Either way, people that had already seen the show fretted way too much about it, which was probably the point of this scene…

Manga panel on the bottom for comparison. As I mentioned above, I was waiting a long time to see this scene animated, as I’m sure many Hina fans out there would agree with me. Perhaps I’m biased for that reason, but it is definitely my favorite scene so far in the manga, and I’m glad the anime version did it justice. It is a great conclusion to the Hina arc, and was served appropriately by the ED dedicated to her. Curiously, the 13th episode often means that a new ED/OP is due on the next episode, so perhaps they will change it. The next couple of episodes at least should be focused on Isumi, so maybe an Isumi ED?

I was pleasantly surprised that the mangaka could do somewhat serious material in a way that was not too cheesy for my tastes. I was similarly impressed at how well he switched into significant character development in the events following the first few volumes.

I know some people have expressed displeasure of how the second season is going compared to the first. The first season was very episodic in nature, without a real developing plot, and instead devoted to a lot of humor. I really enjoyed that aim, and it was pretty much how the first several volumes of the manga went. However, around where the events of the second season begin, the manga shifts into more of a plot driven mode (albeit with random episodic humor thrown in), something JC Staff has done quite well on so far. The second season has followed the manga very closely, and I’m really enjoying it as well, but for different reasons than the first season. I love the characters Kenjiro Hata has created and take pleasure in watching them develop. Plus Hina is one of my top waifus. That always helps.

Future otou-san ghost had much to say about the paucity of testosterone in our much loved Hatsukoi Limited.

1. subjects and objects

Ghost writes that “[a] single alpha male would absolutely unbalance the force of haremette attraction at work here,” due to the structural influence of the genre at hand. But what piqued my interest were his thoughts on Dobashi. He writes:

In episode 7 Dobashi the tennis varsity player gets her moment in the sun, which should have been quite entertaining for me. Like the other alpha females, she is pursued by an omega male. Through her work and attention he gets stronger at tennis and gets a shot at going out with her. (my emphasis)

The significant part is the clause “she is pursued…” Ghost indicates (as does the anime) that Dobashi is the object of omega-kun’s (what was his name again?) pursuance.

Moreover, Dobashi is not the subject of the episode. The subject/object dichotomy (S/O) is very important here due to two reasons: (1) HatsukoiLTD’s narrative structure – as opposed to the internal narratives of each character – is decentralized, fragmented, it’s an “ensemble” show (I forget who said that) and; (2) shipping and love polygons are the focus of the show. To note, the “narrator” is, generally, the one who has soliloquies.

The S/O, then, is crucial because (1) a fragmented narrative structure is oriented towards weaving together the storylines of individual characters, and this emphasis on the trajectories of characters necessitates their subjectification or objectification because; (2) love requires a subject and object, a lover and a loved. While you could argue that love is about an egalitarian relationship and not a subject/object relationship, shipping, unrequited love and fantasy love are all about one-sided affairs, unequal relationships/feelings and clearly marked subjects and objects of love and lust.

2. polygons

Dobashi has an interesting role, she has the “different” one in relation to the other girls. This is based on the assumption that the anime is focused on girls (if publicity art says anything), and that girls are the subjects of love, not necessarily objects. When interpreting the “role” of the character, the criteria contains two values: (1) who is the narrator? And (2) who is the subject?

For instance, Enomoto is disproportionately the narrator, though her relationship with Kusuda is, so to speak, explicitly implicit. But I’m sure we can guess how it will end. The Enomoto/Kusuda relationship is largely mutually exclusive, meaning that they or their story doesn’t really overlap into others (i.e. I’ll talk about Yamamoto below). If you take a look at the final remark of each episode, where we hear an internal line or two of a character, usually such internal line is used to identify the narrator of the episode. However, during the Enomoto/Kusuda Christmas episode, there is no internal remark at the end. Instead, it ends on the verbal, coquettish exchange “old woman face,” “kappa face.”

Yamamoto is disproportionately the narrator but more of the object of love than a subject.

Koyoi is disproportionately the narrator and the subject of love towards her brother.

When Ayumi is the subject of love towards Mamoru she is the narrator. However, she is frequently the object of Misao’s narration and love.

When Bessho Yoshihiko is the object of Koyoi’s love, he is not the narrator. However, he is frequently the narrator when Yamamoto is the object of his love. But this relationship was upset in ep. 8 when Yamamoto was the narrator and subject of her love towards Arihara, thus moving Yoshihiko into more of an object position.

3. Dobashi

Dobashi and omega-kun have, thus far, a mutually exclusive relationship similar to Enomoto/Kusuda’s. The difference is that Dobashi isn’t the narrator and is omega-kun’s object of love. While each episode has a final internal remark that indicates the narrator, Dobashi is the one to deliver this internal line. This conflicts with her objectivity. I’d guess that her reticence – she’s not a full-blown silent girl archetype – is the other critical factor which thus forges a complex intersection between narrator, subject/object, and archetype. In other words, Dobashi’s position as a girl (which is absolutely central in HatsukoiLTD) and archetypal role as The Reticent One mitigate her objectivity of omega-kun’s narrated love. The innate structures of HatsukoiLTD allow Dobashi to be an object that is narrated upon inasmuch as her complementing features of reticent main female cast member mitigate that very objectivity. Dobashi, as a member of the main cast, must be central to the anime via the intersection we have discussed, lest her role end up contradicting the anime’s stylistic focus on girls.

You should listen to the song while reading the following textual pornography. It is very raunchy.

[ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW IS THAT THERE IS DELICIOUS YAOIRABU]

And so do you know what we have learned about this?

In His name. Let us observe. Omo has spelled his name as such, to the dismay of the god of symmetry, and this is why the world is in such a bleak state; Zaitcev isn’t our ambassador to Mother Russia, Hinano hasn’t divorced JP yet, Owen still lives in a third world country, Pontifus still denies that his English degree is worthless, Von Schilling is actually Kristen of Chihiro, icystorm still hasn’t recovered from his latest moefluenza (he’s auu~ing on my lap now), digiboy is still a creep, lolikit hasn’t descended from the heavens, and so forth and so on.

BUT.

As per the magnificence of our lolikitean cryptology, we have just become conscious of the cipher for the omoite cryptology. It was so obvious!

And we were so blind.

Omo, his utter genius blinds us, and do you know why? Many American Liberals who think they are smart will try and point out ironies of Christianity, but they are wrong because the bible does not lie. And other than that, Omo has shown that a world of despair is necessary, because if Omo were to unleash the maximum potential of his brain, the world would explode. That’s right – we need despair, unless we are to perish under the holiness of pure orgasm.

The Lord Omo hath shown the path, that the world is actually in a default state of orgasm. We need despair to curtail this orgasm. The orgasm would have killed us long ago if it were not for the despair Omo has disseminated across the globe. The poor cretin, Owen, he knows not that of which he speaks.

But here, I will reveal the truth. I pray that you will not orgasm unto death.

THE REAL WORD:

omo

DO YOU KNOW WHAT THIS IS?

LOOK CLOSELY:

omo omo

omo

omo

There is symmetry.

A special symmetry.

A godly symmetry.

This is the true union of humanity.

Yes, they really were BOTH laughing in that daydream.  Just like a certain stripping senior…

Once again, as seems to be par for the course, Minami-ke Okaeri manages to lurch along from amusing to ho-hum all within the same episode.  The twist this time is that we get an episode that focuses more on Riko for the first few skits, including a daydream which seems to have been stolen from Hosaka’s inventory of Haruka-induced delusions.

Actually, scratch that.  There have been complaints about the style of posting that I’ve been using the past two episodes.  Especially about with comments about ‘funny episodes’ being ruined by a moderate amount of reading.  Word to the reader: humour is a subjective thing, as a scan of the blogosphere (or flipping through channels on a television set) will often prove. But never let it be said that we don’t do requests.  There is the now ‘non-joke-explaining’ funny version of this post to go along with the ’serious’ version hidden under the spoiler tags to avoid abusing the sensitivities of our more special readers.

It must be repeated: humour is a subjective thing, which is why some of Okaeri episodes flat-out suck.

Keiko Speaks For the Audience

A Yandere In the Making

Hiroko, in a moment of clarity, realizes that the running gag will end if she interferes

Because the real Fujioka cost too much to rent

Show ▼

Oh no… not the imagine spot…

Not quite there… try harder, Riko

That’s more like it

Riko takes another step down the Hosaka side of the Force…

… and promptly falls right off the other side.  At least Hosaka imagines that he succeeds.

Kana hanging out with her classmates?  ZOMG!

Kana noticed?  OMG! OMG!  The world is about to end!

Yes, he’s coming to Kana’s.  No, not in that way.

Then Riko came.  And yes, in that way.

Kana, acting normal?  The oddest scene in the series so far.

Kana’s idea of hospitality = Warm Things

Show ▼

She means the bath, Fujioka, not the bedroom

And the loli Chiaki convinces Fujioka to take the bath, where Kana failed.  Hmm…

And, as the loser harem male, Fujioka sets the pattern

Kana discovers that a chili pepper bath is burning hot, not warm and hospitable

Dunno… how WAS the bath?

So… who wants to tell Kana that she looks like a lobster?

Show ▼

Riko once more starts down the Hosaka side…

… but this time, she actually talks to Hosaka in the daydream.

Show ▼

… oh god, she even got Hosaka’s smile.  Heaven help us all.

… and meanwhile, in the real world… no stripping.  Damn, I’m disappointed.

Kickin’ it up a notch

… and cue the mad laughter

Show ▼

Good job, Riko-sensei

Back to the drawing board

Why not?  You hang around with MakotoMako-chan

… says the guy in the skirt.

Seeing Touma from a girl’s point of view.

Touma gets the joke.  Mako-chan doesn’t.

Show ▼

Kana’s train of thought has derailed

Kana should know – look how she turned out

Mako-chan’s version of “wild manliness”

Why so serious, Chiaki?

Kana dropping a subtle(?) hint

… he says, while he whispers “Haruka” deep in his heart.

Kana suggesting that Makoto give chocolates to someone other than herself?  Impostor!

Tsundere?

Chiaki learns the secret of dating: lowered expectations.

Someone who doesn’t matter

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]]> http://that.animeblogger.net/2009/03/25/minami-ke-okaeri-11-the-joke-so-nice-they-used-it-twice/feed/ 11 http://that.animeblogger.net/2009/03/20/white-album-11-miss-rina-keeps-rolling-along/ http://that.animeblogger.net/2009/03/20/white-album-11-miss-rina-keeps-rolling-along/#comments Fri, 20 Mar 2009 08:57:06 +0000 Crusader http://that.animeblogger.net/?p=16589

First to fight for the right,
And to build up women’s might,
And Miss Rina Goes Rolling Along
Proud of all she has done,
Fighting till the battle’s won,
And Miss Rina Goes Rolling Along.

So with the end of finals and the agonizing wait for final grades White Album was much more enjoyable this time. No Rina’s M-16 guitar was not the crowing achievement despite what omo and Kabitzin might think, rather it was the funniest episode to date as Touya wept like the pansy he is. Oh it was music to my ears. While decent people like usagijen have called it quits I think she cut and run all too soon. I find it strange that there are those who are quite close to cutting and running too but I suspected that all along the drama was going to get stupid quick if only because only Rina has a brain and Touya is a Shinji Ikari with “problems.” No comrades this is no drama this is the tale of a bunch of losers from 1986 who created faux problems in their still booming 1986 economy.

Then it’s Hi! Hi! Hey!
Miss Rina’s on her way.
Count off the cadence loud and strong
For where e’er she goes,
You will always know
That Miss Rina Goes Rolling Along.

Mr. Eiji cannot add,
And his math is mighty bad,
And Miss Rina Keeps Rolling Along.
Mr. Eiji Can’t divide,
Nor can Eiji count to five,
And Miss Rina Keeps Rolling Along.

Then it’s Hi! Hi! Hey!
Miss Rina’s on her way.
Count off the cadence loud and strong
For where e’er she goes,
You will always know
That Miss Rina Goes Rolling Along.

So it seems that Rina and Yuki are to work as a team to defeat the Reds, but the war effort has already been compromised as Rina has discovered the first hints of Yayoi’s treachery. Sadly Rina has to keep it under wraps because Yuki is so pitifully weak that she needs Yayoi to succeed. Nevertheless the knowledge that Rina’s efforts to keep Yuki and Touya together are failing do not sit well with her. Touya proves more than useless as he sits around waving like an idiot off key and everything while attempting to do the YMCA, which he fails at simply because his is Touya and failing is what he does best. The rest of Rina’s band quickly realizes that Touya is Rina’s lowly pet, but the truth is he’s more like a parasite, as he sucks up money and gives nothing in return except treachery. Touya even demanded a favor from the Master of Echoes who refused to do Touya’s bidding, so like a punk Touya drops Misaki’s book off anyways and leaves. Man it must have been easy to get a job in Japan in 1986 and they wonder why their economy tanked…they did not know how to fire lazy workers.

In the storm, in the night,
Hiiragi’s calling left and calling right?
And Miss Rina went rolling along.
In and out, hear him shout,
Counter march and right about,
And Miss Rina keeps rolling along.

Then it’s Hi! Hi! Hey!
Miss Rina’s on her way.
Count off the cadence loud and strong
For where e’er she goes,
You will always know
That Miss Rina Goes Rolling Along.

Last to fight for her rights,
Yayoi has a lot of lice,
And Miss Rina Goes Rolling Along
Proud of what she has done,
Yayoi’s fucking Touya to get a son,
And Miss Rina Goes Rolling Along.

Mana and Yuki decide to start working out and trying to move on with their lives…okay I can’t even type that in good faith. Instead it becomes the Touya admiration society for chumps as they start trying to get convince the other to give up Touya. Sadly this bitch fight is lame, but what can you expect from ugly looking meat bags? Misaki wants to be all lonely so Tamaru can rape her, seems Misaki is stringing Akira along who is very much aware that Misaki is not only backsliding like the dirty little whore that she is but also is dumb enough to go off alone with a broken leg while Tamaru stalks the halls of Yuungai College for the Ronin Rejects of Area 11. The continual stream of lose continues as Touya starts going on about missing Yuki…yeah I am sure he misses Yuki every time Yayoi stick her tongue down his throat. Let it never be said that Touya’s selfishness has a limit as he remains utterly oblivious of how Rina is agonizing over how she will set things right again. All is for naught as Touya is spending time in yayoi-san’s car as he weeps as if he had a miscarriage, while Yayoi licks his tears of lose and fail to increase her own levels. Apparently the stalkers Tamaru and Hiiragi are too cowardly to finish their jobs though Yayoi is starting to feel the fear and proves how she even fails at driving like she fails at life. In the end though Touya excuses himself from Rina’s orders citing that he and Yayoi are going to have a meeting…it is then that Rina pieces it all together and is the first to figure out what the two have been doing behind Yuki’s back.

Then it’s Hi! Hi! Hey!
Miss Rina’s on her way.
Count off the cadence loud and strong
For where e’er she goes,
You will always know
That Miss Rina Goes Rolling Along.

Master Echoes isn’t fine,
All because Touya has no spine.
And Miss Rina Goes Rolling Along.
Touya cries, and talks crap,
Master grants him a backhand slap.
And Miss Rina Goes Rolling Along.

Then it’s Hi! Hi! Hey!
Miss Rina’s on her way!
Count off the cadence loud and strong
For where e’er she goes,
You will always know
That Miss Rina Goes Rolling Along.

Not content to be a small failure Yuki still struggles with her vocals as she dreams that some one had the good sense to sever the line of communication between her and Touya. Well next time Touya shamelessly goes with Yayoi while he pines for Yuki… Indeed the stench of eroge adaptation is starting to get hideously powerful now that Touya is hilariously weeping about Yuki while in Yayaoi’s car as she licks him. What loyalty Touya has! It is little wonder why his dad kicked him out of the house, not tears for his dead mom but plenty for his faux love for Yuki.

What more needs to be said other than I enjoyed Touya weeping, I am sure some loser eroge playing punk ass motherfucker would find his predicament sad…fortunately I believe in antiquated concepts like honor and loyalty so I found it hilarious. It’s really pathetic how he tries to look like a decent guy, but the truth is that Touya philandering about in a manner only a loser harem animu male can. After all this genre does promote a debased form of behavior, even if martial prowess has waned it seems that decisiveness is all but extinct. Akira is also failing in his duties as well, it is time to make Misaki pay for her sins and let Tamaru assault her for her idiot insistence on trying to stab Yuki in the back. I suggest that Padre Akira abandon Misaki to her own devices as the damn cripple gets assaulted by the worst actor in the land, perhaps then Misaki will realize that her plot thread is a dead as Touya’s brain.

Yuki calls, she calls collect,
Thinking no one will suspect.
And Miss Rina Goes Rolling Along.
Rina knows, she really cares,
Cuts the cord to make Yuki scared.
And Miss Rina Goes Rolling Along.

Then it’s Hi! Hi! Hey!
Miss Rina’s on her way.
Count off the cadence loud and strong
For where e’er she goes,
You will always know
That Miss Rina Goes Rolling Along.

Miss Yayoi cannot drive,
As Hiiragi gives her hives,
And Miss Rina Goes Rolling Along.
Yayoi cuts left, she cuts right,
Yuki screams with all her might.
And Miss Rina Goes Rolling Along.

Still Rina shines through once again by demonstrating how unshakeable her loyalty and devotion to Yuki are as she exhausts all her options. In the end though even one so great as Rina is unable to mitigate or even reduce Touya’s stupidity and infidelity, now that her suspicions have been confirmed she begins to realize how lost her cause truly is. What impressed me most was not her toy guitar, but that even now her loyalty is beyond doubt and shows no signs of cracking. Her response to the Yayoi threat is pragmatic, and as such it is, this time, distasteful as Rina knows Yuki cannot succeed without Yayoi. Touya is providing now help at all with his pathetic attempts at communicating with Yuki, and vice versa. I hope Rina makes a tactical withdrawal and simple keeps Touya busy doing pointless tasks to make up for the fact that he cannot do even one day’s worth of work to save his life. That way at least he will not have as much time to cheat. Rina has made me proud 11 eps in and still unflinching in her loyalty, Kampfer Fujii ought to adopt Rina as she is the only child worthy of his name and his secrets of staying badass in his golden years. I look forward to hearing Rina’s song in all it’s glory since it sounds like a winner to me. Eiji seems intent on failing at math and use arbitrary constants that don’t reflect reality, since this is all a game to him I hope that when his stocks are worthless that some disgruntled worker will stab him to death.

Next week Touya continues to fail in life…

When in rags, when he froze,
It’s clear Touya has the slows,
And Miss Rina went rolling along.
Faith in God, because she’s right,
And she’ll fight with all her might,
As Miss Rina keeps rolling along.

Then it’s Hi! Hi! Hey!
Miss Rina’s on her way.
Count off the cadence loud and strong
For where e’er she goes,
You will always know
That Miss Rina Goes Rolling Along.

She’s licking high, licking low,
Why is Yayaoi such a ho?
As Miss Rina goes rolling along.

Touya’s crying left, crying right,
Now we won’t get home tonight
And Miss Rina keeps rolling along.

Then it’s Hi! Hi! Hey!
Miss Rina’s on her way.
Count off the cadence loud and strong
For where e’er she goes,
You will always know
That Miss Rina Goes Rolling Along.

Natsuki’s version of “The Look”

An episode about attitude, ideas, and communication – or lack thereof.  Also an excuse to show Chiaki’s more childish side, as well as give the animators a reason to show some skin.

The driving force behind much of the humour is how poor communications or its lack, create the situations from which the comedy stems – from the ‘creative’ reinterpretation of Fujioka’s love-letter which set the pattern for his relationship with Kana, Touma and Mako-chan’s gender confusion, to Hosaka’s inability to talk to Haruka – which results in a series of ever more outlandish fantasies which he acts out on inantimate objects.  Almost every joke the manga and show uses derives from this, unlike other series which use a more physical form of comedy (like slapstick) to entertain.

Keep this shot in mind for later – trust me, it IS important.

The first part is amusing, if only because it focuses on one of the misunderstandings which is a running gag in the series; Touma’s gender, and specifically Fujioka’s ignorance of Touma and Mako-chan’s true identities.  Combined with Natsuki’s advice to Touma regarding male behavior (having apparently forgotten the Other Minami household’s hopes of making Touma act in a more feminine manner), we get an amusing if not spectacular skit.  Most of the other parts of the episode follow this pattern, especially with regards to the last, where Natsuki finally gets a new gag which plays on his insensitivity in a new and more entertaining fashion.  The middle portion focuses on first how Chiaki relates to her friends, then on how she interacts with Fujioka with others observing the relationship and making comments regarding their closeness.  Overall, an improvement on the previous episode if only because, while not a storm of laughs, it manages to remember what made the series successful the first time around – the relationships between the characters, and how those could be exploited for entertainment purposes through a failure to understand or to be understood.

If Touma dresses like this, no wonder Fujioka thinks she’s a boy…

Winning Friends and Arguments, A Short Essay

PART I: Word Choice

When trying to communicate, your opening statement, choice of vocabulary, and the speed and intonation used in delivery are crucial in conveying a message to an audience.

An unguarded (and unwise) comment may hamper an effective exchange of ideas – but so can situations that create a bias against you in the mind of the listener.  A good speaker is always aware of these factors, as they may influence the language he or she uses.

Also, it is important to consider the target audience’s viewpoint and prejudices – even a definitive statement can be misinterpreted, due to the listener’s biases.  Young dictators-in-training should keep this in mind when communicating with their parents, caregivers, or other adults – an indulgent smile and a non-committal response may be your only answer when you declare your intention to rule the world.

Sometimes, repetition may help convey the seriousness of a message by reemphasizing the salient points…

… but other times it can result in failure, as the audience ‘tunes out’ due to overexposure.

When attempting to initiate an exchange or request for material, a respectful tone can be helpful.

Other times, an aggressive demand may be more fruitful in achieving your objectives.  However, one must always be conscious of both the balance of power between you and the audience.  Understand that when speaking from a position of disadvantage, you should be careful to avoid confrontation – especially if you cannot back up your threats with action.

Try not to contradict yourself – map out your arguments ahead of time, and plan your speech to that your points are communicated clearly.

If repetition fails, it may be acceptable to raise one’s voice to emphasize key concepts.  But be prepared for an immediate (and loud) backlash should this fail.

One more note: when making a speech, it is important to watch out for flying bears or other items from the audience.  Don’t be afraid to duck.

I must emphasize the importance of how you choose your words.   A misconstrued statement can be quite hurtful…

… or even provoke a physical confrontation.

However, a good speech or a well-couched request can have a very positive reception, and open the door to unexpected new opportunities.

But, always, always, ALWAYS make sure that all parties involved share a common context and concepts, as otherwise your message may be misinterpreted.

PART II: Empathy

When trying to gain minions (or friends), please be conscientious and remember that not everyone is as fearless as you are.  Sensitivity (and empathy, by definition) is required when dealing with others with whom force is not the first resort to gaining their willing compliance.

A soothing manner may be something that you will wish to cultivate.  A reassuring smile and calming words often accomplish what no amount of blustering can.  But on that note, an indifferent expression may cause one’s attempts to backfire.

It helps to show others that their feelings and well-being are of great – or at least genuine – concern to you.  Proper body language, such as leaning forward or establishing eye-contact, can help reinforce this impression.

A poor example of eye-contact

A more successful example of somatic communication.

On the other hand, you may find more physical gestures to be a much more effective method of establishing a positive relationship with others.  Experiment to find the style which best suits you; insincere attempts can do more damage to relations between you and others than an indifferent attitude.

However, you cannot depend on non-verbal communication alone to impart important ideas; it can be used to add nuance and emphasis to a message, or to alter its meaning in a very specific way.  In other words, just staring will not work.

But a push at the right time, on the other hand..

… can get things going.

PART III:  The Smile

This is a Good Example of a Smile

A Bad Example of a Smile

One of the most subtle (or not so subtle) means of communicating involve facial expressions.  These can vary depending on culture, but generally a smile is considered to be a universal indicator in both East and West.  A good smile can express your good nature to others – it can betray your general attitude towards the world.  But please be sure to turn off the slasher music when you practice your smile.

Even with this, it is important to maintain an awareness of your body language – a smile alone may not offset  (and in some cases, can actually make worse) the intentions that one’s stance or persistent attempts at eye contact hint at.

Excessive eye-contact may be viewed negatively

Also, for those of you who seek to court others, may we suggest not ignoring their families?  A good manipulator should make use of all tools to influence opinion – this includes the target’s circle of confidants and kin.

But be aware that intimidation may not be the best tactic, especially in front of those who you wish to gain the favor (or affection) of.  Constant vigilance is required, as cultivating an awareness of the environment is key to perceiving the non-verbal cues which betray the feelings (and thus, biases, intentions, and desires) of those you seek to collaborate with or bend to your will.

Be sensitive to the moods of others as well as the situation you’re in.  Learn when to tone back your body language, and when to press more aggressively.  Perhaps consider that the family room is not the best place to stake your claim on the body of your future wife in front of her older sisters.

CONCLUSION

Winning arguments and allies is not easy; there are many factors to consider as an orator, a manager of situations and events, and as a would-be Dictator For Life leader and communicator of ideas.  The situational factors are always of import, both present and future; the immediate surroundings must always be kept in mind, as are the views and beliefs of your audience.  Working around, taking into account, or even pandering to, those prejudices and biases is important to spreading your ideas and winning the support of the masses; body language and facial expression, along with the proper choice of words, are the small details which can spell the difference between success and dying at the hands of a faithless minionfailure to pass on your notions and views.

And don’t be afraid to show your smile.

Next Week on Minami-ke: Okaeri – A Discussion on How Sex Sells, and Non-Representative Previews

]]> http://that.animeblogger.net/2009/03/17/minami-ke-okaeri-10-poor-communication-and-you/feed/ 12 http://that.animeblogger.net/2009/03/15/reset-end-oh-shi/ http://that.animeblogger.net/2009/03/15/reset-end-oh-shi/#comments Sun, 15 Mar 2009 08:00:15 +0000 lelangir http://that.animeblogger.net/?p=16443

Philosophy of adaption

Well, I think Kyoani and its creative minds were surely in a syncretic state – they had to balance viewer satisfaction with satisfying their own artistic minds. They had to balance – what Cuchlann and I fight about – the meaningless of art and the superimposed politics of art, entertainment. [This would probably apply to everyone who's ever had to publish something.]

So then let us say, “to excise, or not to excise, that is the question.” In order to provide the viewer with a narrative that avoids resets Kyoani would have needed to remove arcs, ends, and possibly rewrite some material. Yet they decided to include all the original material in the adaptation. The relationship between these two choices – that of “chastity” or “adulteration” – is not hierarchical. This is not a political question, it is a philosophical question¹, and as such, the significance is not in the result of the deed (higher or lower viewer ratings, more or less money) but in the inseparable morality of the deed itself – the two are merely artistic choices devoid of any intrinsic meaning, therefore, both having no meaning, they are equal to one another.

So for some reason I don’t like bringing up talk about the VN and aspects of adapting material. Yeah, Clannad is an adaptation, yeah, aspects of linearity fail sometimes, that’s inevitable. I’ve been working under the presumption that it is literally impossible to encapsulate the aspect of VN replayability in anime, therefore it’s rather silly to compare an anime to something it is intrinsically incapable of doing because, remember, we’re operating under the philosophy that, basically, the means justify the ends (not a typo). Even if you were to reverse the position, say that Kyoani alters source material, rewrites a few endings, there would still be things that version would be intrinsically incapable of doing, like providing those very reset ends you removed and so forth. [hear hear!]

Psychology of time

Valsiner (2005) writes that

[t]he co-existence of different bases for time measurement in human cultural practices reflects the historical complexity of measuring time. Efforts have been made to turn time into reversible units, similar to measures of length, weight etc. These static depictions of time can be seen as examples of “reversible time”. Surely such units are convenient cognitive illusions, yet they have their practical utility. Thanks to that, continuous events can be turned discrete (for example, there can be specifiable “end points” to experiences such as sitting in a lecture hall…). By trying to measure time, the duration notion is lost and time becomes represented in ways similar to space. Practical needs for social organization of life activities in societies guide the thinking of persons about time in the direction of overlooking the irreversibility of the duration.

In sum – time is irreversible as it flows, intricately linked with our experiencing our relations with our worlds. As a result of human cultural history, we have attempted to describe it in terms of stable units, which have served practical purposes. For the understanding of development, units of time that are used in science need to retain some features of irreversibility.

The take-away message is that in our viewing of Clannad (or any sort of time travel) we have to separate psychological time from narrative time.

fig1

[There are some epistemological nuances here - the narrative as a whole doesn't "regress" because the progression of the narrative is tantamount to a developing human psychology within irreversible time, but the narrative does indeed return to events that happened within a past that was established within the framework of relative events of the holistic narrative.]

Previously, Pontifus had written:

I’m having a hard time convincing myself that Clannad is tragic at all, ultimately, when all its tragedy is erased by magic.

But this is a reductive view which equates constant psychological time with narrative time. If we were to say truly that specific events onto which we have attached personal meaning were erased it be tantamount to memory loss of the viewer. Thus we can expand our graph:

fig2

Here, because excel sucks for 3-axis graphs, psychological time = ∆0 because it is always constant. For every instance of psychological time we establish a narrative event, that ratio is 1:1. But narrative events can regress, so even in a ∆0 of psychological time there can be a +/-∆x narrative time. Finally, emotion is always situated in irreversible time (psychologies cannot transverse time) and thus, for the sake of this study², we can set up some syllogisms:

∆emotion = ∆0psychological time
∆narrative time = ∆0psychological time
+/-∆emotion ≠ +/-∆narrative time

A change in emotion equals no change in constant psychological time.
A change in narrative time equals no change in constant psychological time.
A +/- change in emotion does not always equal a +/- change in narrative time.

Figure 2 is a hypothetical calculation of Pontifus’ psychology of Clannad. His psychological time is constant, yet as narrative time regresses his emotional level drops drastically. This is because, as he stated, “tragedy is erased”, which is just to say that narrative time regressed within a constant psychological time. But, as opposed to an Aristotelian notion of tragedy as an end product, it is clear that even a regression in emotion is a process that cannot disregard one’s history.

Even Nazarielle said:

…after what happened, it’s hard for me not to think that they were just trying to hit us as hard as they could, knowing that they could later reverse the sadness and make us all happy at the end. In hindsight, I can’t help but feel that it’s all rather artificial or fabricated. [emphasis added]

But for Nazarielle to explain his discontent, he must first explain the process by which this discontent arose. The process of emotion-building is invaluable because irrespective of what these emotions entail, they are always the basis for a developing psychology. And to explain more fully the process model within this developmental psychology, a fourth data series is need: reflexivity.

fig3

For someone like Pontifus or Nazarielle, or nearly everyone in the ’sphere, reflexivity is crucial – it’s writing, blogging. If there is one thing that is not altered by emotion in irreversible time nor narrative time it is reflexivity – it is cumulative, you cannot erase it (unless you perform a frontal lobotomy or something).³

notes

Like Dewey Defeats Truman…

Beichtwebel Akira is informed that Misaki only sprained her ankle and did not break anything major, much to Jesus’ chagrin. Instead since Misaki was a cheap bastard she refused to pay for a second crutch. In the end it seems that the Misaki’s play was utter crap after all though it paled in comparison to the stench of fail that Tamaru was spreading. Such was the Thespian musk that the critics all walked out midway because Tamaru could not act for shit, so thus did the renown of the Yuunagi Thespian Club collapse to a thunderous yawn. At least Tamaru can star in one of Uwe Boll’s movies in a couple years. Moreover it seems that the standing rumor is that Tamaru locked up Misaki on the second balcony, it is all false of course though Tamaru wishes that it were true. Thankfully for Misaki, Padre Akira saved her from such a fate. Still it seems Kampfer Fujii gets no respect and gets disrespected by that ungrateful Misaki. Sadly despite being the toughest man in town it seems that Kampfer Fujii has heart problems stemming from the pain of having Touya as a son, indeed it is said that having Touya as a son would break any one’s heart.

The constant disappointment is enough to break the alte Kampfer’s heart.

I can’t believed they even stayed that long.

Indeed Tamaru took it from merely shitty to jumping shark.

Tamaru continues his stalking campaign on Misaki but because Tamaru is a heathen and an infidel he fears the powers of Beichtwebel Akira. Also since God and Jesus both hate rich people, especially Thespians Tamaru can only hide in the shadows while Jesus repeatedly beats him with the ugly stick, soon not even the shadow can hide his hideous face. If nothing else Tamaru can try and get the role of Donovan in Indiana Jones an the Last Crusade, since he felt that he was too damn good to take a role in the Raiders of the Lost Ark. Even after all this bullshit and chips Touyua still wants to lead Misaki on to Beichtwebel Akira reminded the heretic that he was still in the middle of the exorcism. Speaking of stalkers it seems Yayoi has some ugly Jap stalker problems of her own as Hiiragi has been wanking off during their phone conversations, and sending her letters. The ice queen ain’t no queen after all since she is fearful of some fat fuck who has no job, still being a dumbass she goes to Touya for safety… I am sure Kabitzin was already born then surely that guy is more reliable than Touya. Still Yayaoi forgot about the Imperial American Troops stationed at Camp Courtney, Camp Foster, Camp Gonsalves, Camp Hansen, Camp Kinser, Camp Schwab, Camp Zama, United States Fleet Activities Sasebo, United States Fleet Activities Yokosuka, Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, Marine Corps Air, Station Iwakuni, Marine Corps Base Camp Smedley D. Butler, Naval Air Facility Atsugi, Naval Housing Annex Negishi, New Sanno Hotel, Sagamihara Housing Area, and Torii Station who were ready and willing to tear some fat bastard a new asshole in 1986, such a pity she is not only xenophobic, but retarded as well.

I knew Touya was behind it.

Indeed Touya did not clean up his wanking mess.

A most impressive framing of Tamaru by Jesus.

Eiji and Kanzaki were having a pissing contest and it quickly becomes apparent that both are the kind of scum that create stock market bubbles and encourage people to buy Bear and Sterns stock, and in the case o Eiji…he has clearly failed miserably at math. Rina loses her original venue because Eiji is wants to have fun at other people’s expense, to add insult to injury Eiji over inflates the numbers in a futile effort to scare Rina. Too bad Rina can easily get OVER 9000 to mobilize. Sadly since Rina cannot call upon the good services of Zentradi managers such as Elmo Rina is forced to rely on herself and she does so magnificently as she tries to make amends to her fans. The Red Menace known as Sakura-dan think that they actually have a shot at selling out their show, and Yuki gets a bigger venue as well but is too damn dumb to realize the gravity of the situation or that no one wants to LISTEN TO HER SONG so she gets all high and mighty despite not having sung even once in public. Only Rina is aware of what has transpired and where a lesser songstress would have despaired at the numbers Rina soldiers on. Touya is drafted to keep him out of trouble, though the bastard dictates to his employer what hours he will work as he insists on failing to do his job at Echoes and as Mana’s tutor.

Which Beichtwebel Akira called for I might add, Touya could not afford the phone call.

I eagerly await to see your girly man tears, Thespian scum.

In other words Yuki, Touya will be Rina’s bitch just like you.

Too bad for Rina she discovers that it is already too late as she discovers that Yayoi can’t read and had ton up Yuki’s letter to Touya instead of Hiiragi’s. So far Kabitzin has apologized for his indecent slander of Rina though I am awaiting usagijen to beg Rina for forgiveness. Rina tried so hard and yet in the end it was all for naught through no fault of her own. Touya chased every girl except for Rina who was impervious to his sloppy advances, while Yayoi and Misaki fell without firing a shot. If that were not enough Yayoi and Touya make out again demonstrating who is the lowliest of traitors, her name is Yayoi and I for one would eagerly damn her to an unhappy fate with Hiiragi, I also curse the name of Misaki and hope that Tamaru does something unkind to Misaki before Biechtwebel Akria with the help of God and a few Marines defeats the communist Tamaru and the upstart Sakura-dan. To show his appreciation for such power Akira will keep line into heave packed with fresh souls, beginning with the butt hurt Tamaru who clearly got a stick stuck up his ass.

Very well Negotiator.

Your thoughts betray you Touya, you cannot slack off forever…

After all he did you too Misaki…

Praise be to Rina the only woman in this goddamn show with half a brain and a sense deceny and loyalty. While the rest have made attempts to woo Touya, Rina has not even done it once. Indeed her relentless pursuit of Yuki’s happiness has granted her nothing except an arrogant Touya and an ungrateful Yuki. Where a lesser woman would have long ago abandoned both to their cruel and just fate Rina is the sentinel that desperately holds the bridge in face of the treacherous assaults of Mana, Haruka, Misaki, and Yayaoi. While her cause is questionable one cannot help but admire the skill, courage, and tenacity that Rina has displayed through these dark times. While lesser creatures such as Misaki and Yayoi attract scum like Hiiragi and Tamaru no loser in Japan dares to cross Rina for fear of earning her terrible ire. It is said that in 1986 the Imperial American forces of the Emperor Ronald Reagan that occupied the hell hole that that breeds bastards like Touya, Tamaru, and Hiiragi gave Rina the utmost respect and a free hand to do as she willed, such was the glory and renown that was Rina’s. While Rina was reduced to sining at Calma she will no doubt moblize more people than Sakura-dan and Yuki combined, Rina can be Calma no Yousei for Sheryl proved that the size matters not only your song.

Not that Touya ever does anything…

Alright trolling Touya.

Misaki soes not have control of her fear…

I see Tamaru cowers in fear of Beichtwebel Akira.

4797

And HOW!

You are, all of you, vermin. Cowering in the dirt, thinking…what, I wonder? That you might escape the coming fire? No. Your concert hall will burn until its surface is but glass, and not even your blonde will live to creep, blackened from its hole, to mar the flashing of Rina’s passage. The culmination of her Journey, for your destruction is the will of the God! And Rina? She is his instrument!

Oh Eiji, the only winner wil be Rina.

Indeed even now Yuki still hasn’t gotten it down…

Indeed Eiji cannot do the maths…

When there is something stange in the neighborhood who you gonna call?

Busting makes Rina feel good.

Oh I can’t wait to see Hiiragi kick Touya’s ass, smart move there bitch, running into the arms of the wrong Fujii.

Yuki likes to beg like a common bitch.

Yuki you will always be stupid, always.

There there Rina the amount of fail and lose made me facepalm too.

Hi, I’m Troy McClure.  You may remember me from such blog posts as…

After heckling everyone on this blog, among others, for so long, the green-haired trappy overlord of THAT has put his pump-wearing foot down.  So, my penance begins with forcing myself to watch through a rather humdrum episode of Minami-ke Okaeri.  Still, it’s better than listening to some of the tracks off that recent “Pun-Colle ~voice actresses’ legendary punk songs collection” CD that was recently released.

About the best thing that can be said for this episode is that it includes Hosaka.  Lots of Hosaka at the end.  Oh, and the characters in the background have faces.  Otherwise, we have three unimpressive skits and a Hosaka fantasy at the end.  It’s very much ‘more of the same’, and probably is inspiring similar entries from the other blogs covering the series.  So, in honor of the same jokes being reused, we’ll be exploring the same screenshots everyone else has posted and using the same (tired) memes that everyone else is sick of.

Summary:

As usual, it seems any story involving Kana and food inevitably causes problems.

The first skit centers around Kana’s obsession with food – an old, recycled joke which gets milked once again.  What was unusual was that the ‘damage’ splashed over onto Touma and Chiaki, who somehow end up getting upset with one another rather than turning their ire on the true cause of their misfortune.

If this was Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei, these two would have been carried off to the temple for a wedding.

This leads to some tension the next day, with Touma and Chiaki at odds and exchanging harsh words the way they did early on in their relationship.  For some reason, Uchida sees all this tension and decides to turn to one person in whose hands Chiaki’s and Touma’s future rests.

Uchida’s last, best hope for peace.  FISSION MAILED.

“Makoto-kun!  You’re my only hope!”

Maybe he really is smarter than Uchida…

Unfortunately, Makoto’s burst of common sense promptly burns out shortly after giving this response, and he lets himself be dragged into the situation.  This is also the point where Uchida discovers more than she probably ever wanted to know about Makoto-kun and his hobbies.  Also, unfortunately for the audience, this is also where the animation budget apparently starts to tank and we are treated to a minute of KWALITY faces.

Makoto decides to emulate Detective Conan

He’s on a roll…

… and promptly falls right off.  Stupid is as stupid does.

So now Makoto-kun not only crossdresses, but he carries a makeup kit and spare skirt everywhere?

Even Uchida can’t believe how far he’s fallen.

Mako-chan and Uchida make their way back to the Minami household, only to discover the cause of the fight between Touma and Chiaki, who have since made up after realizing just how stupid the issue they were arguing about was,now the infection of Kana-derived idiocy has been fought off.  It, however, continues to afflict Uchida and Mako-chan, who promptly draw Chiaki back into the middle of things.

Strike one!

Strike two!

Strike three!  YERRRRRR OUT!

For those of you who were hoping for the old ‘Bible Black’ faces, as I was, this was as close as we got in the whole episode, even counting Haruka’s ‘banchou’ mode.

So close…

… and yet so far.  No shadowing around the eyes, no dramatic lighting…

Part two is even more uninspiring, centering around Chiaki’s large stocking and what she wants for Christmas.  Fujioka ultimately suggests mittens, and while Chiaki seems to like them she still seems a little lost in thought, or at least distant, throughout most of the episode.

Keep this image in mind for later.  It’ll be important – I promise.

A Poorly ’shopped Kana wearing a stocking for Christmas.  I’m sure Fujioka wishes he was there… and speaking of which, where’s the bear Fujioka?  I thought she kept him close at all times.

Part three deals with Natsuki being his usual idiotic, insensitive self, and forgetting Touma’s Christmas present.  One scolding by Haruka later (showing no emotional response all the while), he finally delivers the present… by leaving it on the table with a ‘don’t forget to give this to Touma’ note.  On the living room table.  After school.  When he knows she’s on the way home.  All so he can pound on Akira on a game console.  She tries to let him off easy by lying about how she found it, but in the end Natsuki undoes the lie and earns himself a well-deserved shot to the head.  Very boring, just like Natsuki when he’s not fainting and having nosebleeds over Haruka’s cleavage.

This is the only screencap you’re getting of Part Three.  You do NOT want to mess up around her.

The last part returns to the glorious Hosaka, and his nefarious plans to BE FRIENDLY with Haruka.  Remember that shot linked to earlier?

This is why I wanted you to remember that screencap.

Hosaka, stalking Haruka as he usually does, overhears the conversation Haruka and company are having regarding Chiaki’s Christmas present.  And, as always, he completely misses the point and links it all back to his daydreamsdelusions about Haruka, and goes off to hunt for a suitable present for his dream woman.  Approached by his minion, Natsuki, he bounces ideas off of Natsuki regarding having a Santa Hosaka deliver presents to the good girls at the main Minami (versus Other Minami) household.  And, as always, his plan fails as Haruka’s already gotten a cake from elsewhere, and ends the show with an “ORE GA SANTA!” declaration before lapsing into mad, booming laughter.

Reactions:

Almost a complete waste of time, save for the very end whose saving grace was a full-blown Hosaka delusion, complete with mad laughter and someone pleading for him to stop molesting the cake.  Despite the complaints that the previous episode was boring as hell (I’m looking at you, Aroduc), this one took the cake – literally.  There were a few amusing parts in the first bit (thanks to Mako-chan and his amazing magical bag of accessories), but the middle half was about as boring as most of Okawari. All that saved this episode were Hosaka and his daydream version of Haruka.  I actually kept an eye on the clock through the first viewing; that’s not a good sign when I’m measuring the time until the episode ends, so I can properly take screencaps.

And now, to save the best for last: the screendumps of the Hosaka Delusion:

!

You can tell it’s a delusion because he’s actually talking to Haruka

This is Fantasy…

… and this is reality.

And as Haruka walks away into the distance, we hear that mighty cry…

ORE WA GUNDAM!SANTA!

And to close things off…

“A girl should be elegant…”

One of these things is not like the others,
One of these things just doesn’t belong,
Can you tell which thing is not like the others
By the time I finish my song?

Here’s a hint: he kept Haruka’s dress, the one Chiaki claimed would shape the figure of the wearer to be more like Haruka’s.

Hippies are cooler than these two at least hippies have LSD…

I saw that BMW you were driving in perforated with .50 cal rounds and torched on the side of the road. I took a look inside corpses blown to pieces, burnt, unrecognizable. No camera, no tape recorder…  no…no book so maybe you’re dead maybe your not. Maybe you’ll find these tapes and do whatever the hell you wanted with them, or maybe the interview is over, wasted words, wasted life…I’ll see you around. – Rina Ogata

Kampfer Fujii stays up a night wondering how it was possible he could have fathered such a sissy.

I see that 1986 Japanese are still making shitty rifles.

Oh good grief he even went for the book, this Touya certainly knows no shame…

Touya and Misaki finish their shitty props and sissy guns because a de-militarized Garand was just too hard core for them. Heck why didn’t they just go to Tokyo Bay and fish out those crappy Arisakas that no one wanted at the end of the war? I guess Touya is afraid of water too. So it seems that Misaki finally gets her shit play onto the stage. Thankfully even if Tamaru is a punk ass mother fucking rapist at least he realized how fucking fruity it all looked. Misaki did not do her research and Landser Fujii was simply aghast at how she could make the uniforms look like something out of the Renaissance Fair. In the end Kampfer Fujii was so enraged that he stayed up in to the wee hours of the night to make it all GRIMDARK. Touya slept in late the next day, compare this to his dad who gets up early every morning to run. Yuki shows up at her shit university to give the crappiest concert of all time. Still since the school is for retards all the little boys were going on and on about how pretty Yuki was standing on stage refusing to sing. Sadly there were no Vajra around to make Yuki pay for her lack of dedication to her song.

Even in 1986 Japanese School Girls had a few sluts among them only Mana is so dumb she gives Touya money…

Cuz you are SUPER SPECIAL.

Responsible parenting means judging your kids, every day.

So instead of having Haruka or Mana buy the tickets they decide to not pay at all and sneak up all the way to lighting area. Touya had offered to pay, but Misaki was a cheap bitch who wanted to cheat herself of profit. Once again Touya shows how fucked up his priorities are in life when he can pay for a ticket but not his rent. He even slept on he job at Mana’s room. Speaking of the dumb loli that can’t recognize people I still cannot believe that she isn’t using this grand opportunity to make AWESOME pictures of Touya while he dozes off. Had it been in a barracks things would have been different for instance having girly finger nails would have been the least of his worries… Instead Mana wanted to ride his schlong, the whole inch of it but backed of in the end because cowardice is endemic of Yuunagi students except for Padre Akira. So Misaki and Touya make their way through the place which has a ton of junk proving that Thespians are hobos as they never throw out anything. Akira got so tired of Misaki’s bull shit that he joined the seminary to become the Beichtwebel (Confessions Sergeant) of Lander Fujii. As a Hollenabwehr-kanone (anti-Hell Gun) Akira was fully certified as a Beerdigungs-komiker (comedian at a funeral) which was to later prove useful.

Oh hi Yucki-san still can’t sing i see, well there are still auditions for William Hung and his Hung Jury.

Touya sets a new record for sleeping in, as of today he woke up at 5 pm…

Indeed who needs Misaki when Catholic school girls are so much hotter…

So they try to make their way in, but because Misaki is fat and Touya has no muscle mass they struggle and eventually have to call it quits. It seems that quitting for both these losers is a way of life, too bad they did not got with Kampfer Fujii while he did PT in the morning. So it turns out that Misaki was ripping off of Pat Benetar’s Love is a Battlefield while writing her shit story. It’s all supposed to be deep in an emo poser kind of way according to Misaki, sure… I see it now the fruity colors were symbolic of how Misaki and all of them except Akira had shit taste and lousy fashion sense. The one man entry was symbolic of how retarded they all are. The lame ass toy guns were symbolic of how Touya has such crappy schlong and the 6.5mm barrel was symbolic of his diameter. The poor oppressed hippies were like Misaki who joined something as lame as the Thespian club. The mean people were like Yuki who ran around with Touya’s wang in hand…

…

Why were you born?

Piss poor entry… no flash bang, no four man stack, hell not even a button hook.

So Touya tries to edge Misaki onto to tears as he mentions Akira whom the hippie fears the most, more than Tamaru since decency and honor were anathema to a dirty little whore like Misaki. She runs away at the mere mention of the newly anointed Hollenabwehr-kanone Akira who is God’s most feared servant. God decided to piss on Misaki by having Jesus toss a bunch of pipes on her. Touya being one to put a ho before a bro shuts Misaki up by kissing her. If he were a man he would have slapped her and told her dumb ass to pull herself together. In the end Touya runs away because that is what cowards do best. God teleports Padre Akira to Misaki who is dying of stupidity. Since Misaki had sinned by not giving the Thespian club Japanese Type 94 pistols God ruled that it was time for her to die. However, as much as God would have liked to see those Type 94s going off and killing off Thespians whenever so much as a fleck of dust got on them, Jesus implored a bit of mercy. Thus was Misaki condemned to a slow death as Akira kept asking is she would accept Jesus in her life and if she would want her last rites before going to hell. At Misaki’s funeral Akira played the role of Beerdigungs-komiker for Misaki magnificently as he pointed out how well Misaki had lived in life by staying around her rapist and trying to steal Yuki’s man. He also gave a fine eulogy to Misaki’s play which was so awful they burned all the scripts and for once tossed out all her props.

Louder!

Uh Miskaki did you just cut the cheese?

Even the holy spirit hates Misaki…

So yes Misaki tries to stab Yuki in the back before Rina, oh how God smiles upon Rina as she is not even manstealing before Yuki’s so called friend Misaki. I applaud Rina for proving all of her enemies wrong when the first attempt at manstealing was from Yayoi, and the second incidence where Touya initiated the Kiss was in the case of Misaki. Oh how delightful it is to see a friendship between two dumb ruined by a mere boy that cannot hold down a steady job. Let’s be honest Touya’s tutoring gig is not a job that would imply that he actually works its charity. At least in the New Deal people were paid to dig a hole in the ground, but not Touya as his girlish physique had to be maintained through his unwillingness to do manual labor. Haruka was useless and soon I hope Akira can be a Beerdigungs-komiker for her as well. Mana is an idiot and continues to support that lout Touya by wasting her mom’s money on a crap tutor. Truly Mana is a spoiled little rich bitch I hope that once her mom tosses her out that Mana will be the female Touya. I hope when that happens Mana will be pregnant with Touya’s fourth little bastard. I wonder when Yuki will sing, if nothing else she can be the new inspiration to William Hung. Unlike some one with chutzpah like say Kampfer Fujii Yuki could never sing a song from the heart like never giving Touya up, never letting him down, etc.

Touya turns out to be a fan of rioting quietly instead of Quiet Riot, given his jealousy of the mass of Yuki fanboys who like the shallowest of idols. If all else fails Yuki can lipsync and do ho down, and Touya will still love her, and make a videos about leaving her alone…

That’s some loyalty Touya.

The kind that only deserves death.

God didn’t even smack him and he’s alredy crying, must be the small weiner.

QUALITY idol…

I have been send by God to punish you…

Today you die…

QUALITY punishment.

…That will not save you.

Thus did Beichtwebel Akira exorcise Misaki.

Why yes I would gladly open that up…

Well it will be the final stretch in the coming weeks for schooling and sadly the lab report on Azotobacter and the English Paper took precedence over Minami-ke. Well I suppose winding down a hellish week with finals in about two weeks. Uchida seems to be hitting puberty with full force last time she was using area denial ops against Touma and now she’s doing recon on Yoshino. Kana has been trying to run female development courses with the primary goal being how to attract men and to this end all of Chiaki’s soda is brought out. I am not sure how the inability to open a can of soda is moe, but I do find in irritating enough that if I see someone one who’s having trouble my multi-tool usually does the trick. Uchida fails at feigning weakness while Yoshino is a consummate actor.  Maki seems to have tried to use that gambit back in her middle school days though it seems she suffered a string of defeats. Atsuko is really that weak and has to ask Maki for help. Maki and Kana lock on target and start hounding Atsuko who promptly GETS FRIENDLY with Haruka and hides behind her. Chiaki returns and snatches back a can of her soda from Kana, like an idiot she opens it and gets a face full of high fructose corn syrup. Kana adriuotly lays the blame on Atsuko and her witchcraft. All in all it seems that Maki, Kana, and Uchida form an unbroken line of succession for BOSS. Still Chiaki is going to get fat after drinking all that soda laden with high fructose corn syrup which bypasses one glycolytic pathway.

If only it were my home…

At least she gave it a shot…

Ah now I know the origin’s of Maki’s hostility to Hosaka.

I am surprised the Maki was considered to be a role model for Kana’s school for young girls. I am sure that had Haruka not intervened Yoshino, Uchida, and Touma might have simply ended up single for most if not all of their middle school and high school years were it not for Mako-cakes in the case of Touma and Uchida. As Maki is other wise occupied by Haruka Atsuko is brought in as a substitute, and Yoshino clever as ever wants to know about the night part Maki mentioned. Touma becomes a MAN and comes to Atsuko’s rescue but her rudeness earns Touma the wrath of Kana. Kana defeats Touma who is sent right into the happiest place on Atsuko. Touma enjoys a nap in a most enviable place, but Atsuko forgot if Touma was a boy or a girl in her shock. Kana thinks that this new offensive hugging tactic is the way to win arguments against boys, I heartily concur, that would shut us up right away or make us scream in abject terror. The next day Mako-cakes runs into Touma who is also undergoing puberty and the old Alliance seems to have unraveled. It makes me sad that the old camaraderie between Mako-cakes and Touma has been sundered as of late. Touma even hit Mako-cakes right where Chiaki dinged him last time. Still all is not lost as there is room for old allies to settle their quarrels. Funny how now that puberty is starting to hit that Touma and Chiaki have gone tsundere on Mako-cakes, if he only knew why his friends were acting strange. I am sure that fans of tsunderekkos are green with envy.

Atsuko can serve a ball, but not open a can?

The three Fates.

There there its okay.

Kana starts unintentionally lording over that fact that Fujioka is dancing to her tune which Keiko for once gets furious over. Reiko is uncharacteristically happy over how Fujioka accidentally hugged her, Reiko is asked to discern the meaning of this and correctly guesses the events that came to pass. She freezes up however and then decides to give Kana a taste of her own medicine and puts the fear into her. I Highly suspect that the cast of Minami-ke are in fact the progenitors of the some of the later characters already it seems that Mako-cakes was the founder of the Saotome Acting School that Alto-hime belonged to which was to later received a healthy infusion of a meltran bloodline to produce the greatest Oyama in the galaxy. Now I suspect that Reiko is the an ancestor Kati, for one thing Reiko like Kati seems to have a superior grasp of their situation and that of others, though for now it seems Reiko had yet to meet her Patrick-esque book dumb paramour. Sadly the questions that Keiko raised were not answered with the braking out of orange stunna shades…

Gimme that!

LET”S BE FRIENDLY

BURN HER!

Atsuko seems to quite the volleyball player and her serve earned her the attention of Hosaka. Poor Atsuko seems to have a budding crush on Hosaka who loves only Haruka, but unlike the losers from White Album Atsuklo’s loyalty to Haruka overrides any desire for Hosaka. Moreover Maki seems intent on protecting the virtue and honor of both Haruka and Atsuko. I approve of Maki’s zeal, aggressive defense, and blistering counter attacks. Natsuki is late and is made to pick up balls. Only now though does Atsuko inquire about Maki’s wariness of Hosaka, this tips off Maki that Atsuko seems to be falling for Hosaka. Hayami tries once again to get them to convince Haruka to join the volleyball club and tries to pry into the lives of her juniors. Thankfully Atsuko and Maki are not so foolish as to be that trusting of Hayami. I just love how Maki can sense Hosaka’s Haruka lust a mile away. Hayami then plants the seed for a Hosaka Fantasy.

I was mildly disappointed that it was so tame this time, but much of that was swept aside as the glory that was haruka in bloomers with LEGS. I was most pleased to see Haruka with a pony tail as I have a fatal weakness for those, I just don’t see many women have them any more it makes me a bit sad, but Fantasy Haruka does deliver. Words cannot convey7 how delightful it was when Haruka sallied forth with a towel in hand.

Ah well next time it seems that Mako-cakes finds himself in the middle of a war as Chiaki and Touma start leering at eachother while Uchida is getting REAL FRIENDLY with Mako-cakes at school. Looks like Mako-cakes will have to break out the color coordinated hairclips next time! Ain’t puberty grand?

Flat.

Stacked…

But Maki they already have learned plenty through Mako-cakes…

Ah Haruka-mama.

You’ve just been adopted Maki…

I’d be hot for this teacher…

LET’S!

I see Uchida really wants to know about the birds and the bees…

Wait you don’t know either?

I see some one is setting themselves up to be the sports girl…

Some guys have all the luck.

Most impressive Touma.

I heard you leik mudkips like shoutas.

I see that it was Dark Touma that did it…

That was just a FRIENDLY head butt.

I guess Touma can act feminine after all.

Dang, that’s two already…

It’s hard being popular isn’t it?

You need another one?

Sheryl Nome?

I propose that from now on we get Reiko fantasies too.

Come on Fujioka we have been over this, TIME FOR TAG!

Hmm… I wonder how Megane Reiko would look.

Mein Oberst is that you?

Mako-cakes had more sparkles.

My aren’t we shallow.

And he never opned that can for you…

Maki is a Jedi.

Your thoughts betray you Atsuko…

And I thought
You look just fine to me

You look just fine to me
You look just fine to me

Shall we liquefy
Oh you and I
And mingle in the stream?(Pony Pony PONY!)

Shall we liquefy
Oh you and I
And mingle in the stream?

Still sleeping you woke me up
Muttering in your dream
In darkness I could feel your
Your little body breathe

What could they be quarreling over?

Kimi wa dare to kisu o suru

The face that lauched a thousand ships…

I take it that he forgot to lock the door…

Rina: I spent a day at the Eiji’s Studio once in the dark it’s a hell hole, covered in raw sewage, guards breaking some idol’s fingers with a hammer out just out of pure fucking meanness. People die of starvation there all the time. I saw Haruka’s brother in the opposite cell catch a rat with his teeth because they have them handcuffed 24 hours a day for two months. He couldn’t eat, seeing some one do that…he was weeping as he crushed it to death in his mouth. See it in his eyes, his face. It’s madness. He was dead three days later.

Haruka: What killed him?

Rina: Realization of what he turned into.

Hello little boy are you lost?

Oh yeah this was based off a hentai game alright…

Haha jokes on him Haruka has no boobs…

So it seems that Eiji is a first class narcissist in that he thinks that he’s peaked in life while Landser Fujii has amply demonstrated how one could continually improve oneself. Though like all artists Eiji is a poncy little sissy that never thought about doing anything physically demanding and instead faps to Yuki’s piss poor singing. Rina admits how she is no longer Eiji’s toy and hints that she is ronrey and that she wants some one to talk to. Rina hints that Touya can still be with Yuki if he wasn’t such a coward and a loser. Haruka gets accosted alone at night because two kindly gents felt like tossing a puppy in to the street and saw her moping around. Mana saves the day in the most BS manner without the GN Pixie dust. Apparently screaming loudly in Japan will bring some attention in the dead of night on a little traveled underpass. Clearly in 1986 Japan even the crooks were little pussies who failed to realize there was no one around who gave a damn. Still one of the toothless guys tried to grab Haruka’s boobs, but found out that was flatter than Mako-cakes.

Hooray for more Rina screen time!

Touya may you live forever…

Indeed who would willingly wish to be a loser?

Wait so you are a terrorist straigh t out of hell too?

Misaki puts the finishing touched on a wig that could have been bought at a Halloween superstore, and one wonders how much more slowly she can work for her shitty play. Either way since this is a college for posers I assume that she hopes to get rave reviews from fucktards who could not get into a real university. Yayoi seems to be getting a lot of letters from her creditors and decides to toss them all away without reading them. Haruka breaks into to Touya’s hideout which he still has not paid for. Seems like the dumbass did not know how to secure his space, no wonder why he gets fired, he can’t even lock up properly… His neighbors hate Touya so much they don’t even bother to report the break in. Haruka gets to sleep in Touya’s bed for the night though at this rate soon Touya will be jumping in with her. Misaki and Touya start making armor and swords out of wood which look puny and infantile. I have seen better stuff come out of a Chinese sweat shop. Where the fuck is the quality in poorly made wooden toys painted by a five year old? No metallic paint, no sanding, hell I can already see the laziness oozing out of my screen. Pfft…this play is going to have shitty props too it seems, if Misaki and Touya had half a brain between them they could have asked the local LARPers about where to get prop sword made of METAL that were lovingly crafted. Still perhaps that poncy Thespian Club for dipshits was barred from having anything resembling a weapon after they stared running around with scissors…

Stupid loli is stupid.

Oh Kabitzin what’s the point of sending her letters, Yayoi seems to have a thing for unemployed loser harem animu males…

I see Touya was a little sissy when he was a shouta too… no wonder why his dad kicked him out.

Yuki calls while Misaki answers the phone and tries to brag about being there. Both disrespect the only real hero of the series as Kampfer Fujii is praying for the safety of those in need and shopping for himself. The old man also knows about that dumb slut in her BMW but let’s the shit storm brew so that his disappointment he calls his son will get stabbed through the heart with one of Misaki’s wooden weapons of minute destruction. Seeking to further make himself more unemployable Touya falls asleep on his tutoring job for that dumbass Mana who for some reason buys into his hard work BS. In a further bid  to waste money on everything but his rent Touya goes with Haruka to buy a gift for Rina, luckily this crap shopping date did not infect Rina with the stupid and she avoided any phone booths. Yayoi was prowling the streets just waiting for the chance to ram said phone booth for great DOROMA.

Semper Fi Kampfer Fujii, you’re loylaty puts your son to shame.

QUALITY props for a QUALITY play…

New from Ogata Productions the Synthetic Lifeform Used for Teabagging, the S.L.U.T.

Yuki bitches and moans about having to share a birthday with Jesus and is glossing over the fact that she gets the best shit of the year because of Black Friday, though because this is 1986 and Japan is in the Dark Ages where ignorance and sloth are dominant features of their decrepit and degenerate worker’s state there is no Cyber Monday. While Touya tries to make it seem that every one is celebrating for Yuki, she knows that Jesus hates her and really doesn’t give a fuck about her sad little life because she is an infidel. The leader of the Red Menace calls to gloat about getting more points on the dumb test and says that they are not afraid of Rina, but they will be, oh they will be… So Yuki gets a second rate stage for her debut as God and Jesus willed it because Yuki hates Christmas. Misaki tries to kill herself by putting combustibles near a heat source as she dozes off.

So it’s Rina’s birthday and Yuki catches Touya giving her a gift. There is perfectly reasonable explanation for all this but all they can do or at least Touya can do is ask the same stupid question over and over again. Yayoi takes the bastard home and they make out because that is so very loyal to Touya…

Oh really… is that so.

Except that Black Friday means you can get primo shit…

Bullshit. They are celebrating Jesus’s birthday, and he sent a little something for you Yuki…

Happy Birthday, BITCH.

All in all I can see this fail train speeding up. Yayoi had no reason to seduce Touya at this point, he’s already been beaten, but I suppose that is what happens when you are a reject from Grace’s School of Management. Eiji seems to be a masochist, but because he has a pretension to perfection he is a bigger loser than the Pig of Capitalism in DMC. Now those guys were musicians who were continually improving themselves, unlike Eiji who just quit after people realized his shit sucks. For all that fuss over her play Misaki seems to have little to show for it, her costumes are ugly, the wigs look cheap, and her weapons would have been rejected by 2 year olds. I can’t wait to see this shitty play of hers with production values that made my middle school play look like a Hollywood blockbuster. I love how she was scared shitless when Yuki called, if all goes well Misaki can go yandere with those shitty wooden knives she made, maybe Yuki will die from a splinter. Haruka is just fucking sad; she can’t lie or even realize that she could be the greatest thief in this shit series. Mana has been struck hard with the stupid stick as she can’t tell the difference between all the other harmettes from the big Star that is Yuki. Rina should just get a hobby if she is lonely or start working with other musicians if she wants to do something fun. I hear Negishi is still looking for members for his Swedish Pop band, and for a series that is supposed to be about music they have yet to beat out Grotesque or hell even Yuki has yet to beat Raspberry Kiss. I just hope Rina finds a better solution to her loneliness. Nevertheless Sheryl would slap the shit out of Rina for wanting to be Eiji’s toy. I guess back in the day women weren’t respected as much as I thought they would be.

Sleeping on the Job eh? Man 1986 Japan must have been easy going. I think we need a White Album Linebacker…

Hello Misaki it’s Yuki, I am in the house…

The only real man up in this BITCH!

So Yuki hates Christmas and is like the wind in that she is a blow hard and constantly breaks wind. I can see why Touya has the loyalty of a Vichy Frenchman. He never loved Yuki she just showed up one day and became his everyday without him ever having to give anything to build their relationship, which is why Yayoi is doing so well in life because she never makes Touya do anything; hell she even gives him money… I wished Misaki had killed herself with fire after falling asleep the way she did. Sadly though Misaki yet lives to be useless, though to be fair it seems every one but Rina is useless on the female side of things. Still at least Rina hasn’t turned out to be the man stealing bitch that every one thought she would be, it turned out to be Yayoi. I hope Yayoi gets pregnant Misaki can cute her open with a wooden knife. I cannot wait to see Rina as Krauser II when she goes Demon King on these fuckers.

If only this killed the bitch…uh such stupidity.

I see someone forgot to get a gift…some freind you are Yuki.

Oh you can afford a gift, but can’t pay the rent…such found financial management I see now who cauesd the Japanese Housing bubble of the 1990s.

What Loylaty you have there Touya… ah well I hope Misaki kills you both with her wooden knives.