The dream that will come true someday
(Becomes) a mere unheard whisper
That is lost within the light  shone by the night
Soon enough, her eyes will open  if it is fate
At least  yes, only now…

So with this year about to conclude it is worth mentioning what a glorious year of Yuri it was and how it was a decent year for a few select heterosexual couples. While there are cretins who chafe about the lack of quality series their numbers are few and they are stupid for having such narrow tastes. It gloriously began with Mariaholic with Kanako concocting glorious fantasies of a Yuri world and ruined Shizu for marriage though her final victory was thwarted by a most dangerous and skilled trap. Despite the lack of Best End for Kanako I do hope that one day she will mature into a powerful master of the Yuri and claim the yuri harem that her loli angel had prepared for her. Sadly it was also a winter of despair as the hateful Saji and those CB terrorists brought ruin upon Soma and Louise and forced them into tyrannous hetero pairings with loser animu males. Skip Beat! had Kyoko confess her undying love for Moko despite persistent speculation that Kyoko has even a drop of affection for Shotaro.

Spring brought K-On with Mugi-chan giving Ritsu ample opportunity to claim Mio and ruin her for marriage. But the best was yet to come as summer introduced us to a paragon of Yuri Virtue in the form of Alphardonee-sama . Even now her prowess has yet to be matched and she remains one of the more unforgettable heroines that have wielded the Yuri. Such was he grace that she has become the Gold Standard against which all heroines will be measured by. Riding along Alphard onee-sama’s side was the redoubtable Liang Qi whose yuri love for Alphard was truely great though sadly it was not to be reciprocated fully. However the union of Alphard and Liang Qi produced a glorious daughter they named Kuroko who inherited many of their best traits and combat prowess. While not as powerful or great Marin and Kanon were a delightful pair whose yuri love was sadly unconsummated because of silly rules and Kanon being bi. Also of note was the yuri baiting series Kampfer which I found to be a riot for it delivered consistent yuri despite the presence of a male whose loyalty would have been most praiseworthy had he not been so misguided. There was also Aoi Hana, Saki, Taishou Yakyuu Musume, and Sasameki but we didn’t cover them nearly as much this year though I might manage considering the horrid lack of yuri this winter. So comrades let us toast to this glorious year that will be long remembered and possibly sorely missed as 2010 reaches every corner of the globe.

Calawain’s- Traps, Nopan, and an Unstable Teleporting Lesbian

I’m a rather devout fan of yuri, giving every show with it at least a shot, and wow, there were a glut of shows with yuri content in them in 2009. One of the most anticipated yuri titles in awhile was Sasameki Koto, which was a decent enough adaptation. I found that Kazama’s seiyuu and character were pretty weak and heavy on the emo, but Murasame’s voice was perfect, and I felt that they really nailed her deadpan side as well as the delusional one. Also, can’t forget the awesomeness that was Akemiya the trap, above. They also managed to insert a heap of humor throughout, and didn’t get bogged down in Aoi Hana-like melodrama.

Railgun managed to definitely snag the best comedy yuri title of the year, with the impassioned Kuroko wholeheartedly stealing the show with her antics of Biribiri love and abuse. I came for the Biribiri, but stayed for the Kuroko. Now if only they could come up with a plot that isn’t total trash. Oh, and ditch the other two “protagonists,” Uiharu and Saten, what a glut of boredom those two manage to inspire.

By far the best yuri title of the year in my mind is Saki, whose yuri antics (among other things) I covered previously. The show featured a rather large collection of yuri pairings, and everyone had their favorite (shamefully, I’ll take the often overexposed Saki and Nodotits). What was fascinating is that even though people had their favorites, there was rarely any hate for other pairings, just an appreciation for the deliciousness of it all. My image folder for Saki is filled with more than just two characters thanks to /a/. What began, ostensibly, as a show about mahjong certainly ended up being about yuri and a lack of panties. Saying that Saki is about mahjong is kind of like saying FLCL is about robots and aliens, right?

ExecutiveOtaku’s ‘The Sound and the Yuri’

While I do not worship at the Temple of Yuri as my comrade Crusader does (i.e. I don’t specifically enjoy yuri just for the yuri), this past year has delivered a number of great shows that had high yuri content. Maria Holic was a great comedy. Evil trap roommate, Kanako’s angel song, nearly Hosaka-level daydreams, oh-so-SHAFT animation and humor elements, and that great ending song/animation. Maria Holic was definitely in my favorite comedies of the year, probably second after the newest Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei, and it had plenty of competition this year. Plus it had the amazing Matsurika, deadpan abusive maid commentator extraordinaire. K-On, while not explicitly yuri, definitely brought the lulz with it’s yuri undertones in several scenes. Tsumugi quickly became my favorite for her elegance and feigned ignorance while she secretly shipped her friend together. Behind those oddly cute eyebrows lurks a sharp and devious intelligence.

Moving on to action, Canaan was not my favorite show ever, but it had some great moments in it. Alphard was an amazing antagonist, at times a master of frontal assault, at others a deliciously cunning trickster. Backed up by her crazy, obsessive, failed yuri-love Liang Qi (GET SOME GET SOME), it made for some great action scenes and was a decent if not amazing show. Finally, on to more dramatic things, Aoi Hana, which I’m still working on finishing, brought us some lovely yuri romance and equally lovely visual style. As my love for Honey and Clover and Kimi ni Todoke shows, I’m a sucker for those watercolor landscape and location shots, and Aoi Hana knew just where to hook me by setting the story in Kamakura, one of my favorite places I’ve ever been to. Despite a little too much of the waterworks early on, I’m looking forward to a satisfying ending to what is so far a very nice yuri love story.

Additionally, all these series had some pretty good music. K-On centered around it, giving viewers a lot to listen to. Maria Holic’s wonderful ‘Kimi ni Mune Kyun (Kyun!)‘ ending theme was catchy and nicely executed in 16-bit style, both visually and in its audio.  Aoi Hana’s OP, Aoi Hana by Kukikodan,  started off as slow and kind of sad, but moved to a more upbeat tone, and seeing Akira and Fumi dancing around together was both cute and beautifully animated. Canaan had quite the badass OP right from the first electric guitar notes, Mind as Judgement. And that countdown featuring all the main characters was one of my favorite elements in an OP this year.

Crusader’s The Fighter, The Dreamer, and The Lover

While it was a glorious year overall I have to make special mention for Mariaholic, Canaan, and Railgun. I have never wavered in advocating love between otome as the state of animu males is generally lacking, but Mariaholic brought a good number of glorious Kanako fantasies that just SMASHED REALITY INTO ATOMS IN THE NAME OF SHINING ZEUS while poor Kanako never had a night of forever and ever with the harem that was rightfully hers it was most fun to bear witness to her flights of fancy. Having now ruined Shizu for marriage I hope that Kanako will become the mistress of yuri that we all know that she is capable of being. Alphard onee-sama simply out shone every yuri heroine of the year as she is indeed an heir of Chikane’s legacy as Alphard is indeed an ojou-sama from a distinguished family that has been continued for a thousand years, skilled in both literary and military arts, with wit and beauty, the intensity of summer, the grace of autumn, the pride of winter, and the gentleness of spring. Such is her greatness that she can outfight most of the boys that marred this season, save perhaps Prince Ali himself (it’d be a draw really since they come from the same school of CQC) and of course ALMIGHTY ZEUS (really I’d like to see someone other than Hades try, could use another instance of AWESOME TYPE ROCKET PUNCH). Alphard consummated her yuri love with Canaan producing a daughter maned Misaki who inherited the latter’s super powers and she also raised a wondrous daughter named Kuroko with Liang Qi. Thoughtful, loving, and mighty Alphard was everything that any one should aspire to be, sure she made a few mistakes, but at least she strove to correct them while liberating Canaan Mk II from the shadow of Siam. Final mention goes to Kuroko whose love of her onee-sama is almost as intense as her mother Liang Qi’s and whose martial prowess makes Alphard smile with pride. All in all it was a good year with many heroines worthy of praise, a year like this might not come again for quite some time. For the fans of yuri at least for this year anime was worth watching despite the cries of decline from the hordes of hetero harem animu infidels. So IN THE NAME OF SHINING ZEUS HAVE A HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Alphard Onee-sama was most willing to pull punches when it came to women.

Poor Liang Qi did not live to see Kuroko grow up and find yuri love.

Kanako is equivalent to an Ez8 for she will marry Aina.

Also Kanako is part of the 8th Yuri Team.

I approve of public displays of Yuri Affection, religious and cultural considerations be damned!

Best Customs declaration EVAR.

(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!

Parting is such sweet sorrow, and I’m going to miss this series that I’ve enjoyed and come to love over the past four months or so. There was so much to enjoy in the 36 episodes, from the aerial combat to the love triangle, to the memories of those lost and the little technical touches in the background. In these last episodes we see the conclusion of the Kanjin Insurgency and of the love triangle between Misa, Hikaru, and Minmay, as well as hints of what is to come in the future of the Terrans (both human and Zentradi.) So here’s to the original Super Dimensional Fortress Macross! Following the regular recap I’ll be sending off what has become one of my favorite series with a massive image/commentary spam of my favorite moments from all the episodes. It’s my long, long goodbye to a series I’ve had tons of fun with. Thank you to everyone who’s watched along with me or remembered a favorite series alongside my posts, from the old veterans to the relative Macross newbies like myself.

A Quick Announcement: I will be out of town next Wednesday, but the week after that I will watch and blog ‘Macross: Do You Remember Love?’ and attempt to make the Macross Meal that I mentioned once way back in an earlier post to accompany it. As for future retroblogging, my plans are this: while I would love to do the entirety of the Macross series as retroblogging posts, I don’t want it to monopolize all my blogging of old series so I won’t go on and do Macross 7. However, after DYRL I will be blogging Macross Zero and Macross Plus since those are both shorter, and because I feel a responsibility to try and help my fellow mecha fans through this Winter of Our Discontent (more like year, but anyway…) I plan on watching the remaining series in the Macross saga in in-universe chronological order, so after I watch/blog those I will move on to Macross 7. Maybe I’ll make one post every few episodes or something like that, but I plan to blog a non-Macross series after the OVAs. I’m open to suggestions on what that future series should be, if you have a recommendation.

Cooking moe done right.

There can be only one!

He remembers what he should be doing, yet fails anyway.

No, it’s not.

Hikaru and Misa have a date planned, suggested by Hikaru, to go to the forest area park and have a picnic when Minmay calls Hikaru out of the blue. She wants him to come right away to see her in Highlander City, and Hikaru reluctantly agrees to go as Minmay prods him to forsake his promise to meet up with Misa. Naturally I raged at his continued spinelessness, but I calmed myself, resolute in the belief that my OTP, possessing righteousness and True Love, would eventually win the day. Nothing like trolling your audience close to the last episode, right Kawamori? RIGHT?! Once Hikaru flies out to the city he meets a disguised Minmay and the two head to a café. They talk for a while, but then Kaifun comes in, apparently sober now, and says that work for Minmay has suddenly come up and forces her to leave, though not before she gives him an extra long scarf as a gift, intending him to share it with her when it’s worn. Misa, meanwhile, is still waiting at an outdoor café for Hikaru, that indecisive son of a…

The sideline commentary continues, and this guy takes a different, but still wrong approach. You can’t win at their teasing game, same as you don’t fight the US in straight up battle and expect to win.

Everybody in the café gettin tipsy (everybody in the café getting tipsy).

Kaifun’s douchebaggery is useful, for once.

Timing man, timing. Use this line a little later in the story after they’re a confirmed couple.

Hikaru starts driving back to the airport when he finds a UN truck blocking the road. Apparently there has been a Zentradi attack at the airport, and despite the soldier’s protests Hikaru drives straight for the scene. Once there, he talks to the local forces and manages to get a Destroid for himself, leading the counterattack. Tear gas is fired into the Zentradi forces while their battlepods are disabled and the unarmored troops knocked out with fists and rifle butts. Once the incident is under control, Hikaru races back to Macross City, now in full guilt-mode for abandoning his promise with Misa. As he should be.

Making a mess of things again, though Hikaru managed to prevent his plane from being destroyed.

Hikaru cobbled together a team from the local defense forces to put an end to things, with only a few Destroids and one wayward Valkyrie.

The infamous Destroid Spank attack.

They need some giant-sized cuffs.

You’re pushing your luck with me too, Hikaru.

After arriving back and running to meet Misa, who is still waiting, Hikaru gets back and apologizes, and Misa in her nearly limitless forgiveness accepts the apology. But I did say nearly limitless, because when they’re walking together and sharing the scarf that Minmay intended for herself, a booby trap is discovered. Much as the Supervision Army booby trapped the Macross when it fell to Earth, Minmay has added a diabolical feature to the scarf: her and Hikaru’s initials embroidered into the middle of the scarf with a heart between them. Misa is rightly pissed and leaves Hikaru to stand in the falling snow, hopefully reflecting on his actions. It’s a classic mistake in romance fiction, really, trying to use the gift or object from one love interest with another. Meanwhile Minmay is about to perform a concert, but when she gets on stage she won’t sing, even as the crowd tries to cheer her up by chanting. The concert cancelled, Minmay sits on the edge of the water when Kaifun comes over and has one of I think two moments of decency in the entire series. He questions what she’s singing for and tells her that she still doesn’t care about other people’s feelings. Even he’s had enough of her in her present state, and says that he’s going to leave, at least for now.

And it would’ve been if you had just ditched that scarf.

Ah, so that’s the scarf that Der Langrisser wanted to strangle Hikaru with.

Just not in her anymore.

Minmay needs some tough love if she’s ever going to get herself together again.

Sorry Kaifun, going out on a high note in no way undoes all the BS you’ve caused.

While everyone in more northern climes is preparing for Christmas, Kamjin and his forces are preparing for their own sort of celebrations, repairing a crashed Zentradi gunboat somewhere in near Jaburo (seriously, what a homage/reference to the original Gundam, there was even the lingering shots of the wildlife.) The Genshiken Team have moved onto a more appropriate, if less profitable, job selling model kits, and on their way home they spot Minmay sitting on a swing in a park alone. They try to say hello, but she runs off, turning up later at Hikaru’s door. Even if he wasn’t so indecisive lately, he can’t be blamed for inviting her inside given how cold, snow covered, and obviously distraught she is. There they have something warm to drink while she warms up, but it bodes ill for the future.

Maybe it’s a Gaw?

Their perfect job.

These were two really nice shots, I do love the falling snow background. Also note the contrast in the colors worn. Coincidence? I think not!

It’s already bothering me.

The bridge bunnies, and Misa? How do I get invited to this party?

Christmas Eve is not all carols and celebrations though. Kamjin needs components for the engine of his ship and has found out where they’re being stored. He personally leads several ships to find and seize the parts, and adding some strategy to his usual ‘guns blazing’ way of doing things, the UN team going out to intercept them is ambushed by Laplamiz’s forces who were waiting in the wreckage of a crashed ship. Millia and Max are leading the effort and engage in aerial combat with the Queadluuns, Millia and her old CO recognizing each other in the middle of it all. Eventually Kamjin finds the parts, and to prevent his forces from being pursued he orders the detonation of several incendiary bombs that were prepositioned in the city, forcing Hikaru and the others to return and help with firefighting and evacuations.

I’m not sure how any of those insurgents managed to survive a fight with Max AND Millia fighting against them.

I wish they had done more with Laplamiz and Millia in this scene apart from just the quick recognition of each other.

YES! Make the pineapple salad of your love, for its end is at hand!

The Apsalus?

Damn Kamjin and his micloned supporters. Large areas of the city ended up being destroyed by the fires he started.

Even through all of this, the residents of the city managed to keep their spirits up through Christmas Eve night. Carolers and then masses of people began singing Christmas carols, and friends and families still spent the night together in relative calm and happiness. Minmay ambushes Hikaru this night too, preparing dinner and cake for the two at his home. By the time he returns its all ready, and he falls for her ploy, even responding to her moving in for a kiss. Unacceptable!

I NEED a Macross Christmas ornament!

Still together as the oddest couples in this show.

Cuteness.

I can’t stand it, I know she planned it!

WWHHHHYYYYYYY!?

The next day Misa is standing, looking out at the city and despairing over having overheard Minmay asking Hikaru if she could stay at his place when once again Claudia, Savior of True Love appears before her and consoles her. Also helping to turn the day around for Misa is Captain Global calling her in to offer her command of a ship that will be built as the first of many to take humanity to the stars. With the Zentradi and the Supervision Army still out there, Earth cannot be the only place where humanity exists. Even though she had been contemplating leaving the military since she is having a hard time seeing Hikaru all the time, this changes her mind. On her way home she stops at Hikaru’s and makes a confession covering pretty much everything in the love triangle. She tells Minmay that she likes her songs, and while she can’t contribute to culture like Minmay, she can at least protect it. And then she comes out and tells Hikaru that she loves him before she leaves, and Hikaru starts to chase after her even with Minmay shouting at him not to go.

Claudia will not let this outrage stand! And ‘steal’ is the correct word.

I request assignment to this ship.

“Earth is the cradle of mankind, but one cannot stay in the cradle forever.” – Konstantin Tsiolkovsky.

He needed it spelled out for him.

Can’t stop the love Minmay!

Just as this happens Kamjin’s repaired ship finishes sneaking its way into Macross City and launches a barrage of missiles. With explosions going on all around them, Hikaru runs after Misa with Minmay chasing him and begging him to go with her to the shelters. At this point Hikaru seems to finally shake off the remnants of his on-again-off-again thing for Minmay amid the reality of the situation and realizes that when things get real and infatuation fades, Misa is the one he really wants by his side. That she’s the one who he shares his ideals and way of thinking with, and that she’s the one who will be there for him. The two make their way to their stations, and not long after that Kamjin’s ship fires its main cannon at the Macross, scoring a direct, but not crippling, hit. Capt. Global orders the bridge crew back to the old bridge and orders the Macross up for one last flight in defense of the city.

The moment of truth.

Hikaru leaves Minmay for the good, though he tells her that she’s never alone if she has her music.

Nice, realistic aerial shot from Hikaru’s VF-1S. .

“These are the old days, the bad days, the all-or-nothing days. They’re back!”

The Macross rises once more to defend humanity and its Zentradi allies! In one of the most badass scenes possibly ever the bridge crew reunites with their Captain on the bridge of the old ship and prepares to launch. The Valkyrie squadrons too are doing their part, with Hikaru making a daring strafing run on the enemy ship. All the while the opening theme plays in the background. Words can not adequately describe the pure win of this scene. I had to turn my speakers way up and watch it twice myself.

The gang’s back together.

HELL YEAH!

Makura no sora wo tsuranuite…

MAKUROSU! MAKUROSU!!!

The main cannon is then fired after the last Valkyries get out of the line of fire, but it’s not a direct, head-on hit. The ship survives intact enough to continue heading towards the Macross, with Kamjin and Laplamiz dead set on ramming it. The two have a surprisingly touching last few moments together, at first promising each other to survive and ‘make culture’ afterwards, though knowing that they’re on a one way trip. It’s probably the best way for things to have ended for the two of them, so completely unable to adapt to a peaceful life. While they killed a lot of people and caused a lot of problems, I can’t help but feel impressed with the purity and dignity of the manner in which they went out. Their ship doesn’t hit the Macross in the center like they had hoped, but their ship takes a good portion of the upper right part of the ship out before it crashes to the ground. Kamjin and Laplamiz, you were bastards, but I still tip my hat to you.

The last word of the Macross.

Almost enough.

Going out like a badass.

As deserved as it was, it’s still kind of noble and sad.

With the threat eliminated, Hikaru lands and meets Misa and as Minmay approaches we’re given closure on the love triangle. Hikaru has chosen Misa definitively by this point, and Minmay makes her future intentions clear: she’s going to move to a city somewhere far from him to try and rediscover why she sings and for whose sake. Misa offers to take her with them when the first colony ship departs for the Earth, so that her songs can be heard wherever humanity goes, and the two shake hands and reconcile their differences. Minmay gives Hikaru a goodbye kiss on the cheek, and walks away singing, leaving my OTP victorious the happy couple to start their lives together. Minmay goes out with class and determination to make her own future, and I respect that.

Someone to come back to.

A wise decision, especially considering what happened to Minmay when she lost sight of her goals.

Misa, gracious in victory.

And thus ends one of the greatest rivalries of all time.

I’ll allow it.

SUPER DIMENSIONAL DDAAAAWWWWW!

What a satisfying ending to such a great show! I’m at a loss for words to describe how much I enjoyed this.

This verse has ended. The Macross completed its final mission, its last fiery breath securing the future of all Terrans. Many were the conflicts ended on that day. And thus did Minmay return to her passion and Hikaru and Misa begin their lives together. Let the next verse begin.

Final Thoughts: – What a ride! Macross now takes its place with a select few science fiction anime in my list of favorites. As much of a Gundam fan as I am, it was a much better viewing than the original Gundam series, only falling behind it in one or two areas. While I wouldn’t say that I’m a convert to Macross over Gundam, this show is definitely on par with my favorite Gundam series (0083 and 08^th MS Team.)

- I enjoyed the almost contradictory featuring of the idea of returning to past times in the last episodes. Minmay used the idea to try and push Hikaru into leaving the military and attempting to recapture their early days, even after so much has changed. And the theme is used differently by Misa and the other members of the Macross crew in their one last fight at the controls of the Macross. In both it was a simultaneous remembrance of what was good about the past and the futility of trying to go back to how things were. In the latter case it was acknowledged, the crew knew the Macross wouldn’t stay in the air long and stoically fought their last fight, while with Minmay it was a delusional and unrealistic attempt to revive and maintain past qualities. With the final fight of the Macross (and the idea of the last, exhausting fight in general) it’s almost a celebration of the temporary nature of reviving the past.

- My gripes about the love triangle being stretched out a few too many episodes after it probably should have been resolved, it did have a very satisfying and complete ending to it. And oh yeah: both of my favorite couples got together in the end!

- MISA INVICTUS!

- It’s interesting to see two different approaches to the technology and mechanical design between this and the original Gundam. While the level of technological detail in later Gundams certainly beats that in this series, it’s too early for me to say that one does it better than the other because I have yet to watch everything between the original series and Frontier. But Macross definitely took a more holistic approach to its technology and equipment. The Macross operated like an aircraft carrier with shuttles and radar planes in addition to its compliment of Valkyrie fighters and Destroid ground units. There was more attention paid to the ground crew and maintenance areas as well. What the original Gundam does have over Macross is the attention to mechanical detail and the explanation thereof. These things might have occurred in the background of Macross, but in Gundam things like the magnetic coating upgrade and discussion of mass production plans were told to the audience.

- Despite the series being shortened and then lengthened during its run, there were very few throw away episodes. Only two, if I remember correctly, actually felt non-relevant. Everything else fit the story and was enjoyable to watch.

- Thank you again to everyone who had read these posts and to those who have commented. Having other people go through the show with me had made it that much more enjoyable, and the comments were interesting, entertaining, and exercised excellent spoiler discipline. Thank you one and all!

SDF Macross: Favorite Moments and Shots Image-spam

Hanging out with lecherous Roy.

Hikaru’s first flight.

Misa, master of teasing from the start.

Fish heads, fish heads.

Heading off to the ambush in the ring zone.

Misa and Hikaru after the Mars Base skirmish. Simply amazing, even if the animation is old.

The new recruits.

The Armored Valkyrie, the sexiest Valkyrie without a FAST pack.

The start of Minmay’s career.

Indeed.

Max throwing Britai out into space. Probably his most badass fight.

Britai and his wrench to the head move.

The Zentradi are introduced to culture: Misa and Hikaru’s first kiss.

Showing that she cares. This moment went a  long way towards making Hikaru realize that she cares about him, and for Misa to be able to admit to caring.

The beginning of great things for her and her target.

Roy downing another enemy craft while going right into the DANGER ZONE.

A man of many talents, and GAR right till the end.

On that day a great man was lost to all, and most importantly to Claudia.

The misfortunes of war struck down veteran and rookie alike.

The Omni-Directional Barrier overload explosion above Ontario.

Returning to base after losing Kakizaki and the city below. Something about the lighting and colors just communicates the feeling of emptiness even out of context.

Another moment of win for my OTP.

My favorite of Minmay’s songs, being sung for the first time.

Memories of better times for Claudia. Though she spent her time afterwards making sure that Misa and Hikaru wouldn’t repeat the mistakes that caused her and Roy to only come together near the end.

A smart enemy is an interesting enemy.

Hikaru in berserker mode after seeing Kaifun and Minmay together after the reversed Daedalus Attack.

A great use of a visual portrayal of past events as they’re being recounted by Misa.

My favorite sequence from the series, concluding a great scene. Visually, narratively, emotionally, and thematically it was among the best I’ve ever seen.

The game of love.

Claudia speaks the truth.

Max, smooth mofo that he is, turns a fight to the death into a chance for love.

Ranks right up their with the Colasaur-Mannequin wedding.

How could I not include this one?

A kiss at the end of the world.

Misa at her reunion with and rescue by Hikaru during the climactic battle of the Earth-Zentradi Conflict.

A new day rises.

At the war’s end.

Two years later there is still hope amidst the devastation.

A Misa masterstroke.

And then she outdoes herself again with her envelope full of pictures to compete with those of Minmay.

Peace isn’t easy, nor is it the end of things.

Oh Millia…

Misa didn’t hesitate on this one, she went right in for the kill.

Another couple ‘making culture’.

Misa tells Hikaru to do his damn job, and if that helps her out, then so much the better.

One of the ground crew shots that made the whole mechanical aspect of the show so much more complete than it would have been without.

Most men wouldn’t object.

Roy’s drunken confession, remembered and retold by Claudia to Misa.

Claudia’s plan realized.

ExecutiveOtaku’s Intro: Honey and Clover is a series that has been written about fairly extensively in the anime blogging community. It’s also a favorite of many. So when, as a brand new blogger, I found out that Scamp from Bokutachi no Blog was currently working his way through the series, I proposed that once he was done that we make a post comparing how two different people viewed the series. Having just recently finished it, he and I ended up having fairly different opinions on it. From my viewpoint as a huge fan of Honey and Clover, and he as someone more mixed in his opinion, we have collaborated to bring you this post displaying and contrasting our opinions on such a widely well regarded show. While the series ended three years ago now, I feel that it is rich enough to be worth a (semi) retro-editorial especially given our different opinions on it. I’ve also just always wanted to write more about it despite joining the blogging community a few years late, heh. We both hope you’ll enjoy this inter-blog, international collaboration between Scamp and myself and our differing opinions. We also invite your own comments and opinions in the comments section whether they agree with one of us, with neither of us, or with both of us (somehow…).

Just a word: it should go without saying that this will contain some amount of spoilers.

Overall impressions

The growth and experiences of the characters as they go through this time in their lives is so well done that someone who is also at that point in their life can identify with all of the characters at different moments. Sometimes Takemoto’s feeling of emptiness is something you experience, other times you’re in Yamada’s shoes, or at a particular moment you might feel more like Mayama trying to pursue your dreams but still confused or clumsy in doing so. Maybe you know a Morita (or are one), or are under pressure like Hagu, or stuck between trying to be cool and trying to be genuine as Nomiya was. At different times you are, or you know people who are, all of these characters. And even with so much else to love about this series, this ability to identify with the genuine emotions being conveyed through the screen is the true strength of the series.

Analysis

Conclusion

Now, after much anticipation, the subs are out for the final episode of the season of Sora no Manimani. While there is a DVD episode coming out (and Koharubi has stated that they will sub and release it), this is likely the last episode for actual narrative scenes since the DVD special is about events that happened before episode 10.This last episode also marks the first series I’ve blogged from start to finish, as well as the first series I ever posted about in general. Last episode Hime was recovered from the snowstorm, and now the club members are waking up and preparing for the day with an obligatory onsen scene…

Astronomy hangover.

Hime dual wielding showerheads.

Don’t worry Hime, how could they hold it against you with that face?

Oh my…

I’m surprised they didn’t scream and try to cover themselves.

As the club members are getting ready for their night of stargazing up on the mountain, Roma is sitting under an oppressive fog of exhaustion from studying for his college entrance exams when Oumi finds him. She offers him some gum to put a little sugar into his bloodstream and then suggests that they hang out. After first stopping at a book store for study guides she grabs his arm and asks to keep hanging out, taking him to a Chinese restaurant for dinner. Apparently she’s already known there from her family’s many visits, and after the meal she takes Roma up to the terrace. There, despite the city lights some bright stars are still visible, made clearer when she hands Roma her (coordinated to match her outfit) binoculars. Then, Oumi wants to BE FRIENDLY but stops a moment short when Roma is still clueless, though at least they get a cute picture together.

I’m glad I don’t live in a country where standardized tests determine your fate. SATs and GREs weren’t nearly this bad.

Oumi worries for her love’s sanity.

Wearing a Chinese-style shirt, Oumi has indeed planned this well in advance. I like that.

It’s those eyes! And speaking of, it’s a rare sighting of Roma’s eyes.

Roma, you’re only excused this one time due to test-induced stress.

They’re really going! The 40, the 30!

The 20! This is incredible!

Ooooh, Roma trips and he’s down! Well at least he’s set up with the first down near the endzone.

Nightfall on the mountain brings out the club members who begin setting up their astronomy and photography equipment. Edogawa has managed to use his connections with the Photography Club to bring enough cameras for everyone, and the girls school astronomy club has already found the Pleiades (M45). They’ve also already started freaking out about how moe the constellations and their mythology are, clearly making them equal opportunity fujoshi.

Ready to go in cute hats!

It’s not going to work, but you’re taking a step in a better direction. It’s easy to improve when your previous attempts included stalker photography and covering your nearly naked self in rose petals.

I love those two.

Orion was going for the harem end.

“If you only knew the power of the moe side.”

Then as the others are setting up the big catadioptric telescope Mihoshi reveals what her secret package was. Although her father’s telescope was destroyed in the accident, she was able to salvage his set of eyepieces and has brought them along. Evidently of a high quality, she gives them to the group to use for the night’s observations. After taking a moment to look up at the winter constellations and stars, Saku and Mihoshi head to the scope, where Saku is allowed to line up the scope with Saturn. While small and blurred from time to time by the wind, the planet becomes more detailed with focusing.

It wouldn’t be something of Mihoshi’s if it didn’t have drawings and stickers on it.

Bringing up the old memories one last time for the last episode.

A nice thematic touch, mentioning how the constellations from one year ago have come full circle around again.

:3

No wonder he’s having trouble, starting off with a 10mm eyepiece (larger number = less magnification but wider field of view. I usually start off with my 32mm then go up in magnification after centering an object.)

Wait, you’ve paid for that huge Vixen catadioptric and you didn’t buy a motorized mount?

I like how the show doesn’t sugarcoat how things can look and give viewers unrealistic expectations. Saturn and Jupiter are about this small, though you can get more detail in real life.

As an end of season thing we get a fairly long montage of everyone from the show, whether they are there on the mountain, at home, or on vacation. Mihoshi pauses it in the middle to tell Saku how her dream has been passed down from others who have shown her the stars and nurtured her interest, and how she plans to continue showing people the night sky. The other school’s club talks briefly about the seniors graduating, and Ann finds some more confidence to lead the club when her time comes to be president.

All has happened according to Mihoshi’s design.

“If I have seen a little further it is by standing on the shoulders of Giants.“

The club will be in good hands. Ann has found the confidence to be an Heir to the Stars.

Under the same sky.

And our Queen Fumie deservedly gets Her own scene, not merely a quick shot and a line! All hail the Queen of Souei High, who in Her benevolence and compassion has brought Her Literature Club to a hot springs to aid them in their writing. While making sure that Her followers have actually done some work on their vacation, She mistakenly talks to the bamboo pipe in the corner on account of not wearing Her glasses in the bath. And then one of Her followers looks up to see a shooting star and the three look up at the same sky that ties all the characters together.

Everyone gets some parting screentime.

Ah, my Queen. “President of the Student Council, President of the Literature Club, President…of your heart.”

Poor Fumie without Her glasses.

I especially like the framing on the second shot.

Once the new school year starts the Astronomy Club mounts its campaign to recruit new members and maintain their minimum club size now that Roma has graduated and has gone to be all rabu-rabu with Oumi in college. Mihoshi’s star suit certainly gets attention, but doesn’t work very well for her surprise Saku hugs. Hime then gets a little end of season scene too. Now separated from Saku in their new classes, she’s worried about not being able to see him. While she still has the Astronomy Club, she’s still worried until she asks Saku if she can peek in on his class from time to time. Re-energized with fighting spirit, Hime takes to the love battlefield once more. She’ll keep fighting! And she’ll win!

Falling star.

I loved Saku’s instant, deadpan reply of “No.”

OTP accomplished!

These are the adventures of the Souei Astronomy Club. Its continuing mission: to bring us new astronomy info and new mythology, to seek out new characters and new love polygons, to boldly do better concepts that other series have done before!

Edogawa might have an outside chance if she were to ever give up on Saku.

This picture might be redundant, but it’s too cute. Go Hime!

Stay strong Hime.

The credits begin to roll as we get one last scene. Saku has written up a flyer to advertise for the Astronomy Club and he and the other members begin passing it out to the new students. And as he’s doing so Her Highness returns to the fray! Taking a flier, she looks it over while Saku congratulates her on being reelected as Student Council President. While She sees Saku’s writing skills as going to waste in service to the Astronomy Club, She compliments it and clearly blushes even more while Her underlings tease Her. Then, as at the start of the series, Mihoshi has climbed to the top of the school, throwing little foil stars and calling out for new members.

YES! She’s back in the fight. Sorry Scamp and other Hime shippers, my joining your ship was predicated on Fumie being out of the fight. Though the enemy of my enemy is my friend, so I declare that I will take no offensive action against Hime until such time as our common enemy is defeated.

While Fumie could easily rule by right and competence, She even allows the plebs to have a vote. As if they would pick anyone else.

“Join me Saku, and together we can rule Souei as tsundere and tsunderella.”

All of this has happened before, and all of this will happen again.

And I’m really, really, really looking for another season!

Yes please!

Final Thoughts: – Oh why did they have to leave so much unresolved? I need moar!

- Oumi X Roma FTW. I’m sure that missed opportunity on the restaurant roof was only a minor bump on the road to happiness.

- Fumie getting back into the fray was very pleasing to this blogger. I really didn’t expect that they’d bring her back as an interested party after almost a whole episode walking her off stage.

- I’ve had a lot of fun blogging this series. It’s the first one that I’ve ever blogged, and the first one to blog until completion. I’ll definitely blog a second season if one comes out, and I’ll certainly make a post about the DVD special.

- The show was also the spark that got me back into astronomy and even getting more organized about it, buying a telescope and taking notes while I’m out there.

- I’d like to thank the readers and commenters for being part of the experience. You guys make it all worth doing and just that much more fun.

- Special thanks to my shipping rivals Scamp and RabbitPoets for the dueling blog entries. Isn’t it odd that we all instantly took to different characters, that there was no overlap? It worked out perfectly.

- IRL Sora Mani: After about two weeks of really crappy weather I’ve had two decent nights to get out and stargaze. Since getting the new set of eyepieces and filters I’ve been able to see a lot more clearly too. I’ve also tried out that light cannon thing, and it doesn’t work. I’ll try holding a flashlight to the eyepiece tonight, but I really doubt it works. As fall has come along I’m starting to see different constellations, even the winter ones if you stay out late enough. Below are a few from recent outings. Some were taken with the camera mount, some without, and some without the telescope. Full resolution here.

Taken through a 32mm eyepiece with a #23A light red filter. Kind of evil looking.

The Pleiades star cluster (Messier 45) taken through my starter 25mm eyepiece. The blue glow from the surrounding nebula shows in my newer, better eyepieces, unfortunately the ones I took last night came out really blurry. Hopefully I’ll have better pictures in time for the DVD episode post.

Perseus in the upper right, taken with my camera without telescope on 15 second exposure. Added the sepia tone in Paint.net to bring out the contrast. Easier to see more stars at full resolution.

MASSIVE Image Spam of Best Moments and Fumie Love (in case there just weren’t enough images in this post.)

Our Queen, showing her many sides as competent leader, tsundere sweetheart, strict enforcer, quiet intellectual, and touchingly sweet love interest.

Members of the club that made it so entertaining, and Mihoshi’s relentless pursuit of Saku.

Our fluffy princess. Long has she stood against insurmountable odds!

The relentless, inexhaustible, master of chibi faces: Mihoshi.

Saku, who went from wanting to read peacefully to fully embracing astronomy. Plus his very entertaining mother.

Ah, a couple that did happen (even if we didn’t get the on screen kiss we should have.) Club president couple! Roma, whose health could never match his enthusiasm, and Oumi, the one with the mysterious, deep eyes.

Edogawa: Comic relief done right.

And let’s not forget the supporting cast. Sayo never really got much development, but she was fun to have around. Plus the mythology fujoshi from the all girls school and Haruka, mistress of the planetarium.

See you space cowboy.

a blogger called Jaalin confessed his confusion. He links to other people.

But the thing is.

I am Jason Mraz. [here's my entire life story condensed into a single image, since it's basically worth over nine thousand words]

I have a huge fetish for K-ON. I even tried to write down a lot of the music. Well, the music kind of sucked, but it has a lot of moe, so you can see why I like it.

I wanted to incorporate the sounds of K-ON in my new single to try and bring out a new evolution in western indie music! That would be a lot of fun, right? While the music in K-ON sucks, my music is good, so it balances out. Not only that, but the strange asian music that thinks that it is western brings an exotic blend to my music. I wish to share to all of you otakus my new music that blends east and west, better and less better, my music, and K-ON’s music.

While there are many damsels in distress there are few damsels like Alphard. However any lass can become an ojou-sama from a distinguished family that has been continued for a thousand years, skilled in both literary and military arts,  with wit and beauty, the intensity of summer, the grace of autumn, the pride of winter, and the gentleness of spring…all it takes is effort. (Thanks to Kabitzin for letting me use his photoshops)

So since Hinano raged once again about lasses who could not save themselves I thought it was time to write the manual to help young otome everywhere learn how to look out for themselves. Certainly these days males have increasingly taken the hippie path and cower in fear at the mere thought of being drafted, some go as far as draft dodging before a draft begins, so as the not all males are men, as men do no cower and have a sense of duty to some one or something other than their own personal safety. I suppose with this hippie path that male pissants increasingly take, that it is time to make up for the shortfall and make comrades out of those women who have no desire to be coddled or held back by male puss cakes. While there is much talk of love being the highest relationship between human beings nothing could be further from the truth as comrades are in every way superior to boyfriends or girlfriends (who are by all accounts prone to treachery). The bond between two comrades can only be forged in the fires of battle, sealed through mutual bloodshed, and is guarded by the souls of the dead. Perish the fool who would dare betray such a bond!

The first thing that every lass who wants to be bad ass needs to do is take a bit of advice from the Jackal who once stated that, “You can’t break a man the way you break a dog or a horse. The harder you beat a man the taller he stands. To break a man’s will, to break his spirit, you have to break his mind. You see boys have this idea that we can fight with dignity. That there is a proper way to kill someone, it’s absurd it’s an aesthetic. We need to endure the bloody horror of murder? You must destroy this idea, show them what messy terrible thing it is to kill a man, and show them that you relish in it. Shoot to wound and then execute the wounded, burn them. Take them in close combat, destroy their preconceptions of what a man is and you become their personal monster. When they fear you, you become stronger, you become better, but let’s never forget that it’s just a display, a posture like a lion’s roar or a gorilla thumping at it’s chest. If you lose yourself in the display, if you succumb to the horror you become the monster. You become reduced not more than a man but less and it can be fatal.” If you can accept this much then it is well worth taking notes from the Great Prince Alphard who is pretty much the Queen of Summer as she has no equal. Unlike Hinano I do not discriminate and welcome any lass that is strong with the yuri to become bad ass and beautiful at the same time, only such people can be esteemed comrades.

You don’t have to be a damsel in distress to get BEST END, it’s less about finding some poncy prince than demonstrating your superiority long enough for other people to realize how great you are.

It is indeed a sad state of affairs that the damsel in distress has become so annoyingly common, but until Japanese women decide that enough is enough and they ditch their inferior men it seems that they will continue to fantasize about getting rescued. In truth such people will wait in vain and never know of the proper way of getting a partner. The problem is not only damsels in distress but also the low quality of boys that pass themselves off as men. It is sad that there are so many jack asses in anime and only a few like Patrick. While poor Patrick isn’t the smartest guy out there, only the AEU no Ace happened upon true love. His contemporaries however were very much a Japanese sort in that in order to remain manly they opted to make their women more oppressed to make up for their sissy girly man ways:  Saji downgraded Louise, Anew chose death rather than be with Lyle, and Haptism banished Soma to get his little play thing. If only more guys were like Patrick, who could respect the fact that marrying above them was a good thing, and admit that because they aren’t good at everything they need to find a woman who will make up for their short comings. At least God made it clear that Patrick got it right when poor Patrick got the BEST END and married the only woman of quality left in the series. Not that Kati got the short end of the deal either as she was in the enviable position of having a brave, if a bit dumb, man for a husband, whose loyalty is absolute and has no problem deferring to her judgment. Patrick also treats her like a queen and no matter what she did to him he always loves her and forgives just about everything. So in a sense after having spent most of her time on her illustrious career (Making Brigadier General is no small feat) she got BEST END too as her rival Sumeragi wasted her time chasing boys and got strapped with he stalker Billy. So at least there are instances of women finding guys without having to call out for rescue every five minutes, strangely though it happened in Gundam of all places instead of shoujo.

Never get caught in an alley without a pistol.

To be sure girls needing rescue is a persistent problem, in reality and in fiction, and the same solution comes up every time…weaponry. First thing every lass needs is a pistol, it’s the great equalizer and with proper training and enough range time, accuracy can make up for the small size of the round. Even a big man can be felled with a single accurate shot. However, I advise against simply settling for head shot (because that is just showing off), no instead use the three round rule, one in the head, and two in the heart. It is highly advisable that any aspiring bad ass lass should take a page from the reigning Queen of the Summer Season, Alphard onee-sama. Alphard has excellent choice in weaponry as she started out with the FN P-90 and eventually settled on the FN Five-Seven, every girl who wants to kick ass and take names should take note. Not only did Alphard go with a good reputable manufacturer but in choosing the 5.7×28mm rounds she selected a round with high muzzle velocity and low recoil, which is perfect for her desire to kill her target and have bad ass aim at the same time. The 5.7×28mm was also designed to punch through body armor so if Alphard ever has to fight an armored target at least she has a better chance than if she simply chose a 9mm. Given that the average girl who wants to be bad ass but not be built like a house, a .45 might give a bit too much recoil and Desert Eagle, while great for intimidation, is simply over kill and will probably destroy your accuracy if your intention is to get off as many rounds in the shortest span of time. Those who would do a woman harm often underestimate their targets if you have chosen your weapon well and have diligently gone to the tactical range as often as possible, you can make this their first and last mistake…

While understandably not all women who wish to be bad ass have access to legal weapons, but that is all the more reason to support one’s rights to bear arms. Even if an assailant were to have a weapon of his own so long as you have superior training and more lethal aim and killer intent you will be victorious as little boys often forget to take care of their weapons and usually have shit taste in guns. In any case lack of fire arms is no excuse for defeat, as tazers, pepper spray, Gerber knives, and your fists are usually legal unless your country just flat out sucks that much, in which case you ought to consider moving to a place where you can have an arsenal that can put the fear in any would be attacker.

While the FN Five-Seven is Alphard’s weapon of choice all those 5.7×28mm rounds she has work perfectly well with her FN P-90 when she needs to kill lots of poncy princes on horses.

I’ll be honest women have it hard, if you want to have that nice figure you are going to have to work your ass off in aerobics class. However looking gorgeous, delicious, and deculture, while being able to kick ass are not inherently incompatible. If you are of the opinion that you cannot look good and kick ass at the same time, you have self esteem issues and are fucking lazy and worthless to me and everyone else. In short such people are unwilling to be any comrade of mine and as a result will be dragged off to some loser’s bed in the event of war. No you can look good and kick losers into traffic by simply adding a few things to your daily workout. More likely than not you weren’t born pretty, you had to work for your waist line and as such you are probably more fit than most boys your age, in fact if you are a dancer you are by default more athletic than most people, only American Football players come anywhere near close in overall fitness. In line with this Alphard does have her own womanly charm, but despite her seemingly light build she has a lot of muscle mass behind it. Just like Bruce Lee it is not about how much brute force you can put out, but how good you are at economy of force. Like Alphard Bruce Lee was not built like a house, but he used his knowledge of human physiology to get the most out of every physical action. To be sure if you are capable of two finger push ups and the dreaded one inch punch you are a force to reckoned with, but more than likely you have yet to have such lethal skills, but nevertheless economy of force is important as one smart blow to the right weak point can have catastrophic effects on an opponent. Even in cases of disparity in strength redirection techniques like the ones you see in Aikido should suitably frustrate a single attacker until you can land the final blow. Always remember that Muhammad Ali did not simply say fly like a butterfly and sting like a bee for shits and giggles, even in boxing it’s about economy of force and not wasting your power attacks fruitlessly.

Just because Alphard was ambushed while wearing a dress didn’t mean that she was going to surrender meekly, that is why she is Damsel Dealing Death and not a Damsel in Distress.

Lastly there is the issue of what noble steed you should have. Certainly it seems that losers on horses are a dime a dozen, but fundamentally a horse is just as logistically troublesome as a tank. So instead of having a horse that is to be frank very fragile, it is far better to go with a tank or if technology allows mecha. At no point in time did a horse ever trump a big bad mecha, only in the case of Fuunsaiki, though admittedly the lose of being a horse was negated by being a horse that piloted a horse mecha. Nevertheless a guy on a horse with a lance is not going to do much against anything save for ill-disciplined infantry or unarmed people. Thus one should take up archery not only to look more like a lady, but to also be able to shoot out the horse from under the douche bag that calls himself a prince, that way you can possibly hear the clean snap of his neck as he tumbles to his doom While aesthetically archery seems much more refined and cultured do no skimp on sniper skills either as even a Barrett M82 is only deadly when it actually hits a target and no living animal on land can survive a direct hit with a .50 calibre round for very long. Even if death is not instantaneous you can enjoy watching the would be prince bleed out slowly as he calls for his mommy.

While Alphard has a petite build she has very little body fat and can thus deliver blows with more force than her small frame would suggest as one can see from the state of Canaan’s face.

While your martial prowess can far exceed that of any would be assailant never forget that such people will resort to dirty tricks to incapacitate you, so always have a battle buddy that you can count on when going out, keep positive control of your drink, and if that annoying guy asks one too many times break a few of his fingers as a warning. Remember you are the first line of defense in rescuing yourself, and to be sure if you will not do all you can to save yourself you probably aren’t worth saving and deserve to be a slave to some poncy prince. Never forget that a damsel in distress is probably a damsel deserving of death.

Sometimes life can imitate art retroactively….this is the sea story of one such incident.

Well seeing as at the time of writing I have been in ordered into a short exile by my employer I might as well rant about all the bullshit I had to endure at AX from asinine panels to the underwhelming Masquerade since internet is slow here. After doing paper work and pretty much getting some military paper work done, though I need to put an APB on Impz and (I finally burned him out…) Haesslich for one little thing that will bring them great benefit for their rooms (all are at the time of writing frustratingly MIA), I have simply run out of things to do. Still I suppose it is probably best time to get the Morning Musume panel and concert out of the way. To be honest I went into AX ready to hold them in utter contempt since their handler, hence forth known as the Mouth of Sauron, was tossing her weight around the press junket and decided who it was that would get the “honor” of holding an interview with Morning Musume. Being a gaijin barbarian I had severely underestimated them…

Morning Musume when exposed to light…

Morning Musume at night…

For those who don’t know Morning Musume is basically the Menudo of Japan, only instead of boys they recruit girls who are under 23 (though age is not always the reason for “graduating”). The only thing I really knew before being exposed to their black magic was that most were born around 1989, in which case their ascension were heralded by an earthquake that struck San Francisco and split the Berlin Wall asunder. I probably should have read up on them before hand as they were the originators of the theme for AX that year. Perhaps then I would have come across this:

“Those who used the Nine Microphones became mighty in their day, bards, sorcerers, and warriors of old. They obtained glory and great wealth, yet it turned to their undoing. They had, as it seemed, unending life, yet life became unendurable to them. They could walk, if they would, unseen by all eyes in this world beneath the sun, and they could see things in worlds invisible to mortal men; but too often they beheld only the phantoms and delusions of Tsunku (a.k.a. Sauron). And one by one, sooner or later, according to their native strength and to the good or evil of their wills in the beginning, they fell under the thraldom of the microphone that they bore and of the domination of the One which was Sauron’s. And they became forever invisible save to him that bore the Ruling Microphone, and they entered into the realm of shadows. The Nazgûl were they, Morning Musume, the Ulairi, the Enemy’s most terrible servants; darkness went with them, and they cried with the voices of death.” –Record of the Lodoss War

Morning Musume’s Translator/Handler at AX’09

Their Fanclub HQ…

At the panel the Mouth of Sauron was pwning the noobs who dared to ask questions as not straight answer was given that the ignorance of their orc armies was evident as some did not know that a few of them has been voice actors for some anime series. Still if nothing else the host of Minas Morgul were certainly loud and numerous. Even if I think the Mouth of Sauron was all high and mighty she did have enough skill to shut people up and outright change their questions. Still after the Nine name dropped Pink’s Hotdogs I assume there might have been an even longer line there for some time. Well except Sunday since the Nine were summoned back to Barad-dur.

In any case while they roamed about Los Angeles they did address their infernal host of glow stick wielding Uruk-hai at a concert that I actually got a fairly decent seat for, even if I had to banish a few Mordor trolls to claim it. Like Earnur, 33rd King of Gondor, I was a fool for trying to challenge the Nine and for my impudence I was struck by Koharu “the Shadow of the East” Kusumi, Commander of Dol Guldur, with a Black Dart. It is true that their powers are greatly increased by the darkness, and that their Black Breath is indeed no joke, as I would discover to my utter horror. The only moment the faltered was when they hissed something about global warming, but even then their lethality was scarcely reduced. Such was my horror and subsequent stupor that I forgot to put the rest of my music onto my iPhone and only had their infernal shrieks from which I hoped to gain forbidden knowledge on the mics of power from which to mock them as having no talent. Coupled with the effects of their fell sorcery and my exile to Virginia with agonizingly slow internet meant I would have nothing else to listen to.

Already I can feel the weariness overtake me as their catchy songs become increasingly pleasant. Soon I will become a dwimmerliak in service of the dread captain of Dol Guldur as punishment for my insolence. It was as if I had been cursed by Glaurung himself as the one who bested me was a tall and fair lass of less than 20 winters and was the one who once donned the guise of Kirari from Kirarin Revolution. Oh unhappy fate for me to have been beguiled by a shojo heroine. Forever more, I shall love her and despair…

Kawamori was Right

It was as it were the perfect analogy…

He did it to me again…

I think it was ghostlightning who once mentioned in passing that Macross is full of fanciful BS, a song ending a war after all is rather fantastic. In any case I went into the concert as a man on a mission of malice out of pure fucking meaness, and I was expecting to loathe them (and write a post to incite a huge flood of hits from their white knighting hordes of fans, sadly some one already did something similar and successfully), but I really should have known better as a Macross Lifer. The power of song is certainly not to be underestimated and even if I didn’t understand much of it, their songs were catchy enough that I enjoyed myself. They probably can’t write a much of a song on their own, but still as a soldier who knows how brutal military drill can be (I was in color guard and drum corps when the world was young) I can respect them for working hard enough to do it for years at a time. Given that they never chose to be in the same group and were drafted to work together in a sense their dance routines seem all the more impressive for it since they all have to share the spotlight. I was ready and eager to call them the IRL Sakura-dan of White Album infamy. I was even prepared to go as far as mocking Jun Jun, as having been originally named Chun Li but was so backward they had to change it. Indeed my malice was quite excessive and my haterd unfounded. Nevertheless considering how rigorous their generational drafts (auditions) are and how the producer even went as far as taking no one at all in one audition, they are less like bard conscripts and more like bard commandoes.

I suppose I should have taken more heed of the bards of the Macross Universe. Even if Sheryl was irritating at first she became endearing because she worked hard to get where she was, even if Grace was the undisputed master of propaganda. I do think it was my respect for the great Sheryl-sama that I didn’t dismiss their efforts out of hand and operate under the assumption that their job was easy. Given that the media gives more of shit about them fucking up than me; I suppose not being under an electron microscope makes my job easier in that I can fuck up and not get in too much trouble supposing there is no body count of consequence. In the case of Minmay, she might have been a deplorable woman but she did have talent and the power of song. I suppose it was simply a case of life imitating art as the Zentradi were also laid low by an underage idol. In that sense I probably got what I deserved for walking into one of their concerts with an axe to grind before I even listened to their songs.

Bards like her do exist.

Life is funny, as at the time I just simply went to help cover the event, only to walk out a fan and picking out the 16, now 17, year old (I assumed that since they got graduated at their mid twenties that they ranged 17-22.) as the cutest since she was comparatively tall (which I assumed to be an indicator of age), hardly broke a sweat (Which I assumed was the result of years of strength and endurance training. After all dancers are among the fittest people in the world in terms of overall muscle strength, like a gymnast), and had a pony tail (a fatal weakness of mine in this case). My full horror only came about after reading the wiki article on them (truly ignorance would have been bliss). Ah well even if I can no longer give Char crap about choosing Lala Sune anymore, at least it was a young lass who is living the shojo heroine dream that robbed me of the moral high ground. At least I can give Char crap for having shit taste…

In the end I can see how they managed to sell so many CDs and have a fandom that counts significant numbers outside of Japan.

Her song ended a war.

Her song ended my string of Char likes jailbait jokes…

The Black Captain of the Nine. Do not pursue her! Far off yet is her doom, and not by the hand of man will she fall.

Ai Takahashi, Lord of Carn Dûm, is capable of taking out whole kingdoms as Arthedain, Rhudaur, and Cardolan found to their cost…

Their like I had long assumed was confined to 2D…

Little did I know that such was shojo heroine power that they were capable of becoming 3D; as such IN THE NAME OF THE MOON she punished me.

It was pretty much like having underestimated GARby, the consequences were quite drastic.

Kawamori then sent me this post card with a message, “MERRY CHRISTMAS ZENTRADI SCUM. LISTEN TO THEIR SONG! LOL newfag.”

It seems that Ritsu got the best plot thread this time around.

So it’s finally over and it seems this time the atmosphere was suitably muted, though not much music was made, but instead I suppose that they did gel a bit more as friends. Yui being Yui was pretty standard with her antics and wanting weird food for a hot pot. Mugi-chan got a job, Azu-nyan baby sat a kitten, and Mio went off to write another song, but it seems that Ritsu was the special one this time around who thought that she had a love letter on her hands…though it turns out that they were “lyrics” sent to Ritsu by Mio. As Ritsu is not he sharpest knife in the drawer I suppose she did not pick up on how she was the one Mio was writing about. It was odd seeing another side of Ristu that haddn’t really come out before, this time she was actually concious of how she looked and we meet one member of her family, the only thing is I am not sure why this was the time to do all that. Mugi-chan might not be the best cashier in the world I respect that she is willing to work a day in her life, if not longer. Azu-nayn was woefully unprepared to take care of a kitten, and should have at least asked for food, and the number for the veterinarian. Still having seen college girls buy a puppy as a single unit I suppose the logistics involved with a pet was not much of a consideration. I did feel that Sawa-chan was sorely missing from this episode as she should have been dateless and still looking to harass her charges…

Seriously a dog is better.

Overall it wasn’t the best series EVAR, but it was enjoyable even if the music did not feature as prominently as I had initially hoped. I suppose as a slice of life thing it works as a tale of a club of four and later five girls and their very talented Teacher Advisor. To be sure there was lots of moe fodder to be had, but in the end it was kind of the point even if it got excessive at times. In the end I can only really recommend it for yuri subtext, moe, and some moments of comedy. On that level it does succeed, but it is hardly ground breaking.

Giving you mouth to mouth…

I see Mugi-chan’s habbits are starting to rub off on the rest as well…

I guess Ritsu also gets maidenly feelings too.

Some nothing…

Mugi-chan could sense that Ritsu might fall…

Mio should have confessed at this point.

Oh look a job!

Like I said cats suck.

She works hard for the money…

Kind of scary but I do like those twin tails…

Wow so there is someone who can do worse than British cuisine…

I can see why Ritsu would rather have Ui…

If only she changed up her hair every now and then…

For once I agree with Yui.

It’s so fun to watch.

It’s good to be the center of attention, yes?

If only the adoring public could verify that…

If only I could reach into the screen.

I bet she is…

That sounds pretty damn intimate.

I can see where she drew her insipiration from…

Mio must be curious then…

I think Mio meant from a different aspect probably from the vertical…

“Lyrics” must be code for yuri confession, duly noted.

Well what say you?

It was even hand written…as they say, it is written.

Ah memories…

Well about two months ago back in April I should have marked my 2nd blog anniversary but things have not really been normal to say the least. Well I suppose that this post will at least mark the start of my terrible twos in which case quality will plummet as will output (Mwahahahaha). I started the year off by getting my apartment broken into and making E-5. Now that my academic career is at an end it basically fell upon me to make good on my newfound responsibilities at work, which meant having a whacked out schedule of extended hyperactivity every now in then. In July it will be a brutal month as I get to fly to Virginia twice in the same month to the same place, knowing what I know now it basically means four or more red eye flights unless the paper work goes over well. Still I do get to make the traditional after graduation road trip, and hopefully that will be a bit more interesting than the usual. While summer looks to be a hit or a miss at least there is the promise of the Macross Movie (Which will be Gorgeous Delicious DECULCHA!). So here goes the mandatory late as hell rant I am supposed to do at the end of every blog year, which is conversely an opportunity to muse aimlessly in a futile effort to put together a post.

Oh Mazinger Z how I lament that your tale is shrouded in obscurity.

While Impz might have gone from gun monkey to desk jockey in the Singaporean Corps of Conscripts, I haven’t earned the right to chain myself to a desk just yet, to be perfectly honest I am finding just how magical a time being an E-5 is. I get the headaches of an E-6, and the physical exhaustion of being an E-4, but at least I do get a little extra here and there and most importantly I am still low enough on the great totem pole to evade responsibility. I also just lost my other half (partner in crime/co-worker) so I get to have twice the work load until I finish training the E-4, but at least she’s a good learner and I don’t have to baby sit an E-3 with “issues.” All in all I am edging towards the point that I might end up as exhausted as Zeon. I suppose this comes with the territory as I suspect that most bloggers are students rather than overworked soldaten, certainly there will probably come a point where the number of posts per week simply declines.

Also now that college is over and done with I actually got back into my other hobbies, and oddly enough while I have some issues with Valkyria the anime I still love the game to pieces to the point I actually want to do my Imperial Guard in Gallain colors and find some local saint who does resin casting for female Cadians/Kasrkin because I must have a model to represent Jane “Kill ‘em All” Turner (hey if anyone knows one drop a line). It also saddens me that there is very little enthusiasm for Shin Mazinger Z, but I suppose it might be time to bring out the reserves of stuff I have been meaning to watch but haven’t, Guin Saga, Eden of the East, etc. I still need to settle for a format on doing VOTOMS since condensing it into one post per arc would make it tl;dr, not that I think too many people are interested in going back in time to see what mecha was before yaoi, cowards, harem, and idiot soapbox preaching started taking hold.

I suppose it has been good going for the last two years plus some, but it has been a long time since I actually watched a shoujo series since Skip Beat! ended, though I am hoping there will be a point where the anime starts up again. Still the manga is still running along smoothly so it partially makes up for it. I suppose I am growing old if it’s becoming more fun to reminisce about the old days. If nothing else at least when Gundam 00 aired I could placate myself with the additional activity of praising the Immortal Colasour and his marrying above him. Well so far it’s been a good run even if productivity has slackened as of late. I hope that there will be a series that I will genuinely love to pieces that I can put into words come summer. As much as I like Shin Mazinger Z it’s pretty simple and I suppose very niche these days as it lacks modern aspects of mecha. Valkyria is turning out to be a re-interpretation of the game storyline that I don’t find terribly agreeable but it was always meant to be a festival of mediocrity that only fans of the game would stick with to the bitter end. Ah well with a Gundam Unicorn Movie due out within my life time and the promise of a Macross Frontier Movie with 70% redone animation I guess there is much to look forward to. So as a extremely premature celebration of a Macross Frontier largely free of QUALITY animation IMAGE DUMP GO!

There is a correlation…

Ui is indeed bold…but is she daring?

Well it seems that there is one last hurrah for the K-ON group, and at least there was a good concert for once though I was hoping Sawa-chan would also grab a costume to fit in for the first song. Still Ui did put on a convincing front while cosplaying as Yui, it was a masterful deception, but she was undone by her over politeness and Sawa-chan’s accurate assessment of bust size. I guess this is yet more proof that Sawa-chan is more interested in girls. I also very much liked the Mugi-chan fashion show which was simply awesome, in fact it even overawed the normally taciturn Mio, who was possessed by the yuri. I would have gone with he qipao or bunny girl outfits but I guess the modified yukata was good enough. I am still surprised that Yui is getting far more love than Ui who has demonstrated what great waifu material that she is. The only question I really have left at this point is what did Nodoka do will a bath tub full of crayfish, certainly that would have made for some good eating. Ah well it will all be over for reals soon, I wonder what they will come up with next. One last note, Yui has some weird dreams. Still I highly approve of Yui attempting to kiss Azu-nyan, and as far as I am concerned they connected.

Ah the fruits of Sawa-chan’s labors.

Combat Waitress?

This one is my favorite.

I was hoping for Hell’s Bunny but this is fine too.

Indeed Mugi-chan is smexy.

A most convincing disguise…

Yeah was Yui ever this good?

Ui has many talents…

Though her ability to excel will be her undoing…

Mio you might have to do a strip search to confirm identity.

Oh Ui you were just too perfect…

…and too polite.

Yeah Ricchan sounds better.

Mugi-chan sounds more proper if you ask me…

Ui proves her superiority once again…

Fret not Ui the myth of Yui’s murderous intent was all a fabrication, from one disgruntled denizen that was sent to a former penal colony…

Indeed it seems drafting Ui would solve all of your problems…

Damn I wish I could trade places with Yui right about now…

Loli Nodoaka just doesn’t feel right without her glasses…

Oh can I glomp Azu-nyan too?

:3

It happened I tell you!

Ah the Legendary Weapon of Sawa-chan.

Insert cherry popped joke here.

Get use to the feeling, Mugi-chan your tea making was not in vain.

You’re late.

I wanted her to go WILD.

I still have trouble considering Yui as the succesor to Sawa-chan.

Damn right, now these kids have taste.

At least you get to sing this time.

They have yet to exceed your greatest feats though Sawa-chan.

Thank you for providing the politcal muscle Nodoka.

Great minds think alike Yuri Party! Encore!

One of the most memorable daytos of the year.

I just finished my mandatory two weeks a year and got my ersatz degree, which was actually a brochure for the alumni association as the real thing will be mailed in a few months time… In any case after slaving away for Uncle Sam it is time to slave away for Impz who is in turn slaving away on his dissertation. The beach episode felt very familiar though the addition of Azu-nyan changed things a bit though I was more fixated on Ui and Azu-nyan going on dates. I suppose that since Azu-nyan was a later addition that the integration had to happen fairly quickly and certainly it is a plus that Azu-nyan likes to get hugged. I am glad that Mugi-chan was able to have another sleep over and spa time with her friends…I am sure that she found it very eventful. Nevertheless I did enjoy Sawa-chan who actually did a forced march through the night to catch up with her lovely charges, and Azu-nyan and Mio certainly too notice, and I must commend Sawa-chan for devising a fool proof way of identifying them in under conditions of poor visibility. I did disagree with Mugi-chan for calling off the NICE BOAT for a bit of fun on the sea, but I suppose that in a few years that there will be time for that. Still a small hint of what might have been was delightful.

So would every one…

Certainly it seems that the bully Mio trend has gotten into full swing as Sawa-chan did devise a most interesting rite of initiation, even better she decided to start with the best part. Now that Azu-nyan is also ruined for marriage she too will have no where else to go but K-ON. The spat between Ritsu and Mio was most unfortunate as it seems that Ritsu holds a special place in her heart for Mio. I don’t hold any one party to be guilty certainly the end did justify the temporary ill will as Nodoka is now part of K-on whether she knows it or not. After all a band that begs together, stays together. While Mugi-chan was unable to diffuse the fight, it is good to see that Azu-nyan realized that she had a secret weapon in her arsenal that might very well bring peace on earth. In the end I hope Ritsu and Mio are not more closely bound to one another that their destinies will be as intertwined as their corporeal bodies. While I suspect Ritsu is fairly low on the popularity rankings there is no denying that she is probably number one in Mio’s heart as Ritsu knows the sound of Mio’s footsteps and that their minds are one, which can only mean one thing…that they have spent many a night together, though doing precisely what is a matter of debate… Still congratulations to Nodoka in joining Sawa-chan’s garden of otome, I hope she takes well to her initiation which I hope will come with much pomp and ceremony with Sawa-chan’s inventive outfits.

Next time there better be a good concert…

Wouldn’t we all…

Ritsu likes having a little sister like Azu-nyan…

Some girls have all the luck…

Well get in there Ritsu, you are family after all…

Et tu, Mugi?

Ah paradise…

Oh Ritsu even in other people’s fantasies you are always copping a feel.

Yes it seems we are invading Normandy again, it won’t be the last time this year either…

I like it when Mugi-chan is all flustered.

You now Mio you should do the Mugi dance too…

It seems Ritsu-nee also knows how to push Azu-nyan’s buttons too…

Yes time for the two of you to have some alone time, yes…

Well you should help your little sister…

Next year it will be the Palace of Versailles.

Why not…

I like a lass who likes explosives.

You require more firepower.

How about adding more fuel?

A happy Mugi-chan is a lovely Mugi-chan.

I cannot help but be moved to pity for poor Sawa-chan.

Optimal postion…

How alike these two are…

What? That change in skin tone is hardly permenant or distinguishing.

I cannot help but wonder what could have possibly taken her down at this point.

This one is for the ages.

At least it was not a sex tape…

Spinal Tap?

How about “The Temptations”?

Good luck to her future husband, assuming Ui some how loses out…

I thought Gitah was a boy…

Ritsu is the master.

Is that so…

Weep not for Mugi-oujo has made some changes in inventory.

No but Mugi-chan is…

Hehe that’s funny.

I think actually might help.

I suppose every couple gets into a fight at least once if not more…

Listen to her!

Because she is an eager young rookie with everything to prove.

I see Sawa-chan has taught you well.

I told you Ritsu had her uses.

I do believe that penance must be exacted, I am sure Ritsu will be creative.

I hope then Ritsu will take the rest with her as they go WILD!

Lady Mugi hath spoken!

Ritsu can feel Mio no matter the distance…

Because she thinks you should all share a bed.

Yes I did dawww too.

Welcome to the family Nodoka…

Sawa-chan is the decider…

The name is irrelevant, only synergy matters.

Alright checking out the fresh meat new recruits…

Well to get back on track it seems that the recruitment drive for K-ON went pretty well since most musical bands have now nominated aspirants seeking to throw themselves upon their mercy in the vain hope that they may deem them worthy to join their ranks. Those who play bubble gum pop still cling to their own processes by which perhaps one in a hundred neophytes may survive to become a band member. The methods Sawa-chan has developed over the last few weeks are far more stringent, for K-ON must be pure in their musical mastery and hard of heart, body and soul. Fewer than one in every thousand survive, and I do believe Sawa-chan strives each day to lengthen these odds still further…thus leaving us with one aspirant, Azusa. I was rather disappointed that the concerts were not as godly as I had hoped but granted that Sawa-chan’s motivational speech was not even close to Patton’s to his Third Army and given that K-ON 2.0 is still getting the hang of things I suppose it’s too much to ask for them to start giving us Macross class concerts. Still with interesting songs like “Light and Fluffy Time”, “Curry after Rice”, “My Love is a Stapler”, and “Brush and Ballpoint Pen” I sense that Mio may have some song writing talent of worth as some are in the tradition of the Kyun Kyun tradition. Despite Sawa-chan’s initial miss I suppose the maid thing was dead on and I HIGHLY approve of Sawa-chan scoping out Ui’s size. Now that the classes have been formed I think that Mio’s initial lonliness and her coming on to Nodoka clearly indicate how broken Ritsu has made Mio, at the very least we know Nodoka can give Mio the tender love and care that she so desperately needs since Ritsu seems willing to latch on to just about any one. Even if Ritsu isn’t the smartest of the bunch I think she has a waide variety of skills, from finding a new victim super friend in Mugi-chan, to supplicating herself to Nodoka when the latter made a PRESIDENTIAL ORDER to get Ritsu to submit the proper paper work.  Ritsu even came up with the idea to capture Ui, though in the end since it had been come years since she last played Pokemon, Ritsu did capture Azusa, by leaping lovingly upon her. Such was Ritsu’s caress that there would be no escape for our new twin tailed aspirant. Sadly Mio is still shy as ever though at least now Mugi-chan seems to picking up on the bully Mio past time that Ritsu started. Still I wonder when Mio will figure out that in the case of Yui that she can toss shiny things onto the floor as a defensive and evasive maneuver in addition to a barrel roll. I do like how Yui was honest about her castanet gambit, should have gone with a cowbell though.

Hell yeah threesome in 2-2!

Azusa certainly went through a trial by fire of sort and I did enjoy the heaps of abuse that the 2-2 clique dished out. In fact I am quite tempted to declare Azu-nyan Mini-Mio simply because she is a stand in for all the attention that was once Mio’s. I suppose that in the end the yuri is so strong that other bands can’t compete. Still this aversion to traditional K-ON ritual is utterly abhorrent in the extreme, clearly Azu-nyan is not cut out for the life of a seadog, hell she wouldn’t survive band camp if this flaw remains uncorrected. I do hope for Azu-nayn’s sake that she will be less adverse to the mysterious ways and rituals of the yuri when camp starts. The longer this goes on I suspect that the 2-2 clique is starting to pick up on each others habit, laziness being one of the big ones. Since Ritsu was reaching for the blackmail card early and eagerly I think Ritsu is starting to get ridiculously good at holding things together through fair means or foul. I think that it was Rommel who once said that the lazy and the smart are fit for the highest command, if so I think Ritsu is starting to show a great deal of cunning in addition to judicious amounts of laziness. Other than death I suspect that there is no escaping from her grasp. I was looking forward to Sawa-chan’s cosplay party, but I think it’s fair to say we were all cheated out of seeing the whole thing. Still now that Azu-nyan has been drafted I think good times are inbound.

Nevertheless do come over to “play”…

But trust me comrade they certainly know who you are…

I approve of Nodoka coming to Mio’s rescue.

Why yes Nodoka will marry you…

All that matters is that Mugi-chan is rip roaring and ready to do this…

I guess there are instances where Yui actually excells…

I like where this is going…

I see why that one washed out…lack of enthusiasm.

Please note your consent is not required…

Next time I expect a better duet, preferably a more intimate one…

I like how Ritsu thinks.

A twin-tails has a appeared…

Screw pokeballs, fully body contact capture, ALL THE WAY.

Couple more questions. What is the capital of Assyria? What is your favorite color? What are your three sizes?

Ah the old Yui toss.

All your base belong to Ritsu…

I approve of this cross training.

Holy shit that’s my standard tea.

I see Mugi-chan is savoring this moment of affection.

I share Mugi-chan’s horror at this suggestion of putting an end to tea time.

She came from behind…

AND HOW!

Oh that was sneaky Mugi-chan…keep it up.

Alright chow time!

Sawa-chan will not take NO for an answer.

There are plenty more as befits this renowned club…

I wanted a close up of that…

How good was it really?

…

Once you join the Yuri side…forever will it rule your destiny.

Now try the maid outfit…

Sorry Mio it seems that Ritsu is smarter than you give her credit…

Cosplay, cosplay, cosplay party…

Next time Sawa-chan pull off her shirt with more enthusiasm…

Maybe you should change to coffee then?

Who needs a boyfriend? This is a cosplay opportunity…

I see someone feels a bit inadequate…

Ui is smooth…

I like how they have upped the Yuri levels in this show as of late, though it might simply be a case of seeing things that aren’t really there. Still it is good to know that the efforts of Ui do not go unsung, and if the local curs that pass for men in their town are found wanting Ritsu has expressed interest in marrying Ui, given how much dirt Ritsu seems to have on Mio I am sure Ritsu can bully Mio into a…favorable arrangement. I think I am being slowly won over by Ritsu as she bullies Mio. Even if Ritsu is boke, at least she has some cunning and pictures of a compromising nature. If poor Sawa-chan stays single much longer I cannot help but begin to question her actual interest in men, after all Sawa-chan does have a particular fondness for getting girls to wear her hand made out fits and judging by her infiltration to the party I suspect that she has stolen into the homes of other young girls before… I highly approve of Mugi-chan’s hopes for more girl on girl bonding. Although I was mildly disappointed that Mugi-chan didn’t break out Twister, I did enjoy her barely hidden pleasure at watching Sawa-chan force Mio to conform to her will and don Sawa-chan’s latest hand made outfit. I have to hand it to Ritsu for effortlessly getting Mio all dressed up with a mere implication. Nice to know that poor Mio and Mugi-chan actauly put effort in maintiaining fitness standards, it seems that these two lasses were not born outstanding; they actually worked on it through many years of blood, sweat, toil, and tears. Next time it seems Sawa-chan brought out more handmade outfits, I can only hope Mio shows her appreciation for such skill by wearing it with her friends.

That’s okay I am sure you wanted to host the party, it would have been an all nighter…

Ritsu would know she tore them off Mio herself.

Indeed Ritsu usually targets all of Mio’s garments during her visits…

Oh don’t pretend you don’t know…

That’s just the cover sheet…

But wait there is more…

Call now and Ristu will show you the videos of said events.

I see we have a taker…

I am only disappointed that they did not got to Oktoberfest first…

I am beginning to see why Rommel felt that there was no use for the dumb and industrious.

Just look at that expression of anticipation.

Pfft we all know she snuck in through the vents in skin tight octo-camo.

Sheryl…Sheryl Nome.

I cannot help but wonder if she made clothes for her band mates back in the day.

Actually that is a good question…

I am not sure going strapless would have helped…

Yui knows no fear, nor shame.

Target Acquired…

Mugi-chan was overjoyed with this development.

This isn’t what you think…

…

…

Sawa-chan just had to know if Mio color coordinated.

And no Pants!

I like how Mugi just swooped into to give Mio a shoulder to cry on after with holding aid during the Sawako assualt, how deliciously underhanded.

I see no reason to disagree.

No it’s not a mini boyfriend.

Now Mugi-chan can cosplay as a Latin lover…

You’ll just have to get use to your death metal loving club advisor and all of her gifts.

It will be scorching hawt yes?

Look at least there wasn’t a pole.

Sawa-chan is having too much fun.

I take it she doesn’t share Yui’s metabolism.

Should have just gone with teeth picking.

She went wild.

Don’t worry Nodoka Sawa-chan has plans for you too…

Yeah some how after this I think we know which way Ritsu always leaned.

Trust me she pays for it in other ways…

I think these two have gotten along famously.

To be honest I don’t think it matters much in your case.

You have no idea…

I think Sawa-chan is beginning to discover the local boys are simply disgusting.

…

M&M (Mio&Mugi, see they did meet through providence) will not tolerate your gluttony.

Look God has already answered Mugi-chan’s prayers!

Raise your hand if you wanted to trade places with Yui.

It’s been a rather brutal month as of late, I am glad I found work of sorts but that combined with a new exercise routine and Valkyria Chronicles is starting to take a toll, I have to manage my time better and hope fully this mass upload thing will cut down on time. That said I am really enjoying K-on. At least Yui is capable of having proficiency in a single task, though her skill at multi-tasking is wanting. I like how Mugi-chan found the ultimate motivator for Yui who seems to be a slow starter. It’s kind of funny how Ritsu started the ball rolling on all this and it is not Mio who is the band leader with Mugi-chan as the stalwart second in command. I am not sure if I am the only one who thought of gang signs when Yui started to use her chord hand posture. Still it’s kind of sad that Ui and Ritsu are still in the PS2 era. If nothing else I like seeing the excellent camaraderie of this four girl fire team, it is something that is sorely lacking these days. I hope next time Ritsu plans on making a dynamic entry that she brings an H&K MP5 to the party.

That won’t work on your teacher Yui…

Mio needs to learn a thing or two about training camp, if she wants to train then she has to pick a better venue that is essentially in the middle of no where there isn’t anything to do but train. Still I was a bit disappointed that there was a lack of three a day practices and up downs. I suppose though as a team building exercise it was successful though I fail to see the financial benefit of having a maid café for the school festivals since there seems to be a lack of high school boys who would line up like a bunch of suckers but I won’t deny it is a great idea in principle. I can understand Mio being squeamish about blood and gore, but barnacles? It must have been some trauma. I like Mugi-chan for striving for perfection in everything including sandcastles. I think Yui has stage presence though I am really hoping that at some point we will see them playing together as a band.

Ah yes Algebra the bane of Freshman everywhere…

…Let’s keep her away from the knives.

It seems Ritsu had a superior grasp of her schedule.

Siblings aren’t usually this similar, in fact differences can be vast and violent.

Poor Ui has to live in Yui’s shadow…

They want an imouto like Ui.

DO NOT EVER LET RITSU NEAR THE SHINY RED BUTTON.

Motivation in a box…

Amen to that Mio.

Mastery of one task at a time is all fine and good, now to teach this one something called multi-tasking…

We must make it second nature then…

Three a day practices I like that.

Ritsu…welcome to Mio’s Hour of Power, you will play drums until you are not linger tired and thirsty.

I like Jello too.

Cue kanjite-knight…BURN IT UP MUGI-CHAN!

Poor Mio is being compelled through peer pressure…

Well at least it wasn’t something really dangerous or criminal.

Look at it this way at least no one else knows of how Mio proved her superiority over you once again…

At least they are being mature about this.

We will be perfect in every aspect of our lives. We will change the way we eat. We will change the way we play. We will change the way we make sand castles.

You know Mio those are probably already dead…

I love Mugi-chan’s hair.

We don’t need to be told that we we do that anyways…

Ritsu fantasy GET!

Yui likes pyro…

Mugi-chan sees it…

Could this be…love perhaps?

Whew Yui didn’t smash her guitar.

Death Metal not your thing?

Mio doubles as the groups mascot.

We’ll have work on Mio being Oberst and leading her troops.

Though this might be a leadership technique to compell compliance. to Mio’s will.

This was supposed to be training, not R&R…

Now I want to see Mugi-chan’s…you know for comparison…