For Britannia!

So I was reading Armchair General again, a publication big on military history and spitting on politics, and I got an idea while doing a map exercise. We all know that Lulu has a Geass, or as I call it the “Fuck You” button, or the “Just as Planned” switch, but I wonder if the Britannian situation is really all that unsalvageable. So I propose that you the reader come up with your own grand scheme to defeat Lulu. Are you an unimaginative twat like Clovis or are you capable of wielding the supple amalgam of the Britannian military might at levels that exceed Cornelia, Schnizel, and Suzaku? Are you utterly convinced that you cannot win and thus bend over to get ass raped by a deposed prince who gets out run by women in dresses or are you a tough son of bitch who has the vision to make Lulu squeal and compel him to surrender C2 and Kallen into your loving arms?

So the Emperor Charles now tired of the rampant incompetence of Area 11 commanders has appointed you to the task of bringing to account his treacherous son Lulu. You have a carte blanche to gather whatever forces you need to accomplish the task. You are aware of Lulu’s Geass and nominally hold Area 11 with your aerial dominance, naval superiority, and have a tenuous situation on land where you’re more numerous and better equipped forces have been suffering successive defeats. As for intelligence on the Black Knights what you have seen in the episodes so far is all you have to go on. Area 11 as is; has little changed from Japan as displayed in the wikipedia article, other than having most of its infrastructure ruined and much of the country side turned to rubble. The natives are either hostile or indifferent towards your forces. So under these conditions what is your plan Supreme Commander?

Here’s my mad scheme.Show ▼

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Kasahara Iku is an officer working under the Task Force. She has never truly buckled under the immense stress faced in her work. Kasahara is a heroine, being the only female officer who is good enough to be under the Task Force. However, her biggest challenge ever is arriving right to the doorstep of her work place.

It’s time for World War III to happen. Or in other words, her parents are coming. What kind of ammunition will she use to defend herself? By the way, the three preview shots are just so cute, huh? Oh, my fansub decided to drop Library war, but since Menclave is doing such a good job, there’s no need for another group.

[Skip the summary]

Episode summary

The others are looking at the report of Odawara in the latest copy of the Library magazine. Kasahara’s conservative parents are finally here for the visit, as Kasahara clearly freaks out. There is a real likelihood for her to be forcefully brought back, and her image in that magazine did not help. It can be shown from her stammering speech with her parents while the others looked on. Her mother is worried about a check from the Media Purification Brigade and also asked to tour the base.

Kasahara asked Dojo to make some excuses to reject the tour, but he told her that it’s impossible since they have passes. Kasahara tried to ask Dojo and Shibasaki to accompany her in the tour. Eventually, Kasahara bribed Shibasaki with a mega meal for her to tag along. Her mother quipped about the base, but Shibasaki says that the roar of a supervisor is scarier (a dig at Kasahara). At the canteen, Genda nearly leaked out the truth, but Dojo dragged him away in time.

However, Genda said he prepared housing for Kasahara’s parents. On their way to the man’s dormitory, Kasahara’s dad notices that Kasahara has a lot of trust in Dojo. Dojo is surprised, but her father said that Kasahara looked at Dojo for help first. Kasahara’s mother visited Kasahara’s room. Thanks to Shibasaki, the presence of her Task force uniform was covered up as Shibasaki’s boyfriend’s uniform. Later in the bath, her mother complimented Shibasaki’s femininity but noticed Kasahara’s scratched arm. Shibasaki can also tell that Kasahara is stressed out by the ordeal.

The next day, Tezuka asks whether she is fine. Kasahara is lining up the books when Komaki noticed that Kasahara’s mother was grabbing the magazine with Kasahara in the Inamine abduction incident. Her mother wondered about the incident, and her father told his wife to read up on earlier volumes. Kasahara tried to take the book away, but was reminded of the 2nd article of the Library Act: all users have the freedom to all the information they want.

Dojo tells her that the latest edition is hot, and Kasahara can try to distract them before they picked up on that edition. Her father also tested her, and asks why she is so incompetent, compared to Dojo and Tezuka. At that time, a man tried to escape with a book. He manages to shake off a library officer, but Kasahara manages to subdue him. However, that revealed her not-so-simple role in the Library. That night, Dojo tried to lie about Kasahara’s real job to her father. Kasahara’s father asked Dojo about Kasahara.

Dojo told him that Kasahara is poor at administration work, but is very reliable in protecting books and is an indispensable member of the Library. The next day, her parents are clearly worried, and her mother wanted her to withdraw. Surprisingly, Kasahara’s father supported Kasahara’s decision. When Kasahara told them about her reason to be here, they agreed that it’s a good reason. As they left, Kasahara cried and felt sad that she lied to them.

Thoughts

This episode is dead hilarious. Some of the comedy scenes have to be watched to laugh at. There’s really no time for me to describe them. So, I hope that you guys get to watch it soon. If anyone did not watch the first four episodes of Library War, they would have thought that this show is all about the comedy (which is a partial truth, but I digress).

It’s a very light hearted episode that gives a bit of character development for Kasahara. She is clearly growing up and has gained the confidence to face her parents truthfully. She might not grow at all as a library officer, but she has grown as a person. I really think she cries a bit too much for my liking, but it is clear that behind her strong headed character is a girl who is quite unreliable and needs tender care for growth.

In addition, Shibasaki is surprisingly getting my attention with her coy but intelligent demeanor. As much as she likes to make fun of Kasahara (a lot), she also protects her whenever it becomes somewhat dangerous. Point-in-note is the uniform where she calmly states that it’s hers. Then, she folds and tells Kasahara’s mother to keep a secret as it is her boyfriend’s clothing. I just think that she is so cool to manipulate simple-minded Kasahara, but it is not a fake friendship. Shibasaki truly cares for Kasahara. No, not in the yuri style.

On the plot this episode, I thought that her father is the type that deals with the facts. He knows that Kasahara is in good hands with Dojo. Dojo is really impressive as a superior, in any father’s eyes. I can understand why he can rest assured with Dojo around. He’s cool, he’s reliable and most of all, he cares about her daughter. There’s still no romance, damn it, but he rocks. No, I am not fanboying him. I am just stating about the plot.

So, in all, wonderful episode after some rather intense episodes. It’s not really filler, but a good way to slow down the pace a little.

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It seems like WhiteLight subs, headed by the silly timer Giggle-tan, has finally set up their first solo project. Impz is the translator that knows absolutely nothing, but we do promise good translation due to our wonderful QCs and an excellent encoding. As WhiteLight has no official website as yet, I will be using THAT Anime Blog to broadcast the news. We are also working on Episode 2-5 of Neo Angelique Abyss.

You can find more information of the fansub here. Cheers and tell us how it is on our IRC channel at Rizon!

Edit: The HD version .mkv {720p} for Episode 1 according to our encoder (I am no techie) is up.

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Synopsis

Today on Boing Boing tv, a sneak peek inside TOKYOLOGY, a new documentary exploring contemporary Japanese pop-culture hosted by Carrie Ann Inaba. Oh, what adventures await: sneak behind the scenes at a Japanese Rock TV show that pretends it’s shot in Los Angeles, cruise Harajuku, go clubbing with goth girls in Shinjuku, shop for shoes with Lolitas, experience the madness of the Tokyo Anime Fair, visit a video game company, browse the streets of Akihabara, and meet anime creator Yoshitoshi Abe.

Impz says: A video about Yoshitoshi Abe is always awesome. It’s only a short excerpt of the full documentary, but looks interesting too. It’s worth your five minutes. In addition, Vampire Knight will not be blogged this week, as Reverse Vampire wants to blog on it. She will do it when the subs are out.

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So I was waiting for my food at a new local café and started watch the TV it was a Korean film a rather old Korean Film, 200 Pound Beauty or something like that. So yeah I kind of loitered at the restaurant until it ended ordering a few more things and eating slowly. Good thing it was a slow day and yeah I tipped better that day too. At any rate it was a good film and I admit I nearly got teary eyed in public at the end but was able to hold them back by summoning all the hatred from my being.

So like every Korean romantic comedy it starts out fairly light hearted and getting kind of serious at the end. The story centers around a heavy weight singer named Hanna whose voice while excellent is not enough to make her desirable or even marketable as pop star as I guess in East Asia ad contracts make more money than selling music given the rampancy of piracy in those parts. Pity perhaps if she were American she could have been another Arethra Franklin, though, in the modern era such a replay of history is rare and the Queen of Soul was once an average sized lady. Such is the pathetic state of her weight that even her father with his failing memory is wondering why she gets larger. Even her best friend says she is fat and the public face of her voice idol, Ammy, uses Hanna’s condition as a weapon to ridicule her and frustrate her advances on the producer. In the end after being humiliated and accepting the truth that she was being used Hanna tries to commit suicide once again. Thankfully her other job as a sex phone operator brings her into contact with a customer who happens to be a plastic surgeon.

Yeah he’s that kind of asshole.

Opting to change her life rather than end it Hanna convinces her customer to perform an operation on her. The doctor resists at first and tells Hanna that she might die from the amount of work needed. In this light the doctor is not wrong given that there is a mandatory 2-3 month recovery time between operations and the risk of death is ever present. Now I am not sure if there was a message intended by all this on whether or not Hanna was being vain or weak for wanting the operation. The way I see it is Hanna needed a crutch in life like all people. Hanna had her unrequited love and once that was dashed she had nothing else. Not to mention that being called ugly and fat by a person you thought was trustworthy is going to hurt one way or another. Hanna did not take my kind of action and get even and cut off Ammy’s nose to spite her face, but being the kinder gentler soul that she is, she wanted to get a new lease on life.

Hanna’s solution was dangerous, but ever since I met people who under went involuntary plastic surgery to put them back together again after combat or other unforeseen accidents while on duty I am now far more hesitant to condemn this sort of thing. I use to think it cowardly but after being regaled by stories of what these brothers in arms told me it takes some courage to go under the knife or at least overwhelming desperation. I suppose even the bravest of us fear getting slowly cut up on some table while having you innards exposed while the doctor operates on you as you are asleep but alive with those awful looking instruments. More over there is always the fear that you might wake up in the middle of it or be aware of the operation but immobile and helpless. If we suppose that it is what is on the inside that counts then it should by standard reasoning that even if the outside was surgically modified it is irrelevant because what was on the inside was not altered, i.e. the soul. Contemporary sentiment is that plastic surgery is for beautifying the rich and not about democratizing beauty and leads to a more shallow society. Perhaps this is somewhat true but if we look at those who undergo plastic surgery we can usually tell who they are (e.g. Micheal Jackson and Janet Jackson). In this film women who do undergo plastic surgery are for all intents and purposes become Frankenstein’s monster. A being that is not human any more but born of human artifice rather than being the work of nature or some higher being.

Go Fortuneteller Guy only in for the first five minutes and yet still able to score a bit of poster space.

Hanna was obese and had she continued being obese then complications would have set in that would have made life difficult, arthritis, diabetes, heart trouble, etc. I won’t mince words and I think that people who are obese are just as fool hardy as those who opt for plastic surgery given the health risks inherent in both. I am glad that they are happy with themselves in either case, but in the case of obese people I cannot help but feel that they are devaluing their lives by remaining in their condition. It’s not right that they get ridiculed for being fat, but I think that ridicule for being foolish is in some ways justified given the health complications, more so if they have a family to raise. I am part of a military tradition that demands physical fitness because running around in the sand box with a full combat load and body armor requires endurance and those who are sluggish or tired will probably get themselves killed and/or get others killed as well.

I’ll say this much just because you have plastic surgery does not mean your beauty is guaranteed. Even then it is in the eye of the beholder. While society holds some unrealistic standards for beauty and desirability somewhere deep inside due to our ancient genetic programming man the creature is programmed to find the healthiest mates to procreate. It’s not simply vanity, but it is coupled with the biological desire to have spouse of sound fitness levels so that they might produce fit offspring. If you doubt the savagery of man you need look only at war to realize how despite civilization man has not moved completely beyond his more savage instincts.

I know the feeling, every time I walk around with flak and rifle, lots of stares and a wide berth…

Though in all probability they writer probably did not intend for the audience to ponder so deeply given that they had to redo the nose the first time around. Hanna’s new jaw also had some kinks to work out as well. Truth is if the doctor was that good he’d be making mad money. In any case Hanna’s reasons were not easily condemned because her previous existence wasn’t great and by that time she could no longer look at herself in the mirror and be happy. She wanted to transcend into another existence and in a way she became a butterfly though by means of a man made cocoon. I was a chunky fellow before I signed my ass to Uncle Sam and it is not easy to lose weight at a whim. It took a long time and two angry intimidating drill instructors to get my fat ass in shape, and now I am capable of running, jumping, and shooting to standard. Besides it was the only time in my life in recent memory that I had an abundance of free time to involuntarily work out, and it really did help that they pushed us all to our physical limits.

The scene where Hanna is enjoying her new corporeal form was understandably happy in over tone. I know I was happy when I came back home after basic an me mum no longer berated me for being fat and lazy. Now it’s just for being lazy. When she got her new dress I knew that she probably felt better than me when I needed new pants. Her new more gorgeous self did get a lot perks early on to the point of absurdity. Though it is true Hanna’s new look was something that money could not buy; only black mail could that. I found it funny how Ammy the typical idol was manufactured and yet the all natural beauty is some how still prized. Oh the delicious hypocrisy. I am glad Hanna didn’t lord it over her friend Jung-min that much about her new form factor. I was delighted when that sleazy salesman got his just deserts. In a way that doctor was right beauty is attitude, supposing that you at least look average.

Despite the mandatory big lie that comes mandatory for this kind of tale Hanna stayed largely true to herself. Given that Ammy was AWP camping at her dad’s place. The whole near love scene was masterfully done. Hanna was so afraid of being found out that it killed the mood in short order. I like how they worked in her old phone sex operator talents to skirt the whole thing. When Hanna’s lie was unraveled it was poignant how even though she was pretty now that she was still stigmatized. The final reconciliation with her dad was touching along with her admission of who she was. The songs were pretty good, though it was rather obvious that they used a fat suit as the way she carried herself was not accurate. It was a happy ending for Hanna as she could now dance with the dad in the light of day. My favorite minor character would have to be Dr. Lee though because the man has mad skills. His advice was awesome, especially how he berated Ammy as being a terrible actress and a woman who opted for less than perfect surgical methods. All in all it was good film that nearly extracted tears from this soulless monster.

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Hi again. So here’s the dealio: I just got a brand new blog over at http://itsubun.dasaku.net/, courtesy of digiwombat. For those who are interested, plz update your blogroll. Future anime/manga editorials will be posted both here and over at itsubun. Although I will update itsubun more often with my own thoughts and opinions on a variety of Japanese media in which my entries will be a lot more free with the crazies and the personal because the mentality is –> my blog, my comfort, my freedom of expression. Now let’s start.

Before I actually picked up the nominally controversial Kodomo no Jikan and read it, I had heard so many interesting things about the series. And most of what I picked up through the grapevines go something like this: child porn, fan service gone too far, immoral justification of pedophilia, cannot be licensed due to being inappropriate for US audiences [because apparently we’re just so fucking moral-minded and too pure to be tainted by such appalling narratives from Asian countries with their exoticized sexuality and their kama sutra].

After hearing all of that I was like, “OMG! No way! That’s disgusting! [I wanna see!] How can something like that even be allowed to be published? [Me see! Me see!]”

So eventually [inevitably] I got the manga, read it, and found that I have much to say about it.

Kodomo no Jikan [A Child’s Time] is about an elementary school teacher who gets assigned to his first class of 3^rd graders. In the class is Rin, problem child extraordinaire, who develops strong feelings towards him and goes to great lengths to seduce him. Lengths that include (but are not limited to): sexual extortion, nude cell phone pictures, spermy haikus, exhibition of various loli parts, and… you get the gist that series is a step up from your standard ecchi. That’s the synopsis in a nutshell.

Step through the curtains for more awesome

So lemme clarify some things before I dive head first into this: Yes, the manga is explicit in that it depicts young children in sexually charged situations. Yes, it is chock full of sexual innuendos and explicit jokes. And there are enough panty shots and tit teases to put a HxC lolicon in a coma from his non-stop nosebleeds and painful blue balls in response to the incredible amount of fan service this series provides.

But wouldn’t all of those things add up to justifying the injurious rumors about the series?

NO. Because if you took the time to read the fucking series, and I mean REALLY read the series [not just ogle at the no-no pictures, although those are really nice to look at too <3], then you will realize that Kodomo no Jikan is so much more than just fan service or fetishization. They’re so fucking stupid, the people who trivialize and condemn it based on the mystique and the rumors. Because they’re so scared of what it could teach them, of what it could mean to them. There is a rhyme & reason to the sexual content.

Take exhibit A:

This is Rin taking a picture of her principal with his fingers in her underwear. See how she’s smiling? It must mean that she likes it.

In a situation like that, when you’re young and stupid and afraid, with an old man breathing down your neck, it’s so easy to get scared and give up the struggle. So why the pretty smile? Instead of being resigned to her role as the passive victim, she uses her age and all that it signifies in order to manipulate societal norms to empower and protect herself from the advances of sexual predators. She knows that she is capable of owning her sexuality and does so by using it to bring down THE LAW on THE MAN. Now tell me how this is a negative message to send out to the masses? Tell me how this will corrupt the youth of the world and lead us all into darkness. Preach to me about your laws and teach me a lesson in propriety, make me understand how a world where children can and should defend themselves against the fallible hierarchies and institutions that adults set up is bad.

But wait, aren’t the children too young to own up to the responsibilities of their own actions? What would happen if they were to abuse their power because they’re too young to know any better?

Well, let’s look at Exhibit B:

What? What’s that you say? We as adults have to monitor and regulate ourselves because unlike the children, we have no excuses for our naivety and ignorance when it comes to pedophilia and child abuse? In-fucking-deed. Therefore the responsibility does fall with a heavy weight upon us to ask ourselves the really hard questions and not run away from our own desires, but to evaluate them and figure out what’s worth it. Because shit like, “She was asking for it!” or “She acted like an adult” don’t fly in court. That’s what the rapists and child molesters say. And you can’t just censor out that part of yourself that twitches and twists when you look at the sexual images in Kodomo no Jikan. You have to work within that taboo, to invert it and examine it, and then admit that: Yes, the underage girls are really, really fucking hot and they make me think of all kinds of wrong. But I’m not going to touch that thing with a 10 foot pole because I know that I’ll end up fucking up a human life. And ultimately I can’t bear the burden of that on my conscience. And THAT would be epic owning up.

This is a manga that far from commodifying children as sexual objects, it takes them seriously and gives them the consideration that they almost never get in normative society. The notion of children’s sexuality brings great shock and disgust to people because they cannot reconcile that with their idealization of the purity and innocence of youth. People need a frame of reference in order to fantasize about “happier days” and “carefree times”. But what comes with those kind of ideals is a horrible oppression that completely subjugates and invalidates a child’s feelings and desires.

I have such profound awe and respect for Kaworu Watashiya’s prodigious achievement of finding that precious balance between producing kiddie porn and an incredibly intelligent and enlightening discussion about the rights of children to their own bodies and emotions. The “monstrosity” that she has created is beautiful in its versatile capacity to be a mechanism that both appeals to mass demands for lolicon fan service as well as facilitates a complex discourse on the sexuality of children.

Kaworu Watashiya’s Kodomo no Jikan is not just a product of decadent society nor is it an attack on standard moral discourses, but rather a more sincere representation of the sublimated and tyrannically policed world of children.

did i ever tell you, you’re my hero?

Highly recommended for all of the reasons stated above.

Also, US – please to be getting off your racist high horse and stop pulling rank on Asia with your own repressed and codified sexual discourses and superiority complex about what’s “moral” and “acceptable” pertaining to anything related to sex. It’s not so much about Seven Seas Entertainment canceling the licensing because I understand that each nation has its own diverse values and standards, and yeah, fine, reject alien medias to protect the national symbolic as you please. But when those ideals infringe upon other nations’ [and oh they do, they do], you get shit like Memoirs of a Geisha becoming sensationalized and contributing to the already detrimental stereotypes about Asians and now proliferating them on a massive scale. Oh US, your hypocrisy comes through loud and clear when you objectify the same characters that you seek to sublimate from your society. You need to move on from the Asian mystique and leave the Dragon Ladies, Geisha Girls, and Lotus Blossoms alone. And Santa Clause doesn’t exist either. So sorry QQ!

Oh, and yes, I do live in the US and I am Asian American. And I do love my ironic, topsy-turvy country. So no deportment plz. =D

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THAT Wall of the Week: The Vanishment of Haruhi Suzumiya by jaoi55
Thoughts: Have we not all been wondering where Haruhi-sama hath vanished to? WTF Kyoto, give me Haruhi or give me death…or at least more Full Metal Panic. You have to admit, this wall is hawt stuff. Makes me think the Haruhi crew is going all mob-style on us. Kyon + Tommy Gun = WIN.
Rating: 9/10 I give it a high rating for it’s incredible sense of style. And for the fact that it does exactly what it intends to do…portrays Haruhi’s disappearance as the cold cut mystery that it is (and we get to be detectives!).
How to improve it: You’ll find out after the jump!

Damn right.

Just add what Kyon is really thinking.

Welcome to the first edition of THAT: BS. Now, BS might stand for Big ‘n’ Sexy, but I’m pretty sure you all know what it really means. What is the BS Edition? Well, I’ve made it my goal to bring the WTF, and I’m now bringing the BS as well. It’s basically a couple different weekly things all thrown into a mess of a post and presented for you to stress over. So without any further ado, enjoy!

[That YouTube Battle of the week!]
This week we’re sticking with the Haruhi theme and I’m offering up two fan crafted AMVs. I give my thoughts and opinions, but it’s up to you to decide who the victor shall be. Post your choice in your comment and remember: I want a fscking straight answer!

Contestant #1
Title: Enoz feat. S.O.S. Brigade: Forever

Video broken? Try clicking it for the actual YouTube page, or use this link.

Was that concert episode not the coolest thing ever? This vid does a great job of capturing of intensity of what I consider one of the greatest moments in Haruhistory. The lip-synching is fantastic, as well as the timing for the musicians. Whoever made this video was smart for going the Haruhi x Kyon route…soooo much nostalgia brought up. The umbrella scene, Haruhi and her furry jacket + cell phone, I could go on and on (resist…the…temptation). The ending adds a bit of humor that I find all too bittersweet. Superbly done.

Contestant #2
Title: She’s Just Oblivious

Video broken? Try clicking it for the actual YouTube page, or use this link.

It has the dance. If that’s not enough for you, this vid is fantastically put together. Go listen to the lyrics again…this is the perfect song for Haruhi if I could ever name one. Instead of a romantic focus, this vid flawlessly captures the essence of Haruhi’s personality: crazy, different, spectacular, beautiful. It reminds me of everything about TMoSH that was FUN. And once again, it has the dance.

[THAT Challenge of the Week!]
Try to spot Haruhi in the wallpaper above. Bet you can’t do it. It’s like Where’s Waldo…but not.

[Riex Rants!]
Well, I unintentionally stirred up way too much of my own nostalgia for TMoSH, and I know that I’m going to have to go back and watch the series again before the second season comes out. I almost never (read: 99% of the time) watch an anime series more than once, so for any series to be able to garner an entire second viewing from me, it has to be amazing. Look forward to next week where hopefully I won’t get all sappy without noticing it. (Curses, my plan to be a cold-hearted dictator is failing! Oh noesssss!)

Anything else you’d like to see in the BS Edition of THAT? There aren’t really any rules here, so make some suggestions. Bitches.

…she’s got her head up in the clouds, sharada sharada…

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It’s May 7th on the eastern hemisphere and it is someone’s birthday. Not mine, but my girlfriend Thirteensugars. Once again, that silly moomoo is going to have yet another 21st birthday (the truth is that if I reveal her age, I might not live to tell the tale). Happy birthday, my silly lazy girlfriend who is now singing a silly random song.

Crusader

Well happy birthday to Thirteensugars, waifu of Impz, and I am honored to share the same birthday with you. BTW thanks for remembering Impz. So yeah unlike Thirteensugars I am not eternally 21 and have gotten older. In any case me and Thirteensugars were born the day World War II ended in Europe, thus all the more reason to celebrate! My only advice is to always have a sense of humor…

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I am sure that many of you remember my rage over the first four episodes of SA, with me reaching my limits of Rage-o-meter by episode four. I do not regret having that rage, because every single thing is stated in the bible of truth. Yet, I could not give so easily. Strangely, I found myself going back to viewing the next episode. Impz is not someone who likes to suffer from agony and pain, I assure you. I must say that most of the credit for making me a masochist to watch Episode 5 is by Garten. Garten is one of the few people on the anime blogosphere that can make me watch something that is seemingly bad, plus his taste in anime is usually quite good.

After viewing it, I feel GREAT about Episode 5. Fine, great is a gross over statement. I will say it is actually safe for viewing (no pun intended as usual). Am I acting tsundere? Is it just me but did Episode 5 suddenly turned the corner? I swear that if this is the calm before the storm, I will turn into a yandere instead and slaughter Gonzo or its supporters. Anyway, what went on with this shenanigan that makes me change from tsun to dere in 1 episode?

No, it’s not an episodic summary post. I do not want to do it for this series, lest it decides to bite me once again into shoujo crapness.

Akira-sama crying is fine too. She’s great in every single form!

The current episode is yet another challenge (not again), with Hikari being oblivious (yes, again) and pissing Kei off (the only guy that is actually smart here). Hikari, being a thick-headed porky that somehow has a small brain despite scoring aces in her exam, pairs up with the student president trap for a challenge to make the best festival. Some emo fest about Kei being alone once again resumes, and Hikari decides that everyone should hold hands, crowd together and have a nice orgy to relieve the stress nice party organized by the SA and Student Council.

Yes, it still sounds like the challenge is still here. Nothing seems to have changed in terms of the plot. It’s still the Hikari is thick-headed, Kei gets pissed, Kei has a bit of emo-fest, the thick-headed pig finally figures out about it, let’s all have joy and put the tablecloth watermarks for harmony and end the episode with that. However, the one thing missing in the last four episodes is strangely present. I guess if you throw one thousand pennies into one small well, at least 2-3 should get in for your wish to be fulfilled. If you didn’t realize what that missing thing is, it is the jargon known as “comedy”.

Episode 5 had laughs. No, I am not kidding you. There are enough laughs, but it’s mostly caused by the infectious Akira who proves to be a trump card in SA. If Hikari is the darkness that has enshrouded the anime into agony, Akira is the beam of light that shows the way to deliverance. They should stop focusing on Kei (who is all right) and Hikari, and bother a bit more about the other SA members. I have enough of SA trying to add on fillers even before the show started.

On a different note, I also like the opening scene where Kei almost thought that Hikari will actually know his feelings toward him. I pity him a darn lot. Even retards are not that slow. My barely intelligent sense tells me that intelligent people are often quick thinking. Even those who are slow thinkers cannot be so slow. So, my deduction is that Hikari really paid for her way into the results, and the person who did it is Kei. OH, SPOILERS!!!

Some of the things that really annoyed me are not present. First, Kei’s father is not inside. I am glad somehow that he does not appear much in the manga, so please keep him out and dry. Another thing that annoys me must be the mis-match of Hikari’s voice. Hikari’s voice is not really required in this episode. She did not appear as the focus in this episode too much, which makes me very happy. Yes, I am that mean. Graphical quality improved quite a bit too in this episode, but never trust it to stay that way.

So, is Special A safe for extended viewing? No. Impz does not think so. Every single episode is like a rollercoaster, as I wait to shoot it down forever from the depth of my memory. For now, I will recommend the braves one to tread carefully, tread safely and never turn behind. You never know what is behind you.

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The kiss that started a crisis of faith…(aka Yurilicious)

Well that was a fine episode that has basically catapulted Sheryl in esteem. No longer is she merely the haughty pop princess, but rather she is simply Sheryl a woman who has worked hard to get where she is and has the ambition and drive to succeed. While her career has defined her she is nonetheless capable of human qualities and quite capable of turning on the charm.

I like how they add a little snippet at the beginning of most episodes to immerse the audience into the Macross universe. The colony fleet has a charm all its own. Though in all honesty, much of it for me is due to the nostalgia I feel every time I see a familiar sight from San Francisco. It gives a sense and awe of scale how the fleet is one of many and is a successor to older fleets. The frontier fleet is big and yet small in the grand scheme of things. Perhaps this only adds to my affection for this series as Satelight loves my home town as much as I do.

Yeah who the hell asks for a suspension?

Oh you done did it now…

How could you Ozma?! How dare you make her cry.

So poor Ranka is getting an ear full from Ozma about how hard it was to get her into an all girls private school, and then proceeded to tell Ranka that her dreams are silly. Suffice to say I felt that getting a wok to the face was suitable recompense. Being suspended I can understand, but taking a shit on you little sister’s dreams is not exactly good parenting. Also Ozma committed a horrible crime in making Ranka cry. Nice house by the way Ozma, Nob Hill is a nice neighborhood.

With no school for the day Ranka goes off looking for Alto-hime for some encouragement. Unfortunately for Ranka Alto-hime is off on a quest to find Sheryl’s earring which he left back at SMS along with Giliam’s personal effects. However his first search is interrupted and he swiftly grabs Sheryl and stuff them both into a locker to avoid detection. It was a close encounter of the awesome kind, in no small thanks in part to Alto-hime stowing his phone in his right pocket, I smell a trend. Good to know that Alto-hime has by now broken his entire school and there are few who do not know him by the name of Princess. Good to know that Alto-hime is a shy and bashful princess who endeavors to avoid suitors no doubt from both genders.

I approve of yuri-lurvin in lockers.

Oh yeah Sheryl is so ruined for marriage, Alto-hime you must take full responsibility…

How I wish Alto-hime were just in possession of a deliciously flat chest…(turns on yuri-goggles) much better.

I like how the phones in this place look radically different in appearance yet are all tied together by the same holo-display interface. Unlike Shirukii I like Ranka’s phone it’s alive I tell you alive! Though it dies every so often it too can come back from the dead, hence why I want ot call the phone Buddy Jesus. Ozma’s concern for Ranka is interesting since when Cathy showed up he looked so excited to see Ranka but his expression rapidly soured when he saw her. Ozma has been raising a lot of death flags already with his admission of NBR onii-chan to Alto-hime, the failed relationship with Cathy, and not the rift with Ranka. If Ozma makes it out I will be pleasantly surprised, but these occurrences do no bode well. Mr. Brilier looks like an odd fellow I suspect he has an implant in the form of a ring and I have no idea why there seems to be a bulge on his right eye that looks like a sickly green pustule.

Nostalgia is a funny thing.

There is no girlfriend, but there is a HUGE fan club of both boys and girls…

No but it should be illegal to be a boy and look that hawt. Oh who am I kidding this is THAT blog…amirite?

I am glad that Luca is aiming for Nanase, I am sure that Luca is broken by Alto-hime, but nonetheless I can see why Nanase make him burn with passion. Unlike that other shouta of mecha Luca is not prone to using nii-san when referring to Alto-hime. That dastardly Mikhail though seems more able to get along with women and with but a gesture sent Luca into a panic over Nanase. Too bad Mikhail seems to be indifferent to romantic love but I guess the guy enjoys teasing people at least the ones who cannot crush him. Though I have agree that getting involved in a sibling dispute is messy business, but I do like how Ranka finding him first forced that lout Mikhail to follow her around for a day.

So onto the juicy Alto-himexSheryl dayto I have to say when Sheryl snatched Alto-hime’s amulet I did for a second imagine that Alto-hime was a girl as she he looked down her his shirt. You know if Alto-hime were a girl he could have easily gotten it back without having to risk sexual assault charges. I like the fact that Alto-hime is cognizant of the fact that trying to get it back from the embrace of Sheryl’s bosom was a losing proposition. Sheryl playing with the butterflies was strangely compelling, as was her teasing of the currently single Alto-hime. The boy is still shy around women, perhaps being in kabuki for most of his life has made him inept in the ways of courtship given that he could not make heads of tails of that sophomore’s confession and his now habitual fear of Sheryl’s bare bosom and racy ads. Indeed now that I have seen these ads I guess Alto-hime is even more justified in calling Sheryl and exhibitionist.

So who’s going to be the onee-sama?

And you don’t treat Alto-hime as a boy, do ya?

Now with his amulet seal broken the woman within Alto-hime shall burst forth…BURST FORTH! Dang guess it didn’t work.

I am surprised how they worked in a little banter about implants as well. Did I mention how much I love seeing the cable cars in this show? In any case this more polite Sheryl is far more agreeable than her haughty version, and you do get the sense that this idol thing is an adventure for her given how awe struck she was with the cleaner and radically different colony fleet that makes up Marcoss Frontier. Given how UN Spacy here seems to be having recruitment problems I guess the absence of slums isn’t too big of a shock coupled with the fact that Frontier seems to be a more elegantly assembled fleet than Galaxy which put the factories within the same island as the residential areas. I just love how every so often Sheryl and Alto-hime’s interaction looked nearly yuri. I don’t think that Sheryl was looking around as if she were in a zoo, but rather more like a tourist. Everything seems exotic to her to what Alto-hime probably sees as mundane. If I was suddenly plopped in the middle of a Zentran-Meltran settlement for the macronized I am confident that many of use would be overwhelmed by the sense of awe of our giant cousins; especially if you also ran into Klein-sama.

Speaking of Klein-sama I say her macronized form is every bit as elegant and lovely as her micronized form. Like a good upstanding citizen Kelin-sama confronted Sheryl about the latter’s shoplifting. Thankfully the Alto-hime magic was able to smooth ruffled feathers and Sheryl and Klein-sama were able to see eye-to-eye. I am sure that Klein-sama was once burning with ambition and purpose in her younger years and fully understands the simple outlook on life that Sheryl and Alto-hime share. Ranka was able to sing again much to the shock and awe of Mikhail who thought a little ice cream would convince Ranka otherwise. Clearly Ranka the idol would make fore a formidable rival to Sheryl who acknowledges her worthy adversary. Nevertheless Sheryl steals a kiss from the Kabuki Princess in plain view of Ranka and Mikhail. Mikhail’s mind onviously wandered into yuri territory, but Ranka was visibly distraught by this.

Her pdeo-sense is tingling…

Oh-shit its the Feds!

The best ice cream is the kind you never pay for…

The date was not the only intriguing thing, as there was some clue as to what the Vajra are. It seems that they are not truly alive as they are more like biomechanical machines that lack the independent brainpower to function without outside control. We know that they are keyed to find Ranka, but for them to do so there has to be some one near by to give orders and depending on how large the Vajra’s radius or rather sphere of action is there might be a traitor or a plant within the fleet. We know that the Vajra can wipe out a colony fleet in short order given how Galaxy could not even send out a distress signal and needed a courier who seems to have barely gotten out of the Vajra encirclement. However thus far only probing attacks have been made and to what purpose they have for Ranka is still hidden. Nevertheless at Island 3 what was clear is that the humans along with their distaff cousins remain oblivious as to the full nature of their foes, only aware that their enemy will give no quarter and are not living creatures. The only good news is that whatever chemical solution they used to disintegrate the captured bogie is effective, but again is of little use in a battlefield.

Sheryl’s Thighs.

Best View EVAR!

Your glance betrays you. So you are interested in Alto-hime…If you will not claim her him then perhaps she will.

I admit this episode allowed Sheryl to score major points with me since SherylxAtlo-hime do look sweet together. While I did anticipate Sheryl being a formidable foe for Ranka I did not expect Ranka to show her childish and dependent side as Sheryl displayed her real self. In light of this I my faith in Ranka has been shaken to the core. I don’t get the sense yet that Ranka was romantically interested in Alto-hime by episode’s end, but rather Ranka liked to bask in the attention and encouragement he offered to her. Sheryl on the other hand was disappointed how Alto-hime declared that he would show up to her “last” Frontier concert only to deliver her earring. Sheryl is not dependent on Alto-hime but rather she fancies him not only for his Kabuki Princess looks, but because he is not intimidated by her fame. Besides he makes her laugh. Coupled with the fact that Alto-hime did not post pictures of her bare bosom probably gave her the impression that Alto-hime was an honest lad.

What just that? No flowers?

Sad Sheryl is fine too. (I told you she was disappointed Kabitzin.)

Like I said he’s prettier than most girls this season.

Other highlights included Mikhail’s not so brave retreat from All Meltran Klein-sama, I agree with comrade Haesslich in that a bra does wonders for the brave captain of the Pixies. With a more radiant and faithfully rendition of Macronized Klein-sama the Shirukii doctrine of, “Microned Klein > Macroned Klein. An infallible statement made of truth, win and loli” is most disagreeable. Rather Klein is fine regardless of form, for Klein-sama is AMAZING. (BTW I was not slacking you ingrate. I just figured out how to work this newfangled IRC whatchamacallit. I was also busy with something call school, and recovering from watching this with yuri goggles.) As Kabitzin and others have said animation quality is dropping, but considering how they really made up for it with the ersatz yuri dayto, “What ‘bout My Star,” beautiful cityscape, and Klein-sama making Mikhail fearful I can over look this minor transgression. Besides I am not going to slam them since the made the sacrifices in the proper places, if only they had a bigger budget. I am very glad that the love triangle, Alto-hime brokenness, dog fights, and background all flow seamlessly together. It could have easily degenerated into Ranka going ZOMG Alto-hime and Sheryl on a dayto must follow and watch them from my clever disguise which they will never see through! Lastly even if Luca is shouta at least the lad has good taste in women. After all who wouldn’t want to date a busty moe megane in high school? Too bad for Luca freaking Mikhail has to rain on his and every one else’s parade.

Alto-hime is fine too…wait what the?

Such is the beauty of Alto-hime that Ranka is still in awe after five episodes.

He guys party at my Fleet!

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Shinkurou and Murasaki head over to Yuuno’s family’s home (the Houzukis) so Shinkurou can get some martial arts practice that he hasn’t had in a while. More of Murasaki’s stubbornness is shown while attempting to socialize with Yuuno’s little sister Chizuru. Murasaki is also showing more of how she is a naive and influential little girl when she spouts out phrases she hears on TV and from other influences like Tamaki.

Summary

On the train ride to the Houzuki mansion, Murasaki is worried that Yuuno would attack or harm her since she knew of the Kuhouins. Shinkurou assures her that Yuuno is a nice person and nothing like that would happen. At the mansion, Murasaki calms down a bit and meets Chizuru, Yuuno’s little sister, and they go off to play on their own while Shinkurou and Yuuno go to the dojo to spar. However, Murasaki’s stubbornness leads to her breaking Chizuru’s “DS” and doll. After getting whooped up by Yuuno, Shinkurou and Yuuno’s grandfather have a casual conversation about the Houzuki family and how they’re a family of killers. Yuuno’s grandfather also states that it is hard on Yuuno.

As Shinkurou and Murasaki arrive back at home, they find Tamaki and Yamie in their room eating boiled tofu and drinking lots of alcohol. During this scene, Tamaki gives Shinkurou a heater that she “obtained” from a university and pries into what Shinkurou did that day, making tons of sexual references. Tamaki’s influence is shown when Murasaki starts copying her sexual comments (of course not knowing what they actually mean).

Impressions

Ahh, what a fine episode this was. I wasn’t too into the first portion of the episode as it wasn’t that fun to watch. However, it was kind of interesting watching Murasaki interact with Chizuru and watching Shinkurou get his ass handed to him during training with Yuuno. Murasaki breaking everything she touched was kind of funny to watch and reminded me a bit of my childhood where things would get broken by friends all the time.

What I really liked about this episode was at the end where everyone was in Shinkurou’s room eating the boiled tofu. Since the apparent theme of the episode today was having fun with your family on the weekend, it was pretty nice to watch neighbors coming together and acting like family (even if Shinkurou was opposed to it). It goes to show that you don’t have to be related by blood to act like a family together.

It was also interesting to see how they depicted Yamie and Tamaki versus Shinkurou’s way of thinking when it came to being “poor”. All Shinkurou could think when he got the heater was that it would be too expensive on the electricity bill. But, Yamie and Tamaki could only think of living in their own luxury. Even though they’re all probably poor living in that apartment (I say probably because I don’t know exactly how financially secure Yamie and Tamaki are, but if they’re living in that apartment they’re probably not too well off), Yamie and Tamaki only make the best of it doing whatever they please and not worrying too much about the cost of things. On the other hand, Shinkurou is serious minded and always worries about the consequences of things.

Murasaki continues to be an epic part of the series. Without her I doubt many people would continue to watch this show. Her comments always makes me laugh especially when she says things she learns from TV or Tamaki. The last scene in Shinkurou’s room made me burst out laughing when Murasaki suddenly said “Eat me too!”. Murasaki is too innocent for her own good, but I guess it’s alright since she is still a little kid and all.

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What is it about episodic anime that I like so much? Even discounting the comedies, few shows in my all time favourites can maintain a storyline for more than a few episodes at a time (in before ADHD accusations). Mushishi is one that springs to mind constantly, each episode a sublime story of human struggle, each an individual ball of emotion so powerful that they threaten to bounce out of the screen and wreak havoc in my room. It continued to occupy my mind while I watched Shigofumi, mainly in the form of the question: “Why aren’t you more Mushishi?”

Of course, to stand up to Mushishi is by no means an easy task, but I should first explain why the comparison arose in my mind. Even before the show started airing, the premise reminded me of Mushishi: a young girl not of this world, delivering letters to people from the world of the dead, the last miracle afforded to mankind. You have a mysterious protagonist, dealing with the supernatural, and how that supernatural affects people in normal, everyday situations. Both used the supernatural as a lens into the everyday, a looking glass that reveal what truly makes us humans. Love, guilt, familial bonds, pride and the other things that rule us and our behaviour. It certainly could not be co-incidence that both Ginko and Fumika have silver hair, right? Here’s my spiritual successor to Mushishi! Rejoice!

Well, the first episode wasn’t what I was expecting, but the ending certainly caught my attention. At this point I was mainly lamenting why the stabbing in School Days didn’t happen in the first episode as well, but at least we got a NICE MEME out of that fiasco. Then the second episode rolled around, and, even if it was a little heavy handed with its symbolism, was thoroughly enjoyable. Then the ball really started rolling and the show turned to what it really wanted to do - to make a hammer out of its lens and bludgeon the stupid out of us.

What made Mushishi so great? The immaculate animation? The simple yet endearing character design? The astounding water colour backdrops, the music, the characters, the stories? EVERYTHING? What made Mushishi really stand out is its subtlety. It never felt the need to rub its themes into your face, but when it talked it was a quiet, soft sort of talk that creeps slowly into your heart and makes a nice little home there. On the other hand, if you didn’t want to listen to its lessons and think about them, it was perfectly content with just telling you interesting and arresting stories. It’s a rare commodity in anime, what with its plethora of panchira, giant robots and other similar quirks. So subtlety, above all else, cemented Mushishi’s spot as one of the best anime of all time in my mind.

Not so with Shigofumi. Fumika opens episode two with these words: “It is my duty to deliver the strength of the sentiments written inside these letters. The strength of love. The strength of faith. And… *dramatic stop of music* Hatred.” The symbolism of the building and the rocket were nice, as was Asuna’s final act of freeing it from the constraint of the tarp, but having Asuna’s voice-over soliloquy explain everything actually lessoned the impact somewhat. It’s alright, considering that they had to fit in the explanation for the Shigofumi as well in the space of two episodes, I could forgive the unnecessarily explicit back story and voice-over. There’s potential here, I still have my hope.

Then the bludgeoning. Ok, that’s a bit unfair, no one was bludgeoned until episode 10, only stabbed, but the creators were never subtle. They make a point, and then they sharpen that point until you started worrying about when they’ll stab you with it. Take episode 3 for example. Two themes were prevalent, one being the way that society plays the blame game, and the other being the distance between people. The overt way in which the episode repeatedly presented them, through the TV news presenters, Senkawa’s father, and once again, the soliloquy, annoyed me.

Why am I focusing so much on this? It’s because Shigofumi is, unfortunately, not outstanding in any other way whatsoever. But for this one point that irked me, it neither impressed nor offended - and that’s precisely what exasperates me so much. There is so much potential here, and I feel it has all been wasted. None of the characters are particularly memorable; the animation was done well but there were no outstanding moments; the art was consistently good but bland; the music was ok; and the stories weren’t anything to write home about. Even the final arc, which should have been the draw card that the whole series was building up to, was underwhelming.

This review is undeniably negative, but I wouldn’t have written it at all if I didn’t like Shigofumi. Despite all the things I’ve said about it, I still found the show to be a nice watch. It’s hard to explain my overall sentiments about it, but if I had to sum it up in one word, that word would be disappointing. I couldn’t stop comparing it to Mushishi, something that I shouldn’t have done. Taken on its own merits, Shigofumi is a show that fares far better than much of the dredge that the anime industry churn out on a regular basis. It’s not outstanding, but with one exception it doesn’t do anything else terribly bad, and sometimes you can’t ask for much more than that.

In terms of shows in similar to it, I would recommend Mushishi and Darker than Black over Shigofumi. However, if you’ve already seen those and would like something similar instead of the endless lame jokes and panties-shots in your episodic anime, Shigofumi is something that you should check out.

3 out 5 dead people would send you a shigofumi to ask you to watch this show.

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Suzaku: 1, Lelouch: 0

Uh, well without spoiling the end of the episode with this teaser and the shot I ended up using, bricks were unceremoniously shat at the end of this episode. HUMONGOUS BRICKS WERE IN FACT SHAT. Mmmm well before the surprise ending there was some school comedy hijinks and a couple of small revelations and character introductions. Definitely an immediate watch for the ending however, I’m still recovering.

Episode Summary:

At the embassy, the freed members of the Order are celebrating as Lelouch, Kallen, and C.C. discuss what happens next. For now, Lelouch is keeping Rolo’s identity a secret from both of them. Lelouch dons his Zero uniform and goes out to address the Order, a few of whom are angry at him for leaving them at the end of the Black Rebellion. However, Ougi and Toudou come to his defense, reminding them that Zero is the only one who can lead them to Brittania’s defeat.

At the academy, Suzaku returns to Ashford and pleasantly reunites with Lelouch. He catches up with everyone else from the student council and later discusses his observations with Villetta and Rolo. Afterwards, Lelouch and Rolo discuss plans as Lelouch declares that he will liberate Japan from within the school. The scene shifts to the Area 11 government headquarters, as Gino makes his appearance in his transforming knightmare Tristan. Also making her appearance is another Knight of Rounds, Anya, in her knightmare Mordred.

The festival at Ashford begins to welcome Suzaku back, and they are planning another huge pizza creation. While Lelouch and Rolo are preparing together, he mentions to Lelouch that his geass has a weakness, but we aren’t told what that is. As Lelouch is making plans over the phone, he suddenly runs into C.C., who once again was drawn by the promise of pizza. When they are alone, she reveals to him that V.V. gave both the Emperor and Rolo their geass and told Suzaku about it. In a series of coincidences, half the cast at the school ends up giving chase to Gino who has taken the knightmare with the tomatoes. Lelouch ends up diffusing the situation and saving C.C.’s identity by using his geass on a staff member to use the fire extinguishing gas.

Later on, in the underground surveillance facility, Lelouch uses Rolo to confront Villetta about her relationship with Ougi and blackmail her into joining him. That evening, Lelouch asks Li for help regarding his plans, but we aren’t informed as to what they were. Suzaku finds him on the rooftop and tells him that he plans to become Knight of One, who is given the choice of picking an area of the Empire for himself. He said he will choose Area 11 and therefore the people won’t need Zero. Then, he tells Lelouch that someone else will be in charge of it, and he calls that person on the phone and hands the phone to Lelouch. On the other end is Nunally, who calls him onii-sama, and tells him that she’s going to be the new governor-general of Area 11. With his back already turned to Suzaku, Lelouch has a face of massive surprise as the episode ends.

Impressions:

Tsun-tsun Kallen and dere-dere Kallen in the same scene, within a minute of each other. Very, very delicious. She still gets angry when Lelouch keeps secrets from her, she wants to know everything about him!

I was expecting some sort of brilliant speech here by Zero to convince everyone to follow him again, but the more intelligent members of the Order were able to do it for him. It’s obvious that they need him to win, and that the leaders don’t always tell their subordinates of why they do things. And in a way, what he did was his way of defeating Brittania, without Nunally he didn’t have a reason to continue and thus they would have lost regardless.

As predicted, moralfag has returned…yay…I have to admit that I’m impressed by Lelouch’s ability to act natural considering the situation. The guy sold him out, took his sister, and made him lose his memories, and Lelouch is still able to treat him like an old friend. In the meeting Rolo was acting pretty sketchy, I wonder if Suzaku picked up on that or just thinks he’s nervous meeting a Knight of Rounds. Shit-faced killer Rolo is definitely gone for the moment, his emotions are all over the place. Lelouch lays it on thick again this episode with the rabu rabu little brother stuff. Hook, line, and sinker once again.

Yaoi content +1. Wow, this Gino guy is really irritating, and the fact that I’m not really a fan of Souichirou Hoshi (Kira *shudders*) doesn’t help. He seems to be awfully friendly with Suzaku, although it’s pretty obvious Suzaku finds him to be quite an annoyance. Ah the politics of the elite, you have to tolerate annoying people to get ahead, kid.

The other loli shows up here too, Anya. I like Yuko Goto, but her voice is too soft because of the nature of the character for me to really enjoy it. Plus she pales in comparison to Kaguya-sama, queen of lolis. We shall see how the other loli, the Chinese Empress, ends up rating when she appears sometime in the future.

Ohhhhhh? That’s interesting, unfortunately they don’t really elaborate here. We already know he can’t stop physical objects, so that’s out as a revelation. Maybe it’s a restriction on amount of uses per day, or range, or the type of person it can be used on. At least we know Lelouch is now aware of it and won’t later be surprised.

Nina is batshit insane even in the notes she leaves on boxes. Couple that with the grandma haircut and the emo facial contortions and you have quite the nutjob. Hope she blows up sometime. Well, whatever was in that box was taken by C.C. and Kallen, wonder what was in it, maybe that funny outfit she had on, or maybe something scientific.

Chachimaru?! Multi?! Oh lordly, Code Geass has turned into a reference animu?! C.C.’s weakness for pizza strikes again, and I loved when she said “you’re so forceful, boya” in that seductive way. Reminds me a lot of Evangeline, lordy now I have to go read Negima again.

Some partial, but expected revelations here. We all kind of figured V.V. gave Rolo and the Emperor their geass, but now Lelouch knows it too. She was about to say something more about her staying with Lelouch, but as per usual in this show it gets interrupted. I was rolling in laughter when he knocked her into the tomatoes though, Lelouch certainly has balls.

Finally some legitimate Kallen fanservice shots to show. Mmmmmm, deeeeeeelicious. Brittania definitely designs the best costumes and the animators for this show know how to take the best camera angles possible when it comes to Kallen. I think I need a cold shower after this and the next shot.

Kallen fanservice shot #2, the braless wonder. And yeah, the look on Villetta’s face when Lelouch came in to blackmail her was fucking priceless. I was laughing maniacally to myself, it was a gleeful moment. Villetta-sensei, Happy Birthday! Hahahaha.

Ah, the moralfag’s plans are revealed. Apparently the people of Japan should just sit around for 20 years and hope that Suzaku comes to save them and shower him with love. A bunch of bullshit imo, as if the Emperor is going to let that all go so smoothly, he’s just using Suzaku to keep an eye on Lelouch until his Thought Elevator or whatever is created. So, because he is a man of high morality and wants to work from the inside, he is willing to sell out his friend, kill people, and use a crippled and blind girl as bait in order to atone for the sin of killing his own father. A big round of applause for the #1 hypocrite everyone! At least Lelouch acknowledges that he will become evil to defeat the greater evil.

Sad joke #2. Seriously, I never understood Suzaku and Euphemia. He fell so hard in love with her after going out on a dayto with her once? Enough to rage to such a degree over her death and try to kill/sell out his best friend and still hold a grudge after a year? What a joke, Euphie was a stupid, naïve, and one-sided character, nothing worthy of such dedication.

As I said before, HUGE BRICKS WERE SHAT. Like, this completely threw me off guard and I was speechless for awhile. Suzaku is falling further and further away from justice and into the world of evil Lelouch occupies. Just goes to show how his words of righteousness continue to ring hollow. This definitely takes the show in a completely different direction, as Lelouch will now have to fight against his own sister. I give points to Suzaku here if only for the reason that it was such a nasty plan that hit Lelouch harder than if he would have just killed him. Still, this just adds to how ridiculous Suzaku’s character is. Spinzaku has Jesus physical moves like running up walls to evade machine guns and spinning 3 times in the air, he can jump into a mecha with no previous piloting experience and defeat everyone in existence, and now he’s coming up with “just as planned” plans like Lelouch. He’s like a male Mary Sue, he’s better than everyone at everything and he’s moral! Weeee! If he gets a geass I’m going to shoot someone. Massive eyerolls have been triggered…

Overall, the episode mired around for a bit before the end. The revelations were stuff we already knew about, and the school comedy stuff was never my favorite part of this show. I admit I did chuckle at a few parts, mainly that involving C.C.’s antics and Kallen. But the episode sure ended with a bang, the revelation of what happened to Nunally and what will happen. It ranks as by far the most jaw-dropping cliffhanger of the season, and ranks right up there with a couple from last season. Not sure how I can wait another whole week for the next episode…

Next Episode:

Apparently Lelouch is able to weasel his way out of the rooftop confrontation, Suzaku didn’t see his face so maybe he plays off to Nunally that he doesn’t have a sister, which will crush her probably. The preview has shots of Lancelot and other knightmares launching as well as combat with the Gurren. Combat episode incoming, thank god.

Well that was fun such a pity Shirley didn’t beat the crap out of Kallen for her man, though for getting Villetta-sensei into that out fit was a great feat of persuasion. Also Lulu is the biggest sissy in the whole series how can freaking Millay in a dress out run him? Fuck I have seen fat kids go fast after hotdogs then Lulu going after C2. Not sure what Li is getting out of this though if scoring a free ride with Kallen and C2 was his goal, mission accomplished. I just hope he gets some warm coffee and gets to tell both of them interesting things ala GTA IV. The fanservice level has returned to acceptable levels, but God Damn it I want BLOOD NOT KETCHUP OR SOME OTHER TOMATO BASED WEAKSAUCE!

So yeah Rollo falls further into bro-con in some sick deviant parody of sis-con, and understandably that maggot Lulu is enjoying it to near orgasmic levels. Villetta gets blackmailed and Suzaku is back to rape Lulu yet again! Suzaku ist mein komraden soldaten and as such I applaud his ingenious and ruthless methods of brining Nunnally into the crossfire so that if Lulu can no longer wantonly kill people. The inclusion of fully named Britannian pilots like Gino and Anya means that Kallen is going to have to work for her kills again as well as Toudou and his gaggle. Unlike comrade Calawain, I like this more ruthless Suzaku as I grow tired of Lulu masturbating to his own success. Now let the blood flow!

I oppose those filthy eleven scum, I have no desire to support a bunch of smelly Japanese men who have not showered take off their shirts to show off their anti-six packs, like Calawain. Nay I support the Ashford Swim Team Britannian cause for it is much more palatable and easier on the eyes. So next time Lloyd and Cecile are back!

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I read DannyChoo’s entry on Anime Haters and wondered about something that seems to be common among the complains. It’s the phrase Naruto. Before you think that this is an entry that I will go about bashing or worshiping Naruto, this is perhaps the last time you will read of that word in this entry (or perhaps second last). I started off a more serious relationship with anime through the viewing of you guess it, Naruto. I used to have quite a few misconceptions about anime but more about that later.

Before I start going on an incoherent rant, I will just like to explore the reasons that people use to justify their hatred. A quick look at previous entries writing about this topic mostly focuses on why or why anime do not suck, but it misses something important. What are the reasons why the haters particularly hate them, be it rational or irrational? I am not going to challenge any of these possible explanations too much. I prefer to leave you to give evidence whether they have any empirical validity.

I hate cute things with big eyes

One of the common things that I hear from haters is that animation is orientated toward making the girls as cute as they possibly can. Most of people who dislike anime considers this to be mere pandering to an audience who cannot care less about a story. They believe that you might as well watch Tom & Jerry, Spongebob Squarepants or Shrek if you want some nice cuteness. In fact, let’s just watch Mickey Mouse! The shows are generally empty and is devoid of plot. It’s just for cuteness, as they all say.

It’s those obnoxious fans

Many know of me as an anime blogger, but a little known fact is that I used to hate anime. That past is not that far away. I do not just hate anime. I hate the people who view it, considering them no more than socially deprived people who I can scent a mile away. I always have the hatred for the extreme fans (who the haters consider to be the general serious anime fan) who literally force anime down your throat. Needless to say, my hatred of anime developed even more with those fakers who try to go “Sugoi ne, Naruto-san!” on me. Sorry, I do not think you are cute. I still don’t.

It’s hentai!

Another misguided conception I had in the past is that I assume all anime is an exploitation of the female gender, creating sexual scenes of breasts, panties and innuendo (Guess what anime I watch on television then. A hint, it starts with L, and the second word starts with H). The thing with many anime is the notion of fanservice. There are some that are blatant, some that are contextual and some that are in the gray area. Nonetheless, the amount of ridiculous fanservice to make otakus go in fervent stupidity can turn people off. That includes me.

It’s for kids

It might be the Pixel productions in America. It might be the many popular anime shows that cater to the public. As haters often look at a small part of the pie to make a hasty stereotype, it is quite easy to state that anime are for kids simply by Inuyasha, Bleach, Naruto and Digimon. I mean, those are the few Japanese animation series that haters know due to popularity. Tell them about Simoun, Serial Experiment Lain and they will still tell you it’s for kids.

It’s bad graphics compared to GREAT AMERICAN ANIMATION

The title says it all. People often talk about how great american animation is. I am just wondering with the amount of budget that the major animation companies in USA can spend, they are wasting it on absolute run-of-the-mill series. Nonetheless, they often talk about old school anime such as Akira or the Miyazaki series.

Anime is for yaoi!

A common perception, due to the rabid yaoi fangirls that can literally suffocate a man to death with her weight (yes, a stereotype), is that animation is often about boy love. I am not sure where that conception comes from, but I have heard it from some people about this.

Anime is for hate!

Everything is allocated toward anime as an invasion by the eastern hemisphere. Used to cultural imperialism through Hollywood and their highly serialized series, anime is a natural jerk reaction toward the east. It’s nationalism.

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Trap battlin animu!

Extended combat sequences, glomping only existing for 10 percent of the show? What the hell show have I fallen into?! This week wolf-niisan comes and starts some trouble, and some sort of plot exists. However, somehow it’s not entirely horrid, it’s actually quite survivable.

Right out of the box they made sure they made their weekly requirement of a scene where Kouta and Chizuru almost have sex. Unfortunately Saku (wow, is that really a guy’s name?) comes and interrupts their fun. This was one of the few scenes of the borderline softcore porn we’ve come to expect from Kanokon. It kind of started last week which had significantly less, and really came aobut this week. The sexual content was mostly limited to the beginning and very end.

Eh, while certainly fitting for a show with so much sex in it, the whole idea of the abstinence bracelet was still kind of silly. He’s going to die if he gets an erection? Meh. Although it is vastly more interesting then when Kimiaru tried to come up with a plot regarding Yume. I almost wanted to shoot myself watching that crap. I’ll buy it for now Kanokon, I’ll at least let you try and get me interested in the plot because there are hints of something mildly interesting at the end.

I did find Saku incredibly annoying. For a supposedly cool and tough biker guy, using a bracelet trick as a way to get your woman is exceedingly lame. You are supposed to show how tough you are and all that business, try being more like GTO, the most bad-ass biker character ever.

Why is he folding her panties…does he seriously do her laundry like that?

Weekly Great Erotic King quote. I really don’t blame Kouta for feeling lonely without his huge breasts…er Chizuru around. When you get used to such a lively lifestyle such a sudden loss of it can make