Kurogane’s Anime Blog

Okay, I’m signing on for another trip through Hatsunejima again. Yeah, that scene kinda sold me on to it.

D.C.II S.S starts not long after the end of the first season. Things are getting a bit busy in preparation for the upcoming Christmas celebrations, and Yoshiyuki’s class chooses to do a ningyogeki thanks to Anzu’s suggestion. Naturally, Yoshiyuki and Koko get chosen to play the main roles.

However, not all is right with Hatsunejima, and the magical sakura tree seems to be malfunctioning. Sakura-san is of course well aware of it, and Oto-nee also feels it too. Mysterious cases also seem to have been happening around the island as well, most likely connected to the sakura tree.

Mmm… so it looks like they’ll be dealing with the main Otome route in the second season. Despite the disappointing first season, I guess I like the way that Da Capo II is being handled enough to continue on for a second season. Here’s to hoping that Otome will get her deserved airtime this season. I like what they’ve shown of her so far.

Looking back now, it was really surprising that the first season didn’t show the Asakura sisters so much, considering they’re the pivotal characters of the franchise.

Oh, I have to give mention to the nice ED, with the flashback shots of Yoshiyuki meeting the Asakura sisters for the first time and progressing throughout their growth together. I see that Yoshiyuki sure has got his hands full with the sisters and Sakura over the years. I guess that’s what it’s like to have so many females as your family :P.

Finally, after almost a year of waiting, Geass R2 starts.

Continue ->

The show where Ayako Kawasumi puts the moves on Noto Mamiko. God, I can’t get rid of the mental image.

Looks like they moved stuff around, as the series first starts with Kouta getting his daily glomp from Chizuru, presumably after they’ve known each other for a while, and only then they flash back to the music room part.

Chizuru is fucking awesome, particularly where she goes, “Even if it’s my first time with a boy, I’m pretty sure it’s gonna be fine. Let’s leave it to our genes and instinct!” and “Don’t worry about it being the first time for the both of us, I’m the one who’s going to feel the pain.” after she pushes Kouta down and attempts to err.. go further. Dear god, the stimulation, my reasoning isn’t going to last.

Kouta in kitsune-gattai form is cute! Which surprises me to say, but having Ayako Kawasumi and Noto Mamiko in the same body has definitely pushed any limits of mine off the cliff.

Oh yes, I shall look forward to more awesome Ayako Kawasumi seducing Noto Mamiko in this show. Oh yes….

P.S.: Looks like they changed a lot of the seiyuus for the characters. I kinda miss Sugita Tomokazu’s Tayura. Maa~~ who cares as long as Ayako Kawasumi is still doing Chizuru and Noto Mamiko does Kouta.

Thanks to heads up from a few people, I discovered that there’s a ura version of it as well. It’s basically set in the same time, only from a different point of view, and more of the characters are introduced, including Minorin’s Kooba, where she seems to be playing the cute but sharp “tsukkomi” character type. She’s the loli with the grey hair and black ribbon in the OP, btw.

Kaya is also introduced, and like most Fumika Orikasa roles, she’s instantly noticeable and likable, playing as, apparently, an ojousama who wants to explore the tower as well. Also we get to see more of the real Fatina (Yui Horie), and she’s like Yoko + Naru at the same time. I love it.

For those who want to watch the “ura” episode 1, unfortunately the only source of it I can find is from Nico Nico. Actually, it does make me wonder, will they only show the “omote” or “front” episodes only for free, while the “ura” episodes are going to be only for paying customers? I hope that doesn’t happen. Most likely this is just a one-time only thing. However, if it does prove to be correct, then Gonzo has definitely got a shrewd business plan.

UPDATE: After doing additional research, it seems that the “ura” version was only aired on GyaO, the Japanese partner for Gonzo’s video streaming plan. Without having to mention, it is for the paying customers only. I don’t see them making it a viable plan for different POV episodes for the future ones, but if they do… I sure hope they can pull it off.

Holy shit, that was a pretty unexpected start. They so blatantly made fun of so many RPG clichés, I keeled over laughing.

Best parts has to be the “I’m going back to my hometown to get married” taboo, Druaga going “Jil… I am your father”, the “I don’t want to fight you, so you’ll have to defeat me first!” part with the stag beetles comparison and the “Hero Jil: Final Form!” with the hammer parody. Lastly, the single most best part…

*Roper tentacle rapes Fatina (Yui Horie)*
Hocchan: Iyaaaadaaaaaaaaa~~
Jil: We need to save her!
Neeba: No, wait! Look!
*Roper continues to tentacle rape Hocchan*
Jil: We really should save her!
Neeba: Not yet! It’s just getting good!
Jil: Not yet?!!
Neeba: Hold on! Just a little bit more….
Fatina: *pissed off* WHEN THE F@#$ ARE YOU PERVERTS GONNA SAVE ME!
Neeba: Okay, let’s attack.

God, that was just… priceless.

Thankfully ( or not so thankfully), it seems that’s not exactly the real story, more like a omake style joke episode. They’re probably going for a “WTF LOL?” opening just like Haruhi for this one. Still, this show has piqued my interest enough to keep on for the 2nd episode.

Oh wow. Dark Negi finally appears. Looks like things will finally go up a notch from here.

I’m pretty impressed with Akamatsu, for actually putting Negi on the way of darkness. Not many shounen manga choose to have their protagonists consciously choose to go down this path.

Ishida-sensei disappears for half a year, until things die down a bit. In the meantime, Yoshikawa-sensei takes over the role of advisor, surprisingly she got married to Ishibashi-sensei and they’re already expecting a child! Hayai! Tama-chan is now a sophomore, and she’s enjoying the role.

Two new freshmen, in the form of the siblings of Toyama and Iwasa join the club. God damn, that bastard Toyama has a cute tsundere imouto, voiced by Chiwa Saito too. I lol’ed when she mentioned sepak takraw though.

Ahh~ it’s been a fun watch, following the adventures of the Muroe High Kendo club over the past half year (and exactly one year in the series timeline).

From the naively cute and strong Tama-chan, the always-smiling Kirino-buchou, hopelessly clumsy Satorin, the extreme bipolarity of Miya-miya and the zany but motivated Saya, BAMBOO BLADE has done a fine job in drawing us in to their lives, looking at both their happy moments and trying times.

The biggest strength of BAMBOO BLADE has probably how it manages to maintain a finely objective viewpoint, centering around the Muroe High Kendo club, rather than putting too much focus on to any individual club member. While Tama-chan is undeniably the main girl, being Red, the rest had their fair share of airtime, with the exception of guys perhaps.

It seems that there is a possibility of a second season, given the introduction of new characters, especially one being hinted as Tama’s new rival. I would gladly watch it too.

By now, I hope that everyone has figured out that my earlier post was for April Fools, if the glaringly obvious timing of the post, along with the nice link at the bottom of it haven’t cued it in. BTW, yes, you can use TinyURL to forward to a Youtube video.

As for saturnine herse-… himself, sorry, his reaction has been mostly tsun-tsun, but it’s really to fit in her, I mean, his online persona. She’s He’s pretty dere-dere in real life, I assure you.

By the way, I’m starting a Suki Suki Satchan club, does anyone want to join? I also need someone to design a club badge for it, if anyone’s up for the task.

P.S. Oh man, I still need to write my true tears review. I’ve got a ton to say, but I keep feeling lazy to put them in black and white. Gotta lay off the games for a while, seriously.

So finally the truth is out. Yes, Saturnine Owens is a girl. Being someone who’s actually met her in real life, I second the bewilderment of DS for her to take on such an aggressive persona online.

Let me tell you about the events of that day… when I first met this beauty. It was for ACGC 2008, some generic local anime/games event, and I extended an invitation to Saturnine, which she accepted as she was also going out on the same day. I relished the chance to finally meet this charismatic person for the first time, coming to the meeting place at the local Borders, with a lot to talk about on my mind.

Just like DS, I was expecting to meet with a guy… so I was surprised when one of the cute girls that I noticed instantly upon entering the store suddenly walked up to me, causing me to feel nervous a bit. “Hi there, are you Kurogane?”, she said. In a daze, I managed to mumble something resembling “yeah”, and she proceeded to introduce herself as Saturnine Owen. My mind blanked out for a few minutes as I tried to process the incongruence of the fact.

When I came about, she was lightly shaking my arms, asking me if I’m alright… “Man… everytime I show myself to someone, they always do that.”, she added. “Of course… you’re… you’re… so beautiful….”, I wanted to blurt out loud, but instead I kept my calm and mumbled another “Yeah”. I felt really pathetic at that point. Such a beauty in front of me, and I’ve only managed to say out two words.

Anyways, we proceeded to look for a book, about story writing and structures, and I realized that all the tl;dr posts that she made are truly from her own knowledge. She confided to me that she was planning to be a screenwriter some day, as she loved to write. I listened intently to her, all the while fixated at her beauty, her gracefulness and generally enjoying being in the company of such a beauty. I noticed many a spiteful glances directed to me, although she didn’t seem to notice or, if she did, mind.

Moving out of Borders, any thoughts of heading for the event I had planned to go with him her, evaporated in to thin air, and instead I suggested that we head for a nearby cafe to sit down and maybe eat some lunch (it was around 1pm at that time). As we both walked in, I could see nearly half the cafe’s male customers turning their heads… some very visibly to their girlfriends, earning them a quick pinch or under-the-table leg jab. I chose a rather secluded corner of the cafe to sit down, not wanting to attract more attention.

Sitting down at the cafe… I ordered food, although what exactly I ordered and ate, until this day, I still cannot remember. Breaking the ice by talking about true tears (as I just watched 12 a few hours before heading out), we started to talking about various things, wandering through many topics. I shall not bother with the details, and besides I would love to keep some things between us ^^.

Without noticing, nearly 2 hours passed and Saturnine decided to take off early, as she had a promise to keep. I enquired further, believing that I’ve earned her trust enough, but she just blushed slighly and answered, “Hi~mi~tsu~”. I guess now I know who she made the promise to. I nearly fainted at that point, but I kept my composure, and we both headed to the counter to pay. I tried to pay for the both of us (I must note that I actually only had 50 ringgit at that point, and the total came up to 45 ringgit, pretty much leaving me penniless), but she insisted on splitting the bill, as she didn’t want to owe me anything. I felt a bit disappointed (but relieved at the same time). Till this day, I wonder if she noticed that I was actually forcing myself to pay for it. Sigh… male pride :(.

Parting with a “Ja, mata ne!” and a sweet smile on her face… I managed to wave goodbye, and left for the event, suddenly remembering about it, but feeling empty and yet satisfied at the same time. Sigh… another bittersweet memory to include in my days of youth. It’s just too bad DS already took her, but I will always keep this feeling in my heart.

P.S. Luckily, I did bring a camera along for the event, so I managed to take a picture of Saturnine herself. Enjoy her glorious beauty :)).