Kurogane’s Anime Blog

Am I the only one who thinks that Kazumi is going “YAPPARI KOROSU!!!” inside her during this scene? Oh heck, the Shana-tan specials for this season is so going to be filled with major LULZ. Heck, I think they could go do a full episode or two out of it, just by using the material available in the first 4 episodes.

Well, not much to say about this episode. Yuji’s harem master fate is proceeding as usual, but he should really learn how to read between the lines. God, how bloody insensitive can one be? Even poor ol’ Yoshida-chan is almost going yandere soon, if this carries on. But seriously, LOL HECATE is LOL.

I wonder… potential Ren’ai Doumei between Shana and Yoshida? Both of them have seriously recognized the threat of LOL HECATE already.

The jealous duo.

Oh yes, fun times ahead.

I’ll repeat myself. LOL HECATE!

Shana and co. spend the whole day trying to make sure of the identity of Konoe, first by testing her using fuzetsu, then calling in Margery to use her jizaihou on her and finally, luring a small fry Tomogara, coincidentally appearing at Misaki City, to eat Konoe. After all that fails to prove her as Hecate, Shana finally relaxes and goes back to normal. However, it seems it’s merely the calm before the storm…

Two words. Love polygon. Holy shit, the scriptwriters are making enough lulz to last a few episodes. Konoe/Hecate is truly made of Noto Mamiko and LOL, with her spoiled brat antics. First she commandeers the seat to the left of Yuuji (じいいいいいいい～～～), then she uses a tablecloth to cover her table at school and she needs someone to help her change in to her P.E. shirts. LOL. As if it’s not sooooo obvious it’s her already lol. God she had me in stitches. But I’ll admit it was fun to see Noto Mamiko in a role like this lol.

Man, I miss Chigusa.

Shana gets jealous of seeing Sakai eating Yoshida’s bento, so she tries to makes one, with the help of Chigusa but fails and forces a whole bunch of melonpan on him. Yuji overloads on both melonpan and sandwiches, so he gets sent to the infirmary when Shana notices a fuzetsu and wakes up Yuuji.

They both get trapped in the jizaihou of the Tomogara that appeared yesterday, and soon find out they are trapped in Yoshida’s dream world this time. Yuji tries to wake her up while Shana battles an image of Belpeol and Yuuji realises that the real Tomogara is inside him, trying to steal the Reiji Maigo. Thankfully, it repels the Tomogara out of Yuuji, apparently, it’s forbidden to take the item out of him. Yuuji manages to wake up Yoshida and they both safely escape.

A surprise awaits them the next day, as a transfer student comes to their class, bearing a striking resemblance to Hecate…

Hi I’m Hecate. Nice to meet you guys.

Two words. LOL HECATE. That’s unbelievably obvious, d’oh. So much for a battle plan. Y’know what, it would be REALLY FUNNY now if it turns in to a school comedy love polygon between Shana, Hecate and Yoshida over poor, unlucky Yuji. Of course, that’s not gonna happen, but man, there’s gotta be a f-ckton of material for the Shana-tan specials now.

She’s pretty cute.

Hmm.. well, basically half recap episode to reintroduce us back to the world of Shakugan no Shana. At the least it wasn’t a total recap.

In short, Yuuji gets trapped in a dream world, where he relives back some of the events of the first season, mainly Friagne’s and the Aizen twins parts. However, he notices the incongruences and realizes his situation, finally breaking free from it, back to the real world where he and Shana are actually fighting against the Tomogara that sent him in to the dream world. Shana easily takes care of her, but she disappears with an ominous smile. Both of them resume walking to school, and when they reach there, Shana notices Yoshida bringing a bento box, which she declares as her second declaration of war (XD).

Hmm… a pretty mediocre episode, in contrast with the awesome OP that got me pretty hyped up. Probably too much Yuuji, he’s too bland. I wish they could replace him with Saito instead, that was one of Satoshi Hino’s more awesome roles. Don’t even want to mention the disappointing ED though…. I miss Takahashi Yoko and Ishida Yoko T_T. I do hope J.C. Staff will do a better job with the Shana series this time round, as the first one descended to mediocrity towards the second half, with a lot of messed up pacing and story development.

Awesome OP by Kawada Mami again. Totally loved the coordination of the video and the lyrics.

Damn I’m hyped up for Shana II already. Expect a full post later today.

Kawaii!!!

Awesome, the movie was totally awesome. Aw man, if I had the chance, I wouldn’t mind paying tickets to go see the show in a cinema. All I can say it really restored my interest and excitement for the series, after the disappointing run of the TV series.

For one, the movie followed the novel’s story more tightly, even if it had some loose ends here and there, but at the least, it was much more better than how the TV series treated it.

Next, the action scenes in the movie are way more impressive as well, with some nicely choreography in it. Particularly awesome was the final fight between Shana vs Friagne, especially on the climax where Alastor appears. Way more awesome than in the TV series, which I don’t recall Alastor appearing at all.

Also, appreciated on how they decided to keep Margery Daw in, but more of a supporting character than trying to usurp screentime from Shana, although I must say, doing this does change the relationship dynamics a bit. The running gag of Wilhelmina appearing on the TV programs was a riot as well.

And finally… they made Shana much more moe moe, by keeping her character more “pure” than in the TV series. Honestly speaking, Shana in the TV series got to my nerves a wee bit, with her incessant complaining at times, but in the movie, she’s definitely more true to her novel characterization than the TV one. I especially love the wider range of emotion she shows throughout the movie.

That concludes my thoughts on the movie for now. For those who have seen it, watch the Gekijouban Shana-tan special as well ;). It’s a bloody riot as usual. I hope that they include a Shana-tan special in each of the Shana S2 DVD’s later when they are produced.

Uruchai~! Uruchai~! Uruchai~!

I realize it’s a bit late for “Year in Review” posts, but some inexplicable urge just compelled me to write this out. Possibly attributed to my current holiday I guess. In anyways, I suck at ranking things, so this is not a “Top Ten” styled post, but more of a focus list of shows I thought best represented the year that was 2006 for me.

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Miko~ miko~ miko~ miko~ miko~

あけましておめでとうございます！これからもよろしこおねがいします！
Akemashite omedetou gozaimasu! Kore kara mo yoroshiku onegai shimasu!

Wishing everyone a Happy New Year here! Thanks to all my readers and commenters for their support of my blog! Hopefully 2007 will be another fun and enjoyable year too :).

The third of the Shana DVD specials, this time with Hecate being the main focus…. Noto kawaii yo Noto!

Quite funny and disturbing, mostly because of the Sydney x Yuuji Y4L =.=;;;…. man… he’s a pervert. Anyways, screencaps galore after the jump. 56k’ers be warned.

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The last episode of the series sees the end of the Ball Masque arc and Shana finally coming into terms with her feelings towards Yuuji.

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