You wished there was such thing as a cell phone or cordless phone, so you don’t have to stay in the same room all day… …
Completed
Sora no Woto – Episode 7 Thoughts and Impressions
Well, there is one thing we know… War is bad…
…
Kobato – Episode 17 – Thoughts and Impressions
This is the second part of Mysterious Lifeform, in Ioryogi perspective. He goes to the “Sprit World” to obtain baumkuchen, his favorite food. On his way back, he gets hit by a soccer ball, on a sheet in midair, using his fire breath to avoid getting the box wet, be he fell into the pond, going into a dryer and also being a target of a shoot a object game. That is one rough and hilarious adventure he had.
After Kobato and Ioryogi met again, she returns to the bazaar and found out that her mysterious lifeform she stiched haven’t sold, but Domoto, the nice guy he is, buys one… and Ioryogi’s baumkuchen got sold, so he never got the chance to eat it and gave Kobato a -300 for her selling it.
Unlike the last few episodes, this one was really lighthearted. As you noticed, you saw cameos from XXXHolic and also Tsubasa Chronicle? Yes, there is a theme park named Mokona Land… it made me laugh because I instantly recognized it since I did watch a few episodes of Tsubasa with my sister a long time ago… It seems that Clamp sure love their cameos… or they are running out of ideas… One or the other… Anyways, it was good, but not as good as the last…
Verdict
8.6/10
Spring 2010 Preview
But it’s Winter! Why the hell you be posting a Spring 2010 Preview?! Well, because everyone else is. I will be covering two new spring shows and perhaps another old one after the Spring Semester ends… The picks are:
Thoughts: It’s been a year since a Key anime have aired (the last being Clannad After Story) and they are really good at story telling, although some may not agree. The surprise that KyoAni isn’t doing this. PA Works, which have done some rather good adaptations of True Tears and CANAAN… Heck, why not? From the looks from the trailer, the show looks very promising.
However, compared to earlier works, the characters are already dead. 😮
Thoughts: More of this stuff? Well, suck it haters… I will do it anyways because I have enjoyed the first season. Sure there is a lot of moe compared to other series, but it’s something just to enjoy. Besides, I liked the first season since brainless entertainment makes me relieve stress from my college work and who doesn’t like girls eating cake all day and play music?
Although, Sora no Woto so far is alot better at story telling than K-ON!… But then again, the main advantage of K-ON! is MOE!
Not to mention, they had to take the naming conventions from Hayate no Gotoku Second Season… They just added another explanation point at the end of K-ON! Makes sense, but they could of be more creative.
Older Series
I won’t start these series until May 2010 and by then, I will have the DVDs to start covering them.
Thoughts: I was looking at this anime for quite awhile… but when someone actually made a blog post on it, well… I’m convinced because Kampfer disappointed me and I felt like watching more trap animes… they are quite funny if you ask me, but I won’t start this until I obtain the DVDs for this series.
Compared to Bakatest’s Hideyoshi, it’s obvious that the main character obviously wasn’t forced into girls clothing…
Thoughts: I haven’t seen a mahou shoujo series for awhile since what have hit me. Somehow, this interested me since it had moe magical girls fighting whatever… Well, I find out when I actually start it in May/June.
Well, there you have it… Like with the Fall 2009 Season, this list is subject to change since one day, something can interest me and I decide to watch it. Up to date info can be seen at “Upcoming Anime” on the top of the blog.
All the info are pulled from Melative and WP plugin, melative-link.
Sora no Woto – Midseason Review
Sora no Woto was tainted by preview and people thinking that it’s a rehash of K-ON!, but in the military. However, when it first aired, the series proved to be more than just a moeblob series… Perhaps there is hardly any moe at all?
Well, they do alot… Rather than drinking tea and eating crumpets all day long, they go on field trips and checking safety device, checking for ghosts, finding lenses for the tank and the questionable dealing of bootlegged wine for goods or some dramatic moments like Kanata getting sick. Sora no Woto is a slice of life show more in the style of ARIA or perhaps Haibane Renmei instead of K-ON! where we have girls doing cutesy things like tripping over cords or acting childish.
The strongest point with Sora no Woto is that it doesn’t have any moe and more on serious plot like Misho’s story or Kanata getting sick. Although the story have some happy moments, it has alot of serious moments, which one can appreciate.
Another strong point is the art and music. The music perfectly fits in, especially with Hikari no Senritsu by Kalafina because of the theme of the song that sets the setting of the story. Also, it features other important music such as Amazing Grace (we know…) and others. The art is rather good, dispite the K-ON or Kannagi like art style. It’s background is appealing to the eye.. as they say.
However, “Hater’s gonna hate” no matter what (complete with animated GIF)… Just ignore them and watch it without comparing it to obviously moe shows like K-ON! You might just enjoy it.
Verdict
Rating so far: 8.88/10, B+
Sora no Woto – Episode 6 Thoughts and Impressions
Well, this gets more interesting…
…
Kobato – Episode 16 Thoughts and Impressions
In effort to save the nursery, Kobato suggests them to do a bazaar.
…
Sora no Woto – Episode 5 Thoughts and Impressions
Now they go on a torture field trip on a hot and steamy summer day.
…
Kanon – Episode 18 Thoughts and Impressions
Well, it’s never too late to post about Shiori’s birthday, right?
…
Kanon – Episode 17 Thoughts and Impressions
Yuuichi keeps a promise in treating Shiori like he always does when she starts attending school before her birthday… and still conflicted with her older sister.
…
Kobato – Episode 15 Thoughts and Impressions
This episode have gotten even more emotional, more so than the last few episodes…
…
Sora no Woto – Episode 4 Thoughts and Impressions
Episode 4 mainly focuses more on Noel, the only character that isn’t a carbon copy from you know what and actually…
…
Kanon – Episode 16 Thoughts and Impressions
Since Shiori’s birthday is next week, I decided to blog about the three episodes of Shiori, since she is my #1 favorite character…
…
Sora no Woto – Episode 3 – Thoughts and Impressions
Things get a bit more dramatic than your average comedy anime… well, as you can tell, Kanata comes down with some illness
…
Kobato – Episode 14 Thoughts and Impressions
This may be a filler or not as exciting as the other episodes, but it explores an important lesson, not about the potatoes, but something else.
…
K-ON! – Episode 14 (OVA) Thoughts and Impressions
This is a rather refreshing episode to get back on the K-ON! mood since after all, there is another season… Wait? Another season of K-ON! So, more cake eating and tea drinking, cosplaying and beach scenes than actual practicing?
Hold up… We are not there yet. They decide to do a live performance at a Live House, although Azusa and Mio doesn’t want to, but they give in. With their first time, Yui is so excited for it that yeah… her usual personality. Sticking the backstage sticker all over the place, asking for help with the performance sheet and other things that causes the viewer to have a moe~ nosebleed. They got too excited and nervous, that they messed up the first rehearsal, but with the help of the other bands, they got it just right for the live performance. Ui, her friend, Nodoka and also Sawako…
After their performance, they partied all night until midnight, where they slept.. They go see the sunset without Sawako and Yui notices that Azusa’s tiger ears were still on… Moe~~~~~
Overall, besides the moe, this was a very enjoyable and fun episode… a thing that relieves stress from college work. If you contrast with Sora no Woto, I can see the difference clearly… K-ON! is moe~, Sora no Woto is not… and difference in character designs… So yeah… this should make most people excited for another season… yet it feels so nostalgic. Can I survive another season after watching this? YES I CAN!
Verdict
8.7/10
Sora no Woto – Episode 2 Thoughts and Impressions
YA RLY
Not seeing much moe here, but now we are finally introduced to more characters. Kureha, the hot headed, twin tailed Tsundere which yelled “You SUCK!” at Kanata and forced to give a tour to her by Rio. Felicia, the second lieutenant where she ends up cleaning the bathroom and not seemingly flashing her high position. Lastly, you have Noel and she seems to work herself a bit too much…
…
Kobato – Episode 13
Now it’s the start of the Fall season and… it’s all about that tree…
…
Kobato – Mid Season Impressions
What? We already at the half point?
It’s been 12 episodes since it started to air. I have to say, it’s a really fun show for the most part. We have this Dojikko Geneki girl named Hanato Kobato along with her stuffed dog named Ioryogi. Her mission, heal peoples hearts to get Konpeito to fill up her bottle so she can have her wish granted… within one year.
As you noticed, most of her “healing” or solving the person’s problem leads to a crowning moment of heartwarming… well, compared to other series CLAMP made, this sure has alot of moe~ This can be seen with Kobato’s clumsiness and also some of the really cute outfits she wears… no wonder…. Behind the happy tone of this show has a somewhat dark backstory with the Japanese Mafia giving the nursery some unsecured loans (also known as loan sharking, illegal in the 50 states) and threatening to shut down the nursery.
Some of the best moments I have seen thus far is well, Episode 5, which that story almost jerk tears, Episode 10 where we see little Fujimoto and lastly Episode 11 with Kobato wearing what? A Waitress outfit? I think I got a Moe~ nosebleed..
I expect that the show will end nicely, but who would know anyways… If you haven’t watch it yet and like a slice of life, I suggest watching it… It’s pretty good… although…
Score so far: 8.74/10 (avg.), B+
Kobato – Episode 12 Thoughts and Impressions
It’s almost the end of summer and Fujimoto has to go to a college conference since Doumoto asked him to since he missed the other. Sayaka convinces Fujimoto to go and he does. Kobato covers for him for the rest of the day, despite of her being clumsy and all.
…
Sora no Woto – Episode 1 – First Impressions
What this reminds me of? K-ON! meets Strike Witches wearing pants or K-ON in Boot Camp?
Sora no Woto is a Anime First and has pretty decent eyecandy if you put it this way. Don’t let the K-ON! or perhaps Kannagi art-style fool you, the first episode, there isn’t much moe in this episode… or perhaps no moe at all?
…
My Experiences of Anime Blogging in 2009
I have started to blog back in October of last year, mostly about topics not about anime. Suddenly, my interest for anime came back when I discovered better anime such as Suzumiya Haruhi, Lucky Star and soon after Kanon and also Clannad/Clannad After Story. This is when I started to blog about anime in middle of February while using the same Wordpress theme with alot of modifications and kept at it for close to 10-11 months with my effort to update my blog frequently with new Anime episodic posts, reviews and editorials.
Whole year went by so fast and I have published over 220 posts within the 10-11 months I have blogging. Basically, I have been posting on average 20 posts per month. Blogging has always been fun for me, although it’s time consuming. The idea is I want to share my thoughts instead of relying on Twitter like most anime bloggers and neglect their blogs. Yes I’m looking at you… and RyanA have been complaining about this frequently on IRC! I for one didn’t take this trend and decided that anime blogging should stay as it is… on your blog.
The most notable events I have written a response about is the eroge ban (which is wrong, btw), ADV shutdown, Bloggers not crediting their fanart and lastly, Otaku Elimination Game where we spread more controversy and of course, the Endless Eight outrage where most of the bloggers complained about Endless Eight endlessly… I enjoyed that… err… not really.
I have seen some good series this year. The second half of Clannad After Story which is a masterpiece in my books, K-ON!, a lighthearted slice of life comedy, half of Kobato and Seitokai no Ichizon along with already finished animes I haven’t watched like Kanon, Clannad, Air, some of Kannagi, Nogizaka Haruka no Himitsu (first season), Suzumiya Haruhi S1, Lucky Star and five episodes of Hayate no Gotoku. I’m hoping that next year will bring out great anime again… and pretty much looking forwards for Angel Beats! and perhaps another season of K-ON!
Except Suzumiya Haruhi Second Season… that sh** sucked thanks to Endless Eight… Never forget that…
But for now, so along and we see each other in 2010!
Attribution Information
Fanart used in this post is made by moonknives
Seitokai no Ichizon – Final Impressions
Seitokai no Ichizon is one of those anime that you like or you don’t and is the black sheep of this season. People dismissed it as being a plotless reference show… or is it?
The anime proved itself to be a very enjoyable experience that have very funny moments and references that fit in nicely. In contrast to Lucky Star, Seitokai no Ichizon focuses less on the moeblob, high amounts of moe and Haruhi references that have been overdone. Seitokai had something that Lucky Star didn’t have… some plot and a male lead who wants to build a harem!
Content
Seitokai no Ichizon does not follow the light novel at all… well, some content came from the light novel, but it was a completely different experience. It seems that this kind of series are fit to be in Manga or Anime form than light novel form. The story of each episode consists of them doing stuff in the student council… except they don’t really work and talk about stuff, which can be on Anime, Manga, Boy’s Love, Gaming, H-games, Harems and etc. There are several references from notable anime like Suzumiya Haruhi, Lucky Star, Clannad, Higurashi, K-ON!, DragonBall, Full Metal Alchemist, Death Note and several others… and even visual novel stuff from Key for example (wow, I must be a Key fanboy at that moment) .
The more you know about other animes, the more you will enjoy it… although it’s subjective since you can still enjoy it without knowing all the references.
Animation
In contrast to Lucky Star, I liked the animation style of Seitokai no Ichizon more than Lucky Star for many reasons… It simply more appealing to the eye than Lucky Star and is more detailed… Of course, Lucky Star meant to have a simplistic style… but… your milage may vary on that one.
Characters
Most of the Student Council features mostly beautiful girls and Ken (also known as Key-kun, Ki-kun or Senpai) is the only male in the student council. He seeks to make the student council his HAREM… and also constantly annoying the others with his harem and bishoujo/H games fantasies.
Kurimu is the President and is very childish for her age and is the shortest. She reads children books (Red Riding Hood), eat “usa-maru” since it “taste like happiness” and works at a nursery just to act like a child. She is constantly teased by Ken because she looks like a loli and she is a pettanko, something she is NOT proud of. Kurimu helps Ken by suggesting him to play Bishoujo/H Games.
Chizuru is the secretary. Unlike Kurimu, she is tall and is well endowed, but she brainwashes Ken and Kurimu. She treats Kurimu as her sister and sometimes abuse her. However… She has a very cute side when she is dressed as a really cute sheep… and says Mokyu~… Something that everyone will go moe for… Chizuru heals Ken’s heart when they met in fall.
Minatsu is the Vice President and also a tsundere (with the addition of her twin tails). She is a tomboy and have great athletic skills and is into hot blooded, shouen action packed anime and manga. Minatsu tells Ken not to be lazy and work. She has a younger sister named Mafuyu.
Mafuyu is Minatsu’s younger sister and is the treasurer. She is a bishoujo, but is afraid of men, except Ken of course. She is into games and Boy’s Love. She imagines Ken with another male character she imagines, which causes Ken to go crazy. She also works on a gaming wiki, play games mainly on a Playstation Portable and operates a tsundere blog called “Organ Explosion!” Mafuyu helps Ken during the middle of winter in a chatroom (using the name Yuki) about her feelings and his. She eventually confesses her love to Ken, but is not willing to go on a date since she wanted things to stay what they are.
In addition… We have
Lilicia, who is the president of the Journalism Club and voiced by Noto Mamiko, which she had voiced Matsuri (sola), Haruka (Nogizaka Haruka no Himitsu) and Kotomi (Clannad). Lilica writes tabloid articles on the student council because they don’t accomplish anything, except socializing and that she didn’t win a position. She gains interest in Ken after he said that the double-timing incident was true. She has a longer sister named Elise, which seems to like Ken and causes Kurimu to become very jealous… and being very mature for her age.
Music
Seitokai features a OP called Treasure, which sounds great… For the ED, there are several versions. One song called Mousou Fetish!, which is a cute sounding song which causes a earworm. The second is Ue Ue Shita Shita Hidari Migi Hidari Migi B A, a remix of Mousou Fetish with different lyrics and have a electronic feel… Funny on how they use the Konami Code as the title of the song. Lastly, we have Yurupa Wonderful, a hotblooded, rock remix with different lyrics. There are also songs with completely different lyrics for comedy effect. For example, Episode 11 with the president, Kurimu singing… with hilarious lyrics that can’t make you stop laughing… I am dead serious…
Overall, the songs sounded good..
Conclusion
Seitokai no Ichizon is one of the best comedies in the Fall 2009 season… Where Nogizaka Haruka Purezza fails, Seitokai succeeds… for some odd reason. Seitokai have some similarities to Lucky Star in terms of references, it’s no means the same since it’s all about harem, has a little more plot than Lucky Star and does not have too much moe and doesn’t go overboard with the damn Haruhi references (Haruhi is a bitch). The way they put the references made it so that it actually worked instead of putting it in random places. Most will find this anime very enjoyable, but for those who don’t like Lucky Star may not like it… so your milage may vary… but it’s a recommended series to look at if you not looking at too much moe and want a good comedy and/or mindless anime that you can easily enjoy…
Too bad there isn’t more… they should really make a second season, but the current trends how second season anime is run… I may think twice. :p
Verdict
Overall Grade: 8.79/10, B+
Attribution Information
Picture used in this post is made by まなK.