Christmas SPHERE (Haruka/Minako) Fiction
OK, so I wrote this in word, but I realised that I wouldn’t be able to completely remove all traces of my identity if I uploaded in word. That’s why I’m posting it here. (P.S. I DID IT FOR THE LULZ.)
Notes and disclaimers: Yes, fiction. Yes, Haruka and Minako are not really yuriyuri for each other. Yes, I stayed up all night writing this because… I had inspiration. I totally own Haruka and Minako and make them make out for my own pleasure everyday… NOT.
My very first fic after the jump.
Fall ’10 Mid-season Anime review:
I’ve only got episode 6 of Stardriver, Shinrei Tantei Yakumo and Arakawa Under the Bridge x Bridge to catch up on, so I decided to write down a few mid-season thoughts (Including shows that will end this season but started last season).
The Good:
Bakuman – They’ve cut out long monologue sections from the manga (which I’m reading and love completely), and added a few things to make the side characters seem more interesting. I approve. The OP “Bluebird” is great, still waiting on it to be released in full.
Shinrei Tantei Yakumo – The writing and tension is good. It’s supernatural, but also almost a detective show. MC voiced by Ono Daisuke is awesome and multi-layered.
Shiki – Wracks up the tension and horror with every single episode. The questions about morality and self-preservation are addressed in depth. The characters are people whom we can empathise with. The show is creepy, horrific and disturbing, reminding me initially of Higurashi no Naku Koro Ni. However, it’s distinctly different in that we can understand the characters’ motivations and obsessions.
The Better than expected:
Stardriver – Initially expected a mecha SRSBSNS battle-series with a few love stories and touching relationships thrown in. Hated the first episode, but came to just treat it as a spoof of everything in that genre. It’s now hilarious and silly.
Hyakka Ryouran Samurai Girls – Exactly the same as above. Aki-chan, Mina-chan and Kugyu all sound like they have lots of fun voicing their very extreme characters.
Fortune Arterial – Started watching for eroge-adapted bishoujos. The harem-plot is pretty standard in every way, but the MC is not a loser, and although unoriginal, what’s done is done well. Lia’s OP and Veil’s ED are pretty good too.
Shinryaku! Ika Musume – Could not imagine myself watching a series about a squid girl, but Ika Musume is charming and lovely. Her silliness isn’t annoying, and the dynamic with Chizuru/Eiko/Takeru is sometimes touching, sometimes funny. Episode 5 had a very cute sequence involving Eiko and Ika Musume that was really sweet. I’m still waiting on the ED by Ito Kanae.
Panty and Stocking with Garterbelt – I thought initially that it wasn’t my thing, but I guess as I grew desensitized to the coarse humour and bodily function-based plots, I started to just go with the flow and found it amusing. The OP and ED rock, as does the Panty/Stocking transformation sequence.
Otome Youkai Zakuro – Unexpectedly sweet, also with unexpected character depth. The dynamics of the soldiers with the half-spirits help both to grow. Plus, the OP, Moon Signal, is by SPHERE, so I never skip it.
So-so:
MM! – I expected a series about a guy getting off on being tortured, and that’s exactly what I got. It’s not really memorable, some of the gags are lame, and it’s the typical brainless unemotionally-involving stuff that I can go through very fast.
Ore no Imouto – The Otaku-based siscon/brocon relationship is the basis of this show, and while I relate to some degree to Kirino, I can’t empathise with the way that she treats her brother. As with MM!, Ayanyan voices a tsundere and carries it off. Kuroneko is priceless and her Kuudere nature makes her my favourite. Unfortunately because of the nature of the fanservice, which often turns me off, I’m ambivalent and not really a fan. The OP, “Irony” by ClariS, is really addictive. It’s horrifying that they are just a couple of middle-school girls, they completely don’t sound it.
Amagami SS – I’ll admit that I’m most excited about the Ayatsuji arc, which comes last. I found Sae’s arc boring, loved Nanasaki (Yukana’s voice is incredibly kuudere-moe) and now we’re in the middle of Rihoko’s arc, which again I’m not too interested in.
The World God only Knows – Harem with a deconstruction of the galge-tropes. Keima is funny but not awesome. Ito Kanae voices Elcea, a new type of voice for her. It’s like a Boke and Tsukkomi routine, which works, but not consistently. The Engrish by ELISA in the OP is very distracting and annoying.
To Aru Majutsu no Index 2 – I was bored by Index 1, and am almost getting to that point with Index 2. The church-wars aren’t all that interesting, and I’m only watching for Biribiri and Kuroko, who haven’t played a part in the series yet. Luckily, the preview for the next arc suggests that they will soon. OP by Kawada Mami sounds exactly like the usual that she’s been doing for Shana and Index.
Below expectations:
Yosuga no Sora – Harem, incest, and I had harem/bishoujo expectations. The girls are pretty, that’s what I’m watching it for, but the characters and plot are very weak. I don’t care about any of them. The ecchi/porn and R-rated jokes which come after the episodes aren’t well-done. OP by eufonius is terrible, to be honest. It sounds like several songs, with no coherent melody.
Arakawa Under the Bridge x Bridge – Getting bored with the continual everyone-as-boke Riku-as-tsukkomi routine. There’s almost nothing fresh every episode, and the characters don’t make any progress as running gags are taken as plot.
Dropped:
Togainu no Chi – Didn’t realise that this is BL, and after watching… well, I’m still not into BL. The characters are stereotypes, the premise is ridiculous and the plot is weak.
Soredemo Machi wa Mawatteiru – I guess I could say that I dropped it because of Omigawd, but that’s not true. There isn’t much of a plot, the characters aren’t attractive or funny, and this isn’t even proper slice-of-life because there’s no observational humour. Just FAIL!comedy I guess. OP by Sakamoto Maaya rocks though.
New season of anime, Last season’s conclusion
What I’ve seen and my impressions:
Bakuman: Awesome start, great pick for an anime adaptation by JC Staff. I’m getting flashbacks (in the atmosphere of the anime) to Toradora! and Honey and Clover. If Bakuman is able to stay this good, it’ll be one of my favourites.
MM!: Funny, cheap laughs and Satou Rina, as much as I love her, still can’t do a guy’s voice. Oh well. Will keep watching unless it gets boring.
Panty and Stocking with Garterbelt: WHAT THE HELL DID I JUST WATCH???…. is my first impression of the first episode. I can’t deny that it was entertaining and funny, though. Will keep watching.
Last season:
K-On!!: Not really from last season since it just finished last season… but I’ll definitely remember this one. Lovely, relaxing slice-of-life with touching moments and characters whom I care about. Beautiful animation too, but that’s just about standard for KyoAni. I’ll admit that I cried during the bunkasai ep and in episode 24 when they said goodbye to Azunyan.
Strike Witches 2: Better than I thought it would be. Episode 6 was one of the highlights of last season for me, and completely converted me into a Sanya/Eila shipper. Sure, the whole thing was cheesy and ridiculous, but once I stopped being distracted by the pantsu everywhere and the gratuitous shots of crotches, I came to care about certain characters like Minna, Trude, Erica, Sanya and Eila. Plus, moemoe girls are awesome. 12 episodes was probably as much as I could put up with though.
Seitokai Yakuindomo: Started watching this for Hiyocchi and Sugar talking about pornographic stuff, and that was about as much as I got out of it. Seitokai no Ichizon was waaaaaaaaaay funnier and had better characters.
Seikimatsu Occult Gakuin: Started watching this for Hiyocchi voicing a tall dark and bishoujo character (see a theme?)… got entertained more than I thought I’d be. Main character is irritating, occult stuff can mostly be ignored… and the WTF ending was hilarious.
Ookamisan to Shichinin no Nakamatachi: Started watching this for Shizuka voicing a tsundere, enjoyed it more than I thought I would because of Kuroko-narrator-san. Worth a watch, but not particularly memorable and the show’s deconstruction of the tsundere was IRRITATING to say the least.
Kaichou wa Maid-sama!: Another show that finished last season but started the season before that. Really enjoyable, Ayumi Fujimura (this can’t be said enough) is PERFECT as Misaki. Good job overall by JC Staff. The ending was squeeworthy, and there might be another season later because the manga is still ongoing.
Highschool of the Dead: Unintentionally hilarious with the gratuitous panty shots and gainaxing by the very buxom teacher (whom I mentally nicknamed “boingboing”). Entertaining to the end, and I really liked Saeko, voiced by Miyukichi. Sword-wielding girls who enjoy violence are very hot. Anticipating another season sometime in the future.
It’s 5am, raining and 7C outside…
… so what do I do in replacement of sleep?
… I hope Satou Rina never sees this.
Bakemonogatari 15
… and with that, a journey with one of my favourite anime has come to an end. The last episode (with new ED that hasn’t been ripped yet) was a bit of an anti-climax, but the episodes before that more than made up for it. From jokes about Saito Chiwa to MY FAVOURITE ANIME ED EVER in Kimi no shiranai monogatari, Bakemonogatari has given me lots of joy, intrigued me, and made me fall in love with the aloof and tsundere princess Hitagi. Falling for a character is not uncommon with me, but getting such all-rounded enjoyment, and actually being excited about a series is. The writing is solid, the voice-acting outstanding, and the characters are wonderfully interesting.
This ranks all the way up there on my list. I’m not sure if I wish for a 2nd season, since the first season took all of a year to be completed by SHAFT… but I’d definitely be happy with extra Senjougahara tore.
Angel Beats! Ep 6
Wow. There’s no other way to say it. Wow. The writing is… wow. I marvel at how Key has this ability to make me sympathise with every character, regardless of show and gender. Short version is that Tachibana Kanade is lovely. Hanazawa Kana as an emotionless girl is incredible. Otonashi and Hinata are awesome. I can’t wait till all of their stories are revealed, especially Kanade’s.
As for why I prefer to call her Kanade now, instead of Tenshi… It’s because Yuri created the “Tenshi” persona so as to distance her from everyone. Kanade is a person, a whole existence that remains lonely because anyone who gets close to her disappears. That is incredibly sad, and explains why she is so aloof. PA Works has done a surprisingly good job on this series, and Maeda Jun’s writing and music is amazing (I lulzed so hard when they played the serious/gentle ED song while igniting rockets under various characters). I still greatly prefer Iwasawa to Yui, though I like all of the songs.
Kaichou wa meido sama! ep 6
… damn, this is awesome. They’ve cut out a lot of the unnecessary Aoi-chan stuff from the manga, and added more LULZ. They also vastly extended the kiss that Usui stole from Misaki. In the manga, I’d assumed that it was a quick kiss (though it did make me squee like a fangirl). In the anime… damn, it was a loooooooooooooooooooong kiss before he jumped off the building. This only makes what comes next even more awsm and lovely.
I really, really like Usui in the anime, his lackadaisical manner is a lot more charming than in the manga. Ayumi Fujimura as Misaki is also perfect. The tsundere is spot-on, and she gets her character’s chivalry completely right. I really like this adaptation by JC Staff. Of course, this means that ep 6 is the start of the will they/won’t they crap that the manga pulled for far too many chapters. I am still wondering if this series is 1-cour or 2-cour, since it ends presumably with the fireworks scene. HOW MUCH UST WILL I HAVE TO SUFFER?!?! Is the real question.
Seems like the next few eps are about that stupid rich boys’ school. Damn, I hope they show the hilarious Battle Butler arc… it really showcases Usui’s “perverted space alien”-ness.
Angel Beats! ep 3
Just finished the first 3 episodes of Angel Beats! and wow, Key. I love all the girls except Yuri, who reminds me of Haruhi… so much so that I actually allow my dislike of Haruhi (the character, not the series) to colour my assessment of her character.
I am a fan of Tenshii, Shiina and Iwasawa so far. They are all the same type – mature, kuudere-types. Shiina is even tall, dark and bishoujo, and a NINJA. There’s no way to add more cool points. It kinda reminds me of how I felt about Mai Kawasumi… but I’ll need to know more of her backstory before I can become as fanatical. Tenshii is… so icy and beautiful. I love the shots of her in the OP and can’t wait to find out more about her too. Iwasawa… It’s a pity to lose her so soon, but after finding out that this series is 1-cour, I’m not surprised. I’m thinking that the episodes will probably be character/individual based, with people being added and disappearing and maybe a 2 ep finale arc.
The voice work so far is pretty good. Apart from Yuri reminding me of Haruhi, and Otonashi reminding me a little of Ararararagi, the rest (of the girls) are outstanding. I didn’t realise that Tenshi was voiced by Hanazawa Kana, this is really different from her usual moemoe roles. KitaEri as Yui was hilarious, but identifiable. I didn’t pick Miyukichi as Iwasawa at all… and that mature, sad, emotion-under-the-surface voice is incredible. I found myself watching episode 3 over and over just to hear her voice. I haven’t done that since hearing Kuwashima Houko doing a similar type of voice as Tomoyo.
The insert songs and music is great, as expected (it’s Key). I was surprised at the ENOZ-like band appearance, and almost had a GOD KNOWS moment when they started playing in episode 2. The music was amazing, and I definitely wasn’t expecting this quality for insert songs. Then again, it’s not Miyukichi singing, so… that’s a definite plus.
The writing so far has been pretty uneven, but there is the characteristic Key humour and drama. I’ll definitely finish this. Still hoping for another Key/KyoAni collaboration… but PA Works has done a pretty good job so far.
Mayoi Neko Overrun! ep 2
Got started on Mayoi Neko Overrun! – or as my friend calls it, Moe Neko Overload. I watched them yesterday but didn’t have the energy to post. It’s super cute, completely ridiculous, and exactly my kind of harem with just the right amount of fanservice and awsm seiyuu. Ito Kanae plays the resident tsundere/childhood friend Fumino, and sounds like a more angry version of Saten Ruiko – which I approve of. Main rival so far seems to be nekomimi/Nyaaa~ super-competent emotionless girl Nozomi , played by Taketatsu Ayana (Azunyan). Both of them I find incredibly moe. Unlike most harems, the lucky guy Takumi is actually sensible, sees through the tsundere right off the bat, and is actually… decent. That may be the only surprise in this series which really doesn’t break new ground.
Seiyuu-wise, Index – errrr, I mean, Iguchi Yuka plays Umenomori, and is pretty shrill and annoying as usual. What’s more awesome are her 2 meidos, Satou and Suzuki, played by Railgun and Kuroko. Errr, I mean, Satou Rina-neesama and Arai Satomi. To be fair, Rina-neesama doesn’t sound ANYTHING like Biribiri here. Satomin does sound a bit like Kuroko with the oujo-type accent though. The pair of them are incredible with their overly-detailed (including insight into the things that their oujo, Umenomori wants to hide) descriptions of situations. I love them. Takumi’s awesomely neko-obsessed and air-headed elder sister, Otome, is played surprisingly by Satou Satomi (which sounds like a shipper combo of the above 2 seiyuu). She doesn’t sound anything like Ritsu. It’s good to see some of her depth on display here, since she seems to be the shortchanged seiyuu from K-on!.
Haven’t noticed either of Yamato Nadeshiko yet, hopefully they pop up soon.
Oh yeah, and the OP and ED are hilarious but completely unmusical. =.=
Keion!! ep 2
Finally got started on Keion!! which was actually better than what I thought it would be. I have missed KyoAni, for sure. The moemoe girls and the nonsensical hilarious slice-of-life plots… are things that allow me to relax. I’ve missed all of these characters, even Yui, despite my ranting about how she defeated mai waifu (#1), Hinagiku, in last year’s Saimoe. The new OP is weird, and expectedly very squeaky (since it’s sung by Aki Toyosaki as Yui), but I can see why people might like it. At least it’s different. The ED is actually pretty boring despite the good vocals by Hikasa Youko as Mio.
OP:
ED:
My favourite part of episode 2, the description of the development of the early Gibson SG. Geeks unite! Particularly loved the part about the fretboard being made of Brazilian Rosewood, which became a rarity because it’s now on the endangered species list (due to over-deforestation) and therefore illegal to trade. Which is also the reason why I want a pre-1969 Martin D-28… Which today fetches upwards of $12k (for a used/worn version).
IMHO, what would make Keion!! better would be MORE MIO. But I’m a total Mio-fangirl, so that’s not surprising. If you’re wondering why I’m not covering the plot at all, it’s because the plots are nothing to write about. What I enjoy is the relaxed and friendly atmosphere mixed with lulz and moemoe.
Cool stuff that I obsess over 