Tag: mahou shoujo

Last Impressions

I’m in a pinch like never before.

After the previous season ended, 4 of the animes I was watching were finished. I was thinking along the lines of picking up 4 new ones to watch for this season. But seeing that the number of interesting animes exceeds that number, I guess I’m gonna put some of the titles in the backburner again (meaning “maybe” watch when I’m not busy later on). Hence, my last impressions.

This is a post about the animes where I watched the first episode, and decided not to continue with it for now (or for ever).

Amaenaideyo!!
image
Oof, I accidentally deleted the raw episode. This screencap came from a preview vid which I still had. Since I won’t want to download this abomination once again, it’s bye bye for this anime. I simply didn’t like it.

Kidou Shinsengumi Moeyo Ken
imageimageimage
There is nothing wrong with this series. It’s just that I’m really trying to free up myself in getting too many anime and having brain damage later on. This having Rumiko Takahashi character designs would be a treat for those fans who miss Inuyasha. I think the story would be quite good too.

Okusama wa Joushikousei
imageimageimage
Okay, wife #1 is a high school student. Is it even legal? In any case, if someone else would know that this girl is married with her own teacher at school, they’ll be in big trouble. This girl wants “more” than the no-xxx relationship that her husband is treating her currently. This girl is hawt for some action. Unfortunately, this goes into the backburner simply because I’ve had enough of fanservice, and students hitting on teachers. Nothing new here.

Okusama wa Mahou Shoujo
imageimageimage
Wife #2 is a magical girl who loves her town. Her husband is nowhere in sight though. She does silly things like talking to a vacuum cleaner. Then that guy with glasses (not her husband) came to live with them. So I guess we will see him every episode tripping and stumbling over the magical girl. Sorry, she’s taken, and moreover, no kiss allowed. While the music reminded me a bit of that old TV show Bewitched at first, their “wild” magical transformation sequence instantly turned me off, and the fanservice seems oh too pointless. Ok fine the wife is hot, and the other magical girl is loli, I get the point. Sorry, this is a backburner.

July Anime Season (Summer 2005)

This month, many of the series I’m watching will end. That gives me the right to add more new anime series to watch this July right? Wrong.

I’m lessening my load on watching anime, due to this thing called board exams, my road to go professional on my college diploma thingie. Hopefully, the fun should never stop in this blog (well at least for the summer season), because I’m gonna watch some anime this summer season.

Though I’m trying to lessen my watching load, the list looks so great, I’m having a hard time choosing what to watch.

It’s summer over there in Japan but actually it’s rainy season over here, so to avoid confusion (just my own confusion) I’ll call this the July Anime Season. Here are some of the series that interest me so far:

Da Capo Second Season – One of my favorite bishoujo game series has yet another anime! This time, I think it will be based on a manga serialization. A new character will be introduced, along with Nemu, Sakura and Kotori. I’m wanting another 26-episoder, but I think this will run for only 13.

Full Metal Panic: The Second Raid – Well, I watched both FMP series but I’m still thinking if I’ll follow it immediately. For one, this should be another great FMP because Kyoto Animation is gonna do it, so expect eye candy. On the other hand, this looks like your regular mecha action rather than the extreme Fumoffu comedy which I liked very much.

GUN x SWORD – I always skip action. I prefer to watch them in batches and marathons.

Ichigo Mashimaro – Been hearing good things about this from blogs and forums, so I’ll give this one a try. The girls are cute, in a unique way.

imageimageimage
Just watched a prologue video. Looks like a slice-of-life comedy about the girls’ normal and weird personalities, kinda like Azumanga Daioh. This is exciting. Plus, it has a stellar seiyuu cast for the 5 girls. I’m hyped now! Better read the manga!

Kamichu! ~Kamisama wa Chuugakusei~ – Looks nice.

Kidou Shinsengumi Moeyo Ken – This looks like harem and samurais.

Okusama wa Mahou Shoujo – Okay, so your wife is a magical girl. Big deal. Many anime guys have magical girls as wives or lovers. I wonder what will make me want to watch this.

Petopeto-san – Wow! The artwork looks extremely moe~! Some kind of welcome surprise this is, coz I’ve never heard of it.

SHUFFLE! – Oh, it’s this bishoujo game based series I was talking about a [while back->shuffle]. See my reactions over there.

Suzuka – Never heard of this before but some are saying that Suzuka is an excellent manga series.

DELIBERATION

Absolute Watch
Da Capo Second Season

Watch
Petopeto-san
Ichigo Mashimaro
SHUFFLE!

Watch Later
Full Metal Panic: The Second Raid
GUN x SWORD
Suzuka

Watch Maybe
Kamichu! ~Kamisama wa Chuugakusei~
Kidou Shinsengumi Moeyo Ken
Okusama wa Mahou Shoujo

Futago Hime dances

Sorry I’m not too good at making animated gifs. These images are quite big…

Anyway, Fain and Rein… dance! They dance a lot, but actually they’re not good at it. They even trip and fall in dance parties! Well, at least they have these. Weird, but still cute, dances that they know best. Now, start the dancing revolution!

More dances at [Futago Hime dances 2->]


The iya-iya dance!!! (Episode 1, 2, 3, 8, 11, 13, 15)
iyaiyaiyaaaaan~~, iyaiyaaaan~~
Continue reading Futago Hime dances

Animax-Asia… Dubbed in English – Episode 3: Trying to Adjust

August 28, 2004

It’s been quite a while since the drastic change of Animax-Asia, and somehow I’m recollecting my angst bit by bit. I’ve never been so much of a fan of this channel anyway, so I would not care much. But because they showed Cardcaptor Sakura at the most ‘wrong’ time, that is why I was compelled to rant about it.

As always, the biggest problem with Animax-Asia’s move to English is not so much the dubbing quality, but rather the voices they pick in the dubbing. It looks as if they really have a small local dubbing staff, which does the dubs for almost all of the anime that is showing in Animax-Asia. Yea, I watched episodes of Ultra Maniac and Cardcaptor Sakura in succession, and I’m really annoyed by the same voice who does both Nina Sakura and Sakura Kinomoto. Not to mention NUMEROUS other anime characters with that same dubber. As I said back then, they dub good. But when they are the only ones dubbing, Animax-Asia sounds monotonous.

Apparently, Animax-Asia has acquired the American remastered version for the anime Mobile Suit Gundam. Also, the original Japanese version of Astroboy was suddenly replaced into the American version, complete with English dubbing and an entirely new set of source video and even background music. Animax-Asia is going American.

Also, a LOT of programming errors. I frequently see some episodes that are NOT DUBBED IN ENGLISH! They seem to have problems switching the dubs. For example, I watched episodes 1-2 of Captain Herlock in Japanese and no subtitles. I watched half of an .hack//SIGN episode in Japanese as well, and then suddenly after a commercial break they snuck in the English dubbing. The most complicated error I have seen so far though is an episode of Ultra Maniac, where they randomly switched from English to Japanese and vice versa, multiple times, while the episode is playing itself! Very very wrong, but the hell I care now.

I currently only watch a few anime in Animax-Asia. Princess Comet is just soooo nice an anime. I wanna find fansubs of that so I can see it in Japanese form. I regularly watch Cardcaptor Sakura. It’s still my favorite anime ever and so I can take it in whatever form (yup I ‘barely’ survived Nelvana’s Cardcaptors). Getbackers sparks my interest once in a while, and I occasionally Ultra Maniac for the fun of it.

This coming September though, I’ll be having a go at Gokusen. I’m just so lame because I don’t want to scan through my cd archives and watch my Gokusen fansubs. Or maybe a female GTO doesn’t spark my attention yet. Maybe I’ll try Dr. Dokkiri as well. Their advertisement for it is simply hilarious.

And it will be inveitable that I will watch Princess Tutu. Lauded as one of the most complex mahou shoujo series of recent time, I would have to watch its dubbing if it remains competitive. In any case, I really had a good time watching it a while back. It’s not your ordinary magical girl show. It’s surprisingly dark in theme, despite the extremely fairy-tale backdrop. The background music is simply astounding (of course because they are actual classical music pieces), and the animation is consistent.

So the next month could be quite exciting, even though Animax-Asia is still dubbed in English.

TABLE OF CONTENTS
[Animax-Asia… Dubbed in English – Episode 1: The end of Animax-Asia? Too sudden!?->]
[Animax-Asia… Dubbed in English – Episode 2: Cardcaptured.->]
[Animax-Asia… Dubbed in English – Episode 3: Trying to Adjust->]
[Animax-Asia… Dubbed in English – Episode 4: Towards the 1st Anniversary->]
[Animax-Asia… Dubbed in English – Episode 5: I gave up on Animax-Asia->]
[Animax-Asia… Dubbed in English – Episode 6: One year since->]
[Animax-Asia… Dubbed in English – Episode 7: Dubbed in Filipino?!?->]
[Animax-Asia… Dubbed in English – Episode 7.5: Initial D Filipino Stage->]
[Animax-Asia… Dubbed in English – Episode 8: More Pain->]
[Animax-Asia… Dubbed in English – Episode 9: Now in blue->]
[Animax-Asia… Dubbed in English – Episode 10: Fake Revival->]
[Animax-Asia… Dubbed in English – Episode 11: Something New->]
[Animax-Asia… Dubbed in English – Episode 12: Red with anger->]

Bokusatsu Tenshi Dokuro-chan

Bokusatsu Tenshi Dokuro-chan

Pi pi ru pi ru pi ru pi pi ru pi….

Meet Dokuro-chan. She’s an angel… who carries a bat with spikes called Excaliborg (something like that). Therefore, she is Beat-to-death Angel Dokuro-chan (translation of the title). The main point of this anime? Beat this one guy to death.

The poor guy is named Sakura. Yup even boys can be named C kura. Dokuro-chan is actually an angel sent on a mission to kil, Sakura, but she always would fail to really kill him because she likes him. Dokuro-chan always beats him to death, and yet brings him back to life afterwards with her “pi pi ru pi ru pi ru pi pi ru pi”. Well then that it basically…  The reason why Heaven wants Sakura killed is because it is forseen that in the future he will discover how to be young forever. Sakura, apparently, is a lolikon, so he wants a world of loli. So heaven don’t like that ok?

Bah, who cares about the plot? What we have here is over-the-top, fast, and crazy anime comedy. What if you mix something like Jungle Guu and Elfen Lied? Or maybe mahou shoujo with bloodbath? Yup your dreams come true with this anime. Plus you have all the sexy loli you’ve been looking for (I’ve been looking for? hehe). The animation is really good, varied, and crazy. Some anime producers really have some kind of imagination in pulling this off. Of course, the beat-to-death part gets old as fast as the guy that’s always dying in South Park, but still the other stuff are funny.

Anyway this is some anime. As if still not pushing the boundaries, there are still stuff left censored, like the extreme bloody beat-to-death parts, which are replaced by an on-screen advertisement to buy the DVD. So, people would buy the DVD and see the real uncensored score in those scenes. Despite some of those censorship, this is still bloddier as… well… any other anime out there. The seiyuu starring in this are surprisingly recognizable, and the OP is very very “pi pi ru pi ru pi ru pi pi ru pi”-catchy. So what are you waiting for? Anime like this is rare.

Episode 1-2:
So some setting ups in these first episodes. How Dokuro-chan is introduced to Sakura-kun’s class. The funny thing is, the class weirdly accepts all those crazy stuff as normal! We got a classmate who suddenly disappeared from her seat, and a class president who turns into a monkey!

On the second episode, Sabato-chan is introduced. She is out to kill Sakura-kun because Dokuro-chan can’t do it. We also learn about Sakura’s lolikon drive here.

Episode 3-4
Episode 3 is not too much about the main characters because it is about this meganekko Chiyuri-chan who likes a fellow male classmate, and so Sakura and Shizuki work together to try to bring them close in a study session. Well, Dokuro-chan is also there to fool around, but after knowing of their plans, she also agreed to help… somehow.

The fourth episode deals with Sakura and Shizuki’s movie date! Yea! Until… Dokuro-chan came and mess things up again. And what’s worse… Sabato appeared in the movie! All the violent chaos ensues while Shizuki eventually left the cinemas… Sakura-kun… baka!

Episode 5-6
These episodes are about a certain class field trip in the woods. First part is the one with the school mizugi! Shizuki-chan and Dokuro-chan mizugi… school swimsuits banzai! Hehe ok, then Sakura-kun gets more punishment not only by Dokuro-chan, but by his double-crossing classmates. He was forced to eat some poisonous curry. Poor lolicon guy.

The second part includes the much required kimodameshi (test of courage). Dokuro-chan wants to pair with Sakura so she turns another classmate into a dog (it’s dog vs. monkey now). During the game, a classmate says Shizuki-chan is lost, so Sakura is off to find her. He finds her, then some sounds scared them off a bit, but it’s just the wandering Sabato-chan.

Episode 7-8
Last episodes, but they’re kinda weak. It’s all about Dokuro-chan’s little sister, Zakuro, and she’s come to take her sister back to the future. Very typical farewell episode, and since it’s typical, you might guess right what happens at the end. You know, being a bit dramatic doesn’t fit too much in this anime, although the usual comedic and bloddy parts were there. I watched the TV version though so there were a hell lot of censorship. Maybe this would be more enjoyable when uncensored.

Anyway all-in-all, it’s been a bit of a fun ride, after all the anime is only four regular episodes long. Towards the end it got kinda boring, but the energy remains the same. Funny, fast, moe-cute, and heck of a bloddy anime this is. Weird combination, but well it worked.

Uta∽Kata

Uta∽Kata

I would regard Uta Kata to belong to the bishoujo-mahou-shoujo genre, much like Nanoha. Unlike Nanoha though, despite the radically colorful hair and beautiful Kiddy Grade-like animation, this series is dark. It’s kinda fun for some 1/2 of the series but turns real dark the next. So much for mahou shoujo.

So, basically Ichika is your regular girl in the puberty stage. Not a girl, not yet a woman. Suddenly Manatsu comes out from a mirror and into her life. Ichika was also given some kind of amulet where she utilizes the power of the Djinn… gods of the elements of sun, moon, earth, water, flame, heaven, wind, flower, lightning, darkness, sea, and mirror. At the same time she is experiencing many changes in her life, as she is in between childhood and adulthood. Well, guess what? This is all a test.

At the same time, she is experiencing seven virtues, and the equivalent seven sins of humanity. As if it mirrored itself, the events that used to be good was now inverted to bad. This seems to be a misleading concept. If the mirror reflects the exact same thing, why in Ichika’s case it reflects the reverse? The existence of Manatsu in her life somewhat fills the void. Manatsu is the ‘other side’ of Ichika, and from the very start of this fated summer, she has been there to look over, or guide her, into this test.

So, the test is experiencing the world. But for what reason? The real test is yet to come, which I will not spoil (as if I’ve not spoilt enough). In any case, the answers may surprise you, especially me. My interest in human behavior and philosophy sparked my interest in this anime. While not strong enough a material, it conveyed the point of the matter through random situations and character development. It’s a short series, but it could have been more.

Again, the animation is great. The art is from that Gatekeepers/Kiddy Grade guy, but a whole bunch of popular anime/manga artist kinda pitched in for the costume designs of Ichika. There are 12 mahou-shoujo costumes from 12 artists, conveying the 12 powers of the Djinn. Kinda like Cardcaptor Sakura? Nah. Anyway the music here is fine, but forgettable.

There will be an OVA for Uta Kata, so I figure this is not the end of it yet. As it says on the last scene… the seasons rotate. This has been Ichika’s unforgettable summer. Come to think of it, the whole series is an entire flashback…

Uta Kata OVA
Finally watched the OVA. Basically, it just tied up the loose ends of our ever-endearing yuri and yaoi couples, and how they are able to move on. This brings the stories of Ichika and friends to a happy closure.

What’s next? The mirror remains, and the test will go on, maybe targeting another youth in the verge of being adult. Uta Kata 2? Hopefully.

Mahou Shoujo Lyrical Nanoha

Mahou Shoujo Lyrical Nanoha

Nothing lyrical about it, but it was a nice ride.

Starring some characters from the Triangle Heart game and OVA, this anime series focuses on Nanoha, a normal girl who has some extraordinary magic. By virtue of chance a guy from another dimension named Yuuno has ventured into her world (but for the meantime he is a ferret), and needed her help in gathering Jewel Seeds, some kind of magical items that may bring danger into their worlds. Eventually she will meet up with another magical girl, Fate, who is also after the Jewel Seeds for some unknown reason. As rivals, they will clash and fight together, but Nanoha (being the good girl she is) would try to open this girl’s heart, and try to be friends with her.

Many have compared Nanoha to Cardcaptor Sakura, but I won’t make that comparison here. After all, this is technically not a full-fledged mahou shoujo (magical girl) anime series. First of all, this series is a spinoff from an existing ‘bishoujo game’, which for the most part is aimed at guys, rather than shoujo anime which is aimed at girls. I therefore regarded Mahou Shoujo Lyrical Nanoha as a “bishoujo-mahou-shoujo” series, a magical girl series aimed for guys.

Most of the time, anime stuff aimed for guys usually have the dreaded disease known as fanservice. And worse, considering its bishoujo gaming origins, it’s expected that the anime might have lots of them. Yup, Nanoha may have those (err it’s hard to type these) nekkid transformation sequences, onsen episodes, and under-the-skirt shots, but those immediately took a backseat after a few episodes, as the plot focuses on the two magical girl rivals.

Nanoha is very determined to know why Fate is collecting the Jewel Seeds, and when we would finally know that Fate is not all that bad, Nanoha tries to protect Fate and be her friend. The characterization of these two girls are very detailed. What’s more, even the minor characters are very likeable. I liked it when one of Nanoha’s friends gave her the cold shoulder at some point, because Nanoha is not telling her troubles to them (she can’t tell them she’s a magical girl). The friend only did it because she likes Nanoha very much, and she’s frustrated because she can’t do anything for her, since Nanoha won’t tell her problems to her friend. It was very well presented, and was one of the most heartwarming stories of friendship I have ever seen in an anime. Another one I liked was about Arf. Being Fate’s sidekick in collecting the Jewel Seeds, she likes Fate very much, and always wants to protect her against all odds. Because Fate’s reasons for collecting the Jewel Seeds were so shallow and useless, and is only hurting herself in the process, Arf thinks of Fate selflessly, and tries to put sense into Fate’s life, and make her smile somewhat.

For a 13-episode series, this is a very admirable work. Great characterization and plot, coupled with absolutely amazing animation and battle sequences (to see is to believe), Mahou Shoujo Lyrical Nanoha has something special going for it. The OP/ED and music were also great. It’s really full of emotion, and I almost shed a tear in this one (rare for something like a bishoujo series). It actually transcends its own typical genre cliches, and has me screaming ‘sequel!’ at the end. Cheers for more Nanoha!

image
This is a [Summer of Bishoujo->] feature

Final Approach

Final Approach

Welcome to Rizelmine ren’ai style.

Final Approach starts with sudden infiltration of Ryo and Akane’s house by this… person in a jump suit. The person undresses and… a girl with a kimono? Then this girl named Shizuka started talking the classic cliche` of: “I’ll be your fiance`”! Chaos ensues.

Well, unlike Rizelmine which basically is just a secret government project of a robot wife for no apparent purpose, Final Approach made up a ‘purpose’ for the sudden forced marriage thing. The population seems to be dropping (in real life, it will NEVER happen in Japan), and so they need to enforce arranged marriages to ensure the longetivity of human civilization.

BUT WHO CARES ABOUT ALL THAT CRAP ANYWAY?

What matters in Final Approach? Yes, the bishoujos of course. Based on a Princess Soft bishoujo game, and part of the Princess Hour anime showing ([W ~Wish~->] is the other one) (oh, the two shows aren’t worth one hour BTW), Final Approach is a 15-min 13-episode format which basically tells the perils of suddenly having an annoying fiance`. So no mind-boggling plot for at least most of the episode run.

The thing that had me locked into this is the drawing. Possibly my favorite kind of bishoujo drawing has been featured in Final Approach. All of them are so darn cute they’d kill me of heart attack (just joking). And the chibi-style moments add a plus factor. Of course, the male lead look just like any other male lead of this genre, and moreover, acts just like any other male lead of this genre, so who cares about him. I get 5 cute girls anyway, so…

But the cutest? Ojo! (Emiho Mutsu)

image
This is a [Summer of Bishoujo->] feature

Ojamajo Doremi 05: Grand Opening! Maho-dou

imageimageimageimageimageimageimageimageimageimageimageimageimageimageimageimageimageimageimageimageimageimageimageimageimageimage

It’s Maho-dou’s grand opening, and Doremi, Hazuki and Aiko are all up and ready! Majo Rika doesn’t seem too happy though with the image change of her shop. She still prefers the dark gloomy witch style as opposed to the cuteness of the decors and magic goods of the apprentices. So they wait and wait, but no customers seem to arrive despite them sticking out flyers all over. Suddenly a new guest ‘pops up’ in their closet… it’s Deradera! Deradera is a witch who specializes in trading goods. She offered the apprentices a nice cute magic cashier, for a price of course. Let’s just say that Majo Rika was forced to buy it. After that, they decided to go outside and attract some customers, in which they succeeded. Their first day of selling magic goods was quite fruitful, except for Doremi, she never sold a single item she made!

Meanwhile, Kotake, a friend/enemy of Doremi, is worried about something. Thinking about it, she stumbled on the Maho-dou, and was surprised to see Doremi and friends there. Kids aren’t allowed to do part-time jobs, so the apprentices were quick in denying that this was one. In any case, Kotake and Doremi are in quite a (love)hate-hate relationship, shouting at each other like crazy. Despite that though, Kotake actually bought one of her magic goods! Kotake leaves, and Majo Rika reappears from hiding and says that the boy is troubled by something. Usually the magic goods witches sell have some sort of lucky-charm effect on humans, not so sure about Doremi’s item though. Doremi was quite worried about Kotake, so she decides to follow him.

Kotake and Doremi continue to argue at the street though. They never seem to get along, and so Kotake ran away. Doremi is still worried though, and so she used her magic and followed him in secret. Kotake went to an abandoned warehouse, where a puppy appeared. Actually, Kotake is taking care of this puppy in secret. His main worry was that he could not tell his parents about it, that they may think that he is not responsible enough to raise a pet. Suddenly, a fat cat arrives and steals the food Kotake was giving. The puppy chased it inside the warehouse, but then the puppy fell in a hole. Kotake also fell trying to reach the puppy. They are in trouble now, with wet cement falling down the hole. Doremi tries to act fast, using her magic to save Kotake, but the the cement turned to ice! Magic fail… so then she tries again. She tried to cast a spell on a rope, but it entangled her instead! She’s getting desperate, but somehow her final spell tumbled down some drums, and Kotake climbed those to safety.

Kotake decided to talk to his parents about the puppy, because he can’t leave it in such a dangerous place like that. The next day, Doremi and friends saw that Kotake had been keeping the pet in the house already. Guess that Doremi’s magic item has some kind of effect after all.

This episode focuses on Kotake. Doremi and Kotake have a very cute love-hate relationship with each other, and the theme carries on ALL throughout the entire series. Deradera was introduced as an always-singing witch. She pops up every now and then to sell items which Doremi and friends like, much to the dismay of greedy Majo Rika. The Maho-dou and the magical goods they sell play a very central theme . Sometimes the magic goods serve as symbolisms to the stories and character issues the series will raise.

WordPress Appliance - Powered by TurnKey Linux