Saturday, February 25, 2006

Hanbun no Tsuki ga Noboru Sora

I had high expectations towards Hantsuki. Story seemed interesting and short length of the show promised fast pace.

First episode was indeed really good. There isn't many animes where characters illness get main focus and episode ended with touching moment in the hill above the town. After that it calmed down little, mainly showing comedy and characters's past. There was one weak episode, but other than that i don't have much to complain.

Animation keeped up it's quality through all episodes. Though it isn't most important thing with these kind of shows, but always good thing. Music served it's purpose without being particularly awesome.

My emotions were kind of rollercoaster. Rika was selfish and sometimes arrogant, but her struggle against illness and living of last moments was well done. I would probably do same thing in that situation. Yuichi irritated me little, reading porn magazines in front of her and later almost cheated Rika with another woman. Fortunately he did at least something worthwhile in the last episode.

End was really suprising. After all trouble setting up story i expected that either Yuichi or Rika die. Any anime that manage to suprise me with end deserve lot of bonus points, good endings are very rare.

If you like romance or drama you can't disappoint with this one. Such little number of episodes there isn't much to lose either.

Animation and character design: 9+
Music and voice actors: 8+
Story: 9-
Enjoyment: 8,5
Ending: 9,5
Overall: 9-

Thursday, February 23, 2006

Lemon Angel Project characters songs

VAs of Lemon angel project have really suprised me. First they didn't sound so great, but now i feel like it's the strongest point of the show. I don't know if i got used to little different "style" or they improved their skills, maybe both.

It's shame that anime itself doesn't have much screen time for songs, that would make it even better. But anyway, overall good singles.

Wednesday, February 22, 2006

Nostalgic moments

I was looking tokyo toshokan that i could find something to download. Noticed single named 'Hard Gay - Young Man'. I had no idea what kind of music that was, but since my bandwidth was empty, name sounded different and it was small torrent i decided to download it.

After listening song i was like wtf. Still didn't recognice song, but sounded very familiar. Finally remembered, it was from my childhood. When i was kid I used to watch football a lot and saw most homegames of local football team. And when hometeam made goal they played song very similar to this
. Ah, such good memories...


Monday, February 20, 2006

Rock singers, undines and goddesses

Finally checked properly what kind of shows spring season has.

1) Nana: This one looks very promising. As very good Paradise kiss, Nana is also based on manga created by Yazawa Ai. Art looks gorgeous. If this isn't good then there is something seriously wrong with this world.

2) Aria 2nd season: Aria was best of it's season and i expect nothing less from this. Peaceful atmosphere and music that makes you wish you would live in the Neo Venezia.

3) Ah! My Goddess 2nd season: AMG is interesting case. Manga's story doesn't go anywhere and isn't really my type of show. But Inoue Kikuko and Hisakawa Aya changed doomed to be boring series to decent. Two OVA episodes looked good. We will see if they can maintain same level with the 2nd season.

Shows that could be good:

1) Ohran Koko Host Club: Genres looks good even though school life isn't exactly my thing. If they don't ruin anything badly will watch.

2) The Third: Shakugan no Shana clone with scifi?

3) Ju Oh Sei: Something serious, hopefully good.

4) Shinigami no Ballad: Gentle and cute shinigami, could be funny.

I try to watch first episode of all series, but probably only follow 6-9.


Wednesday, February 15, 2006

Lemon Angel Project 6






Miru recalls her past while all 12 candidates introduce themselves to the judges and audience. Everyone also sing one song. After that judges finally choose 6 members to the band(see last screenshot).

More i watch LAP better it will come. I have began to like theme song Angel Addict a lot too. Looking good at the moment.

Saturday, February 11, 2006

REC 2






Little summary since i am too lazy right now to write longer: REC is very refreshing short series. I haven't seen many shows about voice actors and this one also manage to avoid lot of cliches. Very cute female main character also helps. =)

I definitely watch rest too. Short and sweet i would say.

Friday, February 10, 2006

Binchou-tan 2




Binchou-tan starts day as usual, opening window, dressing up and taking some water. After that she leave to the town working to get some rice. Some parts of the job are rather odd, such as being inside of shoe or refrigerator... Later in the evening she visit in the toy store and buy cute panties. At the home Binchou-tan make dinner and then go to sleeping. She have odd dream which include frogs, tons of rice bags and other weird things.

After seeing second episode i don't think kids are target audience, i mean how many times main female character buy panties those... Nevertheless, Binchou-tan is enjoyable show. It focus showing her miserable life and filling viewers with cuteness. Also do that very well and don't try to be something else.

VAs on other hand, i can't think of better choice than Inoue Kikuko as
narrator. Nonaka Ai as Binchou-tan does also good job. Music isn't something mind blowing, but fit with atmosphere.

If you like even bit cute things this is must watch. As slice of life show this is also perfect replacement while waiting Aria's second season.

Thursday, February 09, 2006

Meine Liebe Wieder 1-3



Sometimes i wonder how important music is for anime. Is it something that alone say how good show is.

That's pretty much case with Meine liebe wieder. I really like op, ed and background music. But anime itself is boring. Even good music can't save that anymore. I drop this since spring season begin soon and lot of much better shows come. Definitely still download ost if/when that become
available.

Tuesday, February 07, 2006

Sambomaster - Utsukushiki Ningen No Hibi PV
















More Sambomaster, I have listened lately their music a lot and jrock generally too.

Song is good, video is pretty much guys riding bike, could be better.

Saturday, February 04, 2006

Katri, Girl of the Meadows 1














































Katri is little girl who live in the countryside of the Finland. It has been already year since she saw her mother. She haven't seen her daughter because of work. But there is very little time before she have to go to Germany working again. Katri have lived with grandmother and grandfather. They have 2 cows, but last year harvest was poor and that created financial problems.

Katri's mother left to the Germany. First World War began so she can't come back and letters don't reach receiver. At night Katri's dog, Aapeli notice bear and starts to bark, Katri wake up too. Luckily bear go away. Financial situation is already so bad that sale of older cow is inevitable which makes Katri sad, she liked both of them.


First i want to thank
Ushi-Ai for subbing this. Those subs above are Finnish, but files also include english ones.

Katri, Girl of the Meadows aired 1984, for such animation is well done. What really made this interesting was story related to Finland's history, my home country. You don't often see that. This is based on novel written by Auni Nuolivaara.


Background music is mostly done by Jean Sibelius. Very good music and also fit with series. Overall looks good.

Friday, February 03, 2006

The King of Fighters Another Day 3






















Not much to say here, same decent action with little story. This episode was even shorter, 7:09.

Shakugan no Shana: Thoughts

Beginning of the Shana was very good. Good animation, interesting story, very good music. Who could resist cute girl who's favourite food is melon bread.

I don't know what happened, but i am 4 episodes behind and not sure should i watch more.


But at least there is still Shana-tan. =)

Wednesday, February 01, 2006

Gackt - Redemption PV

This is theme song for new ps2 game FF7: Dirge of Cerberus. Being huge fan of ff games i of course wait that game so much. I have to say song is awesome, listened it two days now. Video is very good too.

Some pics for PV