Tierra is keeping her read/watch list updated at times. So feel free to check out that page. Amor has been too busy to update in a long time.
Archives for posts with tag: anime
Both Amor’s and Tierra’s Pages for Suggestions for Reading/Watching have been updated.
If you’re looking for something to read or watch you may want to check out what they’ve been reading and watching and think is good enough to suggest.
Once again a great movie by Studio Ghibli: The Tale of the Princess Kaguya かぐや姫の物語 directed by Takahata Isao 高畑 勲 and based on the classic Japanese Folktale: The Tale of the Woodcutter.
I won’t go into the plot, as most of you know it and it’s easily available. The movie expands on the basic classic tale. The visuals are beautiful, as you’d expect from Studio Ghibli, with special details to the minutiae, like insects, clouds, shadows, etc. The story telling is well done. A must see for Studio Ghibli fans.
Story of Saiunkoku Saiunkoku Monogatari 彩雲国物語 by YUKINO Sai 雪乃 紗衣 and illustrated by YURA Kairi 由羅 カイリ, for me is a fun read. Another manga/anime based on a novel series that I wish was available. This reverse harem (done right), romantic comedy/drama, historic shojo leaves me wanting more and really want to read the novels (18 volumes + 6 volumes of side stories).
I recently got volume 9 of the manga and this volume is totally side stories; however, they’re still good enough to make up the whole volume and lots of fun.
I watched the first 2 seasons (there’s a third) of Psycho-Pass サイコパス. This is a good science fiction anime, that all the science and technology aren’t science fiction, but exits in some form already, and in many cases for a while now.
Psycho-Pass サイコパス has many influences, including Philip K. Dick and George Orwell’s 1984. It reminds us that once we’re stuck in these situations how hard it is to change back to freedoms that were given up in the name of safety, etc. or taken away and how important it is to fight the system for your rights and freedom that have been taken away.
Stuck at home due to weather or recovering from illness or injury, or just a hikikomori ひきこもり this maybe a good way to pass the time.
Another gem in my delivery: Dream Fossil: The Complete Stories of Satoshi Kon (Yume no Kaseki – Kon Satoshi Zentanpen). This collection of one shot manga is almost perfect for any manga otaku. Comedy, supernatural, sports, school life, samurai, science fiction, World War II, etc. in this wonderful collection. One manga, Picnic, is based on Akira.
Kon Satoshi 今 敏 enjoyed and was influenced by the works of Philip K. Dick.
This is one of the better stand alone manga I’ve read in a while, with something for everyone (if you enjoy seinen). An interview with Hirasawa Susumu 平沢進 about Kon Satoshi 今 敏 is included.
A surprise anime from Toei in 1959 and released by MGM in the US in 1961 was in my delivery: The Magic Boy 少年猿飛佐助 (Shōnen Sarutobi Sasuke).
I thought that this was an MGM film as there were no subtitles, no Japanese version, said MGM on the DVD (until the credits) and the title song sang over and over in English sounds like a song for a western movie (which although not a samurai film MGM was leaving the impression on the audience that it was if by nothing else the western-style song, as samurai films are often compared with westerns like Seven Samurai 七人の侍 (Shichinin no Samurai) was made into the western The Magnificent Seven.
This was very much like what Disney was putting out when I was a child (I really haven’t seen any of the recent Disney films), and I’m sure Toei and MGM wanted to compete with Disney for animated movies that become classics.
Anyway, it’s worth watching, although I’d rather have watched it in the original Japanese with English subtitles, and in any case, I’d like subtitles for things in English too as not everyone can hear well, and there were no subtitles for the hearing impaired.
A short anime movie classic for a lazy afternoon.
I finally got to see the 2006 live-action movie of Mushishi 蟲師 or Mushi-Shi: The Movie. I’ve never read the manga; however, am looking forward to reading it. I’ve been a big fan of the anime for years. The anime is something I find extremely relaxing, especially with the music by Masuda Toshio 増田 俊郎.
The movie was good, but not as relaxing as the amine. The anime is something that is just perfect for those extremely stress-filled days and the movie just can’t seem to compete in this. The move is mostly about the back-story to Ginko ギンコ. At times I felt the actor and/or director didn’t get the same interpretation of Ginko ギンコ as I have, which seemed to be jarring. The cinematography was great as were the CGI. The story was good too; although, I’m not sure if it follows the manga.
The music for this film was done by Haishima Kuniaki 蓜島 邦明, and although good, not the soothing music with all the bells and percussion by Masuda Toshio 増田 俊郎 from the anime that helps me unwind.
The movie is good and has been nominated and even won awards. It’s worth watching if you’re a Mushishi 蟲師 fan. And if you know nothing about Mushishi 蟲師, you may enjoy the movie too, as you don’t need to know about the manga or anime to enjoy the movie.
There will be one more Mushishi 蟲師 movie later this summer. It will be anime and I believe it’s based on the last arcs of the manga.
I rarely read gag manga; however, My Neighbor Seki となりの関くん (Tonari no Seki-kun) by MORISHIGE Takuma 森繁拓真 is award-winning and worth reading.
I would also like to point out that his sister, HIGASHIMURA Akiko 東村アキコ writes one of my favorite josei mangaka.
Back to My Neighbor Seki となりの関くん (Tonari no Seki-kun). This is about Yokoi Rumi 横井 るみ who sits next to, gets distracted, and in trouble watching her neighboring seat classmate, Seki Toshinari 関 俊成, and his elaborate games. Games usually not played the normal way, and other odd things, using all sorts of professional tools, and even bringing in cats to keep him company.
What a delightful surprise awaited me in my library delivery, one that I may wish to purchase for myself. This surprise is a classic manga from the late 1980’s – early 1990’s called Master Keaton マスターキートン by KATSUSHIKA Hokusei 勝鹿北星 and URASAWA Naoki 浦沢直樹.
An added bonus to the tankobon is that the original color pages are in color; however, it’s the story, so fresh compared to all the cloned stories we get these days. It’s being published by VIZ Signature and they’re publishing a volume every three months, since there are 18 tankobon in the series, I really wish it was released more frequently. Also, I hope that they pick up the sequel, Master Keaton Remaster MASTERキートン Reマスター by NAGASAKI Takashi 長崎尚志 and URASAWA Naoki 浦沢直樹, started in 2012 and has at least 1 volume out and I believe is ongoing. There is also anime, which as been released in the US in the past and I’m hoping that with the series now being published that it will get re-released.
The stories revolve around Taichi Hiraga-Keaton 平賀＝キートン・太一 and his work and family and sometimes people from his old SAS unit and jobs he gets from his agent as an insurance investigator, who is a specialist due to his SAS training and his archeology training. The stories are mostly on their own but sometimes interconnect running from one to a few chapters. The ongoing story is about his family life.
This is manga at it’s best. I’m so excited to get a good series. Once again it’s seinen; however, this time written by a man.
Looking for a great anime with loads of special features, including one on foxes and fox legends from Japan? Look no further than Oblivion Island Haruka and the Magic Mirror ホッタラケの島 〜遥と魔法の鏡〜 (Hottarake no Shima: Haruka to Mahō no Kagami).
This anime has a backstabbing hero, fox legends, neglectful father, magic in mirrors, memories in all objects, and based on real fox legend. This story also reminds us not to look to the outside of people but the inside. Lots of masks, precious forgotten items, archetypal villain, etc. One is reminded that if something is not precious to you anymore to pass it on to someone who still considers it precious and not to hoard to cause more trouble for our world with “stuff”. Also, it’s never too late to try to fix something that you may have done wrong.
This is a great award nominated anime movie and special features for a lazy afternoon. The English dubbed version has no subtitles, so if you’re hearing impaired you’ll need to watch the Japanese version that does have subtitles (no way to turn on or off subtitles).
Road to Ninja: Naruto the Movie is the first Naruto movie that I enjoyed.
The movie is basically an alternative universe movie with most characters acting the opposite in the regular Naruto universe. Well, obviously can’t go into much more due to spoilers. The regular cast, good story and great music.
If you’re a Naruto fan (wouldn’t suggest to someone who hasn’t gotten through most of the series, as they won’t understand a lot of what’s going on) this would be a good movie for a rainy afternoon.
I loved the amine of Barakamon ばらかもん so was excited to receive the first volume of this manga by YOSHINO Satsuki ヨシノサツキ. As usual, it’s shonen written by a female mangaka and a comedic slice of life story with good moral lessons in it that don’t bash you over the head (like the sanctity of life, helping others, hard work, having fun, etc.).
The story is about a master calligrapher going to an island to find his own style (he’s young and got in trouble for punching out a critic about his lack of originality for his age) and being surrounded by energetic people, particularly children and his misadventures and adventures living on the island and changing his life and calligraphy styles. The title Barakamon means energetic person in Gotou dialect.
There are 10 volumes and ongoing in Japan (about a volume every 7 months in Japan) and Yen Press is releasing a volume every other month for a while, hopefully until they get caught up with Japan and hopefully will keep them coming out in a timely manner. There are some good notes in the back too.
The story does have a spin-off prequel, Handa-kun はんだくん, that I hope that Yen Press picks up also.
I watched the anime of Noragami: Stray God ノラガミ and at first enjoyed it but towards the end, not sure if I would have continued. Now the manga is out in the US, I’ve read the first volume of the three volumes out and will continue until I decide it’s not for me or finish.
Noragami: Stray God ノラガミ is ADACHI Toka あだちとか first by-herself (another woman author writing shonen) manga. She did the artwork for Alive: The Final Evolutionアライブ 最終進化的少年 (Alive: Saishuu Shinkateki Shounen) which was written by KAWASHIMA Tadashi 河島正, the series was finished just before KAWASHIMA Tadashi 河島正 died of liver cancer.
Noragami: Stray God ノラガミ is a popular fan art, cosplay, and fan joke manga/anime. I’m hoping the manga is better than the anime. There should be loads of comedy, adventure, action, and maybe romance for most out there into those genres. Kodansha has a volume coming out every 2 – 3 months, at least until August.
A Letter to Momo ももへの手紙 (Momo e no Tegami) is a delightful, award-winning anime movie about a girl that’s just lost her father; her culture shock at moving to a small island; her experience with yokai sent to watch over her and her mother; etc.
These are yokai acting differently from yokai I’ve seen in other manga and anime. They’re endearing at times, frustrating at other times for her and the audience.
A good movie for a rainy afternoon.
I just finished watching Patema Inverted サカサマのパテマ (Sakasama no Patema), the anime movie.
This was a great movie; although a bit scary at times. Beautifully done, and creepy villain and totalitarian society. Loads of metaphors throughout the movie. The science isn’t very good; but that doesn’t hurt the movie.
Once again, most of us are living in societies that are getting more and more totalitarian; however, doing it slowly and spinning it towards people’s safety, etc. instead of what it really is – a way to control everything about everyone. Once there, hard to get out.
Another of its messages is about the differences in people and how that’s not a bad thing (rather good, usually) and to be more accepting and not assume the general opinion and stereo types if it doesn’t match your experience.
Yen Press has done it right again! This time it’s published all three volumes as one bunkobon of Wolf Children: Ame and Yuki (Wolf Children: Rain and Snow) Ookami Kodomo no Ame to Yuki おおかみこどもの雨と雪 by HOSODA Mamoru 細田守 with artist Yuu 優.
This seinen fantasy romantic and tragic story is a classic with a fabulous movie. I wish the novels were out in the US. As with the movie, I still want to follow the story of this family of a struggling single human mother and her werewolf children and the community that they’ve joined.
If you’re into dark, quirky, semi-violent comedy and looking for something short to watch you may be interested in Ga-Ra-Ku-Ta: Mr. Stain on Junk Alley ガラクタ通りのステイン (Garakuta-dori no Sutein) anime. The short anime usually features Stain ステイン, Palvan パルバン, and other crazy creatures, some made of inanimate objects. Stain ステイン and Palvan パルバン usually don’t agree on things or are competing for things, etc. The series is like an updated Japanese version of Wile E. Coyote and Roadrunner. The tune is quite catchy also.
The first thing that you notice reading Say I Love You 好きっていいなよ。Suki tte Ii na yo. by HAZUKI Kanae 葉月かなえ is how bare the panels are because she doesn’t have backgrounds. This seems to be a serious flaw and I’ve heard of other mangaka being assigned assistants to teach them how to do backgrounds or to draw the backgrounds, but not in this instance and it does detract from the manga and makes it seem less professional.
This story is supposed to be a message manga, and it is, but simplistic and hackneyed. I’m surprised that it’s still ongoing in Japan with at least 12 volumes out. Kodansha is a large publisher and should be able to get better translators for this story. Kodansha is trying to release it in English in the US at a good rate of 1 volume every other month.
I’ve only read two volumes; but it’s just not high enough quality writing or drawing to keep me reading.
Just 1.5 months after hearing that Junjo Romantica 純情ロマンチカ 3rd anime season would finally air starting this January, it’s not happening. Once more this series has been postponed, and I don’t even want to count how many times that it’s been postponed. Since this is a very popular BL series, once more women are being treated as second class citizens by the anime establishment. I don’t think I’ve ever heard of a series, let alone an extremely popular one, being postponed over and over and over like this.
Sam- Naruto
First the good news, there appears there is probably going to be a continuation of Naruto―ナルト― with the next generation coming next year.
For a long time I’ve been considering stopping Bleachブリーチ. It’s lost all its humor, charm, the later arcs and the anime only arcs have been bad, and I don’t care about the characters. It’s like KUBO Tite 久保帯人 just throws in characters to be there without taking the time to develop them any more. When he announced this would be the last arc, I thought I’d finish the series and was happy the anime was off the air; however, really expected NARUTO―ナルト― to end after it, and it’s just going on and on and I feel no connection to it. So at this point, I probably won’t finish Bleach ブリーチ, as there’s no point. Maybe I’ll check out the ending when it’s out, and maybe not.
On the other hand with NARUTO―ナルト― , yes, a lot of the time, especially during the 4th ninja war (which went on for far too long), it lost its humor but never its charm or the feeling of connection with the characters and caring for them. I really do want to see what happens with these characters and their families (with more humor). Also, the anime, even the fillers, never lost the charm and usually brought back the humor of the series in the filler anime and really stayed true to the series. KISHIMOTO Masashi 岸本斉史 seems to care about his characters and the stories.
I don’t think I’m alone. When going to events with cosplay there are always many NARUTO―ナルト― characters, but I don’t think I’ve seen one in the last two years from Bleach ブリーチ.
This is the last article on the 60th anniversary of the release of Kurosawa Akira 黒澤 明 Seven Samurai 七人の侍.
First – I’m going to pretend that this takes place in an alternative universe or I’ll be writing all day about the poor science, breaking of scientific laws, etc. It doesn’t state that it’s an alternative universe – so that’s just going to be an assumption on my part.
Also, besides the above, it is mecha, and you know I hate mecha. It’s not as overwhelming big machines as most mecha I’ve seen, but it’s still what it is.
Yes, it’s based on Kurosawa Akira 黒澤 明 Seven Samurai 七人の侍, with the samurai characters with the same names; however, it’s much different. More class structures: farmers, samurai, bandits, merchants, royalty, etc. Many of the characters are also too annoying for me. It deviates greatly from the original, not only with story and characters, it’s the worst remake of Kurosawa Akira 黒澤 明 Seven Samurai 七人の侍 I’ve seen. The bandit leader is a total rip-off of Darth Vader and the Emperor is a pale compared to the Star War’s version. And who takes small children into dangerous situations instead of leaving them behind in maybe perilous, however, safer conditions? Also, having a small child along on the two journeys would interfere and endanger the journeys and people undertaking them besides the child. The villains are too obvious with no subtly and from the beginning you know the bandits are under the royalty/merchants alliance (more Star Wars?).
One other bad thing – this is out on 7 discs – a total waste and environmental mess. There is totally no reason to waste all that plastic when it could have easily fit on 3-4 discs.
The one good thing, is there are a couple episodes on the discs of Ga-Ra-Ku-Ta: Mr. Stain on Junk Alley ガラクタ通りのステイン.
I finally after 2.5 weeks finished the DVDs of Deadman Wonderland デッドマン・ワンダーランド, the anime. I usually can do a season or even 2 in a day; however, this was so violent, I’m not sure why I even finished it.
I do know that I’m not interested in reading the manga by KATAOKA Jinsei 片岡人生 .
This is about society breakdown after an anomalous catastrophe that obliterates Tokyo. Scientific misdoings, prisoners made to participate in Roman type gladiator games with severe consequences for those that loose, false evidence, etc.
Skip if you can’t handle severe violence.
Yes, they’ve pushed the date for Pure Romance 純情ロマンチカ (Junjou Romantica) anime’s third season now to January 2015. I’m sure that fans are upset about that as at first it was supposed to air in January 2014 and keeps getting pushed back. Although not my favorite NAKAMURA Shungiku 中村春菊 story – one that I follow and am more comfortable with now that Takahashi Misaki 高橋 美咲 is totally an adult and entering the work force after college and things are totally mutual; although, one does get tired of all the interferences – but that is the story – a bit too clichéd for me, but not so badly that I don’t keep up with it.
Not totally related but super important, California is making it a law that unless someone says yes explicitly it is not consensual – hopefully this will become the law around the world and a new issue for women’s (and men’s) rights.
Mononoke モノノ怪 brings back my favorite enigmatic medicine peddler from Ayakashi: Samurai Horror Tales 怪 (Ayakashi). And from the cosplay I’ve seen, a favorite character of many.
This medicine peddler besides looking non-human, is very long-lived as the original story was from the Edo period and some of these stories are from the 1920’s with art deco and flappers, etc. while others seem to be back to the Edo period.
The art work is very 1960’s psychedelic and beautifully captivating.
This series also has a story (last once again) about bakeneko – so I hope you cat lovers will enjoy this.
The titles of the stories (each a few episodes long) are: Zashiki-warashi 座敷童子, Umibōzu 海坊主, Noppera-bō のっぺらぼう, Nue 鵺, & Bakeneko 化猫.
I hear that there are two volumes of manga out in Japan by Young Gangan ガンガン (Square Enix) – and hope that they’ll be released in the US in English. I also hope for more anime series with the medicine peddler.
Dragon Fest 2013 Sakuracon Cosplay contest
I was just informed that people who use Yaoiotaku may have been having and might continue to have access problems:
Seems like they’re under attack and it’s been continuous and can’t seem to stop the crackers (black hat hackers).
You say what’s a cracker and how does it differ from a hacker?
http://www.pctools.com/security-news/crackers-and-hackers/
Now you know the correct terminology – please be sure to use it so you don’t offend computer otaku.
Once things are cleared up there you may want to change your passwords (you should every 3 months anyway), etc.
I just heard that this month maybe the last chapter of Tokyo Ghoul トーキョーグール (Toukyou Kushu) by ISHIDA Sui 石田スイ in Shuukan Young Jump (Shueisha). There are also rumors that this is only the ending of part 1 or there will be a sequel.
If Tokyo Ghoul トーキョーグール (Toukyou Kushu) ends this month with chapter 143, then on 17 October in Japan volume 14 will be released and will be the final volume.
Hana to Yume 花とゆめ (Hakusensha) has announced a second season of anime for Kamisama Kiss 神様はじめました (Kamisama Hajimemashita). They’ve also announced volume 19 will be out in Japan on 19 September.
This is about both the award-winning (rightly so) anime and the manga.
I saw the movie a while ago and recently got the manga. The manga for Summer Wars サマーウォーズ was written by HOSODA Mamoru 細田守 and drawn by SADAMOTO Yoshiyuki 貞本義行 and SUGIMOTO Iqura 杉基イクラ. In Japan it was released as 3 tankobon by Young Ace (Kadokawa Shoten) and as 2 bunkobon in English by Vertical. The manga was very good, interesting, etc. and reminded me of the anime movie. The story is seinen, romance, science fiction, mystery drama – with a nod to John Lennon and Yoko Ono.
I re-requested the anime movie and watched it and it’s superb, truly worth the awards it won – beautiful , imaginative, and engaging. The story is about a math genius with a crush on a girl from a samurai family, her family and AI that is taking over/destroying the world. It was animated by Madhouse distributed by Warner Brothers in the US. The only downside was the voice actors and dubbing script was done by Funimation – so you’re probably better off with the original Japanese voice actors and translation. With Warner Brothers involved you’d think they could have gotten better English voice actors (as Disney does) and scripting for the dubbing.
I recommend both. However, I prefer greatly the rich visuals of the animated film.
Just finished the anime Dusk Maiden of Amnesia 黄昏乙女×アムネジア (Tasogare Otome x Amnesia) based on the manga by Maybe めいびい . I have not read the manga, and probably wouldn’t even if it was released in the US in English, as the story (at least in the anime) is solid but so much male fan service that is so blatant that it detracts seriously from the story. One feels that Maybe めいびい didn’t have enough belief in his story to sell without catering to ecchi shonen population. I’m not against fan service – if it’s tasteful, subtle, and a relevant part of a story.
The story evolves around the relationship between a teenage boy and a ghost, a relative of the ghost (actually 2 by the end) and an unneeded other girl (why is she in the story? to give a slight harem feel to it or maybe for comic relief), who is annoying and a distraction to the main story (as is all the fan service). The ghost’s story is interesting and in the past (without the ecchi elements) may have been shojo material. In any case, could have been made into a real classic for all if the ecchi elements were left out and would have been a tighter story without the annoying extra girl.
Since the anime was made about a year before the end of the series – I’m not sure how close the anime is to the manga. Maybe the animators changed some of the story. However, if you can get past the male fan service and annoying extra character this is a good anime. I would suggest watching the last episode (12) in the longer version – not much change but probably a little over a minutes extra stuff and not worth watching twice. There is also an OVA in the DVD set and 2 CDs of the soundtrack.
seattlekifujin 