Anime Relations: Shugo Chara!

Basically, my talk from other sources, summed up. If I'm going to ramble on forums, might as well ramble in one central place, so I can have a central place to look at. If you read me anywhere else, I'm sorry for being repetitive.

---

"Ooh, this is bad, I'm turning into a Kairi shipper. Was hoping they'd expand more onto when Amu was clinging onto his arm, especially when he looked like he's uncomfortable with the supernatural too. But in the end, we didn't see much of a personality for him today - neither evil nor love-love. Shame." -GameFAQs (yeah, I know)

"I was a bit bugged by the super-idealism of the end part of Shouta's story, not to mention the fact that Amu is still horribly overpowered (if that matters), but it's not meant to be the most plothole-proof show and it's still a lot of fun to watch thanks to the antics of SD Amu." -MAL forums

-CCY

Anime Relations: Nodame Cantabile

Well, it's not the greatest ending ... but you'll still need a mop to pick me up off the floor.

Really glad for the second season, no matter how this one turned out. It's really late here, so I'll save any further discussion for my super ultra blog post tommorow (and you wonder why I finished 3 series in a row).

But, I think this is one of the few shows where I am entirely enamored with both lead characters. Chiaki and Nodame are such great personalities separately, and together it's really brilliant. I think that's one of the highest compliments I can pay this show.

(Still, on my scale it falls short of 9-itude - no, not in the Cirno way - at the moment but that's a fault of its genre if anything ... )
-CCY

Anime Relations: Haibane Renmei

YES. This is how you end a show.

Absolutely stunning, especially when I consider I was going into this complaining that I should be watching ItaKiss 12 instead. I don't regret picking this.

Really, I was looking forward to tearing Haibane Renmei a new one after 12 passable but kind of sleep-inducing episodes, but I was absolutely gripped in this one, for some reason. I wonder if it's a fault of watching it at my PC vs. watching it on the TV. Who knows.

In any case, Haibane Renmei didn't have the greatest mark, since I've found I'm actually really horrible with slice-of-life. But the analytical and symbolic, potential, the warmth of the show, and just that feeling that it MEANS something, is simply second to none.

I'm now officially as confused as a tsundere lead in a shoujo work, who refuses to admit the existence of love (in short: a lot). Rewatch material if I've ever seen it.

Refraining from giving this one a number, just yet. It's something. I don't know what.

-CCY

Anime Relations: Kure-nai

Law of Kurenai: Enjoyment value (e) of show equals constant (k) times speaking lines (s) of Murasaki.

Didn't hate the ending as much as everyone apparently did; I left the show with a good taste in my mouth, compared to the rubbish from the last few episodes. Still a lot of holes that you could drive a Jaguar (and, apparently, a Mercedes) through, but I overall was pleased with how things turned out.

It's a tough call on the rating, as it's an solid-8-caliber core brought down with a bunch of stupid or superfluous stuff that's telling me to give it a (high) 7. Such is the problem of objective judging.

I think the problem is that I was signed up for the awesome slice-of-life style, and then it got muddled with some drama and fighting that I didn't feel meshed that well. Also, whatever happened to the romance-ish subplot between Shinkurou and the two ladies?

Who knows. This one might just fall into the dead zone. Wish there was more of it but somehow I feel I won't remember it in a few months ... how sad ...

-CCY

Anime Relations: Special A

From the forums:
"I think Kei's evaluation of Hikari is spot on.

God, that girl carries the show, and I just about melted at her pseudo-deredere mode when "asking Kei on a date", but on the flip side she still amazes me at how strong she can distort reality, with her quip here about "it must be weird being kissed by a girl you don't like". Somehow even Kei's kiss on her here seems to be brushed off easily.

I did enjoy the dynamics between the two of them in the closing scene, though (with flirty Kei). I try to wonder whether Hikari will get better or worse once she actually clues in on Kei's love, instead of being simply a very enthusiastic, kind person.

Well in any case it was a fun episode and not entirely predictable, so my faith in this show continues. With any luck Hikari will keep being awesome and the rest of the cast will catch up."

---

I think this is what you call 'whoring for content'. If I'm going to ramble on, I might as well put it in as many relevant places as possible, although it's a bit lighter than usual since it's just a quick forum post. Insult as applicable.

And yes, I am still watching Special A.

-CCY

... what Hinano meant when she was talking about women and rape fantasies in Japan. (http://www.minaidehazukashii.com/hinano/2008/06/24/round-robin-mechanics-of-rape-fantasies/)

Picked up this manga from my usual scanlation site after seeing 'ren-ai' in the title. It looked fairly shoujo, and it started out with a S.A.-style concept, with some girl and some guy sparring off as kids in whatever form of martial arts before a time-jump into high school life.

She's not quite a Hikari, having more in common with maybe an Amu, not comfortable with her true self (except not as cool, nor spicy). And he's not quite a Kei ... he's possessive like one, and flirty like one, but I'd compare him more to Ikuto, amped up to 12. (It's two higher.)

I mean, in the first three chapters he forces a few kisses on her, makes her "his toy", strips her about halfway, licks her legs rather close to her crotch, and that's all I remember. And, y'know, she can't decide if she hates it or enjoys it, blah blah blah I thought that stuff was reserved for dirty works aimed at men.

Of course he's doing this all because he likes her in some way or another, so she's really touched and in the fourth chapter they confess and have (consensual) sex.

Right.

Well, it's not a train wreck and it's hit some good notes otherwise, so I'll keep with this regardless and see if it gets either emotional or unintentionally amusing.

-CCY