IT'S OFFICIAL!!!
I married Nabiki Tendo! <3 Thanks to Mhia-chan for the lower banner (the good one; the top, crappy one was created by yours truly), and to Kaiserpingvin for officiating the wedding.
I'm a college student with an active obsession for anime/manga. ... How many profiles have begun with lines similar to that? Well, it's still true. Anyway, I always thought there was something wrong with me, as I have a spreadsheet of every series (by episode/chapter) that I've ever watched or read. Now that I've found this site, I feel a bit better. I may not get around to entering everything I've ever seen but you should get the gist of my interest.
There aren't many series that I outright hate, except for those that were horribly adapted (.hack//DUSK) or are just boring (Daphne in the Brilliant Blue). I can get into most series fairly easily because I've seen at least a little something from every genre and enjoy making comparisons. I guess that's why my favorite series tend to be original. Also, even though I gravitated toward sci-fi/fantasy shows when I first "started out", I now enjoy slice-of-life series more. To be fair, there seem to be more of that type coming out now than back in 1999 or so.
I tend to watch anime by myself (not because I watch ecchi shows [which isn't to say I don't] but because it's easier to marathon by myself) but I still find myself searching for groups in my area with which to watch stuff and discuss my favorite series. I guess there's a part of me trying to remain social offline.
Alright, so I'm in college, I don't have a job (the workforce used me, then spit me out), and I'm slowly losing the means to support my love. And I even occasionally wish that my "love" was 3-D (too many past problems to make me wish more often). That's about all there is to know about me. I didn't actually put much other useful info about myself here, but it sure took a while to read, didn't it? Now that's a useful tidbit to know about what type of person I am.
Now that I've been here long enough, I'll add some favorites. Let's start off small.
FAVORITE CHARACTERS EDITED MAY 31, 2008
1. Kasuga Ayumu/Osaka – Azumanga Daioh
She wasn't my favorite of the AzuDai girls while I was watching the series (#1 was Kagura, #2 was Sakaki, #3 was Tomo). It wasn't until a couple of years ago that I became a fan. My top favorites have changed a couple of times recently but after rewatching AzuDai, she jumped back up. Why do I like her? She's quirky, cute, and adds a strange level of comedy to any situation. And who could deny the utter awesomeness that is her voice?! That's the main reason Matsuoka Yuki is one of my favorite seiyuu, and the only reason I liked Tsuruya-san.
2. Ayase Yue/Yuecchi – Mahou Sensei Negima!
Once again, not my favorite at the beginning of Negima. I felt a twinge of moe the first time she gave her non-smile, but I don't think it was until her big scene at the school festival that she really caught my interest. It can't just be because she was brought into the spotlight and had her character fleshed out; the same has been done for most of the characters and only one other (Eva) could ever possibly make the list. Yue is unbelievably intelligent for a normal junior-high student, and is also the most philosophical character I can recall in any series. Oh, and she pulls off the moeblob archetype well. Her signature "weird trait" amongst the Negima characters is that she drinks unusually named juice boxes. I can't remember many of them though, since she hasn't had one for at least 5 volumes now. Smile for us, Yuecchi~! 'Mada waratteimasu.'
3. Tendou Nabiki – Ranma ½
Wow, this one takes me back. Back when I first started reading manga, I enjoyed it but I couldn't understand people's obsession with 2-D characters. After all, what kind of idiot would have any kind of feelings for a fictional girl?! *facepalm* I was stupid back then; forgive me. Anyway, I eventually got around to reading Ranma 1/2. A short while into it, I realized that the main character’s sister, who I used to overlook, was likely the smartest and hawtest character in the series. I went back through previous volume and noted that she was also cute and funny. From then on, I cheered for every one of her extortion schemes, despising Kuno as much as she did. (I defy anyone who says she and Kuno are meant to be together) And the second movie was pure love. Those geniuses in the production team treated my Nabiki like the queen she was. And there was swimsuit action! X3 … At one point, I joined a site that made a marriage certificate for me, with a picture and date. As you can see above, I have rekindled my long-forgotten feelings for her with the help of MAL’s Marriage Club! Between all my favorite characters, Nabiki is by far the one I could stay with forever. She’s such an evil genius! <3
4. Maehara Shinobu – Love Hina
For the fourth time, this character didn’t grab me when I started reading Love Hina. In fact, I couldn’t see what kind of writer would have a junior-high student chasing after a college-age guy. (Since reading Negima, that “kind of writer” has been completely revealed to me :P) It was the penultimate scene that got to me; seeing her give up her first love to her rival, just because he wanted to be with Naru more, really struck a chord in me. It was strange to have that kind of feeling toward a girl so young, and I tried to reflect that with all my being by trying to forget her. The final two chapters really changed my mindset, as shy little Shinobu had aged three years. She was wiser. She was calmer. “She grew up. She filled out.” Yes, my favorite character had been secured in mental, emotional, and physical form. Seeing as Love Hina ended up becoming the first series on my all-time favorites list, my crush on Shinobu has still not been forgotten. Why couldn’t Production I.G. have made the last two chapters of LH into an OVA?! I want my legal-Shinobu screencaps! After-thought: It’s strange for me to have considered Shinobu an under-age character back when I first read LH, seeing as how I was only a year or two older than her at the time. Perhaps it was a thought put into my head by Akamatsu; after all, his main characters were over 18, so his readers were given that perspective (despite it having been serialized in Shonen Magazine). Who knows… In any case, I try not to think about her age as much anymore. Does that make me a sick person?
5. Ibuki Fuuko – Clannad
This is obviously a more recent favorite. As such, she may not be an all-time favorite. HOWEVER!!! She is one of the only girls on my short-term or long-term favorites list that I knew I would like immediately. From the moment I saw her in a promo video (a stand-alone version of the OP), I could tell she would be a fun character to follow. (Ignore the fact that she was the youngest-looking character shown in that video. Please.) The moe started kicking in when I saw that she was working on those starfish sculptures with no thought of her own well-being. Her cute scenes and unusual version of common sense made her even more likeable. By the time the emotional part of her story came around, I was already a diehard Fuko fan! I guess that made those next few episodes even harder for me. What really got me later on was that even though she was destined to be removed from the story and forgotten by her peers, she twirled her way back into as many scenes as she could manage. She just wanted to help the man she cared for in any way possible, even through physically impossible means. I guess that’s part of my moe… I look forward to the day Fuko wakes up and gets her true “good end”.
6. Mutou Aoi – Moyashimon
Another temporary favorite! I try not to change my favorites around much, especially since it takes quite a character to catch my attention. HOWEVER!!! That is also why Mutou needs to be mentioned here. From the moment she entered that sake bar and drenched herself in Haruhi-knows-what, she became my favorite character in the series. Every little thing she did after that only added to her appeal: the off-hand way she reacted to the other members' opinion of her, her unusual travels around the globe, and (of course) her heart-wrenching back-story. For some reason, her appearance also struck a chord in me; I think my favorites list, along with mental notes I've made regarding the characters I pay attention to most, are proof enough that I have a thing for girls with long, dark hair. Why didn't I like Ohno then...? Anyway, all this adds up to a surprise favorite in a series I honestly never expected to enjoy so much. Three more things! 1) Episode 8 was awesome! Why hasn't this manga been licensed?! 2) There must be a second season of Moyashimon! I demand it!!! 3) Have you watched Moyashimon yet? Why not?! Go do so now!
Yes, the first two are written in a different style. I took a month-long sabbatical from writing this to continue my life. Is there more to come? Probably. Don’t count the seconds though.
Yue Ayase took the bronze medal in the 2nd ever MAL Cutie Pageant! She has the looks for it, doesn't she? Congrats Yue! You have finally overtaken Nodoka! ^^
I recently discovered that most of my favorite characters, even lesser ones that don't appear on my list, are beauties with long, dark hair. I have a "fetish" for a hair-type? I don't even know how to react to that... Or do I?
My favorite visual novel so far:
Maji-Puri!
Aruku = <3
Thanks to Vertago and melancholy for helping me claim Ayumu-chan! And thanks to Ariana for writing up the ol' adoption papers!
(Neither Nabiki-chan nor I have any problems, per se; she just wanted to have a child without going through child-birth. Or something like that.)
Thanks also to the "Claim an Anime/Manga Club" (especially Kohikki) for helping me get my hands on what may be the greatest part of the Genshiken franchise (so far): Season 2!
<If you ask nicely, I might let you watch it>
Current theme: Pizza Hut: Proud sponsor of the rebellion since 2007!
Wow... My profile is really getting cluttered isn't it? ... WHOO!! Never thought that would happen! But seriously, I have to clean this mess up soon. I finally got around to adding the EBB images; who knows how long it'll take before I get the motivation and creativity to do something like this again?
That's possibly one reason. The other possible reason would be that older users are becoming annoyed and sick of how most of the new flood of users treat clubs, so they've basically decided to abandon the entire concept. I still look at my clubs every once in a while, but I don't really do much :<
If Studio DEEN could pull off the same quality they did with FSN that would be great too. The rapid action and everything, it'd be nice xD
I have tons of links to image boards and servers, although I don't save too much for some reason. :<
Aah! I am so interested in this project of yours now. You sure have to share once it's ready for sharing, you hear? :3
In fact, it's my backlog (and many other things - most of them self-inflicted) that keep me from writing my blog post, and not vice versa (which leaves me with a chunck of guilt and a slice of self-annoyance). A trip to Vegas might have fixed that though; nothing like clearing ones head by going someplace new, and in the case of LV, someplace very shiny and electric. Not my type of place; but it sure sounds fun nonetheless.
Sounds like the shifts in economic power at least was somewhat beneficient; NHKs postponing aside. I am talking especially about that body pillow, which I am pathetic enough to desire warmly. Human interaction? Who needs it, I want that pillow!
Hayate no Gotoku! I began on it recently, and it's a very nice ride. The tenth episode in particular was a laughfest - despite being anime-only filler - and the relationship between Nagi and Hayate is qiute refreshing as to your ordinary relationship with a tsundere. It's one of these series I watch faster than most, which is a sure sign of enjoyability (i I am allowed to elevate my personal experience to common criteria). What's your thoughts on it?
Ah, I know the feeling of having noone to talk with. Most of my closer friends enjoy anime; but none of them are very voracious watchers, which is a great shame - I'm conbstantly, with underhanded tricks and buttery words trying to get them to watch more. For their own sake too, of course. We don't have no trivia contests either, but I am eventually going to a convention later this year, and they probably have them. Let's see how well I'll do!
Shaman King is sort of an inspiration yes; originally it was subconscious, though. It's been long since I read it, and I didn't read very much of it. I'll certainly try to capture all the possibilites!
Ah, how could I have missed the longevity of hardbacks! Wonder why I never considered that, indeed.
I'd certainly help you with a Haruhi-crusade; say what needs to be done, and I will rush at the goal like a stampeding goat. Or whatever beast pleases The Goddess the most.
Congratulations on managing to gather a properGoogle-generation (googleration?) family! You ought to give them a shrine, yessum, with incense burners and bamboo.
Guess I should have Mass Messaged you guys about it first xD It was fun in the beginning but when everyone and their mother began to have a fanclub I felt it was pretty pointless after all. e-penor boost eradicated.
If there were a TV series I hope to god a great studio picks it up (please not Toei please not Toei). Kyoani has a lot on their hands so I wouldn't expect anything from them but a studio like Shaft or JC Staff would be nice :x
The boorus are always good for any fanart minus the fact that you have to keep navigating around porn.
lol, I should take a look at my clubs again. Haven't really bothered in ages.
Problem with official art (minus the fighting games Immaterial and Missing Power/Scarlet Weather Rhapsody) is that ZUN...doesn't draw that well xD
Still, he does do the character designs and it's through those that we get awesome fanart. I've gone through almost all the fanart on danbooru (before their servers started getting all whiny) and that's where I actually learned to recognize most of the characters ;x
I said I would be back when I felt better didn't I? XD But glad to see you missed me :D
And crazy antics, I'm not that crazy am I? D:
I used to have a hard time recognizing Touhou characters. But then I got kind of...rabid fanboyed xD Still, I can see why you thought it was Patchy at first, the hat really does look similar.
3.) Hmm yes, she kinda looks like Yuri from Nadesico. A bigger inspiration was Yurine from Karas tho http://www.anime-kraze.org/wiki/images/b/b7/Yuri.jpg
different clothing tho.
2.) Yes, halfway in I noticed it was kind of similar to Shaman King, which is why we deliberately avoided or first idea of percentage of possession because it would have been more similar.
In story mode , characters might literally fight in SUPER POWERED mode in later fights(especially when they handle Concept Weapons), for VS mode though, the haunting bar simulates that.
1.) =w= I'd love that, with tag mode ala Marvel vs CAPCOM even, it'd rock so much. I have the feeling that would quickly get extremely hard to pull off though.
My parents have a tendency of springing up surprise trips as well. I’ve been to Vegas only once though my parents go every so often. Sorry to hear that you ran into some trouble getting back, a curveball thrown in to add some adventure it seems. It was fun having my friend in town for the week, but I really wish I could have gone somewhere, leave town for awhile… ah well.
Hmm, from everything I’ve read the GetBackers re-print isn’t an omnibus, which is a shame and seems rather foolish… but who am I to say? Also regarding movie adaptations, with all of the different variations of the Journey to the West story I’m not even sure if I know the whole, or most accurate, tale. But it would be fascinating to see, though I’m not sure if there would be a great enough appeal to Western audiences.
Kodansha opening up shop here is certainly interesting. I’m curious what titles they’ll bring over as well as how this may impact other companies. Not only in America, but if other Japanese companies would do the same.
Funimation is certainly turning out to be quite the hero this summer. First with licensing Ookiku Furikabutte (I’ve enjoyed the few episodes I’ve seen of it), and then with their deal with Geneon (I’ll be able to finish Higurashi). I haven’t followed any of the ADV drama so I’m not sure how I feel about that circumstance. I just hope they don’t over exert themselves.
VIZ seems to have confirmed that they have the rights to Monster… err, I always imagined my reaction to its license to be squeals of joy, which it would have been, if it were anyone <i>but</i> VIZ. However, as it is I’m holding my breath and crossing my fingers. I guess one good prospect is that it has a higher chance of getting a dub. I guess I’m also pissed that it wasn’t even a proper announcement, just “yeah we have it” and “it may possibly be released sometime next year…maybe.” >_<
Anyways, I thought AX was pretty quite this year (at least that I can remember). Any good news for you? Oh, I’m also stoked that I found all 10 volumes of the Kodocha manga at Bookmans, I guess I should visit used book stores more often… or not (my poor wallet).
Gnu!
About that project Kaiserpingvin keeps going on about (or not, I don't really keep track of who he talks to about what - Not MUCH. *Matoi stare* )
I'm kind of the artist / programmer / guy who keeps inventing new crazy ideas of it.
So if you're really interested, we kind of have a pbwiki going where we collect ideas/infos about the characters and world. http://resurrecters.pbwiki.com/
(it's not exactly very full, but that's mostly because both me and Kaiserpingvin are just not very willing to keep it up to date with the sheer amount of creativity that overflows from both our brains )
Yes, hard work, but fun work! All pressure I feel is the imaginary pressure of my imagined readers, and it's a good kind of pressure.
The night is indeed the time of creativity: Kafka, my most beloved writer, was famously enchanted by it and only went hunting for stories during night. I walk in his footsteps, humbled and awestruck at what one can see during these dark hours. Nice to meet more nightstalkers! Our eyes share the same burden of a millon meters of darkness upon thjeir lids.
It's a gloomy image you draw of the american market! At least such a narrow market makes it easy for one to feel like an expert among fellow fans of the medium, if that counts as a benefit. Not to mention that when people rip on Soul Eater or Soul Eatards, one can smugly sit back and watch them do slapstick comedy with words alone.
There's a quite extensive ontological explanation of all those past ghosts: put simply, I stole the concept of the semiosphere and made it into pure entertainmen only barely resembling the original. It's kind of a membrane in which thoughts and ideas make imprints - and the strongest thought/idea there is, is the one of the "self" (it's the only one you really experience, after all). As thus, oneself easily makes an impact, leaves a big imprint on this metaphysical membrane, and at the point of the story, it's beginning to overflow, making the stronger concepts in the semiosphere crystallize. Most of these are dead humans. Cue chaos!
Man I get carried away easily with that business!
Ahh, mystique! Do tell when it's ready, then. You had my fascination at "Haruhi".
I'll also quite possibly ship the novels overseas. I generally don't buy hardbacks at all, paperbacks are so much more handy - easier to store, not as tiring to read, &c. Still, they look better.
Considering what I now know of the american market, SZS doesn't sound very credible. Or well, Serial Experiments Lain managed to snipe a license, so maybe it IS possible for artsy and uniquely high-flying series to come out. Let's hope the Goddess is graceful!
Your good words are mighty appreciated. I'll work hard to make myself worthy of them!
Ooh, a translation project sounds like fun, though it also appears that you’ve maintained your Japanese skills more than I have.
That “GetBackers: Infinity Fortress” solicitation is rather strange. I looked all over for any bonus stories/volumes they might have licensed, but came up with nothing. Well, I guess if they thought re-releasing the first several volumes would be worth their time and effort than I suppose it must be doing well for them. Or at least that’s what’d I hope ^_^;
So far I haven’t heard anything from other publishers, so I’m keeping my fingers crossed that the majority of them can ride through whatever wave this is unscathed. But it does have me worried for the smaller companies without other income or a big name backing them.
Yep, Monster was supposed to be an American production. Apparently though, the only work done on it was the script. A while back I downloaded an audio clip of an interview with the writer and at the very end he mentioned Urasawa’s Monster and that he was starting on the script for a second movie for it. Personally, I don’t think it’d work well either, but if it generated more interest then I’m all for it. Not that it will ever see the light of day… though I’m getting the impression that quite a few of these manga to film projects fall through the cracks.
Summer is going way too fast! As usual I’ve set some unrealistic goals and haven’t reached half of them. And no real vacation plans for me; though this week my best friend will be flying in from Kansas. I’ve taken vacation days off for that, but I’m going nowhere special. How about you?
I'm sorry for the late reply, I can only blame a sudden influx of work (really awesome "work" though), and a sudden dip in mood, brought about from the revolution I did with the hours of the day, twsting day into night and darker things.
I hope they at least get to some kind of conclusive and at least half-satisfying end of a larger arc in Soul Eater before it's licensed; I imagine the frustration would be quite large if it just ended in the middle of an epic showdown or right after a stunning plot twist. The American fascination with well-coordinated and flashy fights is a thing to fear, apparently.
My inability to express myself strikes again! It was not, sadly, the mechs that looked like presidents (that'd be cool), it was presidents piloting Tomcats that transformed into mecha. Soldiers try to advance over a hill held by loyalist Communist Tokyo forces, and all of a sudden they get a com on the radio saying "THIS IS PRESIDENT GRANT. I AM COMING IN ON YOUR POSITION, OVER!" and so on. Your idea (or my mistype, I find it hard to pinpoint exactly what of the two it is, but honour goes to the imaginer) is viscerally awesome in an appropriate over-the-top way, though! Grant would make a great, if somewhat fatbig-boned Mass-Production Evangelion with a moustache.
(Shift key is compulsory when writing about it.)
Translation project? That has caught my interest now, like blood does a shark with hunger and nothing else in the stomach! Pray do tell more, or the shark will perish from famine!
Sad thing with the manga industry, it seemed to thrive pretty well from the other side of the ocean. But then everything seems to thrive in the Great Ol' West from here, at least economically. Nice, however, that you get the Haruhi VNs, I will even consider importing them. For the sake of fanboying.
It's also reassuring it didn't bomb as much as I heard. Not that I am very interested in the welfare of Bandai, but I do like having some kind of external justification for my likes and dislikes. Hmm, that gives me a topic for the blog... Good times, these are.
Ouch, the treacherousness of them sub groups. Well, they do it all for the glory, so I guess most of them apt for large audiences rather than satisfied audiences. I must say, Soul Eater constantly ups the ante of Awesome Fun - this is one of those shows I will in the end be forced to lode deeper into solely because it's impossible and utterly against its nature to be used as fodder for pseudointellectual dissections.
Thank you for liking the story ideas! They have grown in number and ridiculosity: let's just say that American presidents make for good fighterjets-cum-transforming-mecha. (If you really are interested in helping out, we could exchange some IM or something - if not, I'll just keep you updated and when the beta comes, I'll send it for your personal testing pleasure ^.~)
Ah, so in the end uncrime pays off? Well, that's nice to hear! Staving off the dreaded Zettai Unmei Mokushiroku of the Animindustry is commendable work indeed. And on that topic, I heard that Haruhi bombed over in the States? Is this horrible rumor truth? And if so, have you any idea why?
Hope you can write soon again. I'm looking forward to reading it, maybe a continuation of the Go-To Guys!
(Really, that song was seriously awesome in a minimalist way.)
I really enjoyed the con. That Greg Ayers panel had some sub vs. dub debate but the main subject was the declining state of the anime industry… it was a rather somber panel altogether but I enjoyed hearing his insights and stories. And with the most recent news concerning Tokyopop he may not be far off (different media but they feed each other). Incidentally, two days before the announcement I got a box of 24 of TP’s manga from TRSI’s recent sale. Thankfully most of what I bought were series that are already completed or coming to an end. But I am fearful of which series will be cut. Hmm… do you think color pages are any indication of sales? Because I definitely want Aria and King of Thorn to continue. I’d also be royally pissed if GetBackers was axed. I can handle some cuts but there are those that will really rub me the wrong way.
A Hollywood version of Death Note? Hmm, I guess I wonder what the point would be… exposure yes, but what would they add to the story? We Americans tend to like a lot of action in our movies so maybe Light’s character would do more than write names in a book? I guess I’m finding it hard to see how they could make this to appeal to the mainstream. And just what would they call the shinigami? Or would they get rid of them altogether and just have the books be cursed? O_O
On a side note I’m still waiting on that proposed Monster movie to come about. But considering IMDb’s page says the projected date is 2009 and nothing’s been added I don’t think we’ll see its release. Just like the anime… >_<
Gosh this is a rather depressing reply, sorry! On the upside I watched the first episode of Moyashimon. The whole agricultural thing brought me back to my years in FFA. A very unique subject indeed! And the microbes are rather cute little things.
Finally, my school work has ended and graduation lurks by the door like a crazed, tired and high clown! I began watching Soul Eater and you were so right on about it - it's a serious amount of fun, that one.
Sadly there are no Nazi space-pirates (but I'm writing a pulp story - in English, even! - which has evil nazis and epic awesome with no real coherence), but there's a Stalin-ghost inhabiting a french boys body and conquering Tokyo to wrest free will from humankind into his own hands, helped by overcurious yakuza lifeguards with Dirac and tesla in their heads. And on the other side, there's among other things Nietzsche inside a walrus (but that's a secret).
Ouch on the Geass part. I guess being ethical doesn't pay off? I wouldn't know; nothing ever gets licensed in Sweden. If it did, I think I'd take the more respectable route too, but from the outside it's quite a loss, as Code Geass is among the most entertaining things I know.
