StarfishTwinkle's Blog

Anime Relations: Yuru Camp△

I took a two week vacation to South Korea so I got behind on my anime and Korean shows. My vacation was great. I did a lot of walking since the weather was nice. I visited many museums and did some Kpop shopping. Most of my time was spend exploring and just enjoying being in a different country. I didn't watch any anime but I did see some of my Korean shows that I am following. However since there were no subtitles I switched the channel and decided to wait until I got home to finish watching. Besides I had things to do outside the hotel room. Plenty of time later to watch TV shows.

I am caught up on my Korean shows. I watched them first. They are longer and I can watch them at home. The anime I can watch an episode at work during my lunch break. I am caught up with A Place Further Than The Universe and Laid Back Camp. I should be able to get up to date on the rest by the end of the weekend. I have Fridays and Saturdays off so that is my main time to watch anime.

Need to go to work. If anyone wants to talk about my vacation in South Korea, drop me a PM or leave a comment on my profile page.

Anime Relations: Princess Principal

Just finished watching the three videos that are part of the Zapuni Project. These are anime music videos that are meant to comfort children who experienced the Tohoku earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear reactor disaster. Blossom was the most enjoyable for me. I am a sucker for sappy tearjerkers. All three are short so it didn't take long to watch.

Another short I just watched was called Shelter. It was six minutes long. A girl is alone and can change her reality by using a computer tablet. There is more to the story but I don't want to spoil the plot and I am too lazy to use a spoiler tag.

Several anime finished airing. My favorite one was Princess Principal.

Gamers was enjoyable. It would make a good live action series.

Made in Abyss was hard to follow. I am not that into fantasy. I got to the point where I didn't care what happened to the characters.

Restaurant To Another World had its moments. Some of the characters were interesting and there was the beginning of a story. Mostly it was not that great, just something to watch while I was eating.

Sakura Quest ran two seasons. At first the characters were annoying. There didn't seem to be anything happening. By the end it was okay. I kept wishing for more drama and a romance, but that wasn't the anime I was watching. Sometimes you have to except the anime that is shown and not wish for something that it is not.

One more episode for Hyori's Bed and Breakfast. This is one of the Korean variety shows that I am watching. The other is Running Man which has been airing for seven years.

Well I need to wash my dishes and go for a walk. Today is my day off so I should do something. At least I should get out and move my body.

Anime Relations: Ao Haru Ride

I touched a button by mistake and the first copy disappeared. I was almost finished. Anyway...

I just finished watching Blue Spring Ride. It finished airing last season, but I didn't watching it then. I saw some episodes at AX 2017 and decided to start watching. It is a better than average high school romance anime. I need to find another finished anime to watch. I like having one that is already aired so I have something to watch while I wait for the new ones to air.

I may revisit my dropped list and see if there is something there that I can watch. After a few years my tastes can change and a dropped anime will appeal to me this time around.

I have two Korean variety show that I watch every week: Running Man, which I have been watching for years. It is my Monday fix. The other is a new one Hyori's Bed and Breakfast. Watching IU as the employee has been a nice surprise. I don't have a Kdrama that I am watching. I haven't looked for one lately so I don't know what is out there to watch. I may look for one that is completed, but didn't watch when it was being aired. Descendants of the Sun is a possible choice. It was popular and I like the leads. Oh well no need to decide right away.

I am listening to Pines of Rome while I type this blog. The Tokyo Kosei Wind Orchestra is performing now. But I have been listening to many different versions, brass bands, military bands, symphony orchestras. So far the version conducted by Georges Pretre is my favorite. He takes the last movement at the best tempo. Others are too fast for my taste. The Appian Way is a march not a jog. There needs to be the feeling of triumph and confidence. I just like a slower tempo. George Pretre is fascinating to watch. He doesn't keep the beat for the orchestra he expresses the emotion the music.

I am hungry so I should finish, eat something and go for a walk.

Anime Relations: Isekai Shokudou

Well ... I finished breakfast and watched the anime and other shows that I missed while I was out of town. I was reading about AX 2017 on AnimeNewsNetwork. It seems there was a problem with the entry lines Saturday at the convention. I remember it was confusing where the line to enter was. I sat down and waited until I saw a line enter the building. Then I got in line and eventually made it inside.

Beyond the Boundary was one of the anime I saw at AX 2017. I saw the first three episodes at a screening and decided to add it to my watching list. I saw some other ones but I am not sure if I will add them yet. I need to check out the new anime and then make a decision when I see how much time I have for watching. Just today, I did add Restaurant to Another World to my list. Also I still have a K-drama that I need to finish watching.

I read that this was the first year at Anime Expo that they added events at a hotel next to the convention center. It worked out great for me. There were many screening that I wanted to see so I didn't have to fight the crowds at the convention center. It was calm and relatively uncrowded, except when a popular show was scheduled then the crowds showed up. It was still easier to enter and move around than the main venue.

I would watch something and it there wasn't another show that I wanted to see I took a break. There was a Starbucks next to the hotel even if it was crowded it was still convenient. If there were a large break I went exploring.

Attending the convention was one part of my vacation. Exploring LA was also important. I studied the metro system by riding somewhere and then going for a walk. Once I knew where the stations were I went for longer and longer walks. I knew I could always ride the subway if I became tired. If I needed to cool off I headed back to the convention and saw a panel or screening.

Before I left for LA I bought the latest Spice and Wolf book, volume 18. I took with me on vacation, I thought I would read it while I waited in line. But I didn't want to read while I was at the convention. I read it on the plane trip back home. I finished it while the plane was pulling up to the terminal in Portland. It was perfect timing. It was nice to read another story about Holo and Lawrence.

I am listening to Song So Hee while I am writing this blog entry. WHAT A VOICE! She sings so well. The music is so emotional. I don't need to read the subtitles to enjoy her singing.

So...now that this year's Anime Expo is over what about next year. I don't know if I will go again. I do think I will get more out of it since I went this year. I have a better idea how to navigate the convention and where I would like to stay while I attend the convention. I may, however, want to do something different for next year's vacation. There are many places to visit. I know I would enjoy another visit to Anime Expo, but I can't make that decision right now.

Anime Relations: Cardcaptor Sakura: Clear Card-hen Prologue - Sakura to Futatsu no Kuma

Lots of people...lots of people. That is the first impression of AX 2017. I am not complaining, having lots of people attend the convention attracts the events that makes the convention special.

My priorities were screenings and buying T-shirts. I attended the US premiere of Lupin the 3rd movie: The Italian Game. Each person received a T-shirt made for the premiere. It was a nice surprise. I wore it on the flight home. All the shirts were the same size so there was a chance that it would not fit. It fits fine and looks nice.

I bought the 10th Anniversary Lucky Star T-shirt, it came only in XL size. It must be Japanese XL since it is smaller than an American large size. It is really tight so I don't know how often I will be able to wear it. My other T-shirt was a red Anime Expo shirt. I waited until the last day when the AX merchandise was discounted. There is always a chance that something could be sold out. But I took the chance that this shirt would still be available and it was.

Another screening I attended was the world premiere of Cardcaptor Sakura: Clear Card Prologue. CLAMP is producing some new Cardcaptor Sakura and this was an introduction to the new material. It was great to watch these shows with other fans. It added to the enjoyment, a big difference from being alone in front of a computer.

My rice is done so I need to eat breakfast now. I will probably write more after I eat and watch some anime that I missed while I was in LA.

Anime Relations: Uchouten Kazoku 2

Finally...I am going to Anime Expo this year. I have been wanting to go for years but I always put off going. This year I decided not to wait until next year. I even changed jobs at work so I could have the time off. Vacation time at work is based on the seniority within your work group. I didn't have enough seniority, in my old work group to have the 4th of July Holiday off as vacation time. I am now the most senoir person in my new work group so I can have first choice of vacation weeks. Once the vacation time was mine I bought the entry pass and made the plane and hotel reservations.

I have been checking out the LA area metro system and planning my non-convention activities. I want to go the CGV Cinemas if there is a Korean film that looks interesting. I will also try to go the Japanese American National Museum. The convention starts on Saturday July 1. I will be in LA on Wednesday June 28. On the 29th I will pick up my badge and then start exploring.

I am thinking of taking my laptop and writing a blog entry during my vacation. There has been talk that laptops would be banned from carry-on baggage, but I just looked at the Alaska Air website and there is no ban.

It has been six months since I made a blog entry. I was going to write about the anime I was watching but never got around to doing that. Then it was too late and I got busy with life and stuff. I really don't have much to say as you can tell from reading this entry.

The music I am listening to is IU's latest album. She is such a talented singer, one of my favorites.