Slice of Leisure

Baka to Test to Shoukanjuu Episode 12 Thoughts

2010-03-25T22:29:00.000-07:00

Hideyoshi as his sister, Yuuko

The rematch we have all been waiting for! Class F against Class A! Who will win? More importantly how? I thought they skipped several important elements from the manga which are vital to winning against Class A but it turns out I was wrong, after all. I also thought this episode 12 is going to be the last but there was a preview for episode 13 so I was also wrong there. ^^; Here are my thoughts for episode 12:

I really liked this episode because it covered basically everything of what Baka Test is all about: comedy, hint of romance between certain characters, Kubo's BL humor, and last but not least shoukanjuu battle. My main complaint would be the rules of shoukanjuu battle. For example, we saw class F go against Class D(?) and B in the previous episode, and now all of the classes go against Class A in this battle. How is that possible if the rule is that you cannot declare a battle for 3 months after you lose?

Aside from that complaint, there were tons of scenes worth a mention: the first one is the literal voice transition of Emiri Katou. I absolutely loved the part where Hideyoshi dressed as his sister, Yuuko, to provoke class D (or C was it?) into battling Class A, and I believe they've surpassed the manga version thanks to Emiri Katou's voice acting. She really does an amazing job for both characters in Baka Test and to hear the actual transformation from one another was simply priceless. (Off-topic: I added Emiri Katou to my Twitter account and I was ecstatic to know that she is also a die-hard fan of FFXI, just like me! She constantly talks about FFXI and FFXIV and I love her!).

Other memorable moments for me: Kubo's BL joke, Nemuto cross-dressing, Shouko & Yuuji's warm moment, an all out shoukanjuu war between every class against Class A, and possibly more that I forgot about. Was I expecting Class F to win? Of course! I believe it's natural to root for them if you're a fan of the series. Plus I would like to see if they would actually switch classrooms had they won because I don't think Yuuji would have the guts to rob Shouko.

Well, the next episode is supposedly the last episode and I can't wait to find out what they have in store for us!

Omamori Himari Episode 12 Impressions

2010-03-25T21:01:00.001-07:00

LAST EPISODE

First let me clarify that I am not intentionally talking trash about this series because I want to. I decided to finish this series because it was entertaining to say the least. With that out of the way, here is my honest overall impressions of the series. But first... let me talk about this last episode.

The last episode was predictable to say the least. There was just no other way it could end besides Himari getting 'powered-up' along with Yuuto's help. It was really cool though, to see several versions of Himari: fully powered up demon cat mode and the fully powered up Amakawa Himari. I was expecting a more serious battle but what we got instead is Himari taking down both Tama and Shuutendouji in practically one swing. No impact whatsoever. Oh, well, I wasn't expecting much from the battles when the series first started due to the focus revolving around etcchi, so I'll give them credit for at least trying. I don't know if it's just me but this series reminded me a lot of Tenchi Muyo, except this one took ecchi off the charts.

The scene between Yuuto and Himari in this last episode was effective for me. I really thought Yuuto was going to kill off Himari so I was surprised when he dropped the sword and hugged her instead.

Final Impressions?

Kimi Ni Todoke Episode 24 Thoughts

2010-03-23T19:32:00.000-07:00

Episode Title: "Birthday"
They really did a great job of capturing the nervousness of being on a date with someone that you secretly admire - I'm talking about Sawako and Kazehaya by the way. This episode's timeline is December 31 and the forecast is heavy snow... yet, their warmth was the main thing I felt. My face also turned red at certain parts, as if I was embarrassed just like Sawako. These two are absolutely cute.

I have no complaint about this episode but I also didn't find anything special about it either. The usual consistency was there and some of the scenes were touching but it felt like an ordinary date other wise. Don't get me wrong, this is not an insult nor am I blaming anybody. In fact, this might actually be a compliment because the focus of first few dates is about getting to know each other, conversation after another, which is what this episode is all about. No kiss, no confession, nothing exciting is all I'm saying. Actually, something did almost happen: it's when Sawako nearly slipped and Kazehaya caught her in his arms. There were several chances for Kazehaya to make his move but he didn't capitalize on it.

But still, there were some cute moments such as Kazehaya telling Sawako that he is wearing the 'haramaki' that she gave him for Christmas. It was also cute to see little Sawako during the talk of her childhood. I guess they are saving the best for last, which is the next episode. They better not disappoint me because these two definitely belong together. Let's see how their New Year's turns out!

So-Ra-No-Wo-To Episode 12 Impressions

2010-03-22T19:03:00.000-07:00

LAST EPISODE

We are here! The final episode of So-ra-no-wo-to. Will a war break out and end with some sort of apocalypse? What will Takemizukachi be used for? Will the Fire Maidens unleash their mahou shoujo power and somehow bring peace to the world? Will people be able to tolerate Kanata's trumpet skill? What is going to happen? Read more to find out:

I can say this last episode was satisfying. I was expecting Rio to come save the day but I didn't feel at ease until the end because this series is known for throwing curve balls. They really did a great job of maintaining suspense throughout this entire episode, at least for me. Things could have gone wrong at any second and I was constantly feeling nervous for the worse: like, I thought maybe Kanata was going to get shot during her touching final performance of "Amazing Grace", and I thought there were going to be several casualties when this was all over. But thankfully, nobody got seriously hurt, except for Aisha who got shot on the side of her stomach, and it all ended on a happy note.

There were also quite a few touching moments: the first is the bond between Noel and Aisha. It was touching to see two opposing people come to a realization that they are not so much different, after all. Second is Kanata's performance of "Amazing Grace" on top of Takemikazuchi, while the sun was rising in the background. Remember the first time we saw Kanata play her trumpet? She really has come a long way since then and her performance here was absolutely rewarding.

Last but not least, Rio's grand return to announce peace. She is my favorite character in this series but I would have never guessed her to become a Princess in the end. It felt like a fairy tale to see her in such an elegant attire. Plus, the red tanks of her army totally screamed "we are authority, do as we say or prepare to die.. bitches!" Perhaps we will get to see her marriage to the Prince for the bonus episode 13? ^^

Final Thoughts?

There were definitely ups and downs for this series, but I guess what matters the most is the entertainment value, which I think they have succeeded on. Sure, the concept and direction was difficult to grasp at times but, I truly think, that became part of their advantage to keep the audience coming back for more. I sure fell for it. ^^; Am I glad to have watched the entire series? Definitely. Did I love it enough to purchase the DVD/BD of this particular series? I'll have to say "maybe not the entire series but maybe the volume for episode 6 and 7. Also, I enjoyed it enough to consider buying the volume with the bonus episode 13, purely out of curiosity." One thing I won't hesitate to purchase is a Rio figure, especially if it's in her Princess attire.

In summary, the series' strong points, in my opinion:

The soundtrack. Although, I'm not particularly fond of the opening. Ending song I love, even if it was conflicting with certain episodes at times.
Lovely detailed backgrounds that are inviting, which would make any slice-of-life title jealous.
Sense of playfulness that kept the viewers guessing until the end; although this same playfulness came off as questionable at times.
The chemistry of characters worked well, I thought. Although their personality might be considered stereotypical. But who cares?
Episode 6 and 7 were my favorites of the series.
One word: Rio.

Thanks for the enjoyment So-ra-no-wo-to! Now that we have an idea of what Anime No Chikara is about, I am looking forward to "Senkou No Night Raid," which will take over the SoraWoto spot.

Hidamari Sketch Season 1 DVD R1 Episode 8~12 + OVA 1 & 2

2010-03-22T02:59:00.000-07:00

DVD Menu Disc 2

Disc 2 contains episode 8 through 12 of season 1 + the 2 OVA specials. Special Features just has endless opening and ending. A reviewer at Rightstuf has informed people about the inconsistency of the visual track for this release: they used TV source instead of the retouched DVD version for some episodes. I was wondering why.. some episodes looked slightly less vibrant and the audio seemed inconsistent as well. I guess the motto of "we get what we pay for" couldn't be any truer.

But what about the title itself? I have been slowly watching Hidamari Sketch ever since I got my copy and I finally managed to finish it tonight. Here is my impression:

EPISODE 8 - "March 13: 3% of Hope"

In this episode, we find out that Sae is some kind of a professional novelist. Her pen-name is Tachibana Aya. Miyako and Yuno asks Hino "then why is she still attending art school?" Sae supposedly wants to draw her own illustration for her work, that's why. I personally prefer Hidamari Sketch when it doesn't involve the topic of 'art', so this episode was just lukewarm. Plus, I'm not too much of a fan of Sae.

EPISODE 9 - "Sep. 4th: The Wolf of the Shinjuku Backstreets"

This episode started with Miyako and Yuno finding 10 lottery tickets on the ground. They managed to return it to the original owner and got 4 tickets as a reward. The jackpot is 300 million yen and they all start daydreaming about what they would do with the money if they actually win. The episode eventually leads to career goals as well. This is one of the stronger episodes of the first season, in my opinion.

EPISODE 10 - "Nov. 3rd: Her Highness Yuno"

I consider this episode my absolute favorite of the first season. Although the first half about Yamabuki Festival and school play was not as strong, the second half about onsen (public bath) made up for its slack. The title of this episode refers to a sign they saw at the onsen: "Yuno-sama," and Miyano jokingly asks if Yuno is a V.I.P. there. The highlight of this episode for me is when Miyano decided to play Jenga with bath seats. Hehe. Miyano <3

EPISODE 11 - "Apr. 28th: A Round Cabbage"

The class decided to take a trip to the zoo to improve speed sketching. They all took a bus there and Yoshinoya-sensei soon get car-sick (or bus-sick? XD). The zoo part was pretty fun with Miyano's improvisation comedy, but the star of this episode was Yoshinoya-sensei and her cosplay, which she claims is NOT cosplaying. The Hidamari girls talk about several rumors surrounding Yoshinoya. It was a treat to see them focus on Yoshinoya-sensei. ^^

EPISODE 12 - Part A "Dec. 24th: Christmas Eve"

Part A introduced Sae's younger sister, Chika, who came for a visit. They hang out and eat okonomiyaki. Yoshinoya-sensei dressed in a santa outfit also visits and gave the girls a homemade cake. Chika asks Sae to sign one of her novels for her but she refuses, and they get into a small argument.

Part B "Dec. 25: Goodbye Ume-sensei"

For part B the girls decided to accompany Yuno to the store to get some kind of paper for New Years. Chika has already left but she has left a special "thank you" note for Sae, which the other girls finds. When Sae is questioned about it, it is revealed that she has given Chika a signed copy of her novel as a Christmas gift. This last episode of the first season ends with the girls sitting around as usual and reminiscing about the year. A pretty solid ending to this season.

OVA SPECIAL 1 - "August 11th: Put Her Back Where She Was"

I quickly realized that this OVA is a prequel because of the missing handmade Hidamari Apartment sign that the girls created back in episode 2, was it? That and the landlord was attempting to meet Yuno for the first time.

Regardless, it's summer time and what's the tradition? Somen (type of Japanese noodles usually served cold during summer), pool, fireworks, and watermelon, of course! Highlights of this episode includes: the cool looking action type scene with the principle, Miyano bringing bamboo for somen (in some places in Japan, somen is served through a stream of water that runs over bamboo stick. It's hard to explain with words), the water slide scene of the girls, and the SZS cameo.

OVA SPECIAL 2 - "Nov. 27th: Is It Love?"

This entire episode was dedicated to Hiro and her love letter that she received from a male senior from a different class. Miyano and Yuno are curious as to what Hiro's reply will be and start assuming silly things. But Sae is extremely bothered by it like a jealous boyfriend. Yoshinoya-sensei is also more than curious and attempts to get more information about is in a sneaky way. In the end, Hiro wasn't interested in the person who sent the love letter. This episode was pretty average and I don't remember anything that specially stood out.

Thoughts?

If you have read my previous impressions about this series, you already know that I struggled to get through the first few episodes of this series. But I'm really thankful that Sentai has released this set so cheap because I don't think I would have gave a second chance otherwise. The quality of the physical content is another story, though - inaccuracy of subtitle (not that I really care since I watch it raw, but it's still worth a mention), lack of subtitle off feature, lack of scene access, inconsistency of TV and DVD tracks, etc.

I'm really beginning to love Hidamari Sketch but certain episodes stand out more than others. Oddly, this show revolving around art students and all, I find Hidamari Sketch weak when it involves actual art, and strong when it strays away from that topic. Another huge contribution to my change of heart for this series has to be Miyano herself. If it weren't for her, I really don't think I would have been able to finish the first season at all. Don't get me wrong, the other characters have their moments here and there, but they're not as intriguing for me as Miyano.

I also have to compliment SHAFT for making Hidamari Sketch anime what it is. I really can't see any other studio on Hidamari Sketch at all and wouldn't have it any other way. I have always loved SHAFT but when I hate their anime, like Natsu no Arashi & Vampire Bund, it's usually the original source that's to blame. Thankfully, it didn't turn out that way for Hidamari Sketch. I ordered the "x356" set which comes out on April 6th so I am looking forward to continuing my Hidamari journey! ^^

Hanamaru Kindergarten Episode 11 Thoughts

2010-03-21T17:18:00.000-07:00

Episode Title: "Hanamaru Uninvited Lady"

Part A: There was no OP for this episode, maybe because they didn't want the uplifting song to conflict with Tsuchida's current depressing atmosphere. A good decision I must say.. now only if So-ra-no-wo-to would get realize this with their conflicting ED for certain episodes. Getting back on track to Hanamaru Kindergarten....

"Part A" continues with Tsuchida's depression over Yamamto-sensei from the previous episode. He questions himself about life and his future: why is he working at Hanamaru? For what purpose? Is he good enough for Yamamoto? His usual energy is nowhere to be found and even lies about being sick and plays hooky from work. Who comes to the rescue? I wish I could say Yamamoto... but it's Anzu! She goes to his house and cleans the house, wash his dishes, cook for him, etc.

Part B: "Hanamaru Story"

The second half mainly focused on Tsuchida attempting to confess to Yamamoto. He dressed up nicely and even got a beautiful bouquet of flowers. Mayumi tells Tsuchida that Yamamoto is at the kindergarten school, so he heads there to see her. Once there, she is seen writing letters to all the parents of her students.

In the end, Tsuchida didn't have the courage to give her the flowers or confess about his true feelings. However, he did manage to ask how Yamamoto would feel if someone did actually confess to her. Her reply was that she might be too dedicated to her work and wouldn't know how she would feel. I kind of find it odd that she doesn't think about her love life, being a female and all, but I guess the possibility of this type of women being out there isn't too rare - people who are too career oriented.

This episode ends with Tsuchida going home to his house to find Anzu, yet again. But this time, she actually cooks a decent meal for Tsuchida, who then treats Anzu to a made-up fairy tale about Prince Dummy and Princess Clueless. From the way he told this story, it seems like Tsuchida has regained some of his spirit back. What's up his sleeves? What's his plan? We shall find out next week, which is the last episode!

Thoughts?
I thought this episode did a decent job of portraying Tsuchida's struggles and his doubts. I totally sympathize Tsuchida now and I really would like to see him succeed with Yamamoto, but I highly doubt that is how the series will end. I also got the impression that Tsuchida is having second thoughts about Anzu now. So will it really come down to "Yamamoto or Anzu?" If Tsuchida succeeds with Yamamoto we get the fairy tale shoujo ending. If Tsuchida chooses the Anzu path, we will possibly get the most awkward ending I have ever come across. I guess the safest bet is neither but it would really be wonderful if they went with a fairy tale ending. The curiosity is driving me nutz! Hurry up episode 12!

Durarara!! (デュラララ!!) Episode 11 Thoughts

2010-03-19T17:15:00.000-07:00

SNAPSHOT OF THE EPISODE

Episode Title: "Storm and Stress"

As we are nearing the end of this cour, things are getting quite exciting, I'll have to congratulate those who have been following this series up to this point. ^^ I'm confident that we will be rewarded with each new episode and hopefully the ending will blow us away! Episode 11 did just that with...
giving us a background on Mikado: he's the founder, a leader if you will, of the infamous Dollars!

Surprisingly, my guess about how almost everyone is in Dollars came true in this episode, minus my guess about Izaya being the leader of Dollars, but I still have a feeling that Izaya still had an important role in establishing it. My guess of who is NOT in Dollars has to be Kida and Anri (plus, the people involved in Yagiri Pharmacy but who cares about them? ^^;). Kida must be part of one of the colored gangs for sure. I'm still not sure about Anri, but I have a really bad feeling about her. A possible yandere?

Other revelations in this episode: Shinra's proposal to Celty, and we see that Isaac & Miria are in Dollars! The possibility of seeing Celty in a wedding dress is probably slim, but I certainly wouldn't complain if that's how this series ended - with their wedding. Sorry, it's my inner slice-of-life thinking. Hehe. The important question though is will Celty get her head back? She came face to face with Mika in this episode and went absolutely crazy, shredding through Yagiri Pharmacy agents like butter! Also, that scene where Celty rode down side of the bulding was the highlight of the episode for me.

Other highlights of the episode: ringtones of the otaku gang, especially of Saburo's VOCALOID. I should have expected that from an Idol Otaku. ^^; We also see Shizuo trying to consult his thoughts of existence with Simon. Of course, Simon could careless and Shizuo gets angry, and he vents by picking up a nearby vending machine and trying to smash him with it for not listening.

Complaints for this episode has to be the inconsistent animation and Seiji himself. The animation of the town folks in particular looked really sloppy. Seiji is probably the villain of this series so I have a natural hate against him, and I'm sure most other people feel the same way. At the end of this episode, he appears out of nowhere and blitzes towards Mikado with what looks to me as a key (or perhaps a small surgical knife?). This is probably the first true cliffhanger for this series and I really can't wait to see the next episode! The preview enhanced this feeling because it showed Izaya holding Celty's head. Wow! Excited to find out how this cour will end.

Baka to Test to Shoukanjuu Episode 11 Thoughts

2010-03-18T18:51:00.001-07:00

Yoshii as Kenshiro (Fist of the North Star)

Episode Title: "Long-standing Rival, Love Poem, and Lightning Letter"

What the hell? This episode basically went back to volume 1 of the manga/novel - summoning battle with class D & B. The first half covered the battle with class D and the second half against class B. The speed of this episode was very fast and it also felt a bit condensed, maybe because I have read volume 1 of the manga. I guess, sometimes, it's a disadvantage being familiar with the original material before watching the anime adaptation because... I'm a little disappointed with this episode. Besides, I thought they are limited to 1 shoukanjuu battle every three months? Or does that only apply if they lose?

This shoukanjuu episode proves that their strength lies within repetitive jokes and parodies. It was nice to see Fist of the North Star references in this episode; which comes out later this year in the US by the way. Everything went so fast that I think there were other quick references which I might have missed.

Sadly, they left out a lot of hilarious parts of the manga: the first thing that comes to my mind is the part where Hideyoshi dresses as his sister and provokes class B (I think it's class B if I remember correctly) into going against class A. The second hilarious part in the manga is the Metal Slime joke referring to Yoshii's low HP and evasion. LOL But I can understand why they left it out since they are running out of time with only two episodes left.

So the series will focus on their final battle with class A for the last episode(s). I guess I was wrong about how I thought the series was going to end with their battle against class B. Regardless, it will be interesting to see how they will go against class A because, as we know, they will be a tough opponent to beat - Kubo, Yuuko, Aiko, and last but not least Shouko. I really don't see how they can win against them, especially, since this episode have strayed away from the manga: Himeji ripped her love letter after Yoshii got it back for her and, as I said earlier, Hideyoshi did not provoke class B into going against class B.

Another conflict is that the anime already introduced the relationship between Yuuji and Shouko. Will they end the series with an anime original? Looking forward to the shoukanjuu battle of class F VS. class A a.k.a. Yuuji VS. Shouko.

Omamori Himari (おまもりひまり) Episode 11 Impressions

2010-03-18T16:54:00.000-07:00

First let me give them props for not having any fan-service in this episode, and focusing on the upcoming final battle. I wish I could give them props for other things but I would be lying if I said Omamori Himari is groundbreaking or above average. It's at least entertaining in some ways and that's my main reason... for following this until the end.

As I mentioned many times in my previous impressions, nobody has a chance against Tama and Shuutendoji except fully powered up Himari and Yuuto. After watching this episode, I'm not even sure if fully powered up Himari has a chance against them because Tama has some sort of pychokinesis power, along with a powerful barrier that seems impenetrable. They returned to Yuuto's childhood home in hopes of finding clues to control Yuuto's Demon Slayer power. Will they succeed in discovering how to unleash Yuuto's power in time?

My guess is, yes, Yuuto will be the one to defeat Tama and Shuutendoji, but I wouldn't be surprised if he doesn't kill them. The reason for this is Yuuto doesn't believe in killing anyone, no matter how dangerous one might be, therefore, I also wouldn't be surprised if Tama and Shuutendoji become good so to speak. And the series ends on a good note with everyone, ayakashi and humans, living happily together. That's what seems most likely from my observation at least. We shall find out if I am correct next week.

ARIA Arietta/Origination DVD Set R1 + Contents

2010-03-17T23:48:00.000-07:00

My animetherapy has finally arrived after this release has been delayed two weeks. ARIA is like my drug, it relaxes me like nothing else after a rough day. How dare you make me wait Rightstuf? I feel like I'm going through a withdrawl! ^^; Everything is okay now, it's now in my possession and ready to be consumed. Here is a deeper look into my favorite drug:

This set includes the Arietta OVA & the complete Origination episodes. It also came with a really wonderful 48-page booklet that includes the following:

Q&A with Junichi Sato and Yoshimasa Hiraike
Character Diagram
Episode Guide
Sketches
Comments From the Cast + Q&A
Background Selection

Plus, many more! But my favorite content of this booklet has to be Erino Hazuki's (Akari) "Tales From Venice", which is like her travel log while she was in Venice with the production team. Previous booklet from Natural and Animation lacks in comparison. I can't wait to read it later.

Those who pre-ordered this set was given a special set of ARIA bookmarks:

Oh, yes, they look really nice! I'll probably use these once I get back into reading manga again.

DVD Contents

Arietta OVA DVD Menu

Origination DVD Disc 1 (Menu)

Contents:

--Episode 1~5
"Bonus" Section has

Picture Drama 1
Picture Drama 2
Picture Drama 3
Clean Ending
Nozomi Trailers

Origination DVD Disc 2 (Menu)

Contents:

--Episode 6~9
"Bonus" Section has

Picture Drama 4
Picture Drama 5
US Trailers
Nozomi Trailers

Origination DVD Disc 3 (Menu)

Contents:

--Episode 10~13
"Bonus" Section has

Picture Drama 6
Picture Drama 7
Nozomi Trailers

Origination Extras Disc (Menu)

(If you can't read the text in the picture above):

Cast Discussion on ARIA
Director Discussion on ARIA
Satojun's "Venice, I'm Sorry!" Part 1
Satojun's "Venice, I'm Sorry!" Part 2

Thoughts?
This release is no different from the "Natural" & "Animation" release: same box, same durability, a booklet, and a special goodie with pre-order. One minor negative that I've always considered is how tight the DVDs fit into the box, which makes it hard to take out. My solution to this problem is to simply take out the booklet from the box. As for the transfer quality and specs, Natural & Animation was 4:3, while Arietta & Origination is 16:9 Widescreen! I haven't watched the episodes yet but it should look really good. I am still praying for a BD release of ARIA though, which I will purchase in a heartbeat! Overall, I am all for subtitle-only release, making Nozomi Entertainment and Sentai Filmworks my current favorite R1 companies. Now all I need is the release date for Maria-sama ga Mitteru 4th Season and I will be satisfied for the rest of this year! ^^

Kimi Ni Todoke (君に届け) Episode 23 Thoughts

2010-03-17T01:34:00.000-07:00

SNAPSHOT OF THE EPISODE

"Chou-kawaii!!"

Episode Title: "Two People"

I'm running out of compliments for this series because Production I.G. is consistently doing an excellent job. ^^; Instant words that come to my mind for this episode: glittery, beautiful, cute to scary and back to cute, and snow. Glimpse of Sadako and tons of chibi-Sawako, also. Last but not least the transformation of...stylized Sawako was just stunning! I couldn't help but scream "kawaii~!"

Guess who made an appearance in this episode? Yep, Kurumi. Although her appearance was very brief showing her sticking her tongue out at Sawako. Another character we haven't seen in a while is Pin, and he is seen wearing a suit in this episode. The atmosphere almost felt like a Kimi Ni Todoke reunion. Now that I think about it, I'm quite attached to every single character for this series, which is a surprise because there is at least one character that I don't like in most shoujo series. Okay, I'll be honest and say I didn't like Kurumi at first but can you blame me? But that opinion soon changed once I got to see how her arc ended.

There are two episodes left and I am quite excited to find out what happens between Kazehaya and Sawako. Will they officially become a couple? My guess is a resounding "hellz yes!" It has been such a wonderful experience watching this series and anything less would feel disappointing, at least to me. I can't wait to find out! Can't the next episode come faster? XD

So-Ra-No-Wo-To (ソ・ラ・ノ・ヲ・ト) Episode 11 Impressions

2010-03-16T21:31:00.000-07:00

"Gesundheit!"

This episode laid out tons of stuff for the supposed last episode: it is revealed that Noel was somehow responsible for the infamous Invisible Reaper incident that wiped out many people, including Michio's mother. The Romanian(?) girl soldier the crew took into care subtly mentioned many things such as the skeletal remain Kanata saw in EP1, Fire Maidens, and some type of apocalypse. Takemikazuchi is 100% complete and ready to go. And the Romanian soldiers are..
on the move from Noman's Land.

I said "supposed last episode" because while the actual season will end at episode 12, there will be a bonus episode following it on the DVD/BD release. I just hope this supposed 'bonus episode' isn't something that will be required, do you know what I mean? Regardless, the last episode can go in any direction and I am looking forward to it!

(Sorry for the short post but I am feeling extremely lazy.. XD).

Hanamaru Kindergarten Episode 10 Thoughts

2010-03-14T17:10:00.001-07:00

SNAPSHOT OF THE EPISODE

"Hanamaru Cheering Squad"

PART A - We have seen the obligatory slice-of-life "Summer Festival" in episode 7, and now we are treated to Hanamaru Sports Festival. ^^ In the first half, we get to meet Koume's brother, but I don't think his name was mentioned because I don't remember it. Anyway, my first impression of him is...
"not another Tsuchida", which thankfully isn't the case. *Phew* The truth is he is a really good brother.

Koume's brother and Koume stole the first half of the show with their bond. The scene where Koume struggled to make the finish line while her brother cheering her on was heartwarming. She actually had the lead for a good while, and I actually thought she would come in first, but of course that would have been unfitting for Koume. Anzu, Hinagiku, and Hiiragi got a medal, though.

Back at Koume's house, her brother awards her with a homemade medal for effort, and that concludes part-A. But I really have to ask "where are Koume's parents?" and "why didn't they show up for the sports festival?" I guess it's not that important, just curious is all. As far as Hiiragi goes, she cosplayed as a green Ninja. And Hiiragi blushing when cheering on her slave, Kenji was adorable. ^^

"Hanamaru Confession"

PART B - Now it's time for the obligatory slice-of-life karaoke episode. Hehe. In this second half, we are given a look into how the teachers relieve stress on their off time: by getting totally wasted, of course! ^^ Kawashiro sang the OP theme to "Shaman King", which is appropriate considering director Seiji Mizushima has worked on that and Hanamaru. Okay, sorry back to the episode.

So the teachers are wasted, including Yamamoto which is a surprise, and doing karaoke. What is left to do when drunk? Pressure Tsuchida to confess to Yamamoto, of course! I really thought his confession was really sweet, and from I can tell Yamamoto thought so, too. Then they literally hopped around town like drunken rabbits. Hehe. This scene was so funny.

The next day at work, Tsuchida is hungover and nervous about finding out Yamamoto's reaction to his confession but he doesn't have the courage to confront her at first. But with the push of Kusano and Yamamoto's fashion wedding picture, he finally finds the courage to ask Yamamoto about his confession from the night before. As expected from Miss Clueless, she simply thought it was a line from her current favorite manga called "Ren'ai Step". Ugh, poor Tsuchida! You have a tough road ahead of you and I'll be cheering you on.

Feeling devastated by Yamamoto, Tsuchida again goes on a drinking binge with Kawashiro and Kusano. He is really losing it because he is found sleeping in a pile of trash the next day, by Anzu and her mother Sakura. Sakura's strong point is encouraging Tsuchida, so she does exactly that by giving him a wrestling lock move similar to Baka Test's Minami.

The ending theme for this episode seemed like a tribute to classic horror flicks such as Frankenstein, Vampire, Jason, etc. The song featured Tsuchida's voice actor Satoshi Hino. I enjoyed the animation clip as usual, but the song is definitely my least favorite so far. Impressive as always, though.

Thoughts?

This episode was really outstanding and it is definitely one of my favorites: it was heartwarming, the adults were more entertaining than usual, it had tons of hilarious scenes, and the suspense of Tsuchida's confession was engaging. It seems like they're finally getting comfortable in fleshing out both the kids and the adults, which is really good news but the bad news is the series is almost at an end. ; ; I really hope this isn't the last of Hanamaru Kindergarten after this season because, in my opinion, they are really hitting their stride with incorporating everyone into the mix. Oh, well.. at least I have the manga to look forward too! ^^ Also, it's probably just me but Koume's brother at the beginning with his fur jacket reminded me of Izaya (Durarara!!). XD From 1 being garbage and 10 being a masterpiece, I would have to rate this episode somewhere between 8 or 9.

Katanagatari (刀語) Episode 3 Impressions

2010-03-12T19:09:00.000-08:00

Episode Title: "Sentou Tsurugi"

The holder of the third deviant blade Sentou Tsurugi. She claims that she has forgotten her real name so she now goes by the name of Meisai Tsuruga, which is the name of the previous owner of the Sanzu shrine. This episode was truly kick ass and sad at the same time because... I found her admirable, so it was crushing to witness her death.

The Sanzu shrine houses 50+ Kuro Mikos, who were previously abused by men and rely on the tsurugi's magical properties to calm them down. They are apparently very popular in Japan for female cosplayers. I don't blame them because they are so moe! LOL We also get to see Togame in a maiden outfit and I laughed when the narrator commented about 'miko moe'.

Meisai-dono's Sentouryuu VS. Shichika's Kyoutouryuu: before the battle began, she asks a favor to Togame and Shichika to protect the shrine and Kuro Mikos. As mentioned earlier, I've become attached to Meisaidono and it was tragic to see her death by Shichika's blow. The rain scene after her death with Shichika's bloody hands was effectively emotional. I must say they are doing a great job with this adaptation so far because the novel is quite boring in comparison.

The preview for the next episode shows great potential with that guy seen on the bridge in this episode. It looks like it will be action packed, that's for sure. I'm highly looking forward to it.

Durarara!! (デュラララ!!) Episode 10 Thoughts

2010-03-12T00:13:00.000-08:00

SNAPSHOT OF THE EPISODE

Although this episode started somewhat slowly, it quickly picked up. The star of this particular episode definitely has to be Mikado, and I must say it's about time! ^^ The last time we saw Anri was in episode 8, where she lost her shoes and Mikado was kind enough to find it for her... yet, she seemed ungrateful to him. But now, in this episode, Anri is strangely becoming attracted to him. Huh? What is with the sudden change of heart? Actually, now that I am typing this and thinking about it, I think this has to do with Mikado's recent involvement with Mika Harima. As we know, Mika Harima and Anri are supposedly very close friends.. or use to be, so my guess is that Anri is somehow aware of Mikado's recent involvement with Mika Harima. That's probably why Anri is reacting so positively with Mikado now. As usual, there has to be something deeper that will shock us later, but this is all I can guess for now.

Remember the bullies who picked on Anri earlier in the series? Well, the girl whom cellphone got stumped on by Izaya returns to get revenge on Mikado in this episode. She confronts Mikado along with her new biker boyfriend and starts picking on him. Mikado becomes terrified as expected and doesn't know what to do... but out of nowhere, Celty appears and does a roundhouse kick to that bully's biker boyfriend! The biker gets knocked out cold and now Izaya appears out of nowhere and starts stumping on him like he did to that bully's cellphone. Hehe. She then runs away crying. Bye bye, come again!

Mikado realizes he should just head straight home because things are way too crazy. So he makes up an excuse then says goodbye to Anri and starts walking home. On the way home, Mikado realizes that he is being followed by Celty and Izaya! Eeep! So he stops and decides to confront them before he reaches home. Mikado asks several questions to Celty and it eventually leads to Celty explaining her situation about how she is a Dullahan looking for her head. Mikado agrees with Celty's plea and decides to help her by convincing Mika Harima to meet her.

Once they arrive at Mikado's house, Mikado asks Izaya and Celty to wait outside while he discusses with Mika Harima first. They both agree to wait outside. When Mikado heads inside, he realizes Mika Harima is now gone! He then gets ambushed by two guys: they are also after Mika Harima's head and demands Mikado to confess about her whereabouts. Mikado refuses to say anything and the two guys are starting to get impatient.

Outside, Celty sees the Cleaning Service van parked outside and quickly realizes something is not right: "why would such an old apartment need a cleaning service?" Both Izaya and Celty dashes to Mikado's room to check on him and the two guys escapes through the window. Celty was going to chase after them but Izaya stops her, at which point Izaya mentions that they are part of the Yagiri Pharmacy. Many things started to go through Mikado's head: Anri, Mika Harima, Seiji Yagiri, Dollars. He quickly gets up, turns on his cellphone, goes onto the computer, and logs into the Dollars website with his mouse sparking! Hehe. And the episode ends with Mikado looking really cool against the sunset seen through a window of his apartment.

Thoughts?
So Mikado is Dollars?? As I said in my previous episode impressions, I'm beginning to think that EVERYONE is in Dollars. But the most important question is "who exactly are they and what is the meaning of their existance?", but I somehow don't expect that to be answered until near the end of this series. Overall, I really enjoyed this episode and it's certainly one of the best for me so far. It's refreshing to see Mikado as not so normal and I can't wait to see the next episode as always. ^^

Hanamaru Kindergarten (はなまる幼稚園) Official Gainax Panda-neko T-Shirt

2010-03-11T17:06:00.000-08:00

It's here! My panda-neko t-shirt has arrived from Gainax. I was hesitant on purchasing it at first because people might think I'm a furry or something.. ^^; But I'm not, so people can assume all they want. Pics:

FRONT:

Continued...

BACK:

For anyone who is interested in ordering this t-shirt, you can do so here:
http://www2.gainax.co.jp/shop/index.cgi?rm=detail&id=3101

They just released another panda-neko t-shirt in black with a different design and print:

http://www2.gainax.co.jp/shop/index.cgi?rm=detail&id=3182&genre=&page=&key=&8%A1%E04=2%A1%DE0
This one is pretty cute too but not sure if I will order it.

I also pre-ordered the Hanamaru Best Album "Childhood Memories" CD and comes out on March 31, which I can't wait to receive!

DISC 1:

All 12 Ending songs
"Aozora Triangle" OP TV-size
Panda-neko Taishou
Insert songs

Ending songs:

"Egao Narabete" by Kei Shindou (Anzu), Ayahi Takagaki (Hiiragi), and MAKO (Koume)
"Kigurumi Wakusei" by Ayahi Takagaki (Hiiragi)
"Kusa No Yubiwa, Hana No Kanmuri" by Erino Hazuki (Yamamoto Nanako)
"Hatsudou!! Love Beam" by Kei Shindou (Anzu)
"Ano ne Kiite Ne" by MAKO (Koume)
"Heart No Housoku" by Shion Hirota (Satsuki)
"Kuro Neko No Jazz" by Satoshi Hino (Tsuchida) and Shion Hirota (Satsuki)
"Nadeshiko Romance" by Mariya Ise (Hinagiku)
"Kokutou Drop" by Chiwa Saito and Erino Hazuki (Yamamoto Nanako)
"Boku No Wasuremono" by Satoshi Hino (Tsuchida)
"Yes We Can!!" by Naomi Wakabayashi (Kawashiro-sensei) and Kaoru Mizuhara (Ran)
"Sekai de Ichiban" by Kei Shindou (Anzu) and Youko Hanna (Sakura)

DISC 2:

Hanamaru Soundtrack BGM

The sound producer is "NARASAKI" (Coaltars of the Deepers) and "WATCHMAN"s unit called "Sadespear Record" on BGM. Since this is a CD, you can easily order it through Amazon.Jp or other places but here is the official Gainax link:
http://www2.gainax.co.jp/shop/index.cgi?rm=detail&id=3118&genre=&page=&key=&8%A1%E04=2%A1%DE0

Thanks for checking out my post and feel free to comment. ^^

Baka to Test to Shoukanjuu (バカとテストと召喚獣) Episode 10 Thoughts

2010-03-10T22:46:00.000-08:00

Today's blog is brought to you by:

Calorie Maido

F***-Station

SAGE

I definitely felt the power of Nabeshin in this episode-- it was visually busy and playful. But from what I can tell at least, this episode was Baka's serious episode. Of course, there were some comedy in it, but nothing that made me laugh out loud like the usual. My guess is that this episode is a mere climax setup for what is to come... which could possibly be the last real shoukanjuu battle for this anime adaptation. (Unless they already have a second cour confirmed, which I don't know about).

Episode Title: "Mock Exam, Phantom Thief and Love Letter"

This episode finally properly introduced the suspicious character we saw in episode 8. His name is Kyouji Nemuto from class B. He helped Akihisa and crew break into the vault in this episode and made a mockery of them afterwards. I guess Class F will go against his class, which is B, to get back at him, hence why I think this was just a mere setup episode for what is to come. I personally don't need shoukanjuu battles since their jokes are hilarious without it, but this is what Baka Test is based on so they will have to whether we like it or not. Let's hope they can still provide us with great comedy during the shoukanjuu battles.

Although, I didn't enjoy it as much, here are some of my highlights for this episode:

Mutturini detecting a fake "D"
Hideyoshi moment (pic above)
The Japanese title of Animal Crossing parody
The appearance of Hideyoshi's sister, Yuuko
Narration by the teacher
Akihisa & Yuuji's spirit (seishun) at the end
The return of "Baka Go Home" ending

Omamori Himari (おまもりひまり) Episode 10 Impressions

2010-03-10T18:21:00.000-08:00

Pic of the Episode
"Cat ayakashi in a cat suit?"

Episode Title: "Feelings of a Bewitching Cat"

Is it safe to classify this episode as a filler? Not much important information was explained and the only scene that mattered is the scene between Yuuto and Himari towards the end. If it weren't for that scene, I would rate this episode as my least favorite of the series. It's good to see... Aya (fuguruma-youbi) back, though.

The first 17 minutes or so was basically about nothing. Hiroshi is seen trying to make a deal with Tama and Shuutendouji. Himari and crew basically cosplayed and discussed how to defeat them. Again, my guess is that they can only win with Yuuto's power of Himari's berserk mode. I really hope the show will stray away from fan-service in the last few episodes to focus on the possible epic battle... but that might be like asking Cheech to stop smoking pot.

Himari almost went out to fight Tama and Shuutendoji by herself, as we saw her do with Kuesu in the past, but Yuuto manages to stop her this time. From there they go into a romantic scene along with a special insert song playing in the background. Just as they go in for a passionate kiss, director Kuesu yells "cut!". And the others show up to hop on the whine fest for Yuuto, which ends the episode on a harem friendship vibe. Poor Shizuku just want some sleep, nano!

This weeks ending was by a solo performance by Asuka Okame (Lizlet).

Kimi Ni Todoke (君に届け) Episode 22 Thoughts

2010-03-10T00:12:00.000-08:00

SNAPSHOT OF THE EPISODE

Episode Title: "Christmas"

Only 2 more episodes to go and Kimi Ni Todoke is going out with a bang. The previous episode was absolutely gorgeous and it continues here by capturing the winter atmosphere perfectly. They certainly managed to...

make me believe that it's Christmas time even though, in reality, it's March. ^^;

In this episode, Sawako struggles to make up her mind between spending Christmas time with her parents or with her peers. She chooses her parents and I don't blame her because family should come first. I feel the need to mention how much I've come to love Sawako's parents, especially her dad. Although, Kazehaya + Sawako time is what we probably crave the most, the highlight of this episode was their family bond, at least for me anyway.

But, of course, Kazehaya + Sawako moment was almost equally as good. Sawako received her first cellphone as a Christmas gift from her dad and Kazehaya gives Sawako a cellphone strap. Is this some bizarre coincidence? Perhaps, but I think this can also be seen as a sign that both Kazehaya and her dad care about her on the same level. A sign that Kazehaya is a compliment (cellsphone strap) to not only Sawako but to her mom and dad (the actual cellphone). Or it could be that I'm over analyzing this a bit too much. XD Regardless, another wonderful episode and the last two should be unforgettable. I can't wait!

Evangelion: 1.11 You Are (Not) Alone (新世紀エヴァンゲリオン) Blu-ray

2010-03-09T17:47:00.000-08:00

I heard some great things about this BD release of Evangelion from Funimation so I decided to purchase it, even though I was hesitant at first since I already double dipped on this series years ago. I guess this is one of those landmark anime where you can't help but support. Here are the contents and specs:

This also came with a 20-page booklet filled with artwork, character profiles, and notes:

Disc Content:

BD MENU----

SCENE SELECTION-

AUDIO SETUP-

EXTRAS-

Specs & Other Info:

Video: 1080p High Definition
Audio: Dolby True HD: English 6.1 & Japanese 6.1
Subtitles: English or Off
Running Time: 100min
Disc: 1
Region: A & B
Rating: TV14

Thoughts?

I first saw this on the big screen at AX09', and I thought the film was done really well. I'm not a huge Evangelion fan but this is one of those titles you just can't ignore if you're a fan of anime. Lately, I felt like rewatching Evangelion thanks to Hanamaru Youchien and Baka Test's Evangelion parodies, so this BD release came out at a perfect timing. I previewed the first 10 minutes of the Main Feature just to check out the quality, and everything looked great-- bright colors and nice details. The audio also sounds great.

The brand new smell of the package isn't as strong as the Ponyo BD. One small complaint would be the color of the packaging which is mainly black, it leaves fingerprints very easily. It's like I'm intentionally leaving behind forensic evidence for the crime lab.

If there are any BD techie and audiophiles reading this, please feel free to add to this post with any information.

So-Ra-No-Wo-To (ソ・ラ・ノ・ヲ・ト) Episode 10 Impressions

2010-03-08T23:02:00.001-08:00

Episode Title - "Departure: Time of First Snow"

I appreciate the return of seriousness but it didn't quite capture me the way EP7 did... which perhaps might be due to my exhaustion from work today. Or maybe they just failed to deliver...: we are introduced some old lady that goes by the name of Madam Jascott and while her story was touching in a way, I also felt it was difficult to have sympathy for her. Yes, she had a part in helping Rio find her path, but I question whether she was even needed at all because, I think, Kanata had a bigger part in helping Rio. I also feel like I'm missing some part of the story that wasn't explained. Perhaps, the missing stories will be the extra DVD/BD extra episodes? If that is the case, I truly hate this marketing tactic. ; ;

This episode reveals that they somehow found two leg pieces for the Takemizukachi(sp) and Noel is extremely happy - "un, shiawase" (translation: yes, I'm happy). I'm not much of a mecha fan but it looks really awesome now. I wonder if they will use it before the series ends and how. Another complaint would have to be the animation: some parts were clearly top-notch, especially the details of Jascott's house, but the other parts were inconsistent.

The positive for the episode would be Rio's part: She is my favorite character in this series and the duet between her and Kanata at the end was touching. It is revealed that Iriya is her half-sister and she must leave the fortress to attempt to bring peace. Noo! Is she going to get married to the emperor? How old is he anyway? Rio's farewell is unfortunate but there is just no way we will not see in the last two episodes. Overall, this episode was up and down for me: neutral to good.

Hanamaru Kindergarten (はなまる幼稚園) Episode 9 Thoughts

2010-03-07T17:28:00.001-08:00

SNAPSHOT OF THE EPISODE

"Hanamaru Gift"
Part A: This section mainly focused on Hanamaru-sensei, who is the creator of "Panda-neko" and Mayumi, Yamamoto-sensei's younger sister. From the start, it seems Hanamaru-sensei has a crush on Mayumi. To make things worse, he has a 'creator's block'. With these two things in his mind... he is feeling a little depressed.

But not to worry, because here comes Mayumi to the rescue! She works for a company who publishes Hanamaru-sensei's work, and convinces her boss to give him an extension for his deadline. She does everything she can to help Hanamaru-sensei find inspiration for his work. In the end he gets inspired again and finds the courage to ask Mayumi out for a movie.

We also get a glimpse of Tsuchida and Nanako (Yamamoto-sensei) spending time together. Yamamoto offers Tsuchida for a special dinner but due to a certain circumstance, it was canceled. In the end, we find out that Mayumi and Nanako are actually very alike when it comes to male intentions. ^^;

"Hanamaru Dream"
Part B: This section focused on everyone's aspirations and dreams. Of course, Anzu's dream is to be a housewife of Tsuchida. Koume cannot make up her mind between being a cake decorator, florist, working at a stuffed animal store, and being a bride. And Hii-chan's dream is an overachiever as usual. Hehe.

The teachers also explain why they became a teacher: Tsuchida, of course, dreamed of a female teacher harem. Yamamoto was inspired by her former kindergarten teacher. Kawashiro joined because her height would be less noticeable around small kids. Kusano joined to train kids to grow up 'physically' fit, since she has some fascination with 'macho' guys. ^^;

"Hanamaru Night"
Kusano-sensei invites Tsuchida to her place... but for what? Tsuchida starts getting nervous wondering what this is all about. At first he thought that maybe she invited him for a one-night stand or something... but it can't possibly be! They finally arrive at her place and they head inside.

It turns out that Kusano invited Tsuchida to watch "Conan the Barbarian" together. ^^;; I guess she is into 'macho' flicks and none of the other teachers are interested into that kind of thing, except for maybe Tsuchida. This goes to show that nobody is quite normal in this show.

Thoughts?
This episode wasn't anything spectacular but I enjoyed it as usual. The good stuff is when the show focuses on the main-3, but at the same time, it is nice to get a look into other characters. My main complaint for this episode would have to be that Kusano-sensei's part was a bit short. That's too bad because I actually like her personality. Hanamaru-sensei and Mayumi's bit was on the neutral side, but I think they would make a cute couple. I'm also beginning to think Tsuchida actually has a chance with Yamamoto-sensei now. The next episode is supposedly about Tsuchida's 'confession' so I'm highly excited to find out the result!

Working!! (Wagnaria/ワーキング!!/ワグナリア) Pre-Episode 1 Thoughts

2010-03-06T22:42:00.000-08:00

Wow, I was surprised when someone on Twitter told me that episode 1 was released. Surprised because this is series is suppose to start in April, but I guess this is the preview episode of some sort? Anyway, here's your character introduction:

Popura Taneshima

She is a high school senior, age 17, but many people have a hard time believing it because of her small height. In this episode, she was told by her manager to recruit more workers for the place she works at called... Wagnaria family restaurant. After many failed attempts, she finally convinces a guy to work there, and his name is Souta Takanashi.

Souta Takanashi

He is into small things, whether it be a dog, cat, human, or water flea. Many people jokingly assume he is a lolicon but he referred to himself as "minicon" in this episode. Due to his attraction to small things, he agrees to work at Wagnaria when confronted by Popura Taneshima. He has a tendency to speak his mind openly which gets him in trouble with the manager.

Shirafuji Kyouko

Manager of the Wagnaria restaurant, age 28. Even if she is the manager, she doesn't seem to take her job seriously. She is or was a 'yanki' and is extremely strong when it comes to fighting. Don't make any negative comments about her age because she will start to get angry.

Jun Satou

He works in the back kitchen. Not much was revealed about him in this episode but he seems like a really nice guy. His voice actor is no other than Daisuke Ono! I can't wait to find about more about him come this April.

Yachiyo Todoroki

All we get to find out about her in this episode is that she always carries a katana with her. ^^; She seems like a very nice person but her katana is a big red flag for potential disaster. Good potential entertainment that is.

Souma Hiromi

He also works in the back kitchen with Jun Satou. Not much was revealed about him either in this episode. But his voice actor is Hiroshi Kamiya. That's right, Daisuke Ono + Kamiyan combo. I couldn't help but think of Izaya (+ Shizuo) while watching this episode. ^^;

Inami Mahiru

And the last character introduced in this episode is Inami. This episode reveals that she is extremely afraid of males, but it is not explained exactly why. Due to this reason, her work schedule is on days male co-workers are not present... but the manager screwed up and scheduled her with Souta, and that's how they meet.

Thoughts?

The first episode was just about neutral-- nothing exciting but nothing to complain about. But for a 4-koma adaptation, the pace was pretty steady. All I can say for now is that these characters have the potential of providing us with pure entertainment: katana wielding girl, yanki manager, male hating girl, naturally chibi girl, a guy who is into small things (minicon), and possibly more characters to be introduced. Daisuke Ono and Kamiyan should be enough to keep me hooked for the first few episodes. I'm also naturally a fan of 4-koma adaptation and this has a slight slice-of-life feel which I'm liking. I don't know why but I usually tend to favor the manager/owner of these types of anime and it's no exception here, so I'll be rooting for Shirafuji Kyouko. She totally kicked ass by chasing away those rude customers in this episode. Let's see how this series does come this April. ^^

Durarara!! (デュラララ!!) Episode 9 Thoughts

2010-03-04T22:53:00.000-08:00

Episode Title: "Yearning and Loving"

And the brother complex continues with Namie Yagiri, Seiji's sister. I personally think she is the most twisted and intense in this matter compared to Satsuki (Hanamaru Kindergarten) and Akira Yoshii (Baka Test). This episode was probably one of my least favorite of the series since Namie and Seiji left little impact on me, even with the...
freaky revelation of Harima Mika's murder. With a cast of this size, it's prone to having a few unlikable characters, and these two are it, at least for now.

After watching this episode I began to question if this situation is considered as a love-rectangle-- Seiji, Namie, Mika Harima/Celty, and Shinra. This is a difficult situation to evaluate thanks to the lost identity of Mika Harima. I mean, her head is supposedly Celty's so would that mean her thoughts and feelings are of Celty's or is it Mika Harima's? Which is more important when falling in love: your thoughts (brain) or feelings (heart)? This is possibly the craziest love-rectangle I have tried to evaluate and hopefully we will get some answers soon. ^^;;

As for Izaya, it is probably as I suspected: he is some type of 'puppetmaster' if you will, manipulating situations and events around him like it's his own Ikebukuro chess game. I wouldn't be surprised if he is the creator of the so-called Dollars, but unfortunately, I still don't have a full grasp of the meaning of their existence and what they stand for. To tell you the truth, the hunch that I am getting is that almost everyone is involved in Dollars, but again, I have no idea what that exactly means.

Another reason why I felt this episode was a tad disappointing is because Shizuo's presence felt a little underwhelming. I guess this is thanks to how pathetic Seiji is. Attacking with a pen? Really? Come on! He's a supposed killer, he should be carrying a weapon of some sort, even a metal fork would have more impact than a damn pen. ^^; This is why Shizuo x Izaya time is so precious.

Baka to Test to Shoukanjuu (バカとテストと召喚獣) Episode 9 Thoughts

2010-03-04T01:01:00.000-08:00

Episode Title: "Kiss, Bust, and Ponytail"

This episode was pretty calm, as far as fan service and comedy goes, but even then, Baka Test characters are capable of entertaining me. One thing that I realized after watching this episode is the trend of brother complex: first with Hanamaru Kindergarten's Satsuki (episode 6 & 7), this episode of Baka test with Akira Yoshii, and... soon to air in a few hours, Durarara, Seiji's sister (episode 9).

I personally think Baka Test handled the brother complex theme brilliantly, in a light-hearted matter which also made it touching in the end. I'm pretty confident most Baka Test fans will find this episode pretty bland or average, which I can totally understand why, but will those same fans start to complain about repetitiveness had they stayed extreme in every episode?

I can only speak for myself when I say "I really like how they've given us different sides of Baka Test". I was really surprised by episode 7 (Grand Park episode with Yuuji & Shouko) because they showed us that they got heart, and they've proven that they have more up their sleeves, not just repetitive comedy or fan-service. Episode 6 was extreme with swimsuit fan-service and episode 8 was extreme with parodies. Now this episode was light-hearted and the next episode will probably be extreme with something else again. See the pattern? It's like they are giving us time to recover after each extreme episode, and I personally appreciate it.

Some of my favorite moments in this episode:

Akihisa's perfect text-message timing to Yuuji
That said message: "is it okay if I stay at your place tonight? I don't feel like going home tonight"
Yuuji x Akihisa BL scenes and Himeji, Minami, and Kubo's reaction
Yandere Himeji
Himeji in a ponytail
Hideyoshi finally getting acknowledged by someone that he is a guy
Akihisa and Akira's family bond