Baby, what's for dinner?

Within one and a half years, Kara no Kyoukai has been steadily building up its momentum and fanbase before concluding in a breathtaking, 2-hour finale. The seventh and final chapter of the series ties up a couple of loose ends and we are served with lots of romance, blood, action and excitement.

I’ll let other blogs do the narrative review to avoid giving out spoilers (and simply because I couldn’t be bothered), so I’ll just take a stab at it (pun intended) as a whole.

Oh, just blood. Lots of it.

Satsujin Kousatsu: Go (A Study in Murder: Part II) picks up the story where it left off in Chapter 2. Not chronologically, though.

In Part I, the story revolves around a series of brutal murders, and Mikiya discovers Shiki smiling, drenched in a fountain of blood spurting from a man’s gaping neck. The chapter concludes with Shiki chasing Mikiya down a bamboo grove and pinning him down on the asphalt. The scene cuts to black, we hear a car horn and Shiki is seen in a hospital ward, comatose.

Their first encounter.

Part II continues this tale four years after the previous incident, where a similar string of murders have started again. The victims were brutally dismembered, some of them showed signs of being eaten. Anyone who has been following the series would not be surprised to learn that the culprit is Shirazumi Lio, the poor soul who met with Araya after we see his first murder in the epilogue of Chapter 5.

Lio is, for all intents and purposes, a stalker. He kills to get Shiki’s attention, primarily because Shiki rejected his advances back in their schooling days, four years ago. In an attempt to relate to Shiki, he killed and tried to draw her attention by implying the blame on her.

Why. So. SERIOUS?

What soon follows is a tragic tale between two psychopaths who lost themselves after a single act of murder. Lio, after having his origins awakened by Araya, can no longer control his predator impulse and proceeds to slaughter any unfortunate soul in his path. Shiki, after losing SHIKI, is burdened with a great sense of emptiness and feels an urge to kill to fill the void that SHIKI left behind.

All Lio wanted is a kindred spirit in Shiki. But his loyal friend Mikiya is in the way.
All Shiki wanted is salvation in Mikiya. Yet, Lio is threatening to take that away.

Let's put a smile on that face!

Romance has never been so pure, bare and visceral as was seen in Kara no Kyoukai. Whenever we talk pure romance, people quickly think of sweet romance with pretty girls set in a beautiful town (*cough*Clannad*cough*). No, those are just family friendly heart-warming fairy tales.

The pursuits of the lead characters, Shiki and Mikiya, are driven by nothing more but a fundamental feeling of longing. The strong desire to want the other person by their side, to be with them, to give them strength and to find a simple happiness just by spending time together. It’s the kind of raw emotion that completely disregards any and all sense of logic that would otherwise make us do a double-take on things.

Insufficient Touko exposure. Hmm.

Perhaps one of the most beautiful things about the romance in Kara no Kyoukai is the fact that neither Mikiya nor Shiki have openly said “I Love You” to each other. The affirmation of their love though sheer action, sentiments and the happiness they share in each other’s presence. It is a profound understanding and connection between their hearts that showcase their affection stronger than any word could describe.

A lot of people have difficulty believing me when I said Kara no Kyoukai is an in-depth study of romance. The two of them tread that fine line between a frail sanity and pure madness. The depth of their emotions were taken to the extremes, stretched paper thin and despite all the blood, fury and sadness, their love stays true and not a single thing in the world could tear them apart.

Kara no Kyoukai - The Garden of Sinners

This final chapter concludes this glorious tale of two hearts after almost two years running and I have to say that I absolutely enjoyed every single minute of it. There will be a prologue epilogue OVA to come soon, but I guess now that the main story is over, an extra side-story would be fun to watch – if only for some closure.

If you haven’t started on the series, now is a good time as any to marathon the whole stretch. This is what real romance is all about.

PS: Mucho gracias to GG and Takajun for their consistently speedy release of all the films. I wouldn’t have been able to enjoy this show if it wasn’t for your efforts :D

Can’t wait for the Blurays!

EVE no Jikan is a story set is the not-so-distant future. A time when androids are fully utilised as workers in human society, taking mundane jobs like house-keeping, janitorial work, waiting tables, etc. The plot begins when Rikuo, a high-schooler, discovers that his house-roid went off course to a destination that is not in her programming. Upon following the trail, he discover a small, non-descript cafe with a peculiar rule: No discrimination between humans and robots are allowed.

In that cafe, an android can fully pretend to be a human, and no one would notice. And that, is where the story gets really interesting. Upon entering the cafe, Rikuo meets some of the peculiar patrons of EVE no Jikan and has an interesting conversation – without realising that some of those patron may be androids pretending to be completely human. It is a story of how humans and robots meet, clash and interact with each other and how healthy relationships between the two can be sustained.

I like friendly cafes.

The 6-episode ONA was directed by Yoshiura Yasuhiro, the man who previously created the OVA gems Aquatic Language and Pale Cocoon. I’ve only seen Pale Cocoon when I first saw the trailer for EVE, and naturally, I was excited. Pale Cocoon has a fabulous plot twist, even for one-shot, 23-minute video. I wasn’t sure what kind of punch to expect from a 6-episode production, but I believed that it would be good – and it sure as hell was.

After I finished watching the first episode of EVE, the first thing out of my mouth was ‘Holy shit’. If you’ve seen I, Robot before, similar themes are also explored in EVE. This includes Isaac Asimov’s Three Laws of Robotics, and a plot revolving around robots gaining sentience and self-awareness. In this line, we have classic characters like HAL9000, and current generation horrors like GladOS.

A hologram UI for mobile phone image gallery? Why, I never saw that coming at all!

EVE, however, has a different take on this point. In an interview, Yoshiura makes some very interesting remarks on this issue;

“To be honest, personally I can’t go along with the idea of making androids the same as human beings. Not at all. Of course, I’m not saying that androids should be treated horribly as slaves or anything like that.

My ideal is that both androids and humans are aware that they are different, and based on this awareness, they meet halfway to improve their mutual relationship. That’s the most necessary thing, and I think that idea is most important for building ideal relations between humans and robots.”

(You can read the rest of the interview here and here.)

PONYTAIL! Must. Resist. Boner.

The nice thing about EVE is that each episode is only about 10 minutes each, except the finale (which is absolutely fabulous) that goes up to 27 minutes. Each episode is pretty much bite-sized and you can easily finish the whole series in one sitting and not miss a thing.

What I like the most, though, is how well all the characters are fleshed out. It doesn’t focus on just one or two main characters, but each episode explores the stories behind each of the cafe patrons. You don’t get some moeblob jailbait, no excessive chernobyl-waste tits and no huge sparkly eyes. Just characters that feel… real, characters that you are very likely to meet in your life, characters you can easily relate to. You can also feel the closeness between the patrons and Nagi, the barista.

A warm, quiet book cafe is one of my retirement projects. That oughta be fun,eh?

It not only explores the deep, philosophical themes brought on by Asimov, but also the simple friendships you build with the people you meet. They may be simple patrons of a cafe, but if one spends time to know the other person better, something new is born. It may be friendship or love, but regardless of what it’s called, it is something you treasure and EVE delivers this with a kind of passion you don’t see very often in anime. Oh, I couldn’t find the right words to describe the love I have for this show.

So, take my word for it; EVE no Jikan is definitely one of best offerings this year and I urge you not to miss it. You will love it, for sure.

You play Yusuke, who is entering a college in Tokyo. Due to your father’s suggestion, a twist of fate, and the need to actually have an environment where an eroge can take place, you end up living with four beautiful daughters and their still youthful widowed mother.

Character Overview

MILF Maria

Maria:

Has one good end and one bad end. Generic characteristics of a loving mother. Definitely the route to take for MILF fans out there. As Yusuke, you will inevitably have sex with her first despite of the several choices you get to make. Throughout the game, there will be instances where you would engage a scene with her despite choices made.

Masochist Arisa

Arisa:

Has one good end and one bad end. Generic masochist. Great route for SM fans out there. Works as a kindergarten school teacher and gets harassed by the director there. Though her masochist behaviour will only be noticed depending on the choices you make, it really isn’t that hard to guess your way through when you know it.

Tsundere Sanae

Sanae:

Has one good end and one bad end. Generic tsundere. Tsundere lovers can rejoice cause this is for you. Same age as the character you play but studies in a different place. Falls victim to train gropers and works part time in a restaurant. Did I mention she was tsundere?

Generic Tsundere is Generic

Cosplayer Emiru

Emiru:

Has one good and one bad ending. Generic shy girl. Loves cosplaying. Nice for shy loving people. It can be seen that she is almost considered a father-con throughout the game. School swimsuit and cat cosplay is promised.

Loli Ruruka

Ruruka:

Has one good end and one bad end. Generic I’m-a-women-too character. Specially for you lolicons out there. The first outcome I got. Because her father died shortly after her birth, she is not particularly saddened by it. Has a grown up version of her right at the end.

After The Game

Because There is Nothing Like Scene Recolection

The Extras:

The first thing to do after unlocking all endings is, of course, to play the game again (heh). At this point, you would realise that there is short continuation whereby more scenes can be unlocked.

Also, despite how the choices would let you end up with a girl one way or the other, there is an ending where you simply don’t end up with anyone.

Thoughts:

For a first eroge experience, I would say it was not bad. Given the amount of variety of characters to end up with, the only real thing that is lacking is a great plot. Though I’m sure anyone who played would agree that the plot was at least decent and relevant to each development.

Art: 7/10
Music: 7.5/10
Voice: 8/10
Fappability: 8.5/10
Plot: 6.5/10

Overall: 7.5/10

Introduction

A little background info on the anime itself, Cencoroll is an animated science fiction film nearly singlehandedly written, designed, directed and animated by its creator, manga author Atsuya Uki. Getting it’s world premier earlier than its Japanese debut, it made an appearance at Canada’s Fantasia International Film Festival on the 28th of July this year. After its Japan debut in Tokyo and Osaka on 22nd of August, it premiered in the United States at the New York Anime Festival on the 25th of September. Later, a DVD  release of the film was produced by Aniplex on October 8th, which is what I’m writing about today.

Cencoroll is based on a One Shot manga, titled Amon Game, which is obviously written and illustrated by the same author as the movie. The manga apparently won the Grand Prix Award in Kodansha’s Afternoon Shiki manga competition in 2005. A year later, Anime Innovation Tokyo began to sponsor anime produced by the indie scene and small studios, and Cencoroll was the first project to receive their sponsor. The following year, the author, Atsuya Uki, released a short film which was distributed over the internet. Due to the reception it received, he decided to do a whole 30-minute film nearly all by himself.

Love & Roll by Supercell

Cencoroll Ending Theme: Love & Roll by Supercell

However, before I move on to the main review, I would like to highlight the ending theme a little. In my opinion, this one of the best indie ending themes I’ve ever heard, despite the fact it’s not really related to the theme of the anime (Rather vague but there is a connection, I think). For some reason, the tune and its lyrics just sticks to my head (for now), but the best part was, I didn’t realize that this song was part of Supercell’s debut single, Kimi no Shiranai Monogatari, which was Bakemonogatari’s Ending Theme. For a debut single, I would really give it a 9 out 10 (Only if your preference of music is like mine :p )

Review

Back to the anime itself, the male protagonist, Tetsu, who is voiced by Hiro Shimono, appears at the start of the anime, looking all high and mighty on some “couch”. Your first impression would most probably be that this is one stuck-up guy. Late you realise, its not just any ordinary “couch” he’s sitting on. Just change your angle a little and…

Isnt it cute?

Meet Cenco, the a type of Cencoroll owned by Tetsu. What is a Cencoroll? Well, the only description given is large, mostly white amorphus creatures. Cenco here is special in a sense that he really adept at shapeshifting into many kinds of different yet useful things to blend into the surroundings. Tetsu controls it by telepathy, which is represented by sparks coming out of a moving ahoge.

Here is the female protagonist, Yuki, who is voiced by everyone’s current favourite moe seiyuu, Kana Hanazawa. Both of them met behind a storage room, where Yuki notices that Tetsu’s bike was moving. See the eye at the seat of the bike? Yup, that’s Cenco. Convenient, isn’t it? Not only it can change into a bike, but it can also change into a cute, innocent looking, panda-like toy. Besides that, Tetsu is also known to transform it into a car to be driven around. Cool right?

While they we’re taking a break from their drive, the main antagonist appears, along with his own Cencoroll. Known as Shu, who is voiced by Ryohei Kimura, his main objective is to assimilate Cenco so that his own Cencoroll can have morphing powers too. By the way, that relatively small Cencoroll you see with him is only one of the two that he owns, which he uses as a mode of transport. Theres a third Cencoroll in this film, which is really huge and sits atop a building, which also belongs to him. This huge Cencoroll also happens to be a target for Tetsu and Cenco as their next prey. So what happens when our heroes faces this new threat?

Behold...the Gigantic Stapler?

Obviously he will fight back, by morphing Cenco into a huge stapler, which wasn’t really successful, because Yuki got in the way. Because of that, Tetsu ordered Cenco to grab Yuki, morph into a car, and they drove off. Their escape was success though, since earlier, Cenco changed into a pair of scissors and cut off one of the enemy’s leg. However, later on, Yuki felt guilty, and decided to walk back alone, even though Tetsu offered her a ride back. And of course, when you feel guilt…it had to rain…so guess who our female friend here ran into?

Fail Antagonist is Fail

Well I guess that was obvious, however here is where I’m disappointed in Shu. He cornered a cute girl in the middle of the rain with no one around…he could have used a “better” method to threaten her (You know what I mean :) ). He told her to tell Tetsu to meet him on the next day on the top of a certain building, which she did later on. However, on the following day, she got captured, again, by the same person, who this time decides to use her as a hostage. As Tetsu takes the bait, Shu “snipes” him from a far, dealing heavy damage to Cenco in the process.

Here Comes a Big One

Later he commanded the big Cencoroll to attack and assimilate Cenco’s powers, throwing Tetsu aside, who is now rendered useless because for some reason, Cenco ate up one of his hands. Fortunately, Yuki is still inside Cenco, and she already gained control over it, causing her to sprout her own ahoge. After assimilating Cenco, Shu decided to test his new power by morphing his big Cencoroll, which sadly did not last long. This was thanks to Yuki, who, without noticing it, morphed the Cencoroll into something else…

Now its a Giant...Pudding?

Thats right…a freakishly giant puding. Tetsu then communicated with Yuki, through telepathy I guess, to let him into the…pudding. Shu then realized that Yuki was inside the pudding, controlling it along the way, and he decided to break in. After that, Tetsu was also tossed inside, although he ended up in a differently place, where he found Cenco. After rescuing it, he went to the place where Yuki and Shu were fighting over the control of the…pudding. During all these events, the local military force appeared, and decided that the pudding is the enemy, hence they started to open fire at it. After getting hit, the huge Cencoroll died, causing Shu to not notice that Tetsu had appeared together with Cenco right beside Yuki.Using whatver is left of Cenco, Yuki ordered it to morph into a bat, and whacked Shu on the head, causing him to lose consciousness. After all this, Yuki asks Cenco to get them out of there, which was the right decision, because soon after that, the military continued their attack until it was destroyed pretty badly.

Finally, Yuki “handed” Cenco back to Tetsu, by morphing it into his arm to replace it. So now Tetsu can morph his arm as a part of his body, and the two avoided the military and ran off. Apparently that’s the end of the film. However, after the awesome Ending Theme, they show Shu survive the blast and was rescued by his other Cencoroll, setting up a possible sequel.

My Thoughts

Uh…what? Thats all I can say. Besides marveling at the fact this was all done by one person, I’m rendered speechless by it, as in, just watch it for yourself, and maybe you’ll understand why. Also did I mention that Cenco was adorable?

But, that dream of mine changed almost immediately after I started reading Papillon – Hana to Chou – (パピヨン―花と蝶―).

Status: Ongoing – 13 Chapters, as of 11.10.09

Updates: Monthly

Author: Miwa Ueda (Peach Girl)

Synopsis:

Ageha and her younger sister, Hana, are twins who were separated after birth, and didn’t meet each other until they were in Grade 2. Ageha was the ‘uglier’ of the twin, and was shy and withdrawn; while her sister was more popular and outgoing.

The story began where Ageha was forced to take care of her class’s booth during the school festival, while the others were attending a concert. A horse-masked stranger suddenly burst into the room, and asked Ageha to hide him from a group of girls. After the girls went away, he removed the mask, demanded a cup of coffee, and started questioning Ageha about a picture of her and a guy, Ryuusei, whom Ageha had a crush on ever since they were kids. He then scribbled “everyday we’re lovey-dovey” in the picture, and told Ageha to believe in herself. As if right on cue, Ryuusei appeared, and was surprised to find out that Ageha was  his childhood friend.

Ever since Ryuusei acknowledged her, Ageha had been feeling very happy, which triggered Hana’s curiosity. However, when Hana tried to butt into their conversation, Ryuusei took off hurriedly, and admitted to Ageha later that he never liked her sister, Hana, and the boy rumours she was involved in. However, his opinion on Hana changed when they met during him and Ageha’s trip to visit her grandmother, and they started dating ever since.

NOW WAIT JUST ONE MINUTE…

Like, wtf, that’s it? Bad end? Popular twin gets the guy, ugly twin went to cry? Of course not.

Ageha’s picture of her and Ryuusei was mysteriously circulated in her class one day, and to Ageha’s horror, Ryuusei saw the scribbled note on the picture. On the verge of depression, she tried to commit suicide by jumping off the school’s roof, but her attempt was stopped by the very same stranger who told Ageha to believe in herself, who turns out to be the perverted school counsellor,  Kyuu. After listening to her story, he then told her the same advise he gave her, ,which is to believe in herself, and that surely her supporters would appear in no time, which again, turns out to be true. Ageha found herself a group of friends who sincerely liked her and rooted for her chance with Ryuusei, by giving her a brand-new look. However, her efforts appeared to be fruitless when she saw Ryuusei kissing Hana.

DOUBLE-KILL. No, really. It usually takes only once for a girl’s heart to be broken, and poor Ageha just got hers broken twice by her twin sister, and the guy she likes. But this is not the end.

Ever since then, Ageha gave up on Ryuusei, and fell in love with the counsellor instead! And this is where the evil twin sister steps in again. After finding out that Ageha and Kyuu are an item now, she is determined to ruin it again, by pretending to be Ageha, deceived Kyuu, and broke his heart, by telling him that she (fake Ageha) still have feelings for Ryuusei. Kyuu then started giving the real, and very-much bewildered Ageha the cold shoulder ever since, much to the satisfaction of Hana.

HOWEVER, the story of course doesn’t end like this. In the latest chapter, Kyuu realised that it wasn’t Ageha who broke his heart, but it was her twin, Hana. He later learned from her that Hana is determined to never let Ageha attain happiness.

Personal Comments:
Hana is such a low-life b**ch. Reading this manga always made me wish I could just strangle the evil twin, Hana. Stealing her own sister’s crush is not enough, but blatantly sabotaging her next relationship is just low. :( I mean, Hana’s got everything she wanted: hot guy, popular, pretty, what else could she possibly want? Just let her sister have her very own happy ending for once, why can’t she?

<insert rage>

I just hope poor Ageha gets to be with her Mr. Right in the next chapter. :( Or run Hana over with a car or something, that works fine too. :P

“Don’t stand behind him if you value your life.”

The famous tagline from the anime/manga Golgo 13. Golgo 13 is a manga /anime series written and illustrated by Takao Saito that began back in 1969. The manga is still ongoing until now, making it one of the longest running adult manga. I was first introduce to Golgo 13 by playing its arcade game, Golgo 13 ( Taito ). It was a fun yet challenging game that requires players to complete various task by executing ridiculous and seemed impossible shots. Of course, the game doesn’t really tell much about the character, so I wasn’t clearly sure what was Golgo 13 all about.

In April 2008 the anime came out, and I get to know more about Golgo 13. Like how I enjoyed the game, I became hooked to the anime. The things made me hooked to it is how badass he is, how he completes his task, how many lines he speaks throughout an episode, and the best part of all his face expression. However, the lack of subs for the anime made me lose interest. Then a few months back I saw the prototype for the figma Goglo 13. First impression ? Impressive, really looks like Golgo 13, especially the fact that di:stage is included. Not only that, a paper vignette in the image of a motel and speech bubbles are thrown in, allowing fans to recreate the world of Golgo 13. With all these stuffs thrown in, I knew that I had to get one.

So here it is, Ocha! takes a look and reviews Max Factory Figma Golgo 13 !

...

I’ll start of with a little introduction of the character for those who are not familiar. Golgo 13, also known by the pseudonym Duke Togo, is a professional hired assassin and the main character of the story. Although his profession is a hired assassin not all of his job involves assassination. Basically it depends on what kind of task his clients request him to do. For example in one episode his clients ask him to shoot a violin string while being played. Sounds impossible ? Yes, but that’s what Golgo 13 is, making things impossible possible.

Front side view

Back side view. Don't worry, we've gotten Golgo 13 permission before taking this shot.

His alignment is neither good or evil, however he does have some principles when doing his work. For example, he never takes a job through a voice, meaning the client must personally meet him in order to hire him, and he listens only to the request of the client, not on behalf. Even if the client is dead, he will carry out the last job that the client requested before the client died. He always has a cold gaze and rarely speaks unless he has too. His age and birthplace are unknown and no one knows who he really is. Most of his jobs, which involves assassination are completed through the use of a customized, scoped M16 rifle.

Bang!

!!

Just another day at work

It's not work without a quick puff of this cigar

Golgo 13 looking ready to kick some ass with his 38-caliber revolver

Figma is different from a figurine. It posses a high degree of articulation, which allows you to pose it in many ways you want it to be. However unlike the normal figmas, there is a joint at Golgo 13 neck. This feature is needed when you want to pose him taking aim with the M16. His suit is made out of a flexible plastic that doesn’t restrict his movement, so you still will be able to make him to do various poses. He also comes with various hands parts, including a hand that allows him to hold a cigar, as well hands that allow him to hold his weapons. In addition to the standard figma stand, it comes with a stand that allows you to hold the speech bubbles.

Stone / Normal Face

Grinning face with clenched teeth

Figma Golgo 13  comes with 2 changeable face, a normal looking face and a grinning face with clenched teeth. Like in the anime / manga, these are the only 2 expression you’ll ever see coming from him. I assume the sculptor didn’t encounter much problem sculpting his face.

HAX Customizable M16

Other accessories included are his weapons, a detachable M16 which you can store inside a attache case and his 38-caliber revolver. The revolver sadly cannot be stored inside the case.

Outside view of the paper vignette

Inside view of the paper vignette

As mentioned earlier, Golgo 13 figma includes a paper vignette in an image of a motel. This paper vignette motel is not easy to assemble because you would need a strong glue to stick it. For my case I had to use Super Glue, which explains some of the white stains on some parts of the motel.  Furthermore, the instructions was in Japanese and not being able to read Japanese made the process harder. It took me 2 days to complete assembling this.

Steady...aim...

I have no idea what the bubble is saying, I just put the bubble because its cool

Time to work

After bring the women to 'heaven, Golgo 13 decided to unwind with a cigar

Once you have completed the motel, you can relive various scenes from the manga / anime, with the help of other paper vignette and speech bubbles. For those who are creative, you can even make your own scenes with the help of other extra stuffs like sounds effects, which will make your photos more dynamic and interesting. With all these great features, Figma Golgo 13 seems like a flawless figma figure.

Sadly however this is not the case, as Figma Golgo 13 do have flaws. One of my complaints of the figure is the paint job. The final product paint job looks rougher compared to the prototype pictures. The gap between the shoulders is too big compared to the prototype screen shots, making it looking a bit deformed. The motel was troublesome and time consuming to assemble because the paper vignette couldn’t stick  together without a strong glue. It could have been better if the motel was as a real accessory rather than in a  from of paper. If it cost more, then maybe they can sell it separately rather than together.

Don't stand behind me if you value your life.

Overall, Figma Golgo 13 is still a nice piece of work. With extra feature that are only available with Figma Golgo 13, it does set itself apart from other figmas. Those who are bored with the standard cute female figures and want some manly and badass figure in their collection, Figma Golgo 13 will be a fine addition.

Just be careful not to stand behind his back if you value your life.

She was supposed to be released last June, but somehow she was delayed till September. The wait was quite long that it was frustrating and relieving at the same time. Frustrating that I have to wait longer but relieving that I get to keep my money. Yesterday ( 26 September 2009 ) however I got a surprise call from my dealer, telling me that it has already arrived !  This was indeed shocking as I know she hasn’t even been release in Japan yet, but I didn’t really care much how did my dealer got her before the release date. This was suppose to be a good news for me, but the feeling of losing my money kept coming back to me.

When I went to collect the figure, I was stunned and mesmerized, even just looking at it from outside of the box. When I unpacked her from the box, all those thoughts of regret vanish to thin air. I was convinced that I made the right choice by pre-ordering her.

Anyway, enough of mindless chatter.

One of the best looking Saber Lily figures to date, Ocha  sits down and reviews Good Smile Company Fate / Unlimited Codes – Saber Lily ~Distant Avalon~ !

Yes, some of you are probably shocked as I am, how come I’m able to get a hold of her whereas she hasn’t even been released yet in Japan ? It’s all thanks to my dealer really. I’m not really sure how he manage to get it but apparently I heard that some dealers actually release her earlier before the dateline. Don’t worry folks, I took a good look and inspected her, and she’s definitely the real deal. Yes, even before the figure was release, a bootleg version was already available. So Good Smile Company has a page on their website that explains how you can differentiate the original and bootleg version. It’s in Japanese though, but there’s a translated version here by wcloudxkumo.

For those who are a bit clueless of seeing Saber form, this is a special costume / skin that was included in the PS2 fighting game Fate / Unlimited Codes. I’m not really sure if her abilities is any different from normal Saber, but when I used her in the game, she’s pretty much the same as her default costume. Guess its another alternate costume for Saber, or the developers wanted to give a fan service treat for the fans. Hey, I’m sure ain’t complaining !

A real cool and awesome pose, no question about that. The figure will definitely attract your attention from any angle you look at it. It’s quite refreshing to see Saber in a battle armor that reveals more flesh than her previous one. It does take a lot of space from your table since she needs to swing her sword, so better make some space people !

FINALLY a nice and not plain looking base. Notice the little details like the cracks on the floor are not left out and given attention too. Notice the details of the nice looking “FATE/UNLIMITED CODES” logo. I guess my cries for better looking base has finally paid off.

By the way, the base also does take some space too, so be prepared for that.

From the top to the bottom,  the paint job is absolutely stunning and flawless. Actually I’m lost of words  on how to describe the paint job. The paint job is so good that its able to make me snap photo with minimal lighting control. I normally have trouble with other figures, but this one gave me minimal problems. I think its because the great and excellent paint job.

Unlike Saber in her default armor, this Saber wears a lovely white pantsu, and you can actually peek up to see it !

She comes with 2 swords, Excalibur and Caliburn. Excalibur is the default sword that she always use. The handle of the Excalibur is a bit big, so it’s quite tough if you want to force it in her hand. For this case you can actually remove the bottom part.

Front and back view of Saber with Excalibur.

So comes with 2 hands. Both of them look the same, but the other actually allows her to hold her scabbard, Avalon.

This is her with Caliburn and Avalon. While getting her to hold Avalon looks cooler, I would avoid this setup since the Avalon will take up space.

Some shots of her with Caliburn and Avalon, from back and front.

You can actually put the Excalibur inside the Avalon, but only Excalibur. It won’t fit in if you try to put in Caliburn so don’t force it.

This is how the hand holding Avalon looks like in action.

Extra shots for your eyes.

Any faults that I can point out about this figure ? Absolutely nothing. It’s nothing but a fine piece of work and Good Smile Company has really set the standard high. After getting my hand on the figure, I definitely do not regret buying this Saber Lily. Not only I do not regret it but I’m convinced that she is worth every ounce of money that I paid her for. There’s another version of Saber Lily that will be released by ALTER, but this one caught my eye more. I’m pretty sure ALTER’s version will still be good, but not as awesome as this one. Go get one if you are a fan of Saber or you like awesomely detailed figurines.

…of course depending if you can get her now, since I believe she will be selling like hot cakes.

Avid anime fans may have come across the trailer[s] since the beginning of 2007, and now we can all set ourselves for the sheer awesomeness that is Sword of the Stranger.

Sword of the Stranger, 無皇刃譚 [Mukou Hadan]

Commonly referred as Stranger, the movie was produced by Studio Bones (Fullmetal Alchemist, Eureka Seven, Wolf’s Rain) and is set in feudal age Japan. In other words, it’s a samurai flick. With more than enough ninja-infested shows of late, getting back some samurai action is a much welcomed reprieve. But that’s not the real reason why Stranger impressed me so much.

Next time, boy, aim for his groin!

Stranger is about Kotaro, a young boy acompanied by his loyal dog Tobimaru, who is being chased by agents of the Chinese Ming Dynasty on an imperial mission. He was to journey to a temple where he was told that the monks there would protect him from harm. Along the way, he meets Nanashi, [literally meaning 'nameless one'] a samurai with extraordinary skills and hires the reluctant stranger as his bodyguard to escort him to the temple. Nanashi is so skilled, he equally matched a Ming assassin without undoing the seal that locked away his sword.

Yes, it vibrates! Try it if you don't believe me.

One thing I honestly enjoyed about Stranger is that it carries a perfect balance of epic storytelling and phenomenal animation work. Some shows may have excellent plots but don’t really get extensive animation [Kino's Journey, Zetsubou Sensei], while others have all these ultra flashy animations but weak stories with terrible plot holes [Appleseed Ex Machina, Vexille].

Stranger starts out brilliantly, immediately gaging the viewer’s attention with a scene of bandits attacking a Ming caravan. In only 5 minutes, we got served with seamless sword dancing, flying limbs and sprays of blood. If a hand was chopped off, we see it chopped off. If an arrow went through a neck, we see it come out from the other side. If someone got decapitated, we see red fountain spraying out of the dude’s shoulders.

Give me that long vibrating thing. Or else...

This is where Studio Bones shines. Throughout their history of animation projects, you rarely [if ever] see them resort to cheap tricks like speed lines and panning still cels. Combat scenes are elaborately choreographed and animated with every single detail accounted for. If they usually put in their standard level of work in producing full length TV series, then this time they have only concentrated all that expansive effort into a 100 minutes’ worth of runtime.

No! It's MINE to play with. Mine ALONE!

But of course, it doesn’t end there. I mentioned a perfect balance, and Stranger comes with an equally delicious side dish to complement the sweet animation work.

[WARNING: SPOILER ALERT]

Nanashi’s true name was never revealed, nor was his background. All we got to find out was that he was an army general and left the army to live by his own principles and belief. While the movie offered a tantalizing bait as to why he never drew out his sword, it was never truly revealed. However, through glimpses of nightmares and flashbacks, it managed to build up so much emotion and weight such that when you see him tearing off the binds that sealed the blade, you just can’t help but say “Whoa.”

HIYEAA- eh? OSHI-!

The simple-mindedness of feudal age warriors also played a factor. Blindly following whoever took charge and obeying the orders of the local feudal lord despite facing impossible odds. However, Stranger made the whole scenario interesting by adding an anomaly or two in the mix. It’s a minor twist, but it adds so much flavour to the big picture.

Why aren't you riding?

While having some intense moments of duels, the film also has calm moments where we get to see exquisite art in landscapes and the meticulous animation of a lively and busy town. Such scenes truly enhanced the realism of the whole experience. The plot is pretty much linear and straight-forward, there was not much character development, but since almost everyone dies, it doesn’t really matter anyway. It ends clean, and maybe a little bit open-ended just enough to keep the audience guessing whether or not Nanashi survives his battle.

[/spoiler]

This is one film I strongly urge you to watch. I give it a magnificent 10 out of 10 stars, and trust me, you’ll agree with me as soon as you watch the first 15 minutes of the show.

I CAME!

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Sword of the Stranger OST

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As a little gift, we decided to release the very epic soundtrack composed by Naoki Sato [Eureka Seven, X TV]. Grab the torrent here:

Ocha!] Sword of the Stranger Original Soundtrack.rar

Of course, there are those popular all-time classics like ye olde Dragon Ball, Mobile Suit Gundam, or even Doraemon. However, I’d like to bring to light titles that have been buried under the ridiculous pile of mainstream predictable shonen, moe-moe fanservice harem and mecha with plot-shielded bishounen pilots.

I wish to dedicate this post to the anime that has left us with wonderful memories, and that warm, fuzzy, satisfying sensation in our hearts =D

Full Metal Alchemist

Let’s kick it off with one of the best shonen adventures ever! This was one of the shows that was subbed by so many groups during its time. Which is only fair, as Full Metal Alchemist is quite an amazing show.

It follows the adventures of the Elric brothers, Edward and Alphonse, in their search for an artifact known as the Philospher’s Stone. As the title implies, the main theme of the show is alchemy and is set in the age of steam technology early gunpowder warfare. Alchemy is about breaking down an object, and reconstructing it into something else.

Any alchemical practice conforms to Law of Equal Trade, meaning that you cannot conjure more than what you have. If say, you have a broken radio, alchemy can fix it, but it cannot make it into a bigger radio. In an attempt to resurrect their mother, the Elric brothers suffered massive losses. Edward lost an arm and leg, while Alphonse lost his entire body; his soul now sealed within a hollow suit of armor. Their journey to find the Stone is because the stone is believe to be capable of ignoring the Law of Equal Trade, and they intend to use it to recover their lost bodies.

FMA was unlike many of the mainstream contemporary shonen that was aired at the time [i.e. Naruto, One Piece]. It was driven by a plot full of twists, mysteries and of course, high-octane action. Its generous bits of comedy moments made it an instant hit with audiences across many age groups, and I remember it was received very well during my anime club’s weekly screening [that was many years ago].

Awesome stuff. Be sure to watch it if you haven’t!

Last Exile

This has to be one of my personal all-time favourites. Unlike manga adaptations [such as Fullmetal Alchemist], Last Exile was an original production by GONZO, featuring unique character designs by Range Murata. It was one of the very few steampunk anime series around and it was a major hit among anime fans.

Last Exile revolves around the courier pilot Claus Valca and his trusty navigator, Lavie Head. They have been childhood friends, and their fathers shared the same pilot/co-pilot relationship until they passed away. The young pilots earn their living as messengers, braving through war-torn skies to fulfil their duty.

It was a time of conflict between the peoples of Anatoray and Disith, and their battles are overseen by the enigmatic Guild. In an expected turn of events, Claus and Lavie were entrusted with a mission to deliver a little girl to the Silvana, a rogue Anatoray battleship and the two quickly found themselves entangled in a struggle between forces they had never imagined.

What makes Last Exile a classic, compared to other series during its time, is how it gave the steampunk genre a fresh look. There were already a lot of anime that featured large-scale battleship warfare [thanks, Gundam] but they weren’t the least inspiring. I mean, yeah, battleships in space, we’ve seen that in Star Wars, Star Trek, and a billion other sci-fi shows, where massive spaceships fire gigantic laser beams and release an endless supply of missiles.

Aerial battles in Last Exile was different in the sense it involved a lot of things that affects real-life situations. Steam powered ships that [conveniently] levitate with engines of alien technology. Cannons that take time to charge and propelled by steam power. Musketeers armed with steam powered rifles. Ships that take a good amount of time to turn around before it can flee.

It gave steampunk a whole new degree of believability. Of course, there’s also the brilliant storyline and epic musical score which only serves to make this show one of my top recommendations.

Gunslinger Girl

I’m not exactly sure how many anime involved Italian fiction back in the day, but Gunslinger Girl was definitely the one I remember the most, and for good reason, too. It was a rather short-running anime, numbering only 13 episodes but boy was it a marvelous run.

Gunslinger Girl is a story about a government body that acts as a charitable institution, when it is in fact a secret military unit designated to oppose terrorism. One of its divisions employs young girls fitted with cybernetic body parts, giving them superhuman strength, reflexes and precision. This division is where the story unfolds.

It’s a tragic tale, really. All the girls lived a terrible life, and each of them suffered different circumstances that led them into being brainwashed and transformed into ruthless killing machines. Each girl is assigned to a unit called a fratello [Italian for siblings] and they each trained and supervised by a male handler. Each fratello has its own specialty, such as tactical sniping, close-quarters combat and counter-intelligence operations.

For a show that featured lovely young girls, it was also terribly bloody and brutal. They would kill without batting an eyelid and take a bullet without so much as returning 15 more. Not only was it a fascinating tale of counter-terrorism, but it was also a passionately touching story as the girls come to realise their identity and come to terms with the reality set before them.

It’s too bad the second season is just begging to make a sale in the moe market. A real shame for such a brilliant anime.

Chrno Crusade

Chrno Crusade was another one of GONZO’s golden age productions. It was adapted from a shonen manga and I first saw it during one of my anime club’s weekly screenings. It featured an action-packed storyline and loads of comical humor.

It revolves around Sister Rosette, and nun of the Magdalene Order in the 1920’s era of the United States. She is a member of a church militant that exists to combat demonic threats that have been regularly appearing across America. Rosette is accompanied by Chrono, her humble demon partner with whom she made a pact with.

Yep, a nun with a gun and a pact with a demonic one [hey it rhymes!]. Not something you’d see everyday, especially if the demon is a pretty-looking boy with his long hair in a braid. Rosette and Chrono have been friends since childhood, and there used to be a third person in the gang: Rosette’s younger brother Joshua. However, in a tragic disaster Joshua was kidnapped by Aion, Chrono ancient arch-nemesis. Together the duo journey across the country as they uncover the mysteries behind the demon attacks and search for Joshua.

Shonen is but a strange genre. There are the typical ones with main characters who start out lame, and grow stronger as they encounter newer, tougher enemies along the linear and predictable storyline. And then there are the non-typical ones, such as FMA and Chrno Crusade. These are the kind of shows that really win my approval.

Chrno Crusade’s story unfolds as it explores the in-depth universes of the mortal plane and the realms of Heaven and Hell. Not only is it a fantastic tale of adventure, but it is also an emotionally gripping story of love and loss. The characters were all marvelously portrayed by some of the most talented seiyuu around, the likes of Akira Ishida [Athrun Zala, Gaara], Michiko Neya [Riza Hawkeye, Melissa Mao] and Kazuhiko Inoue [Hatake Kakashi, Jerid Messa].

Definitely a classic not to be missed *double thumbs-up*

Full Metal Panic

Ah, how can anyone talk about classics without ever bringing up this gem?

As mentioned by HolyCow, Full Metal Panic is originally a series of light novels, which were then adapted by GONZO into one of the most entertaining anime to have ever been distributed over the bittorrent networks. FMP is a shonen mecha anime, and it is therefore loaded with giant robots carrying giant guns firing giant bullets. Unlike many other real-robot [as opposed to super-robot] shows, FMP manages to be comically hilarious without losing the thrill serious tactical face-offs.

Sagara Sousuke is a young sergeant in the elite paramilitary organization, Mithril. The unit exists solely as an anti-terrorist force and it acts independently, without belonging to any single nation or government, and as such is comprised of personnel from across the globe. Sousuke is charged with a mission to protect Chidori Kaname, a teenage girl who is endowed with knowledge of the top-secret Black Technology, even before she was born.

Sousuke, having lived a soldier’s life of constant warfare since childhood, finds himself as an undercover operative, disguised as Chidori’s high-school classmate. He quickly suffers difficulty adjusting to life among common folk and his honest acts [based on military instincts] have, more often than not, caused trouble for his charge. However, the terrorist threat cast upon Chidori is real, and Sousuke has to give everything he’s got to ensure the success of his mission.

I didn’t mention the mecha portion, did I? Well, the mecha action only comes in later during the series, and although it makes up a large part of the story, it’s really not the biggest thing in the whole show [figuratively speaking, that is]. FMP is one of those stories that was so well-developed, you just can’t help but hunger for more.

Its comedic moments are truly original and the mecha battles are just enough to push the plot forward – unlike other mecha shows which rely too much on bipedal chunky metal action to win its crowd. FMP tells its stories with a fascinating touch of humanity and it draws you deeper into the characters without resorting to cheap tried-and-tested methods of mainstream comedy shows.

That, my friend, is what makes this show a true classic.

What’s Next?

Of course, these are merely classics we’re talking about. Next time, we’ll take a look some anime that has achieved the divine status of Legendary. Stay tuned!

PS: Wow, now that I look back, GONZO sure made some pretty awesome stuff back then. Today,….

*thinks of Blassreiter*…

Heh.

If you arrived here for your weekly fix of ToshoSensou, I figure you would be the type to be able to appreciate things I call the unique, the obscure, and the beautiful.

In the first installation of Ocha’s “Shows You Must Watch”, I shall introduce you [or for those who have seen them, together we reminisce], some of the most beautiful anime series to have ever hit the torrents.

Beautifully Mysterious: Mushishi

This is a story about Mushi, supernatural creatures invisible to the normal person’s naked eye. They are creatures of eccentric living habits, very basic instincts and behave much like any other organic, non-sentient beings. However, they come into contact with people once in a while, causing strange illnesses and various phenomena.

It revolves around Ginko, a Mushi Master [Mushi-Shi], who travels from place to place, helping people in their troubles against these mysterious life forms.

Unlike many anime that attempts a theme of supernatural and paranormal beings, Mushishi is a show that emphasizes less on dramatic or flashy scenes, and more towards the magical and mystifying nature of things humans do not truly understand.

Mushishi tells its compelling tales through beautiful landscapes, peaceful music and passionate monologues. For those who lack appreciation for fine art, this would appear to be an EXTREMELY boring anime. Of course, very few would stay long enough to fully appreciate its true beauty.

Beautifully Romantic: Honey and Clover

Romantic comedies are a popular theme among manga and anime creators, but very few have ever managed to escape the classic formula of harem, reverse harem and unresolved sexual tension. Those that do, though, often came out to be quite fascinating.

Honey and Clover is one of those few. It tells the stories of three young men, students of an art university, living their comedic lives and their romantic struggles. They are fellow housemates, and each of them are involved in a romantic triangle of sorts, on top of various other real-life challenges such as graduating and finding a job.

In a culture where romance has almost always been portrayed as ideal, beautiful, and always with a happy ending, Honey and Clover explores the reality of romance. We get shy, we get ourselves misunderstood, and we get ourselves – and sometimes our loved ones – hurt. Love, as showcased in Honey and Clover, is indeed intoxicatingly beautiful, but it is also excruciatingly painful.

Romance, in reality, is like that. With beautiful music and dramatic dialogue, Honey and Clover is definitely one of the best romance shows I’ve ever seen. I can watch it again and again, and still feel like crying every single time I reach the end.

Beautifully Artistic: Beyond the Clouds

Shinkai Makoto is an up-and-rising anime director. He has so far created some short home videos, several OP sequences for visual novels, and two theatrical films. I’d like to talk about one of his most popular works, which had practically shoved the spotlight into his face.

The Promised Place Beyond the Clouds is a theatrical anime feature which made its debut in 2004. It is a romantic science fiction about a childhood promise. Three friends had promised to journey together to a distant place beyond the clouds. However, when one of them slipped into a coma, the other two could only press on forward with their lives, and the promise remained only a distant memory-until a mysterious event forced them to rebuild that dream.

Beyond the Clouds is probably one of the most visually awe-inspiring anime movies I’ve ever seen. Of course, well, I don’t know if he’s as imaginative as Miyazaki, but I can say that Shinkai is definitely fantastic on a different level. The movie explores the lines between dreams and reality, and Beyond the Clouds pulls it off spectacularly with surreal visuals and a brilliant musical score.

After you watch this one, I suggest you go find Hoshi no Koe, and then his latest film, 5 Centimeters Per Second.

Beautifully Tragic: Jigoku Shoujo

Horror is a common genre in various forms of pop culture, and anime is no exception that. Out of the few horror anime I’ve come across [I'm not a big fan of being scared to death], there is one that I believe deserves extra attention – at least to deviate the spotlight away from the “Horror = Hellsing” stereotype.

Every modern human society is not without it’s dark side. Some people live humble, earnest lives, and some pursue proud, deceptive and greedy ones. Where injustices roam free, many have wished to exact vengeance, and but very few actually manage to do so. Enter Enma Ai, the mysterious maiden with blood-red eyes, who will take vengeance on your behalf, and literally drag your enemy directly down to the depths of darkness and ferry them beyond the Gates of Hell.

Jigoku Shoujo is, in essence, a horror anime. However, it doesn’t need to use zombies, ghosts, mutants, epic screams or dramatic psychotic violin shrieks to scare you. In fact, it doesn’t even try to scare you. Jigoku Shoujo doesn’t bring darkness in the form of demons or evil spirits, but from the deepest, darkest corners of the gentle human heart.

It explores the farthest extremes of anguish, despair, fear, hatred and all the dark things that burn your soul with fury everytime you think about it. Evil, at the end of the day, comes from within mankind itself, and Jigoku Shoujo shows that vengeance, though it may prove to be a satisfying end, is perhaps more bitter than it is sweet.

Tragedy has never been as beautiful as this.

Beautifully Magical: Someday’s Dreamers

Someday’s Dreamers is, I think, one of the most underrated shows ever. It is a slice-of-life story about Yume, and young Mage undergoing apprenticeship with a qualified, licensed Mage. Yes, to be a Mage, one must abide by laws created for them. Anyone with magical ability must receive training, undergo tests, and qualify for a license before they can use their powers. To perform any act of Magic without any official record is against the law, the tortfeasor will suffer punishment.

Such is the world where Magic is fully acknowledged and utilised by a modern society. A Mage is practically just like any other working professional. He earns an income by casting a spell at a client’s request and lives a humble life just like any other working man. Yes, the theme is magic and sorcery, but Someday’s Dreamers explores various themes and ideas that lay beyond the flashy visuals of magic.

Since it is set in a modern society, a Mage is subject to everything else any normal person is subjected to. Mistakes, paperwork, bills, taxes, grocery shopping and in some occasions, difficulties in romance. Magic is bound to the law, and therefore cannot be abused to freely fulfill one’s will.

Someday’s Dreamers gives you a chance to imagine things like “Ah, if there was such a thing as Magic, how would modern society be like?”. Forget manipulating Chi or Chakra, or wielding magic wands and reading off spells from tomes. True Magic comes from the heart, and is utilised only as society sees it fit. Like Mushishi, any typical tightwad Narutard would wave this off as an extremely dull show.

But trust me, if you gave it a chance, you’ll be able appreciate the charm of Magic like you’ve never imagined it before.

What’s Next?

Next week, we’ll take a look at some all-time anime classics. Stay tuned! =D

PS: I think when it’s completed, I’ll add Kurenai to this list – or maybe not :p