Amaranth Of Anime

Version 1.0 Autumn Secrets

2008-05-18T21:39:00.002-06:00

This was the first ever layout of Amaranth of Anime- my anime review site. It featured Haruka Suzumiya and Mitsuke Hayase of the series Kimi Ga Nozomu Eien.

It was, as you can see, a darker layout, but in a melancholic way. I think if you've ever watched the series, you'd understand. =) I don't remember where the original image was from, sorry. x_x I extracted it, naturally, for this layout.

It's mostly blacks, browns, reds and yellows- pretty much autumn colors, hence the title.

This layout was up for an excruciatingly long time- mostly because I never had time to devote to the site in the first place, so just kinda stuck with this one.

Ranma ½ - Final Thoughts

2007-04-19T15:55:00.000-06:00

Mkay, I've seen all 161 episodes of Ranma, and I gotta say...what a freakin' let down. I'll explain my reaction in a bit, one sec. Just so you know, I'm not reviewing any more Ranma eps, and you'll know why.

If you're one of those people that watch an anime for the "journey" of it, when you have nothing better to do, for chillaxing purposes, or for entertainment, then sure- go ahead, knock yourselves out. Ranma's cool for that. =) BUT if you're someone like me, who loves all of the above, but also wants a story's plot to go somewhere, then you will be as sadly disappointed as I was.

As I mentioned before, the anime series has 161 episodes. With so many, you'd think the plot were really going somewhere, right? Wrong! There are many plots that could have been taken anywhere, but instead, this anime just...stops. Yup, just like that. There are random fillers [some rather annoying], but mostly, the anime keeps you feeling like "YAY! The Jusenkyo Curse will be solved!...or not."

How exactly does the show end, you're wondering? Glad you asked. Well, Akane and Ranma are going to be late for school, as usual, so they're rushing to get out, and Akane pauses at the top of a hill, looking back at her home landscape. Ranma shows up on the screen, telling Akane to hurry up. She says, "Okay," and the two of them stare at the scene for a second or two longer. Then, they bid us, the viewer farewell, and head off to school.

And that is how this series ends.

So I think you can tell now, why I'm not going to waste my time reviewing a series that I've seen in it's entirety, and realize it's pretty much like a bunch of fillers grouped together and given a name. My only hope is that OVA or Movies will bring it home or this ship is sunk. -_-'

Maybe it's just the style of all the animators who animate for Takahashi. Inuyasha had a crappy ending, too. >.<

Quote:

"Let it be a dream for now." --Ranma Saotome

Kimi Ga Nozomu Eien: Episode 1

2007-03-18T14:00:00.000-06:00

This show opens with some very pretty piano music. A blue-haired girl does some laps in a pool, while a girl with short orange hair watches, presumably a friend. Then we see a guy with black hair talking to a guy with orange hair about college. Cool, seems realistic enough, which isn't always seen in anime.

The four characters walk home together, the guys joking around in a way that my friends and I sometimes do, so that was kinda cute. There's this whole ridiculous hand-holding thing that happens, though, between the black haired guy (Takayuki) and Haruka (orange-haired girl). This is after he agrees to go out with her.

Hrm...I'm not liking the way Mitsuki's...well, I'm not liking the vibe between her and Takayuki. It's just not...kosher. That is, it seems like she definitely likes him now that she's gotten to know him and the only thing that's keeping her from going out with him is the fact that Haruka, her best friend, is dating him. Make sense? O.o

Overall: It looks like a cute show, the music is awesome, I love the piano theme, it's so soothing! Mitsuki's hair looks like it's going to take over the world someday, for sure. Haruka is being one of those prissy, blush-at-everything characters I don't like too much.

On the whole, it seems like a very plausible anime...something I could see actually happening, which makes for a refreshing change. Don't get me wrong, I love buildings collapsing and butt-kicking as much as the next guy, but sometimes, you just wanna chillax, y'know?

Quote:

"You know? They call people like you "idiots" in today's society." --Hayase Mitsuki

Ouran High School Host Club: Episode 9

2007-03-18T13:43:00.000-06:00

Mkay, I don't consider myself anti-gay or anything, but the lesbian tendencies of the Zuka Club really did piss me off. >.< They were so presumptious and overly forward. Ugh... Especially Benibara, the leader.

They pretty much try to convince Haruhi to come to Lobelia Girls' Academy and ditch Ouran, which has "no history", etc, etc. She opts to stay, saying she came here to fulfill a dream of hers, and that's that.

It was worth it to sit through the annoying trio's warbling to see the guys cross dress in the end. The fact that Mori-kun was still dressed as a guy reminded me of that one part at the end of Fushigi Yuugi, where they're all going to a hot spring and Mitsukake can't pass for a woman even though he tries. =P

The Lobelia girls are a little over the top about everything, aren't they? With Benibara's farewell promise, I get the irritating feeling we'll be seeing more of the trio later on. Bleh.

Quote:

"Men are lowly life forms that think of nothing save for their own reputation. They change their own worthlessness of not being able to defend themselves to something more convenient. And how abominable of them to make it seem as if we have to thank them." --Hinako Tsuwabaki

Bleach: Episode 1

2007-03-18T13:14:00.000-06:00

The show opens with a strange landscape, brilliant new moon, black butterfly, and a mysterious girl with a long bang cutting her face in half. Hrm... The cliché "mysteriousness" has already settled in.

Enter Bishounen #1: Kurosaki Ichigo. Right from the get go, we're told he can see, talk to and touch ghosts. Clearly he's going to be the "special powers endowed" main character. Mkay, nothing new there.

Moving along, we are treated to the site of a butt-ugly queero. Apparently, it's called a "Hollow". Whatever. So Ichigo helps out his ghost friends, gets into fights with his dad, and we see he has two younger sisters, no mother. Still doesn't seem too different.

Enter: Kuchiki Rukia. Apparently, she's a Shinigami who's here to dispatch the Hollow. Ichigo doesn't believe her for a second, so she slaps a binding spell on him. The Hollow ends up endangering Ichigo's family, and he busts out with some of those inhuman powers, breaks free of the binding, and gets his ass kicked by the Hollow. Rukia risks her life to protect him. Time's running out and with 0 seconds left on the clock, Ichigo agrees to have himself stabbed with Rukia's sword. O.o

Yea, that part doesn't fit the mold. By stabbing the sword through Ichigo, Rukia was able to transfer her Shinigami powers to him. Although she intended to only transfer half, he somehow managed to suck all of her powers. He gets a spiffy, ginormous sword. ^^ It has a tassel! XD

Overall: The characters are really pretty likable, especially Ichigo with his overreacting to Rukia's explanation and Rukia's evil bunny drawings. XD At the same time, it seems like a typical tale: boy is cool, boy meets girl, girl stabs boy with sword. Okay so maybe not typical, but aside from the introduction of Hollows, it seems to not have anything major to offer.

The show was gripping enough that I definitely intend to watch the next show. =P Maybe there will be some surprises! ^__^ Rukia's bang annoys me, though. >.>;

Quote:

"We have no form, therefore we fear it,
And because we are formless, we revere it.
Thus we are slain." --Bleach: Episode 01

Death Note: Episode 2

2007-02-09T11:58:00.000-06:00

This episode really shows how freaky those evil geniuses are. In order to hide his Death Note, Light goes through all the trouble of not only creating a false bottom for his drawer, but also rigs up a chemical shitstorm. Really, if you don't get the Death Note out just so, it'll blow everything up.

Back in normal people land, Interpol [International Police Gathering Dealy] has gotten together and has no clue what to do about this phenomenon. Criminals are dying left and right of heart attacks. Among the masses, the perpetrator is known as "Kira" (derived from "killer"). Then, one of the cops mentions the mysterious "L".

Dead silence follows. Apparently, this "L" person is some superly genius person who no one's seen or can contact. The only one who's able to contact "L" is an equally enigmatic "Watari". "L" has solved countless, unsolvable cases and is this amazing detective. But they say he only works on cases that interest him.

Enter Watari. He waltzes in, claiming "L" has already been working on the Kira case. Furthermore, he has a message for Interpol. Interpol decides they will work with "L" and give him their complete cooperation, etc.

L is a freakin genius, I love him. I mean, the way he narrows down the search?! Amazing! We get a sneak peak at some of his profile, so, clearly, I'd say he's young. By the end of the show, it's Kira vs. L...good stuff.

Additionally, we're treated to some more of Light (aka Kira)'s psychoticness.

Quote:

"So, they're both trying to find someone they know nothing about, and whoever is found first, is dead. Humans really are interesting!" --Ryuk

Death Note: Episode 1

2007-02-03T14:49:00.000-06:00

Think: Elephant Graveyard. At least, that's what I thought when I first saw the opening shots of Death Note. Apparently it's Shinigami World- dark, dreary, and pretty much a dead-end place to be in. We're introduced casually to someone called "Ryuk".

Back in the normal human world, there's some genius kid called Light Yagami. He sees a black notebook with the words "Death Note" written on it fall randomly outside his classroom window. When he leaves, he picks it up against his better judgment. He didn't want to take it because of the sick "rules" written on the inside.

Apparently, writing a human's name in the book will cause them to die of cardiac arrest (heart attack) in 40 seconds. Additionally, you can write a human's name and within 6 minutes 40 seconds, write how you want them to die, and that will happen. Light is disgusted.

At the same time, he's intrigued. Smart people are queer like that. Anywho, he decides to test it out by writing the name of a dude who's holding nursery school children hostage after having commited I think 8 murders? In 40 seconds, the dude = x_x

Now Light's freaked. He can kill people as long as he knows their name and has their face in his mind! Being the smart asshole that he is, he decides this needs testing. He goes to a bookstore, and out of the window, a woman's about to be gangraped by some queeros. He writes in the Death Note that he wants the leader to get into an accident and die.

The woman tries running away, and the leader gets on his motorcycle to chase her. Ginormous semi completely pwns him. So gangbang leader = x_x

Light can only imagine the possiblities. He goes all out.

Oh, and yea, Shinigami have a craving for apples. Apparently, they're "juicy". =D The Shinigami tells Light that there's no consequence for having the Death Note aside from human psychological trauma. This does not seem to faze Light for very long. -_-'

Overall: This opening theme was uh...not my thing, to put it lightly. I hated it. -_-' But the show itself beyond blew me away. Intense, gripping, with loads of potential. EVERYONE should watch this- EVERYONE!!!! ^__^

Quote:

"Damn...start looking around you and all you see are people the world would be better off without." --Light Yagami

Samurai Champloo: Episode 1

2007-01-19T22:26:00.000-06:00

A catchy, hiphop/rap opening theme is followed by an unusual warning. Interesting. The show moves on and we see a blood red sunset and a voice informing us that two prisoners, by the names of "Mugen" and "Jin", will be beheaded at sunrise.

The scene then flashes back to the previous day, where we see the rough-around-the-edges Mugen enter a tea shop. The magistrate's son and his cronies are clearly causing trouble. Mugen enters and orders water, but a waitress in a pink kimono informs him that they don't serve people that only order water. However, Mugen wants to strike a deal.

For 50 dumplings, he'll get rid of the rude dudes. The waitress decides to haggle and tries to push the price down to 20 dumplings. She quickly rescinds and doubles his OWN offer of 50 dumplings when the magistrate's son decides he wants to chop off some of her fingers.

Meanwhile, the bespectacled ronin Jin is standing amidst a crowd where the local magistrate is being his presumably usual, corrupt self. Hustling a poor old guy. Jin steps in and claims the magistrate and his samurai are in Jin's way and they'd best move. When they decide to attack, Jin busts out some of his moves. XD They never do learn, do they? ph34r t3h 0bs1d14n 0n3s! Lol, lil inside joke there, but moving on...

Mugen is quickly getting bored with simply fighting the useless guys and starts counting down ten seconds by breaking the magistrate's son's fingers. That is how long the other guys have for bringing someone suitable to match Mugen. After about four seconds, Jin randomly walks in.

Seeing a worthy adversary at last, Mugen and Jin start dueling. During the fight, the teashop place goes up in flames. The flames bring us back to the present time (it's actually earlier than that part at the beginning), where Jin and Mugen are tied up and waiting for the morning when they will be executed. They spent the night being tortured. T_T

The waitress from earlier (we figure out her name is "Fuu"), tries to free them during the night, explaining that since she has no place left to go (no family and no work now that the shop's burned down) she's going to set out on a quest to find a "Sunflower Samurai", and that Mugen and Jin could be her bodyguards. She will get them out of the cell if they agree to this. She isn't able to, though, on account of a guard starting to chase her.

Come morning and we see Fuu striking a deal at a shop (she got whatever she wanted for free) and then starts running through the streets. Yea, those jugs aren't real. =P She just shoved the bombs she acquired down her kimono for safekeeping, as she still had a ladder to "borrow".

Jin and Mugen are not taking their execution lying down, however. In fact, they're on their feet and slicing people up with their m4d sk1llz. XD Well, it's true. >.> Still, Fuu's fireworks definitely help them make a quick, little noticed getaway.

Upon rescuing them, in a manner of speaking, Fuu insists that they're now her bodyguards. The men just want to fight each other. -_-' So, Fuu, being the Great Compromiser that she is, offers another deal. Heads or Tails. If it's "tails", they have to listen to her, if it's "heads", they can go on fighting.

Mugen grabs the coin and chucks it into the air. For a while, it seems it won't be returning. When it finally does, it hits Fuu smack in the head. Tails.

Overall: This show is literally captivating from the first episode. Heck, right from the opening theme that's different from most series'. In addition, the animation style is distinct and has a certain flavor to it. I would highly recommend everyone to see this series, based just on the first ep. I can only imagine the other 25 episodes are just as awesome if not more so. Go check it out!

Fuu definitely knows what she's doing. That's one independent chick! =P

Quote:

Mugen: Wasn't it a dream? All of a sudden, the place started burning and...
Jin: No, it wasn't.
Mugen: Oh yeah, you were in a tub butt-naked.
Jin: -eye twitch- That was a dream.

"You suck from every standpoint." --Jin

"I'm not bald! This is my hairstyle!" --guard

Jin: Are you ready for this? [their public execution]
Mugen: I'm ready every time I see the sun rise.

"This guy doesn't know the meaning of 'control'." --Jin

Ranma ½: Episode 1

2007-01-16T18:14:00.000-06:00

This show opens with a red-haired girl in Chinese clothes fighting a panda in the raining streets of Japan. Since the girl keeps shouting things at the panda, we're led to believe the panda understands human speech- and hey, it's anime, right? =P Periodically, the panda expresses his emotions through signs. No, wait, it gets better! XD

Enter the Tendo Dojo, where the owner of the dojo, Soun Tendo, has three daughters. Kasumi [19], Nabiki [17] and Akane [16]. Apparently, Soun Tendo has decided that the son of a good friend of his [and fellow follower of the Anything-Goes School of Martial Arts] will marry one of his daughters. There are mixed feelings about this among the girls.

Furthermore, it is announced that this friend, by the name of Genma Saotome, will be arriving that very afternoon, along with his son, Ranma Saotome. Almost immediately, a knock is heard and the guests arrive.

Or at least, a panda and red-haired girl do, anyways. The red-haired girl introduces herself as none other than Ranma Saotome! Following a queer series of events [in which the girls decide that a guest is a guest even if he ends up being a girl when you expected him to be a boy] the girls take Ranma in.

The youngest of the girls, Akane, has a friendly match with the newcomer while we see the panda take a hot bath. After which, we are treated to a teary-eyed scene of Soun Tendo and some other guy apparently discussing something.

After the sparring match, Kasumi suggests that Ranma go take a bath to relax. She does so. Akane goes in later, not knowing Ranma's still in there- and anyhow, it shouldn't matter since they're both girls, right?

Eh, maybe. =P

For some reason, there's a black-haired boy in the bathroom instead. A "pervert" as Akane sees him. O.o?!

Turns out, there're are these springs in China where Genma and Ranma went to train. Since someone's drowned in every one of these springs, they've been cursed. Whoever next falls into the spring takes on the form of whatever drowned there when doused with cold water and resumes their normal form when soaked with hot water. Thus Genma fell into the Spring of Drowned Panda and Ranma fell into the Spring of Drowned Girl.

While they got along very well as girls, now that Ranma proves to be a boy, Akane and Ranma seem to despise each other. This may have something to do with seeing each other n3kk1d...twice. >.> Although he fully gets slapped, I can't deny that he has a point.

Waaah, but boy Ranma is shoo cute!!!

Overall: This series definitely looks hilarious. Lighter, yes, but with so many depressing animes out there, it's good to see something lighthearted and just plain hilarious. Umm, in addition, there seems to be a copious amount of nudity and gropage. Watch at your own risk! ^_-

Quote:

"The point is, I absolutely refuse to marry someone like you!" --Tendo Akane

Ouran High School Host Club: Episode 8

2006-12-28T15:33:00.000-06:00

I like this ep for a few reasons. First of all, you get to see Tamaki hold out against talking to Haruhi for a while (see, he's not a complete pushover), and second of all, Haruhi is not infallible. So good character senses are coming out. =)

At the private beach (Ootori family's, naturally), these pimps start bothering some girls that designate Haruhi, so she goes there to tell 'em to shove off. Uh, yea, then she gets tossed over a cliff (screenshot 1). XD But don't worry, Tamaki rescues her (screenshot 2). ^__^

Well, he gets mad at her, telling her that she should consider the fact that she's really a girl before she goes running headlong into things (like those pimps, for example). Haruhi insists that she did nothing wrong, therefore, apologizes for bothering them, but refuses to say that in saving the girls, she was in the wrong. So Tamaki gets upset and refuses to speak to her.

Most of the Host Club doesn't think that'll work out well, but he holds out. Then, during dinner (in which Haruhi eats waay too much crab [which looks really gross popping out, too, ick!]), Haruhi realizes that everyone was worried about her, so apologizes to them. Still, she doesn't yet realize the rest of it.

Ah, enter Kyouya-kun! ^__^ He totally gets in a tent about it (lol, sry, inside joke there XD). By pretending to act as though he'll rape her, Kyouya's finally able to make Haruhi see that there can be some circumstances to being a girl (screenshot 3).

Tamaki comes in and finds out Haruhi's deathly afraid of thunder and comforts her, and all is well with the world (screenshot 4). The end. =P

WAAAHHH!! Kyouya's so dainty!!

Quote:

"I'll be here for you from now on. I'll try to have an eye on you so that you won't ever end up alone." --Suou Tamaki

Da Capo: Episode 5

2006-12-28T15:26:00.000-06:00

Even though it's really not his fault, seeing as how he's of the male species and it was inevitable, I've decided Asakura is a pervert, too. Well, he's the best mannered perv, and doesn't take advantage of his situations...of which there have been many...XD.

Add into the mix a mysterious, genuinely cat-eared girl with a hot bod, and really, Asakura's been holding up real well. So clearly Yoriko-san is from the dream he had of the mysterious girl, cept that she's probably the cat. o_o But like Asakura mentioned earlier, if you've got half mages, robots and other junk, why should a cat-eared girl be so unbelievable?

Poor girl was being bullied. T_T And as for that bastard grandma, I wanted to punch her in the face. Those are the kinds of kids and parents/grandparents that I just HATE! Fix YOUR kid, HE was in the wrong!!

Lol, greetings in the park. =D

That Suginami sure gets around, eh? O.o Plus, he reminds me of Tamahome from Fushigi Yuugi. Doesn't he?

And yea, seeing a bra sends Asakura into a nosebleed. -_-' But mostly that's the thought of what it's NOT being used for. XD

Quote:

"It must be nice to be you. Unlike me, you can go anywhere..." --Mysterious Girl

Ouran High School Host Club: Episode 7

2006-12-28T15:24:00.000-06:00

Ginormous Indoor Beach Resort, FTW!! (screenshot 1, lol). Kyouya's family freakin' owns everything. o_o They pwn all! >:D

Ahem...anyways. So there's this gargantuan indoor resort that his family owns and he's let the Host Club use it on a "special premiere invitation", as it's officially opening next month. Of course, that means there are probably still some bugs to be worked out. Like the crocodiles (screenshot 2). They find out about those after trying to rescue Honey-senpai without first consulting Kyouya about the resort's layout (screenshot 3). -_-'

In the end, though, Honey's fine, they haven't decided if he's just cute or "deep" as well. O.o And Mori-kun is worried. =P Umm, what else?

Oh, yea, Honey is a karate and judo champion who can kick anyone's ass and Mori-senpai is a kendo champion and well able to whoop ass, too (screenshot 4). O.o Who would have thought?

Quote:

"It's only okay for girls to show skin when they get married." --Suou Tamaki

Da Capo: Episode 4

2006-12-28T15:20:00.000-06:00

Yet more pervy situations. =P Somehow, it seems inevitable. Well, with a little vixen like Sakuranbo, I guess they're hard to avoid. And of course, Nemu gets pissed.

Poor Asakura, dude, his favorite bread like, hates him. XD Ah well, it made Kotori talk to him, so I guess it's all good. And geez, those guys in the choir room are all like, horny bastards, Asakura being the only normal one, surprisingly.

Poor Kotori, she can read other peoples' minds. T_T

I felt unexpectedly bad for Kotori, and that makes her more of a dynamic character. Although I still don't understand why she'd stand around randomly and sing under sakura trees, but hey, to each his own. =P Asakura's food troubles are also somewhat heartwarming. =P I'm just hating Sakuranbo more and more, but that's probably because I rather detest those vixen types.

Nemu I'm not sure about just yet. o_o

And what's with the constant cooking on the roof?!

Quote:

"No, it's better if you can't read other people's minds." --Shirakawa Kotori

Da Capo: Episode 3

2006-12-28T15:15:00.000-06:00

Why is it that every female character thinks even the slightest bit of physical contact is sexual? Or at least, requires erotic sound effects? >.> So, I guess Miharu is a robot (screenshot 1, that's a hole in the middle of her back). o_o

Turns out the real Miharu got in an accident and some doctor dudes or scientists or whatnot created a robot that's supposedly just like a human. 'Cept for that she overheats every now and then. =P After eating bananas, for instance...(screenshot 2).

I feel really sad for the Robot Miharu, though, because...ionno. T_T If I was a robot, I don't think I'd like to be just like the person I was designed after. So props to her for really trying (screenshot 3). =)

A copious amount of innuendoes abound when Juunichi first discovers Miharu's robotness (screenshot 4). Meh, Why do I call him Juunichi when everyone in the anime calls him either onii-chan or Asakura-senpai?! >.<

Overall, I really liked this episode. The anime's definitely getting kinda silly, but also deeper, what with the real Miharu being in a coma and all that jazz. This reminds me a bit of Kimi Ga Nozomu Eien for two reasons. 1) Miharu's hairstyle is almost identical to Haruka's younger sister's. 2) Haruka was also in a coma.

Quote:

"And this...is a person's warmth, right?" --Amakase Miharu

D.N Angel: Episode 1

2006-12-28T15:07:00.000-06:00

Hrm...this Niwa Daisuke dude is quite the wuss, I'd say. But ah, well, can't be helped. He likes one of his friends, Harada Risa, but it becomes clear [in anime terms, that is] that her older twin sister, Riku likes Daisuke. Risa doesn't like him because she's stuck up the ass. >.> Well, that may've been a bit harsh, but seriously, she wants a "cool" bf, like, wtf? You're 14, buttwipe!!

Ahem...as I say...it's a love triangle, I guess, in the beginning, at least. It goes like this: Riku --> Daisuke --> Risa --> Dark --> ?

Make that a love square. -_-' Daisuke ends up not giving his love note to Risa since she called hime a "great friend" and that of course, shuns him into the "just friends" category of things. Poor guy. Turns out, his mom and grandpa [who he lives with] have been training him since birth because he has an alter ego. o_o Dark, naturally.

The DNA of Dark that's inside Daisuke's body reacts to feelings of love. So, when Daisuke sees a picture of Risa, he transforms to Dark, and vice versa. At the end of the series, though, he reverts back to Daisuke.

It doesn't help that while he's Dark and just finished stealing an art piece, he lands on the Harada's balcony and kisses Riku. -_-'

Overall Impression: Despite my lame review-cum-summary, this was really a jam packed first ep, with quite a bit of action going on. Especially the opening scene which features the fight between Dark and Krad forty years ago. I'm guessing here, because clearly it could be nothing else. Definitely something that makes you want to watch the next ep.

I just really hate Risa. ^__^ She's a dumb twit. Her sister's much more practical and less vain.

Quote:

"I guess it wouldn't be interesting if it didn't turn out like this." --Hiwatari Satoshi

Da Capo: Episode 2

2006-12-28T15:03:00.000-06:00

More of that brother/sister relationship?! O.o Whatever, yo. So this show brings up a good question: if you're not blood related, but you've lived as brother and sister and all that jazz [not like fosters, really, but kinda], then is a relationship still classified as incest? O.o Maybe we'll find out in this series (screenshot 1).

Umm, lemme see now...Nemu's definitely jealous, that much is obvious. Clearly, Juunichi's opening dream says that he's totally thinking and/or wanting a relationship, too, but being a guy, probably doesn't know it yet. And what's with apologizing in the bathroom (screenshot 2)? O.o

Girls are good at that "cold shoulder" thing (screenshot 3). =P And yea, like, erotic massages ftw!! >.>;; (screenshot 4)

Quote:

"If I walked and walked, but didn't reach home...if something stupid like that happened, then I'd be glad." --Juunichi Asakura

Ouran High School Host Club: Episode 6

2006-12-23T22:46:00.000-06:00

This show starts with a young boy in a green, middle schooler's uniform (screenshot 1). He looks more like he'd be in elementary school, in my opinion, but whatever. He goes to the Third Music Room (i.e. Host Club Headquarters) and asks to be apprenticed to the Host Club's "King" (i.e. Tamaki). The boy is apparently one Takaouji Shirou.

Anyhow, Tamaki, taken away by the boy's cry of help, compassionately agrees, and hence, Shirou is allowed to observe Tamaki at his work...up close (screenshot 2). Unfortunately, he's a little too frank, and kinda ruins some business for Tamaki. As punishment, a steel cage drops on him and he's quarantined. Not for the first time, Haruhi wonders if this truly is just an unused music room.

One of the things I love about this anime is how they point out these little things. When random doorways pop up, steel cages drop from the ceiling, or other random stuff happens, the characters actually realize it's not normal. =P

So anyways, Shirou is quarantined, and in his despair, he let's slip that he doesn't have enough time. The Host Club's Manager, Renge, pops up via signature "High Power Motor", and attempts to change Shirou's character into something appealing for women. She settles on the "Reckless Boy" type, (called "naughty" in the anime). He's supposed to be somewhat mysterious, runnnig around a lot, with random bruises and such. For some reason, I thought of Li Shaoran from Cardcaptor Sakura the entire time. o_o

Turns out, as the group finds out upon a trip to the middle school (not without sneaking in one of Tamaki's fantasies/fetishes of Haruhi) that Shirou wanted to get closer to a classmate of his. The girl would be moving to Germany soon, and Tamaki helps bring the two lovebirds together. They play the piano happily in the end (screenshot 4).

Oh, and it turns out, being a player is easy- at least for Shirou. Tamaki insists he was nothing like that when Haruhi mentions that the kid and Tamaki seem identical.

Quote:

"One cannot underestimate a kid's eyes..." --Kaoru and Hikaru Hitachiin

Ouran High School Host Club: Episode 5

2006-12-22T23:09:00.000-06:00

Probably one of my favorite shows, by far. This one focuses on the twins (gotta love them). You get to see a glimpse of their childhoods, and a shot that's repeated throughout the show is one of them holding each other' little mittened hands (How cute!! Screenshot 1, btw).

It was around this time that they invented a game: "Which one is Hikaru?". The object of the game is, of course, to guess which twin is which. Even though it started off as a light sort of game, and Hikaru and Kaoru both still use it as a host technique, it's obvious it's become more than just a game to them (screenshot 2).

They do everything together and look completely identical. Their personalities are quite similar, too. Yet, it seems they'd really like for someone to be able to tell them apart- to see them as individuals instead of a collective whole. Brilliant. =D

Anyhow, so because of a random personality obvservation that dear Haruhi made, the twins start arguing and have their first fight. Being that they're now disgusted with each other, in an effort to distinguish themselves from one another, they change their hairstyles (unknowningly, both ended up having the same style anyways) and their hair colors (screenshot 3) O_o Yea, their fight escalates from verbal to...throwing things and people at each other (screenshot 4). 0_0

Overall, as I said, one of my favorite eps thus far. It really helps build Hikaru and Kaoru's characters beyond the little twin devils they are for the Club. And of course, you get a glimpse into their pasts and their bowl-haircut middle school selves. =D They're so cute!!

Quote:

"While I have no clue what you're saying, I have deduced that your imagination has no coherence whatsoever." --Ootori Kyouya

Ouran High School Host Club: Episode 4

2006-12-21T14:57:00.000-06:00

This episode opens with a seriously obsessed fangirl of some video game or other (screenshot 1). Upon seeing a picture of one of her dad's business partner's son, she decides he's the same guy from the game is goes and engages herself to him. For those who haven't figured it out, it's Ootori Kyouya. There he is in his very own shoujo background, with falling petals and all. ^^

She decides the Host Club is too bubbly and "good" and (after quickly making herself the manager of the club), decides everyone needs a "dark" side. The Hitachiin brothers need to be basketball players living in a world of their own (?! Why basketball? No one knows). Honey needs to be a bully with some mental problems? Mori needs to be Honey's underling, on pain of physical abuse. Tamaki is suited best for being the "lonely prince" type, I guess (screenshot 3). He becomes ecstatic about this and immediately starts posing.

Kyouya is apparently perfect. -_-'

Renge (the girl) goes about getting a film ready for the event (that's Honey displaying his dark side in screenshot 4), but after a spot of mild violence, Kyouya declares the movie unfit to be produced. He edits it and profits off of it in the end though. XDD

Overall, a cool episode, however, I gotta say, Renge was pretty darn annoying. >.< Her insistence and her obsession both. o.o

Quote:

"If you classify people into categories, then you won't be able to see what's really important." --Fujioka Haruhi

Ouran High School Host Club: Episode 3

2006-12-20T19:22:00.000-06:00

Interesting ep. So there's like, pictures of the Host Club, just randomly compiled into magazines (it's how they make their money, lol). Umm, this ep included stripping, physical examinations (^_- we all know what happens there, right?) random pervs, and a plot to hide Haruhi's identity! Or at least, keep it hidden.

And of course, who you gonna call when you got a perv on ya?! PERV BUSTERS!!

And yet again, we see a glimpse of something beyond the exterior "glamorous prince" façade. That little compassionate side.

^__^

Quote:

"That's something for him to ascertain himself." --Suou Tamaki

Ouran High School Host Club: Episode 2

2006-12-17T21:32:00.000-06:00

This episode was full of teacups, dance parties, a reunited love and lesbian kisses, wtf?! O.o lol, craziness ensues once more. The little bit in the beginning gives you an idea of just how ridiculously rich everyone at Ouran is.

Tamaki, in all his romanticist glory, decides to help two lovers get together, since they feel the other doesn't share the same feelings for one reason or another.

An extravagant dance party sets the stage for the plan in which there is a slight misunderstanding, but all's well that ends well.

Except that Haruhi's first kiss goes to a girl, through a weird series of events. =P

Awesome second ep. Has the effect of showing that the Club isn't completely shallow, and they will, on occasion, steer people towards true love. ^^

Quote:

"From the moment you wanted to change, you will be able to change..." --Fujioka Haruhi

Ouran High School Host Club: Episode 1

2006-12-17T15:48:00.000-06:00

Catchy opening, copious amount of bishies- within the first few seconds this anime seemed promising (screenshots 1 and 2). =P

After fatefully breaking an expensive vase, Fujioka Haruhi is pressed into the service of the "Host Club" at the obnoxiously rich school she's attending on full scholarship (screenshot 3). The school "is defined by one, prestigious families, and two, wealth" (Episode 1).

The Host Club runs on the theory that all these rich people have time, so a bunch of bishies got together to indulge all female with their pick of male anime char stereotype. Fanservice of a sort. =P President of said Club, Suou Tamaki (1st screenie) constantly says outrageous things and is sometimes a blatant liar. He has no tact whatsoever. =P Inadverdently, his words make Haruhi, (see dork in screenshot 4) feel even poorer about being among such rich people.

Clearly he means well, however, because after the little red-haired wench throws Haruhi's stuff in the pond, not only does Tamaki help her get it back, stooping to standing in the pond like a "commoner", he bans the girl from the Host Club. W00t, go Tamaki! ^^

Erm, and at the end, we see that he is the last to find out that Haruhi is, in fact, a girl (screenshot 5). O.o Hrmm...interesting much? Gotta say, I find it really quite promising. Animation's quite nice, too, as is the soundtrack. Storyline's refreshingly different from most others. Definitely check this one out.

Quote:

"No, I'm not as bad as you make me sound..." --Fujioka Haruhi

Da Capo: Episode 1

2006-12-16T17:12:00.000-06:00

Just started a new series, Da Capo and so far, it looks pretty good. =) Let's see now, there was the mysterious girl in the dream (as seen in the first screenshot). A few minutes into the episode and we see the male lead and his non-blood related sister have an unusual relationship (screenie 2), although I can't say for sure whether it's romantic yet or not.

Not long afterwards, the resident female "schmex" char is introduced, shoujo background and all, lol (screenie 3). Anime can be pretty darn predictable. Oh well, we wouldn't love it so much if it weren't.

And, of course, there are the gripping scenes of plot that keep us at the edge of our seats! Or at least, tuning in for the next ep. A "mysterious figure", with eyes neatly out of the frame (4) and a "secret".

Overall Opinion: pretty good, characters are developed rather nicely and personalities are evident.

Quote:

"There's nothing more boring than other people's dreams." -- Asakura Junnichi