Special A and Mahou Tsukai ni Taisetsu na Koto ~Natsu no Sora~

Finally got around to watching some special A.

It's pretty alright. A rivalry between a boy and a girl who've known each other since they were about six or so. No matter how hard Hikari tries she always comes up second to Kei. Uncanny, really. BUT.. twist of fate would have it that even though Hikari views Kei as her ultimate rival in life, he secretly loves her.

Everyone together now: Awwwwwwwwwwwwwwww.

Kei's feelings were released pretty early into the series so I'm not sure where the plot is heading other than lot's of examples of how Kei's feelings are ALMOST explained to Hikari.
Nevertheless, it is a cute comedy/romance anime.



Mahou Tsukai ni Taisetsu na Koto ~Natsu no Sora~, on the other hand, hasn't progressed very far at all. Actually, the first episode moved along very.. very slowly.
Sora is a young girl who is able to use magic. She was accepted to an internship of Magic in the big city of Tokyo and has to move there and complete it.

Yep.. that's about all we learned in the first episode.

Oh, she also made a promise to her Dad. And can make snow.
Hopefully the plot will pick up in future episodes.
On a more positive note, the background illustrations are AMAZING. I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw the first scene. They look like slightly altered pictures of actual landscapes. 'Tis truly amazing.
The great illustrations did help to keep my attention. So I will continue to watch Mahou Tsukai ni Taisetsu na Koto ~Natsu no Sora~ if not for the plot, at least for the beautiful backgrounds.

Veoh is my homeboy

I've been rather busy this past weekend. Haven't watched too many new shows, but managed to start watching Allison and Lillia as well as Vampire Knight.

O. Ma. Lawd.

Vampire Knight is my new late night lovah. It is one of the best shows I have watched in the past couple months. Not sure what it is about the story line that has caught my attention, but before I knew it, I had sat through 8 straight consecutive episodes of it. >.<

I'm working on keeping track of the unlicenced anime I'm watching by uploading them onto Veoh. Rah rah rah Veoh! Veoh has to be one of my favourite video sites because you can both watch AND download. How superb is that?

Sometimes I have a bit of trouble uploading the videos I want to only because I have an mvk version on my computer and when I upload it, it shows up on veoh without the subtitles :( Not sure how to convert it with the subtitles so I have to find a downloadable .avi version or something similar. Ah well.

You can find the videos I'm watching available on my veoh on the right hand tool bar list of "what I'm watching. Easy as pie.

I hope you'll all follow along with me. ^.^

Stike Witches and Sekirei: WOW Fanservice Galore

I'm trying my best to catch up on all the anime I'm oh so far behind on. -_- To help me do so, I started watching the newly released anime; Strike Witches and Sekirei.

...Wow.

Sekirei wasn't too bad. It was enjoyable even.
Minato is a struggling 19 year old failing his second attempt at entering university and feeling pretty bad about it.
By some strange twist of fate he bumps into (more like crashes into) Musubi, a Sekirei; a female warrior in a secret battle against other sekirei to become "God". The only thing is she still needs an Ashikabi to give her wings, a human with special traits able to partner with sekirei. Well wouldn't you know it, her ashikabi turns out to be Minato.


It looks like it's going to be a cute, funny, and romantic anime, something I'll be keeping track of. (even if Musubi's breasts are insanely abnormally large. @_@..)

Now onto Strike Witches..
First, let's examine this picture, shall we?

hmmm..

how many of the characters look like they're wearing pants?
About three I would say.
Can you guess what the other girls are wearing?
No, not boy shorts. Nope, not a skort either.
They're wearing panties. Underwear. Skivies, called by some.
Not only are most of the characters of this show dressed in panties, but they show it off like no tomorrow. I swear your could see the poor girl's vulva in one shot. >.<
Nevertheless, I'll still be continuing to watch Strike Witches, if not in hopes for more pants, at least to solve the mystery behind yoshika's Fathers disappearance.. >_>

Check out Strike Witches and Sekirei and tell me what you think!

Trying to be tactful with Tactics

I've been watching Tactics the past few weeks. So far I've made it up to episode 10 and I have to admit.. I'm barely holding on. The plot is so thin it's practically translucent. Kantarou found and released Haruka in the first episode and all that has happened since then is demon killing and monster taming and ocassional slightly humourous arguments. No real plot advancement, just a bunch of short stories with a different plot each episode.

That type of storyline is similar in Mizushima's xxxHolic. (which I am also currently watching) I don't know whether it's the more intellectually stories in xxxHolic or the unique character design and illustration but I find myself more engaged while watching it.
My only complaint about xxxHolic is how the main character Watanuki acts like such a blatant imbecile around Himawari or whenever she is mentioned. I know deep down inside that it's only a momentary phase of stupidity as hopefully further on in the series he changes into a more confident and secure man. Hopefully..
I DO Like his positivity and willingness to look for the best in everyone. (even Domeki eventually) It's one of the qualities that makes him a likable protagonist. Yuko's beauty, charm, and cleverness wins pretty much everyone's attention right from the beginning. Not to mention her two adorable echoing sidekicks. Even Watanuki's sworn enemy Domeki is likable. Pretty much an allstar cast of enjoyable characters. xxxHolic is an anime I will definitely be finishing.

His and Her Circumstances

I'm about halfway through the series His and Her Circumstances and I have to say it both amazed and disappointed me. Moreso amazed. But yes.. disappointment. They seem to have quite a lot of flashback scenes which I suppose wouldn't seem so irritating if you had been watching the series an episode a week on TV compared to a chunk of episodes at once. But yes, flashbacks always frustrate me and they seem to be used quite a bit in this anime. On a more positive note (I swear I'm an optimist, I SWEAR) the animation style is beautiful. They use quite a few still shots which I am assuming is from the manga. (I have not read it)
They were also not afraid to experiment with different types of animation. The reocurring city surroundings clip played several times in episode 13 while Tsubasa was reflecting upon herself intrigued me. I found it to be a beautifully artistic way to represent that part of her life. It also created a new visual interest for the episode.
Kare Kano is definitely a consuming drama (thankfully not as emotionally exhausting as Peach Girl @_@) and almost every love scene had me on the edge of my seat. Masami Tsuda has the ability to create so much tension and suspense in the seemingly most simple of romantic situations. Things like kissing and hugging, which aren't considered much by North American standards, are given a new and more important standing in the hierarchy of crucial relationship checkpoints. It's enough to make me wish I could relive all my first experiences. Ahhhh to be young again. I am a sucker for romance and His and Her Circumstances has enough to keep me watching the next half of the series. I'm sure it will continue with more learning experiences, personal growth, and Arima and Miyazawa's relationship drama. I do wish the best for them and hope they stay together.

I suppose only time and higher episode numbers will tell >_>