What the Nunally?

What happened to Nunally, yo?So today I noticed the official Code Geass site had been updated with a lot of character images, including this one of Nunally. And now I'm really confused. Apparently at the end of R1, V.V. took Nunally back to Britannia where she was reinstated as a princess with no questions asked, then summarily dropped into a giant robotic teacup. The outfit is undoubtedly royal, looking a good deal like Euphie's dress from the end of R1. But why on earth was Nunally so easily accepted back as royalty? And does she remember her Onii-chan? The Emperor's Geass doesn't work on her because she's blind. Right? What about Rollo's geass? Does that work on her?

Or... my "Rollo and Nunally are twins and spies" theory could be correct, which is why she was so easily accepted back into the ranks of royality. Oh, Nunally you cunning, cunning girl. You heard it here first. Nunally is a spy. And Rollo's twin. And now she's in a giant teacup.

--Ou-bento

Code Geass Ratings

Karen says "Things wouldn't be this bad if you'd just let me come back to Ashford instead of Suzaku."

So apparently Code Geass episode 04 only got some 1.4% viewing in the Kanto region. This ranks pretty high on the surprising scale, as it's a pretty big-name high budget series. My only guess is that everyone heard Suzaku was coming back and they decided not to watch.

Not that I have anything against Suzaku.

Okay, that's pretty much a lie.

--Ou-bento

Nunallo Theory Part III - Are you still taking me seriously?

Seems like every week all I do is make stupid comments about Rollo. All the other blogs are covering Geass so well, I really don't have much to add (although Darlton...a commemorative plate? That's creepy, man).

But as I already theorized from the ending, Rollo is suffering from split alliances, unsure of whether to stay with the angels (Britannia) or turn to the dark side (Lelouch). From the flashback sequence at the beginning, I'm going to have to scrap my Rollo = Nunally theory for now. Which means now I'm going on a Rollo and Nunally are twins campaign. And they're both meant to spy on Lulu. I wonder if Sayako knows and she's been spying on Nunally? CRAZY.

I'm also curious to see the one who gave Rollo his Geass. C.C. gave one to Lulu, and V.V. gave one to our beloved emperor. Or perhaps V.V. also gave one to Rollo, since we know (ala Mao) that at least more than one Geass can be doled out.

--Ou-bento

Avatar the Last Airbender Ep. 55 Comments - Split Loyalties

Avatar Character Comments

These comments are based on episode 55 - The Boiling Rock Part II. No summary or whatnot, because I just feel like making character comments instead. ^_^;; BTW, those episodes were good. As usual. And I know this isn't anime but uh...oh well.

Theory #1: Princess Azula is a prototype robot for the Fire Nation. Every time we see her, she's gotten new upgrades. The latest is the ability to fly. It all makes sense. She shoots electricity, can control her own heartrate, is incredibly strong, never stops to catch her breath...and now she can FLY. Yes. Fly. Because she can turn her feet into rockets. I rest my case.

Well, this was an interesting turn of events. Mai and Zuko reunite, and it seems their feelings for each other run pretty deep. Zuko had to make a difficult decision, and he was again forced to face up to leaving behind the girl he loves. I felt this scene was a little weak because neither character has been very good at showing emotions. Even with this confrontation, their expressions are pretty weak. That's one thing that always bothered me about the Mai x Zuko relationship. It seems pretty superficial, as if they were merely together because it made sense. Even now, their emotions are so withdrawn. Thankfully, the depth of their relationship shines through a lot more at the end of the episode.

Of course, it's obvious Ty Lee has her own reservations as well. She's shown a light interest in Sokka in the past, and while I don't expect a full blown romance (he does have Suki, after all), Ty Lee's morals clearly make her very uncomfortable with killing anyone. Even her style of fighting is very passive - disarming the enemy without inflicting mortal damage.

Now THIS was some good Mai x Zuko time. Unlike earlier, the two are actually able to show how much they love each other, even with their own subtle forms of expression. Mai's betrayal is well-timed and not at all unexpected. Her expression, especially as she says the inevitable goodbye, was very well done. A great ending to a painfully doomed relationship.

"I love Zuko more than I fear you."

Ty Lee's betrayal was a huge surprise, and yet not out of character. She was already uncomfortable with Azula's actions, and she considered Mai to be a good friend. It was obvious that her reaction was meant to spare the lives of both her friends, even if it meant being called at traitor in the end. The fate of the two girls is a mystery for now, but I seriously doubt they'd join the Avatar's side. I hope these girls get more story in the future, and I hope they manage to choose their own paths rather than follow Azula or Aang. But for now, it's the end of a trio of very deadly ladies. Only Azula is left now, and from some of the previews, it's clear that the loss of her friends sends her spiraling into madness very quickly.

--Ou-bento

This Post is Cheating

"Dear US viewers. Will return in July. Until then, envy the fact that nearly every other country in the world gets to see us first."

Today I watched Avatar 54-55. It was good. More tomorrow when I'm actually awake.

Edit: Comments on ep 55 are here.

--Ou-bento

Code Geass Dub - Episode 01

So, Adult Swim posted the first episode dub, and Ou-bento watched it. I'm really not the dub-hating type, but I do have a tendency to be critical in some cases (a double standard for someone who wants to get into the dubbing industry?). But before I review the acting and the voices, I have something much more important...

SOMETHING IS MISSING FROM THIS PICTURE
WHO SUPPORTS THE REVELLION NOW!?

Okay, I'm done now.

I've already been looking forward to this dub, as the cast looked pretty good to me, and hey, I like Code Geass. So let's go.

Lelouch - Well, most people were a bit worried about JYB as Lelouch, and unfortunately I can't really say anything to assuage those worries. I'm a huge Jun Fukuyama fan, so even though JYB is quite talented, I'm very critical of him here. I think the greatest weakness really is that his voice isn't quite a match for Lelouch's character. The largest criticism that I've read is that his voice near the end in which Lulu turned "evil" wasn't deep enough. That's actually the least of my worries. I wasn't too fond of Jun's somewhat fake deep tone when he went evil, and I think Johnny's take is fine. I just feel that the voice really isn't a good match in the first place. Who knows, maybe I'll get used to it?

Karen - I adore adore adore Karen-chan, and I adore Ami Koshimizu, so I was a little disappointed by the voice here. I feel that Karen was a little too rough for Karen (wow, that's not confusing). Her first lines, especially, seemed much too rough for the character. Later on when she was talking with Ougi, I think she sounded a lot more like the character. I'm still unsure about how to feel about her, though.

C.C. - Great voice. I wish she'd use a somewhat deeper voice, but I do recall that in the original series, she was a little higher pitched in the first episode. I have no complaints. Her narration in the beginning was quite lovely, too.

Suzaku - I haven't heard enough to make a decision yet, but so far I'm very pleased with what I've heard. The vocal match is good, and I like the acting.

Rival - He isn't quite as nasal as the original, but the voice still matches the character well. I'm looking forward to hearing more.

Shirley - I thought the original was annoying, and I think the dub is too. I guess that's good, though.

Millay - One line. Not much to say, but I liked her acting.

The following characters are YES PLEASE THANK YOU: Lloyd, Jerimiah, Villeta, Clovis, Emperor of Britannia

I am looking forward to seeing more. So far, the dub isn't a complete turnoff. Scripting is solid, and the direction has been good. Hopefully it keeps the quality and I get more accustomed to Lelouch and Karen's voices.

--Ou-bento

Togari - Manga Review

TogariTogari is one of the few manga series that has really managed to fascinate me and make me think recently. I like that. It's a little grimy, a little messy, and a little bit formulaic. But the thoughts behind the story are more than worth it.

Quick Summary: Tobei is a criminal from ancient Japan. Back in the day, he lived on the streets stealing and killing to survive, destroying anyone who stood in his way. For his crimes on earth, he was sentenced to an eternity in hell. However, he is given a second chance by one of hell's top leaders. He will be sent back to modern day Japan to destroy 108 sins in 108 days using the sword called "togari." Tobei sees it as an easy escape from hell, so he quickly agrees. But although he may have the strength to fight the monsters, does he have the ability to figure out how to survive in a modern world?
Plot: Okay, that summary was kinda cheesy. But that's the gist of it. An evil man from ancient Japan is sent to buy his freedom by destroying monsters in modern Japan. Simple, ne? The first thing that stands out is the this is NOT a story about atonement. Never in his time does Tobei ever truly repent of his evil. Instead, he accepts that he is evil, and that he is merely destroying other evils to escape from hell. In fact, it is revealed that togari is only as powerful as the evil of the person wielding it. But even though Tobei never searches for atonement, he slowly begins to change who he is thanks to the influence of people he meets in the modern world. Most prominent is the highschool girl Itsuki. She has a strong sense of justice, but at the same time she is level-headed and far from a naive idealist. Itsuki is the one who gives Tobei a second chance at actually being human, and he wrestles a lot with his own confusing feelings as he wonders how it's possible that someone as evil as him could be so easily accepted by someone like her.

The plot starts out as a typical "monster of the week" story as Tobei learns how to control togari and how to fight the sins he's supposed to collect. But even with that sort of formula, battles are often short and glossed over with more focus on the humans being controlled by the sins and Tobei's own struggle to find a place to belong.

As the plot progresses, we move from monster of the week to the required group of evil villains hiding in the shadows. And here we discover a very interesting clash. Tobei admits he is evil, and he has no qualms with such things as killing. And yet, he is against these evil people who would happily welcome him into their ranks. In some cases, he's even angry at the evil they commit. A battle of evil versus evil is much more interesting, especially as Tobei begins to struggle with the meaning behind his own actions. His feelings towards other people and his understanding that not everyone in the world is necessarily his enemy change him without his own knowledge. Tobei's character development is subtle, but logical. Supporting characters are a bit more static in their roles, changing only slightly and often in response to Tobei's own changes. But even so, Tobei's growth as well as an interesting clash of evils makes Togari one of the most compelling series I've ever read. My only regret is that the story has no solid conclusion, and ends with Tobei still not having collecting all 108 sins. Then again...maybe it's better that way.

Rating: 4.5/5
As much as I am in love with the plot, the art is somewhat of a setback for me. The cover was not terribly appealing to me, and it took me awhile to get used to the art style. While backgrounds, proportions and detail lean towards a more realistic style, the stylistic design of Tobei's evil self seems almost too exaggerated. Lines are messy and some fight scenes are little difficult to follow. Admittedly, most of the battles are a lot cleaner than most action series, but the messy lines make it difficult to keep up with there's a lot going on in a panel. Characters are happily distinguishable from each other, and although none of them really stand out against other more recognizable characters, their designs for this series are just fine. The sins are all grimy, dirty creatures that look exactly like they should. While I personally don't care for this type of art, and I feel some of it could be cleaner, it certainly isn't painfully bad, and it fits the mood of the story well.
Rating: 3.5/5

All in all, I would definitely suggest Togari looking for a good fight that offers more substance and thought than the latest episode of Naruto.

Togari is licensed by Viz.

--Ou-bento

Nunallo Theory Part 02

Some of you may recall a previous post in which I theorized that Nunally and Rollo are the same person. After R2 episode 03, I hold by that statement (sorta). There's obviously a link between the two, and Rollo's girlish attachment to his precious locket makes it seem as if he really does like being Lulu's otouto (or imouto..?) Either way, I say they're both spies who decided they liked Lulu after all. Oh, and I guess if they're not the same person, they could be twins. If that were the case, maybe Nunally failed in her duty, and that's why Rollo was sent in. But it's funnier to think of Nunally as a trap.

If my theory is true, Nunallo is officially my favorite character, even above the beautiful Karen-chan.

--Ou-bento

ULTIMO Chapter 00 - Stan Lee had a hand in this...

ULTIMO Chapter 00

So this is a fun romp through crossover land. Ultimo is the combined work of Stan Lee (of Marvel Comics), and Hiroyuki Takei (he made Shaman King). There's a lot I could say about Stan Lee and his uh...career. But I'm keeping it to myself because I still want a shot at being the next superhero (even though I'm not a tough white guy with a black and blue uniform). Anyway, on to the review.

Summary:
In a vague and unspecified past, a crazy scientist creates two "boys" who are perfect embodiments of good and evil. Years later, Tokyo Tower is attacked by the pure evil (named Vice), and subsequently rescued by the pure good (named Ultimo). The two then charge off into space to do battle, and at the end of the chapter an old mountain climber discovers Ultimo's body. It's the start of a new adventure!

This here is Ultimo. The text claims it's a boy, but something kinda stands out...

Plot: Oyoyoy...where to start? A mad scientist? Twin boys destined to fight against each other? The embodiment of good versus the embodiment of evil? Tokyo Tower being attacked? I'm sorry, but so far I'm not impressed. Okay, so it's only the setup, and I'm definitely being critical. But when you tout a big name writer, I expect a story worth reading. There are a couple cool things. Both Ultimo and Vice have these fascinating gloves that they can transform at will. Vice, of course, turned his into a great set of guns. Ultimo made a shield shaped like a fan. : / And herein lies another problem. Ultimo is boring. Vice didn't get much page time, but his personality quickly shone through, and he was definitely interesting to read. Ultimo, on the other hand, was merely a floaty angelic trap with no personality to speak of. If the title character has no personality, we have a problem. At the moment, there's very little in this that makes me think this story will be worth reading in the future. However, it's only the setup chapter, so that means there's plenty more to come. Hopefully my rating will go up in due time.
Rating as of Ch 00: 1.5/5

Art: Well...art. The art isn't bad. It's just...hard to follow sometimes. The fight scenes are a bit on the messy side, and I got lost in them a bit. That being said, I am really impressed by a lot of the scenery and larger images in this. The series of pages in which Tokyo Tower was first attacked was done very well. The pages flowed, surprises were timed properly, and I was quickly drawn in. Additionally, when Ultimo and Vice went into outer space, the background was beautifully done. Ultimo and Vice have fairly interesting designs, and I love Vice's expressions. Their gloves can get a bit confusing with all their transformations, but for the most part the character remain clean and nice looking. Other than a couple confusing panels of fighting, the story reads pretty well.
Rating as of Ch 00: 3.5/5

This series is scanned by Noizy.
You can read it online here.

--Ou-bento

P.S.
Why isn't his name Virtue?

Shigofumi Fandub

Today is something of a cheating day. I'm swamped with homework so I don't have time for a review. Therefore, please enjoy this Shigofumi dub (unless you don't like dubs, in which case um...pretend you never saw this).

--Ou-bento

Island - Manga

Island
Summary: Marue and Aira are best friends who live in a small town that is completely surrounded by a high wall. The town is so old that a lot of history and tradition has been lost - even the very language. Only Marue is able to read, and so town members always bring her old books they find. With her knowledge and Aira's enthusiasm, the two spend every day trying to find ways to breach the wall and go into the outside world. However, when Aira turns 14, she is told the truth about what lies on the other side of the wall...

Plot: Island is a one-shot story with a simple premise, likable heroines, and a satisfying conclusion. I won't talk too much about the plot, as it would definitely be spoilerish and you can probably spare the ten minutes it takes to read this. The initial story isn't too groundbreaking. Children are trapped in a world and they want to escape to greater things. However, the execution is well-done and the resolution brought a smile to my face. I would recommend this piece to anyone looking for a strong and sweet story about friendship and hope.

Art: The art for Island is clean and beautiful. I took a particular liking to the backgrounds where are clean and sometimes simple, but always well-done. Settings and scenery are clear, and a few of the backgrounds manage to evoke a range of emotions from hope to despair to anger. The character designs are unique enough to stand out from each other, and they're thankfully not bland cookie cutter characters that make them look like "Girl A from that one series." Definitely pleasing to the eye, with an excellent use of backgrounds.

Island is translated by KEFI.
You can read it online here.

--Ou-bento

Bandai Ent's Giant Robot Releases

I think I actually let out an audible "WOO!" when I read this press release. Why? Because I like my giant robots. And as much as I enjoy leeching my giant robots, I enjoy popping them in the DVD player and watching them on the big screen even more. Plus, I love me some nerdy, nerdy swag. I've really liked the Eureka 7 releases that come with the DVD, shirt, and manga. I'm hoping for a flash drive shaped like a Knightmare Frame key (preferably Karen's...). I am curious as to whether the Sound Drama CD will be the original, or a "dubbed" version.

The no frills option for Gurren Lagann is also quite appealing (Although I kinda want a collector's box complete with Boota plushie). It's this sort of no-frills, quick-release idea that fans have been asking for. Personally, I'm hoping that this is a rousing success and that Bandai Entertainment will continue with similar releases in the future. Unfortunately, I know I'll be terribly conflicted over whether to get all the otaku junk along with it, or the no frills version.

I can get both, right?

--Ou-bento

Tekko VI - Cosplay Picks Round III

Tekko VI - Thanks for doing it right

Another round of Tekko 08 pictures. Five pictures that I ran screaming across the room to take. Because seeing these cosplayers filled me with immeasurable glee.






--Ou-bento

Amatsuki Episode 02 - Fun with Science!

Amatsuki - Episode 02

This post is a bit troublesome...blogger.com is deciding it would rather not let me upload all my images. =.= So uh...enjoy?

Quick episode recap: Some samurai start roughing up Kuchiha because she's an outcast AND a girl. Rikuko tries to stop them, but he's a sissy boy and Kuchiha winds up saving him by intimidating the samurai. That night, Rikuko decides to exact his revenge on the samurai for pushing Kuchiha around. He brews up a potato alcohol and uses his AWESOME POWERS OF SCIENCE KNOWLEDGE to make all sorts of supernatural things happen to the samurai dude, including setting lots of stuff on fire. Great fun is had all around, although Rikuko's actions lead to some less than good political consequences. Kuchiha is mad at him, but grateful anyway.

All the fun of brewing in Moyashimon, minus all the fun. Honestly, Amatsuki is still pretty boring. Too much exposition and not enough of basically anything else. Characters are static with lots of talking and very little action, and while the plot hints at deeper things (like the fact that Rikuko's blind eye can see "other" things and Kuchiha's pact with the dog god), all we get is a somewhat pointless bit of kids playing around. I'd like to see this story go somewhere. Plus, I'd like more scenes of Kuchiha cutting things. owo Rikuko's trick was a clever one, and while the deception was an entertaining bit, it didn't feel as if it lead to anything important. Hopefully a nice plot line will kick in soon.

Obligatory Geass joke goes here. Thank you for your precious time.

--Ou-bento

Tekko VI - Cosplay Picks Round II

Top 5 "Nice Construction!" Cosplays

In no partcular order, here exist five cosplayers whose costumes or props made me a happy bento for their excellent construction.






--Ou-bento

Special A - OP

Special A - Opening

The Special A opening doesn't stand out very much in any aspect. Animation is decent, but it's just some random shots of characters going by and such. The music isn't spectacular, but it doesn't grate on my nerves either. It's just an average easily forgettable opening. Here's hoping for a better one in the future, although I doubt it'll happen.

Final Rating: 3/5

Dear S.A. - You're not doing much to help me in my "S.A. is not Ouran" case.

--Ou-bento

Tekko VI - Cosplay Picks Round I

Top 5 "Wow, that's an interesting choice..." Cosplays

And the Tekko VI report continues. I took over 280 pictures of cosplayers, and for the next few posts I shall attempt to pick out my favorite ones (whether it be for originality, workmanship, or whatever I feel like saying). The first group is an eclectic one. These are cosplays that for some reason or other I found interesting. Some are cheap. Some are very well done. All are what I'd call an "interesting choice." Take that for what you will.

Bawls is the official drink of Tekkoshocon. It might as well be considered the con mascot.

No one said you had to blow hundreds of dollars on cosplay. There was a guy running around dressed like a Mudkip in a very similar style outfit. Unfortunately, I never got to confirm whether or not he lieked them.

Hey, at least it's better than being another one of the ten thousand or so Sasuke cosplayers who really shouldn't be trying to emulate a 14-year-old emo cake.

It took me a minute to actually look this guy in the eyes. I kept being drawn to those massive soulless eyes on his stomach.

FMA cosplay is a common con sight, but how often do you see FMA bunraku? Yeah, I thought so. Okay, so it's more like Sesame Street than bunraku. Give me a break.

More to come.

--Ou-bento

Unifive Dengeki Bunko Trading Figure - Iriya

Tekko VI Swag 01 - Iriya Trading Figure

Why yes, I AM a hopeless fanboy. Who takes pictures like this? Really?

I collect trading figures and gashapon, but I tend to do it the old fashioned way. Unfortunately, I don't have the funding to buy full packs, so I actually buy single units and cross my fingers for something good. This Tekko, the dealer's room was markedly smaller than previous years and I was having trouble finding anything that I was fond of. However, I finally manged to stumble across unifive's Dengeki Bunko trading figures.

Dengeki Bunko is a publishing company for light novels. This set contains Dokuro-chan (Bokusatsu Tenshi Dokuro-chan), Shana (Shakugan no Shana), Tenko (Wagaya no Oinari-sama), Iriya (Iriya no Sora, UFO no Natsu), and some girl I don't recognize. And a secret figure. Anyway. As much as I love Shana-tan (and her delicious melonpan), I was absolutely delighted to find something with Iriya-chan. I'm one of the two people who watched Iriya no Sora, UFO no Natsu and I really, really loved it. Therefore, I was incredibly happy to find that my luck was actually good enough to get a figure of Iriya.

In terms of production value, I've definitely seen better. The colors are a little off, with her hair being notably darker than it should be. The paint job on her face is clean, even if it doesn't completely look like her. The paint on her uniform is a little messier, and the shading on her hair looks a little random in spots. The pose itself is very cute (taken straight from the official opening), and although her hair has a tendency to look flat from certain angles, I love the way it blows in the wind. My favorite part of the figure is the base, which is shaped like a UFO. It's a nice bit of detail that makes it stand out from your average flat plastic circle, and it gives fans of the story a little smile to see her UFO-themed base.

Final verdict: I've seen better, especially in terms of the paint job. But the base is really cute, and I'm such an Iriya fan I'm just happy to have what appears to be the only official figure of her ever made.
3/5

Iriya-chaaaan~

-Ou-bento

Back from Tekko 08

Really dark picture...@_@ But hey, I found Vocaloids! owo

So dead tired. I took over 250 cosplay photos, ran into a lot of cool people (literally in some cases), and had a generally good time. I have a bit to gripe about too, but that will all come in future posts. Most of my stuff this week will be con reports and cosplay photos.

--Ou-bento

Cosplay and YOU - Make vs. Buy

Cosplay and YOU - Make vs. Buy

Matsuri from sola (P.S. It's a trap.)

It takes a very special sort of person to actually dress up as an anime/manga/video game/Star Trek/LotR/whatever character. Even in the general fanbase, cosplay is looked upon as a extra even more freaky step of geeky fandom that should be reserved for beautiful girls with perfect skin wearing skimpy outfits. Of course, one of the huge differences between cosplay in the East and West is who actually makes the costume. In Japan, it's not uncommon for cosplayers to buy official cosplay or hire someone custom make their clothing. Cosplayers in the West don't have that luxury (as much as we wish Cospa would ship overseas), and so most cosplayers are resigned to make their own costumes. This, of course, has fostered a sort of pride in making your own versus actually buying it, even to the point that those who buy their cosplay are looked down up for not putting in all the hours and the effort.

So why does it matter? Because something like that makes cosplayers in East and West different in many aspects. At the heart of the matter, cosplayers do it because they like it. They have fun, and they love the character. But cosplayers in the West often see a fancy outfit as a challenge, and there's often a competition to see who can make the most detailed or intricate cosplay. Part of the joy is in the workmanship. Part of cosplay is showing off how cool your homemade prop is. In terms of cosplayers in more Eastern regions who purchase their costumes, the main thrust seems to be more of an aesthetic appeal of the cosplayer rather than the workmanship or detail of the costume itself. I rarely see wigs in use, and often times cosplayers sacrifice faithfulness to the original for something that looks more sexually appealing. These observations are, of course, generalizations of many many people.

Why am I even talking about all of this? Mainly, because I feel like it. But also because I'm probably a Tekkoshocon right now, which means that I'm taking lots of pictures of cosplayers for a con report just for you! I'm also trying blogger.com's forward dating feature, so technically this should be posted sometime after I'm gone. Because of the con, I'll be skipping tomorrow's update. Look forward to more random comments come Sunday.

--Ou-bento

School Mermaid - Manga

School MermaidThere is a rumor that mermaids appear in the school at night. If you eat the flesh of one, your true love will come true. Such a rumor is usually passed off as just that, but two girls discover a notebook passed down over the years filled with stories from girls who have come before them and succeeded. Determined to win their loves, they decide to hunt the mermaids as well. However...there is a page missing from the notebook...

Weighing in at a mere three chapters, School Mermaid is the sort of thing you could read if you want something quick and satisfying. That is, if psychological creepiness is the sort of thing you consider satisfying. If Higurashi left you addicted to horror and yandereko, then School Mermaid is like shooting up to tide yourself over until Umineko comes out. I won't comment too much on the plot, since it's a short read and I don't want to spoil anything.

The art in School Mermaid is nicely done. Backgrounds are clean and it's easy to tell what the setting is. It's rather difficult to tell any of the characters apart, unfortunately. The designs are simple, and the two lead girls have very similar facial shapes. Body proportions are well done, and expressions come across very clearly. I have no complaints.

As for the story itself, obviously it requires a bit of suspension of disbelief to enjoy. But what story doesn't? It's never explained how or why these mermaids exist in the school, and it's really not important in the end. Unfortunately for me, while the premise of the actual mermaids wasn't difficult for me to swallow (haha), the initial idea of so many girls being so desperately insane as to actually kill and eat raw flesh to be with the ones they love has me a little skeptical. Yeah, people do a lot for love. I get that. But high school crushes aren't usually that insanity-inducing. And the fact that there are many, many girls who have done this (as evidenced by the notebook) is quite unsettling. I suppose that entire school is full of yandere. Forget Tsuyokiss. Yanyankiss sounds much more intriguing. But I digress.

School Mermaid is short, simple, and it concludes in a satisfactory manner. Art is solid, and the plot is cohesive. If you want a little thrill or scare before bed tonight, check it out.

School Mermaid is scanned by Strays.
You can also read it online here.

--Ou-bento

Special A Episode 01 - This show is ridiculous...

S.A. Episode 01

I will never understand this phenomenon. Do schools like this actually exist?

This show is all sorts of ridiculous, and I like it that way. When I first saw it in the previews, I decided the character designs looked terribly generic, and I wasn't really interested. But I decided to give the manga a read, and I found the story so silly and fun that I've been looking forward to the anime ever since. So far, I have not been disappointed.

Special A doesn't stray too far from the tried and true formula of "elite class of students in an elite school," but it does a good job with what it does. Some people argue it's just Ouran again, but I honestly think that S.A. had made a better place for itself than that. (If you want Ouran 2.0, just read My Heavenly Hockey Club.) Of course, we have poor girl in a rich school, but Hikari has an energetic and somewhat impulsive personality that makes her stand out. And then of course, there are the other rich kids. Girl-crazy Akira, the twins Megumi and Jun, and uh...two guys who I have trouble telling apart. One's an animal lover, the other's like uh...an animal. Or something. Like I said, the character designs hardly stand out as memorable.

Akira's type of character is always fun (she kinda reminds me of Shizuru or Benio), but I'm not too fond of her voice. For an elegant type like her, I pictured her voice much deeper. In fact, I wouldn't complain if Mitsuki Saiga voiced her (then again, I'm also a raving Saiga fan, so I wouldn't complain about her voicing much).

The twins are cute. I have a soft spot for twins, and these two are definitely quirky. Megumi's habit of speaking through writing is only annoying when she uses so much kanji I have to pause the video to read it (Ou-bento is a slooooow reader).

As for the other two...uh...once I figure out the difference, I'll let you know.

Enter the lead bishounen/perfect guy, Takishima Kei.

Why yes, he can even fly.

I told you this show was ridiculous. And here we have the obligatory face-off to show how amazing Hikari is, and how much MORE amazing Kei is.

There's a joke in here somewhere.

Awkward gym class, awkard library time, and a mediocre fight scene set to completely inappropriate music. No one really cares though...

...because we're just here for the cute near-romance of HikarixKei. Oh yeah, and the power of friendship. Because everyone in S.A. is really close. Or something. Honestly, nothing says "cute rabu rabu" like wishing someone happy birthday at midnight after beating up a couple guys trying to steal test answers.

Lelouch vi Britannia Commands You
(Okay okay, no more Geass jokes, I promise.)

S.A. is very silly. It might even be over the top. But it's also pretty cute, and the production values are on par. The animation was consistently bright and colorful. Strangely, SD characters were animated very fluidly while action scenes were merely average. Overall, I found this episode to be a fun diversion and I am definitely looking forward to watching more.

--Ou-bento

Vampire Knight 01 - Or, why Mondays hate me.

Vampire Knight 01

I swear every Monday is gonna hit me hard. I've got Vampire Knight, Special A (S.A.), and Soul Taker on my watchlist. In addition, I also have Nabari no Ou on my watchlist and if I don't comment on it on Sunday I'll be behind. ::sigh:: Times are tough. Not that I'm complaining. I just wish the stuff I was interested in was a little bit more spread out over the week. Then again, since I don't do episode summaries, it's not as big of a deal, ne? Either way, here's my digest of episode one.

First off, how many times are we going to have to go through the same old "segregated school and hundreds of faceless fangirls" act? (And I'm going to watch S.A. next...great.) So these people are popular? Cool. Good for them. I have yet to see any school where something like this actually happens. Still, if it works then why not? And of course, the strong-willed lead female who doesn't fall prey to all the sparklies of the beautiful lead males. Okay, I'm down with that. At least we have the vampire twist. The story hasn't done a whole lot to distinguish itself yet, but I have high hopes based on the flashback portions and what I've heard from others.

On the bright side, I really like the artwork. The animation is nice, and the uniforms look excellent. It's nice to see something that isn't the usual seifuku or blazer. The crazy big eyes aren't as bothersome as I imagined they'd be, and the characters look good. I do have a problem with all the extras looking like faceless clones, though. Even if each girl doesn't have a distinctive look, it would be nice to at least tell them apart a little bit.

The color palette for this is very muted. I'm not sure if I like it. I feel as if all the muted tones make everything feel a little dead. While that might be okay for the vampires, it would be nice to see at least the humans look a little more lively.

--Ou-bento

Hatsune Miku 4Koma Scan

Quick scanlation of the first strip of the Hatsune Miku 4Koma. Unfortunately, I don't really have a steady provider (if someone knows where I can get my hands on the raws, I'd love to translate this).

--Ou-bento

Code Geass R2 ED Analysis + The truth about Rollo!

R2 ED Shots + The Terrible Truth?

Yeah, I know. Everyone's writing about Code Geass R2. Well, that's okay. I'm part of everyone, right? You can find more than enough screencaps and summaries elsewhere, so I'm just going to drop a few comments on the ending and share my own theory about the mysterious Rollo.

First off, the ending is beautiful. I really enjoy CLAMP's artstyle when they're not trying too hard to clutter up the entire page. Although detailed, these images have a sweet simplicity that makes the ending just beautiful.

There's an interesting theme of a golden chain connecting all of these characters. It starts with Lelouch, but it doesn't seem to have any end. I wonder who's holding the other end of it. Probably Cheese-kun.

Orange Range delivers a beautiful song that reminds listeners that yes, they do in fact have more than one style. I haven't heard something this sweet by them since Michisurube. I like the quiet tones, and their vocal texture sounds great for a song like this (not that I don't like their energetic pieces, but this is a very nice change of pace).

We see in the OP that everyone's favorite Emperor of Britannia has a Geass of his own. Mayhaps it has something to do with V.V. Or maybe not. WHO KNOWS.

I would love a high quality version of this to be my new wallpaper. Karen = WIN. I am so incredibly overjoyed that Karen didn't die in the first season. I'm really hoping she gets an even larger role in this season. Not only is she a great character, how can you not love the Ami Koshimizu voice?

I'm sure some of the fanbase would prefer this image as their wallpaper instead.

I wouldn't mind this as my wallpaper, either. Although I still prefer Karen.

An interesting thing to note about the images: All the characters on Britannia's side are depicted with white feathered wings. All the characters on the Revellion's Side (yes, I will say Revellion because it said so in the eyecatch XD), have black bat wings. Note that poor Rollo seems a little conflicted. The theory, of course, is that Rollo is merely a Britannian spy sent to watch over our good Lulu until the proper time. From the OP, it seems he might also be the pilot of the gold knightmare frame.

Lelouch said something about having memories implanted (like those of Rollo being his brother), so perhaps (juuuust perhaps) Nunally was also a Britannian spy. She was probably meant to keep Lulu's anger down so that he wouldn't do anything reckless out of concern for his little sister. Because honestly, Nunally doesn't look a thing like Marianne. She and Lulu can't possibly be blood related. And here's the kicker. Nunally and Rollo are THE SAME. Yes, I said it. NUNALLY IS A TRAP. After Nunarollo failed to keep Lelouch down with his cute little sister act, the higher ups decided that it would be better to have a little sibling who would always be by Lulu's side to keep an eye on him. Thus, Rollo was finally freed of his wheelchair and skirt. Obviously, they'd use the same agent because that person would already remember all the important details about Lulu's past.

Nunarollo is, of course, conflicted about his alliance since he's a Britannian spy, but over the years he has come to love Lelouch like an older brother after all. It aaaall makes sense once you think about it.

--Ou-bento

Star Ocean 3 - 4Koma Scan

Star Ocean 3 - 4Koma ScanJust quick translation I did. Nothing fancy, since I'm no expert. And yes, I'm aware this is not a 4koma. It's from one of the SO3 4Koma books, though.

--Ou-bento

Amatsuki Episode 01

Amatsuki Episode 01

I confess that when I read the manga, I was pretty lost for the first few chapters. The good news is, the anime makes a lot more sense. The bad news is, the anime is a lot slower. This episode was a lot of setup with a lot of talking, and while I suppose it is necessary, it's also kinda boring.

Quick Summary: Tokidoki Rikuko is an average highschool kid who's failing his history class. As punishment/extra credit, he is sent to a virtual Edo recreation. He meets a schoolmate, Kon Shinonome, but Shinonome disappears mysteriously. Without warning, Rikuko is attacked by a strange creature that takes his eye. He's rescued by the lovely warrior Kuchiha, and as he looks around, he realizes he's no longer in a virtual reality world. He meets Shinonome again, who was also transported to (real?) Edo, but Shinonome has been there two years longer than he has. (Time passes magically.) Shinonome explains that the demon that took them there is a nue, and that this world is full of those little demons. The nue take body parts, like Rikuko's eye, and in Shinonome's case, his arm.

The animation is clean and consistent, but it's not exactly spectacular. I really liked the scene where Kuchiha destroyed the nue. It was all too short, though. Also, Kuchiha KICK was highly entertaining. Unfortunately, the rest of the animation isn't quite as amazing. One thing that really bugged me was the style of walking. Instead of looking like actual walking, the characters merely bounced up and down as the background went by. >_<

The cast for this series is pretty solid, but I honestly can't comment too much on it at the moment. Besides a bit of screaming on Rikudo's part, the script was fairly tame. I look forward to hearing more in the future, though. It's pretty hard to go wrong with talent like Jun Fukuyama and Romi Paku.

Music was nice, although I was honestly expecting a little more from a Yuki Kajiura soundtrack. Of course, it's only been one episode so I can hardly judge. I'm still waiting for the track with a full chorus singing a made-up language in haunting tones. That's always my favorite. I liked the ending song, but that shouldn't be a surprise. I'm a huge Kajiura fan. owo

I'm not the only person thinking GEASS right now, right? Right?

owo

Not a terrible start for the series. A little slower than I would have liked, and so far the animation and music make me feel a little bit let down. However, nothing is glaringly terrible to me, and with the talent being put into this, I expect things to improve in the future.
Episode Rating: 3/5

--Ou-bento

Kurosagi - Manga

Kurosagi
A shirosagi (white swindler) is the kind of person who will swindle innocent victims. But in this world, there is one known as Kurosagi (black swindler) who only targets shirosagi. This series is published in Weekly Young Sunday.

The story of Kurosagi opens with a young woman ready to commit suicide after being swindled and put into bankruptcy. She's stopped by a boy named Kurosaki who promises that he can get her money back for her and bring down the company that tricked her. Although she is apprehensive, she accepts his help.


Our young Kurosaki is quite the actor, and an excellent swindler, as we all expected. In a series of somewhat predictable events, he coolly manages to get back the woman's money and destroy the company. And thus we are introduced to the world of swindling. As it turns out Kurosaki's father attempted to kill his entire family and then himself after being caught in a scam. Kurosaki was the only survivor, and he has since turned around to attack those who swindle the weak. It's somewhat of a Robin Hood story, somewhat of a revenge story, and definitely a fun read - especially for those who are fans of the anti-hero type.

For the most part, Kurosagi has remained a predictable series. Some poor person is being swindled. Kurosaki shows up. He easily destroys whatever company is doing the swindling, returns the money, and walks off into the sunset. It's pretty formulaic, but that doesn't mean it's not interesting. Unfortunately, some of the money and business terms go over my head at times (I have a somewhat lessened understanding of the Japanese business system), but in the end Kurosaki's tricks are well-explained.

The introduction of Yoshikawa, a law student with a strong sense of right and wrong manages to shake up the situation. My my, I wonder where this will lead? (Okay, I actually have a pretty good guess...) Yoshikawa first meets Kurosaki when he helps her friend get back money she was scammed out of. She eventually moves into the apartment next to his, and a shaky relationship is born.


Of course, ever good anti-hero needs an...anti-villain. Is that even a term? We find Kurosaki's counterpart in a budding, young police officer who will use whatever means necessary to take down those who oppose the law.

Plot: The plot isn't anything groundbreakingly new (although this series did start in 2004, so it was probably a bit fresher back then). Additionally, side characters come and go as easily as the wind and sometimes it's hard to figure out who's who. So far, the story has followed a somewhat predictable formula of "swindler of the week" followed by a bit of information about Kurosaki's past. The introduction of Yoshikawa and her current prying into Kurosaki's past has me hopeful for some interesting developments in the future. As of now though, it's a fun series of one swindle after another.
As of ch11: 3/5

Art: The art is nice, with each of the lead characters looking fairly distinguished from the rest. Designs for side characters are forgettable - sometimes too much so. The lineart isn't terribly clean, but the grungy look fits the mood quite well. Characters' expressions are portrayed well, and Kurosaki's ever-changing expressions as he switches characters from one scheme to the next are very well executed. Backgrounds tend to be sparse, but solid.
As of ch11: 3.5/5

Overall, I've enjoyed reading this series so far. I've since discovered that there is a drama by the same name, so I shall definitely check it out.

This series is currently being translated by Moar Bad Scans.
You can read the scans online here.

--Ou-bento

Maker Hikoushiki Hatsune Mix - Ch. 1-3

Hatsune Mix

Maker Hikoushiki Hatsune Mix (Hatsune Mix for short) is a bizarre, random series about the misadventures of Hatsune Miku (and the Kagamine twins). It's currently being published in Comic Rush. Each chapter is a short and unrelated snippet of Hatsune adventure with a full dose of internet memes and Japanese cultural parodies.

In the first chapter, a young talent scout finds Chii Hatsune abandoned in a pile of garbage. She takes Hatsune home, collars her up, and later discovers she can sing. The end. Seriously. Oh yeah, they like...take a bath together and there's a megane Miku, too.


In the second chapter, the Kagamine twins make an appearance. While the three are filming a PV, they're attacked by a giant Hachune Miku wielding a leek. No, seriously.

Don't worry. Hatsune wins in the end.

In the third chapter, the girls attempt to make chocolates for Valentine's Day with...interesting results. Len's first crush is crushed when he finds she prefers Kaito. Thankfully for him, his sister and Miku have made very special chocolates just for him. Awww...

Miku and Rin present Len with chocolates made with leek and a shrunken Hachune Miku. Seriously.

The art the quality to be expected of a popular series. The chibi versions are cute, normal Miku looks great, and Hachune is appropriately disturbing. A bit of the scenes are a little messy, like the one in which Miku and Rin attempt to make chocolates. For the most part, it's definitely pleasing to the eyes.
As of ch03: 3.5/5

The story, on the other hand, is so disjointed that it's difficult to make anything out of this. Even though it is a gag story, I'd appreciate it if the plot lines were a little bit more connected. If you're a Vocaloid fan, it's worth the few minutes to read. Unfortunately, the "plot" relies heavily on internet jokes, so if you're not a Miku fan you won't find anything here of interest
As of ch03: 1.5/5

--Ou-bento

Liar Game - Manga, TV Drama

Liar Game

Summary: Nao Kanzaki is an honest girl who would even turn in 100 yen to the police station rather than keep it for herself. One day out of nowhere, she receives a package containing 100 million yen and an invitation to the Liar Game, a tournament in which players try to swindle each other out of their money. Unable to withdraw from the game, Nao turns to master swindler Shinichi Akiyama to help her out.

Nao receives 100 million yen.

Plot: The plot really drew me in from the beginning. Mysteries and mind games are always a fun read, and I enjoy a story that makes you work hard to keep up with the characters. The manga scans are only in the second round so far, but it's shaping up to be a very intriguing story. As of yet, there doesn't seem to be much more than the Liar Game itself with very little backstory. I am curious to know more about the game itself and the characters, but the intricacies of the game are keeping me interested for the time being.
As of ch14: 4/5

Akiyama has some nice eyeliner. I'm not a fan of the exaggerated expressions.

Art: The art is not exactly to my tastes. Proportions are rather unusual, and the unusual perspectives sometimes feel a bit forced. The lines and whitespace are very clean, and the lack of detail is actually a very nice feel. Whitespace keeps the story moving quickly, and the explanations of the tricks behind the game are illustrated in a straightforward manner that makes things very understandable. Even so, I'm not a fan of the exaggerated expressions, and the proportions on the bodies just feel off to me.
As of ch14: 2/5

The manga is currently being scanned by Null.
You can read the scans here.


There also happens to be a live action drama that aired in 2007. So I picked up the drama after reading the first ten chapters of the manga, and I was happy to discover that it retains the enjoyable mind game atmosphere that makes Liar Game fun. A few minor plot changes disappointed me, but it was nothing plot-shattering. Unfortunately, the drama had the sad misfortune to need an ending before the manga drew to a close (as of this post, the manga is still ongoing), and so the final arc of the drama turned into somewhat of an unhappy mess with a less than threatening antagonist and a weak conclusion. Additionally, Nao's character grew increasingly annoying with her foolish naivete, which made a lot of the third round nearly unbearable.

Nao receives 100 million yen.


Akiyama tells Nao not to be so naive. It would've been nice if she listened. But then there'd be no story.


Trademark Akiyama smirk.

Unfortunately, the primary antagonist looks like Near from Death Note after his prime.

I'm personally quite fond of the cast for this, and I'm pleased they didn't attempt to force the characters to look like their manga counterparts. Unfortunately, nothing really stood out as terribly amazing in the drama other than the plot itself. Music was tolerable, but not outstanding. The direction was good for the most part, but awkward in a few scenes, especially those involving Yokoya near the end. The cartoonish animations to explain the setup of the games did their job, but they were also terribly out of place in a story meant to invoke a spookier atmosphere. However, I did enjoy watching it. And in then end, that's what matters, ne?

Final Rating: 3.5/5

Watch the drama here.

--Ou-bento

Hajimemashite

Hello all. I'm Ou-bento, and this is my blog of comments on whatever media I'm consuming at the time. For the most part, I'm a manga reader, but I also enjoy a good dose of animation and occasionally j-drama. My taste wanders all over the place, but I dislike yaoi, and ecchi things. I have a strange obsession with bento (and packing bento), I actually watch dubs, cosplay is COOL in my book, and I practice kendo.


In this blog, I'll post daily (hopefully) comments on whatever I'm reading, watching, playing, etc. I'll also post comments on cosplay, toys, Japanese food, and whatever else I happen to run into.

Yoroshiku.