The sixth Kara no Kyoukai film, based on the novels by Kinoko Nasu of Type Moon fame, finally made its way into my hands.
Previous adaptations of his works have not fared so well – Studio DEEN’s handling of Tsukihime was disappointing, and though Fate/Stay Night was passable, it certainly didn’t live up to the high expectations everybody had (hopefully the recently announced Unlimited Blade Works will make up for it and even if it doesn’t, it’s got Rin Toesucka so I’ll be happy no matter what). This time around, ufotable would be handling the reins to the anime adaptation, and after a shaky start with the first film (which was more of a “what the fuck is going on” feeling), they’ve done fairly well since. The third film, Remaining Sense of Pain and the fifth one, Paradox Spiral, really impressed me all around, and the music has been nothing short of impressive. Combine that with the well done animation, interesting plot and my hard-on for Type Moon, and that equals high expectations for Oblivion Recorder.
Clannad After Story ep. 25: Disappointing, especially in light of how well done the Tomoyo special was, and Kagami Hiiragi Kyou is one of my favorite characters from Clannad.
Eden of the East: Easily the best show from the spring season. Kenji Kamiyama is an excellent director, and I hope the movies are as enjoyable as the series was.
FMA Brotherhood (ep. 1-14): Even though it sticks closer to the manga, I can’t help but feel the first anime series has a more compelling storyline.
Dragon Ball Kai (ep. 1-14): Pacing is all over the place. Sometimes there are way too many edits and other times there aren’t enough. Very uneven, but boy this is a better show without the filler.
One Piece (up to ep. 330): Gets better with every arc.
The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya season 2 (ep. 1-4): Do we really need four episodes centered on the Endless Eight? Is this KyoAni trolling us? Is Kyon going to just snap and smack the shit out of Haruhi?
Canaan (ep. 1): I’m a sucker for Type-Moon. This one starts off pretty great. Haven’t seen gunfights this good since Bebop.
Especially when you lose files dating back two years that you didn’t bother to back up and RAAAAAAAAAAGE
I’m more upset about losing several files, including a Fate/Stay Night wallpaper that I’ve been working on for over a year. All that work for nothing! However, I love the image I’m using for it so much that I’m willing to start from scratch. Damnedable Rin Toe-sucka.
Anyway, quick thoughts on stuff I’ve finished:
Gundam 00 Season 2: Just awful. Honest to goodness awful. Wasn’t even trainwreck worthy. And yes, I will watch the movie because it’s Gundam. If I could sit through Seed Destiny, I can sit through anything.
Toradora!: Didn’t end the way I expected it to. Liked it.
Michiko and Hatchin: Didn’t grab me like Champloo or Bebop did, and the most memorable episode was number 4 (I think). Everything else was a blur, but I did like the ending, even if the budget was sort of shoestring at that point.
Haruhi-chan/Smoked Cheese – Smoked cheese is aiight. Haruhi-chan is hit or miss (most of the hits coming from Yuki’s interaction with Achakura).
Catching up on other shows from the Fall 2008 line up. Looking forward to the Spring 2009 lineup and the possibility of new Haruhi episodes.
Let’s do a quickie update on anime I’ve been watching/catching up on:
One Piece episodes 144-230
Been meaning to catch up on One Piece for sometime, and while I’m still a good 150+ episodes away, I don’t think I ever want to catch up, as it would mean having to wait a week for new episodes. This show is way too good. It’s a damn shame it got botched by 4Kids since it does everything right that Naruto and Bleach have done wrong.  Looking forward to the Water 7 arc.
Nodame Cantabile Paris Chapter
Pretty much follows the same formula as the first season did: wacky hijinx, GYABO, uncertainty with the orchestra before they pull off some god-like performance. I much preferred Honey and Clover over this, but it’s entertaining nonetheless. Still, I hope the third season offers more. If not, I can always at least savor the music.
Gundam 00 Season 2 (up to episode 18)
LOL. Where the fuck did Tieria get that boob job? Also, Marina Ismail apparently can do more than just sit – she can also sing too!
I really miss the UC OVAs, specifically 08th MS Team and War in the Pocket.
Toradora! (up to episode 18)
Tales of the Abyss (1-3)
Playing catch up on this. Definitely got me interested in the game.  Anybody mind explaining to me how the fuck Guy managed to show up out of nowhere to save the day in episode 3?
Michiko & Hatchin (up to episode 15)
I think I liked this more when it was called Samurai Champloo. And I liked that more when it was called Cowboy Bebop.
Haruhi-chan, Nyoron Churuya-san
I wish I had seen the “NICE BOAT” that Kadokawa had put up earlier. Otherwise, I was underwhelmed with the former and although the latter was cute, both felt a bit soulless to me.
Still queued up: Tytania, Shikabanehime Aka, Soul Eater, Casshern (o korosu) SINS, Detroit Metal City, Clannad After Story. Man, how the fuck do these other bloggers manage to keep up the entire season?
Remember this? Of course you do, since it was my last post!  Well, after contacting Right Stuf, they apologized and mailed off the proper discs I had asked for. They’re also letting me keep the To Heart discs which is nice. Of course, I only have three discs for this four-disc set, and if I want to find out how it all turns out, I’m going to have to plunk down money for that final volume. Hm. An appreciated gesture nonetheless.
…and will continue to be for the rest of the month. I’m busy working on stuff which hampers most of my free time. Once I get through that, I can go back to reviews, where I will make obscure references to shows that ten people might have watched.  I will fit a Sledge Hammer! reference somehow into a post one day, I swear!
Quick updates:
I find Toradora! enjoyable and a bit of a guilty pleasure – it’s the only show I’ve kept up to date with this season. Rie Kugimiya will never be out of a job, since she’ll forever voice the short, flat-chested, tsundere cuntrag character. And Alphonse Elric, who is just a cuntrag.
Just ordered The Dark Knight and Battlestar Galactica Season 4.0 for a grand total of $22.25 after shipping. Awesome! One less reason to be angry at the world! Only 932057392057329473209423 more reasons to go!
Got my Tsukasa Hiiragi and Tsuruya figmas – have yet to open them. Not in the biblical sense, but the packaging rather. Shrink wrap is still on them. No, that’s not a double entendre…look, let’s just move on, okay?
Valkyria Chronicles is being turned into an anime. Great RPG that I hope translates into a great show. Pick up a copy of the game and blow off the layer of dust that’s collected on your PS3 if you haven’t turned it into a grill yet.
I’ll be opening up a new section of the site by the end of the year. Yeah, no joke for this one. Not that it needs one, since the site as a whole is a joke.
