fallenAnvil » Anime

Nogizaka Haruka no Himitsu

fallenAnvil — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 07:05:14 +0000

The new season has finally begun, and if you’re anything like me, you would be trying to play catch up with what is left of last season. Sure spending hours daily watching every single series released that day is not really healthy, but nor is squeezing a season’s worth of releases in to a month. I can spend hours going on about health and the proper way to watch and enjoy anime, but i digress.

Nogizaka Haruka no Himitsu

I thought I’d start with a lighthearted anime before I begin my hours of mindless marathon in an attempt to catch up to the new season. And sure enough, Nogizaka Haruka no Himitsu fitted the bill nicely.

the starting of summer

Unlike many of the harems following established eroge and other dating sims, the girls surrounding Ayase Yuuto, the male protagonist, are seemingly useless. We get hints of attempted love triangles here and there, but they rarely last more than an episode. Simply put, the writers either 1) don’t know how to write a real triangle drama, or 2) didn’t want the story to steer in that direction, but needed to fill twelve (12) episodes, so anything goes. I vouch for the latter.

another mahou shoujo

I’m a sucker for these kinds of stories. Not particularly fancying harem wannabes, I simply enjoy a heartwarming story of two people in love. One of my still all time favorites of all times in this category is Lamune (Ramune). A fairly loose harlem built in to that story, but whatever, we’re not talking about that series.

Nogizaka Haruka no Himitsu follows Ayase Yuuto who discovers Nogizaka Haruka’s secret of being a closet otaku. And the story progresses from there with imoutos, maids, overwhelming dads, madusa like moms, the whole bit.

seems they need to start telling kids to read in a brightly lit room

The story was pretty linear (which I like) and the fan service was done fairly tastefully. Art over all was pretty normal, some drop in qualities here and there, but picks back up where it counts. Opening and closings were enjoyable, but nothing earth shattering. Haruka’s voice took a bit to get use to, as the attempt to portray her as shy, sweet, and innocent though her voice was not doing it for me.

my voice?!

The series is certainly worth watching, especially as a prelude to the summer (yea, I know summer ended). Worthy of a 7.3, it fits nicely between all the monster killing, robot beating, girl chasing, man hunting (in more ways than one), world destroying, magic chanting, backstabbing lineup of every single season of every single year. Well worth the first time, but seconds? Well let’s just say Haruka should be thankful Lamune is only 12 episodes long, it leaves plenty of time left in the day to rotate between all the “fairly good” light hearted summer picks.

How dare you rate me so low!

NDS + PS2 mockup?

are foreigners big? or are the natives just small?

foreplay

The End… or is it?

Code Geass R2 – ep 21

fallenAnvil — Sun, 31 Aug 2008 23:12:50 +0000

Didn’t care too much for Code Geass R2 ep 21. At least till the last minute or so. I had more faith in Charles to be the ruler that he seems to be, but in the end it was all a scheem for unity. Sorry to say, but how lame. I understand the will for unity of minds which supposedly creates a sense of peace because from the view of the commons, diversity leads to conflict, and thus unity must lead to peace. A common theme of many “save the world” animes that i personally don’t like or care for (but still watch).

Marianne is a Prankster

Episode 21 of Code Geass R2 marks the “tell all end all” episode of the series. The why of eveything was reveal and explained and frankly I thought it was kina lame. I was expecting Charles to wana rule the world, not pretend to save it. O~ and my “lovely” image of Marianne was ruined, too bad. Tho I really love her entry into the World of C, lovely twirl. =D

Forever in her 20’s

So the entire episode revolves in the World of C with pertty much nothing but talking. Important part of the entire series and cant be missed, but don’t expect much else tho.

Late afternoon tea

anyways, not to ruin too much more, Lelouch Kings himself…FINALLY! Can’t wait till next week for the showdown between Lelouch and Schneizel.

In the name of lelouch vi Britannia, I double my power!

Even kings must dress like a student on the thrown.

All hail Lelouch vi Britannia

Let’s settle the throne with a game of chess

Code Geass R2 – ep 20

fallenAnvil — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 07:37:44 +0000

Now that the Olympics are over, it’s time to start watching anime again. Finally got to see Code Geass R2 ep20 earlier today. Not much I wana say, only…

WTF Marianne?!?!

^yea… fresh OS, nothing but firefox on it…so just pretend there’s a screen cap between every other line…

Anyways, now that no one is trying to take over the world, I’m starting to lose interest in the show… Don’t get me wrong, Code Geass R2 is still good great, but R2 just doesn’t have the same “I Will Take Over The World” presence to it. And now that the plot has unfolded to the stage it is now, yea…I missed the old Lelouch.

BTW, any one know what’s Marianne’s geass? I really need to find time to watch ep20 again.

Code Geass R2 – ep 19

fallenAnvil — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 23:03:45 +0000

The end is in sight! R2 has been one twist after another, and now that many of the “useless” support characters are dead, it’s time to get down to business.

BTW if things gets spoiled because your reading this…TOO BAD….

NANNALLY!!!!!

Although it was highly expected…I’m still sadden by the occurrences of ep18. Thus I’ve decided to boycott ep18 and suppressed all desire to talk about it any more…but still..=’(

But here’s a reason for celebration =D, now if only Suzaku would die too…

FINALLY!

Anyways, not much action in ep19, but the direction of the episode was well worth 24 minutes of my Sunday afternoon. Zero finally comes out of the closet and is being shun upon. Actually rather than coming out, he was ratted out. Owell same difference. Because of this, there is no more “taking over the world.” Rather the new goal is now “kill Charles vi Britannia.”

ahh…I miss taking over the world already.

Suzaku finally loses it

Code Geass R2 – ep 15

fallenAnvil — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 00:42:36 +0000

So yet another Sunday rolls around and with it comes Code Geass R2. Episode 15 represents one of those episodes that reveals the secrets of secrets. Namely, what C.C.’s wish is, and why. It would appear that things have just gotten started. The writers sure are on a high with one twist after another.

The do everything remote

BTW, my predictions following ep14 appears to be wrong……dam….

Quickie on the episode…minor spoilers…

…you’ve been warned…

Geass laser show

The episode starts out with Lelouch killing Charles…

I’ve WON!!!!!!!

But as we’ve still got about 10 or so more episodes to go, Charles doesn’t die…go figure.

Suzaku gets slap by Karen.

The cause…

the effect.

V.V. looks better with short hair

We learn that V.V.’s immorality was taken by Charles.

Something and something, and we learn from V.V.’s pass that all those who are immoral wishes to die, and that the only way to die was to pass on their powers to a “mature” geass user who would gain the power to kill them.

the love triangle

Wonderful picture of C.C.

Weird stuff happens and Lelouch destorys the twilight zone.

Topping off the episode is C.C. having amnisia.

C.C. rejecting Lelouch

Code Geass R2 – ep 14

fallenAnvil — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 22:44:51 +0000

As if trying to make up for the lack of mecha action in the last two episodes, ep 14 would be more appropriately named “Lelouch gone wild.” Any ways, with the story seems to be developing in such a ways that the next episode could possibly be the last episode, thus I shall therefore predict how the story will developed to fill some ten episodes still left in the season.

I miss the good old days…

Lelouch becomes evil and turns into his dad.
Karen, thinking that Lelouch killed Shierly, switches sides and joins Suzaku
Cornelia joins Lelouch (don’t ask me why, it’s just how anime goes)
Our last scene of the last episode ends with the phrase “All hail United States of Japan”

Ah…gata love these happy endings….

Hmmm….PIZZA~

My room is cleaner

Ikea’s quick change room of the future

I could use some of this

The Outer Limits

Anime Summer 08

fallenAnvil — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 08:06:09 +0000

So while I’m trying to get caught up at work after AX, summer rolls in with all new titles to suck my free time away. If you’re not already on it, Code Geass R2 continues to lead the pack with all new opening and ending to go with the new story twists. Aside from that, it’s the new releases that’s gana make this one time consuming summer.

Lina Inverse is back! That’s right folks, Slayers Revolution brings all the craziness of the original Slayers back to your screen. So is it the same? Well I get a sense of them trying too hard to recreate all the craziness of the old Slayers, but it is still will worth every second of your time if you’re a fan of the original Slayers series. If not? Well watch it ne ways, it’s that good.

Lina Inverse 101

Xellos is back! …Soon…

Disney had it wrong, the “real little mermaid”

Need more food

Dragon Slave Stealer

Thief, Meet the Devil

Let the fools who stand before me be destroyed

The original Dragon Slave

If you don’t know what Dragon Slave is…

This is Dragon Slave

Following Slayers is the third installment of Zero no Tsukaima : Princess no Rondo. If you’re anything like me, you loved the first season, was disappointed by the second, yet can’t help but follow season 3 because you can’t bear to turn away from the screen knowing Louise is on it.

At it so early in the morning!

Changed my mind, Stop Staring!

Master of …

Mood Swings

Next we have Sekirei. I’m hearing a lot of hype about it, but episode one is just not doing anything for me. Antique Bakery is another title for the summer that pulls me in just enough to wana watch it, but not worth the weekly following. These and others will probably get toss into the pile of “I’ll watch it when it’s over” animes.

Sekirei

Must…Not….Look….

I give, I’m looking.

Wings!

There are a few other releases for the summer, but I don’t think I’ll be following any of them pass the second episode. But, we’ll just have to see.

O yea, Strike Witches is out. Not much else I wanted to say except rejoice (if you’re into those series).

Strike Witches

When guns aren’t enough

OMG! Stop wasting food!

What’s a show without a crying protagonist

Birdy The Mighty Decode. Can’t decide if I’m gana follow this series yet, but no reason not to watch it once it’s all over.

Birdy The Mighty Decode

Freaked yet?

Forget hard to get, take me now!

Space suit of the future.

All in all the summer looks promising (Only because I’m a Slayers fan).

Code Geass R2 – ep 13

fallenAnvil — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 05:58:04 +0000

Not really going to bother putting up screen caps as i’m only gana say 3 things about Code Geass R2 – ep 13.

1. MUST WATCH EPISODE (really, what isn’t?)
2. WTF he can use his geass more than once on the same person now?
3. NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!

btw i do dislike Rollo more and more, isn’t it time the writers finish him off?

Code Geass R2 – ep 12

fallenAnvil — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 07:09:40 +0000

Although it’s not like me to wana blog about single episode releases, Code Geass R2 episode 12 was too good to pass up! Not so much in the fan service or the comical atmosphere of the Code Geass episode, but the ending.

Queen of Hearts!

Orange?!?!Shirley?!?!

Can’t wait until next weeks episode. What will become of Shirley and Lelouch now that Lelouch’s pass mistake (yes it was a mistake, i can’t believe he used his geass on Shirley like that!) is undone.

What? I’m still alive?

Btw if ur looking for me to spell out everything that happen in the episode, forget it. Though i attempt not to spoil the episode, i have no problem doing it, but i find it kina pointless since if ur reading this, you’ve seen the episode already, or is attempting to acquire it one way or another. All i wana say is episode 13 is a must watch!

Lelouch is Mine!

Trade secret, I can fly!

My favorite scene

Druaga no Tou ~The Aegis of Uruk~

fallenAnvil — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 07:16:14 +0000

Quite the mix reviews for Druaga no Tou – The Aegis of Uruk, and it’s completely understandable. With a generic storyline that’ll rival any third-rate dungeon crawler rpg, The Aegis of Uruk does not have much going for it.

RUN!! We’re comming!

Hit up AniDB if you need a summary

The animation is more than adequate and remains fairly consistent throughout the series. The characters were pretty much the usual try and true lineup of ignorant lead hero, quiet girl, and normal goody-goody girl with a dark side. Fan service is present early on but slowly drifts to the sideline in favor of developing the storyline like any other anime out there.

The series was enjoyable over all. Good opening and ending. The comedy is a nice touch, though many of the gags are over done. For example, the arcade episode is a nice touch, but 23 minutes of the same thing is a little too much. If you can get yourselves to sit through it, the rest of the series is well worth the time. And the ending is simply spectacular. Can’t wait till 2009.

Overall I give Druaga no Tou ~The Aegis of Uruk a deserving 7.5 out of 10.

Fan service starting with episode one

GUNDAM JIL!

The Forbidden Tree

What?!?! We’re only 12 episodes long?!?!

I have faith the otakus will watch us

Fan service even amidst the chaos

Miniature golf

I predict that you will watch us now!