Heh

Posted on May 1, 2009 by Ubu Roi

So over at Animé News Network, there was a discussion of the announcement of the new season of Strike Witches. Now, I normally don’t read these threads, simply because there’s nothing of worth to be found there. (There’s nothing of worth to be found here either, but I’m writing, not reading. You’re reading, and if you want to waste your time, it’s not my problem. )

I guess I was bored this morning, since I was hanging out there, reading the ususal stupid comments, made-up rumors (second season of Haruhi coming! No it’s not!), wild speculation, and criticisms of the series from people who obviously never saw it.

This time, though, there was an exchange which wasn’t funny enough to merit all this buildup, but nonetheless tickled me. In between all the comments about how the show was retarded, or mecha-moé is, well, moé, user MusicLover764 posted:

Eww? Why do yall wanna watch little girls in awkward positions with elder gentlemen? Really? Come on……….thats gone a little too far…..

Cue various protests such as “you didn’t watch it, obviously,” and “It wasn’t with old men, it was with each other!” However, the prize for best reply has to go to Xizer, a person of only 2 comments, but much wisdom:

Hi, you must be new here.

ZING!

Posted in Fandom, Random Nonsense | Leave a comment

My Choices

Posted on April 26, 2009 by Ubu Roi

Lyar, Mikuru (adult), and Rin. Sorry, Miss Testarossa. You too, Admiral Spoor.

Posted in Fandom | 3 Comments

The Disappointment of Disappointment (updated)

Posted on April 24, 2009 by Ubu Roi

Every season for the last two or three, we’ve heard the same thing. “I can’t believe the crap that’s coming out. OMG, nothing’s worth watching next season!” And yet, every season has seen one or more breakout hits that were, if not tolerable, actually quite good. Now, not to pick on Aroduc, but I had his last few previews bookmarked…

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Posted in Art and Craft, Fansub Review, Snap Reviews | Leave a comment

Asura’s Cryin’, Vandread, and Natsu no Arashi

Posted on April 20, 2009 by Ubu Roi

Or, in other words, a bit of random talk about several series, two current, one old one that I enjoy re-watching.

Asura’s Cryin is getting to be a bit hit or miss. They’re still piling on the mysteries, but they’re also answering some of the earlier ones, and giving a bit of background. The question here is whether there are really any bad guys, or if there’s just a lot of well-intentioned people, some of whom have become ruthless due to their losses.


“Background fanservice” is the norm here; occasionally it gets a bit more in-your-face, especially with Misao (left).

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Posted in Fansub Review, Snap Reviews | 5 Comments

Asura’s Cryin’

Posted on April 12, 2009 by Ubu Roi

Note to the writers; whenever you throw a whole bunch of random stuff into the first episode, then either the second needs to level off and play it straight, or start providing explanations in order to untangle the first episode. Throwing in even more random crap and covering it with fanservice will make folks think you don’t have much of a plan after all.

The world will have been destroyed in 719 days.

Mmmmm, okay. But now I’m certain that Misao, the ghost, knows what’s going on. I’m getting vibes that this might have a “save the world by resetting it” schtick going on, like in Magikano.

Posted in Fan Speculation, Fansubs | Leave a comment

Maria + Holic: The OP

Posted on April 9, 2009 by Ubu Roi

Well, I finally got a search string to cough up Hanaji, the OP to Maria + Holic. I also note that Jason LOVED this show, blessing it with a post of epic length.

And yes, Jason’s changed site names again. Good grief. He’s so gender confused, he has to redecorate the whole place every few months, like a woman. I hated that about my mother. No control over my own room. Me, freshly home from school: “MOMMMMMMMM! Why is the bed over there now?”

Like I should complain, now that I realized he’s made me want to go back and watch it, as much as I couldn’t stand it before. Y’ see, two of my favorite (but irregular) webcomics went on hiatus at the same time due to artist health problems — The Wotch and El Goonish Shive. What do they have in common? Massive transgendering. I think I may have a problem…

What? Oh, the YouTube video. Sorry, turned out its just another recording of the song over still pics, or various people doing their own dubs. The idiots at the studio made YouTube take down the OP video. Sucks; it may have been NSFW (er, was, not may), but it was still fun to watch. In a disturbing sort of way… Anyway, Jason’s got stills from it, and in his own words: “No way there’s a penis on this. No way. None. I won’t believe it.” And in fact, we learn that sometimes, there isn’t — if the mole is under the right eye… In episode 6, viewers find out that the guy actually has a twin sister who crossdresses as a guy — and sometimes they trade places. Damn, but this show is messed up.

Edit: I take it back. THIS is messed up. Remember, it’s her… uh, him.

Posted in Cheesecake, Fansubs, Webcomics | Leave a comment

Three Quickies

Posted on April 7, 2009 by Ubu Roi

Stayed up late last night, catching up on anime premieres. So far, the winner is Asura’s Cryin’. Cute girls, action, mystery, and more action. There’s a few cliche bits, but it’s hard to notice they’re cliche, what with how they’re mixed and spun.

The first episode ends with a three-way Mexican standoff, with the protagonist (Tomo) caught in the middle and an odd sword-maiden/miko on the fringe. And then there’s the ghost companion — only she may not be a ghost. There’s an amnesia component here, and mecha is a part of the story, although it doesn’t appear to be dominant. It’s also got the most unique excuse for an orphen protagonist I’ve ever seen: Tomo’s mother remarries and boots him out of the house the day before school starts, because he’s “in the way.”

Best friend: “Did she mean that in an erotic way?”
Tomo: “You go ask her.”

His mysterious, absent brother is paying for the house he’s staying in, and sends an upperclassman from his school around to drop off a mysterious box that starts all the fun — a box that has no clasp, lock, fastener, or any way to open it.

The new FMA doesn’t seem to have the heart of the old one. It starts with Edward already a well-known State Alchemist, and pieces of their story shown in flashback. Emphasis seems to be on the comedy and emo distortions. Art’s… enh. The evil black-haired lady that creates the fake philosopher’s stones, and her construct/slave (whatever) that eats everything are going to be part of the first major arc, it appears. I’m sure fans know who I mean; I don’t care.

Watched the first episode of Valkyria Chronicles. Art’s not very vivid, very much into pastels. That seems to match the game. Not a lot of terrible freeze n’pan shortcuts, but otherwise nothing great either. Episode pacing seems a touch ragged. So far, we’ve met Alicia, Welkin, and Isena(?). The tank is unveiled at the end of the episode, as Alicia, Isena, and Welkin are surrounded in the Gunther mansion. The fansubbers put in a lot of game-world notes at the end to bring viewers up to speed.

Posted in Fansub Review, Snap Reviews | Tagged , , | 3 Comments