Monthly Archive for August, 2006Page 2 of 4

Knee Deep in the Hoopla

8 Comments |
August 25, 2006
| Otaku, Television

I’ve given in to temptation and caught up with Simoun, and can confidently say it’s now my favorite show of the year. Given how good a year this has been, that’s saying something.

If you’ve been waiting on the Simoun-Fans releases and feel like pushing forward, you can grab subtitle scripts here. Good luck finding raws, though. A friend was kind of enough to hook me up, for which I’m eternally grateful.

To avoid spoilers, I’ll abstain from saying anything else… except, “Tempus Spatium just wants to rock, man!”

Kanon Prelude

19 Comments |
August 24, 2006
| Television

Is it October yet?

For anime fans, this is the year that just keeps on giving. Kyoto Animation’s Kanon remake should be a winner - that much is practically a given - but, even so, I feel a little like a kid on Christmas morning every time something new about the show is revealed. A little nervous, a little excited, very anxious… rarely do I get this way about a show this far ahead of time, so I might as well twist the fanboy dial up to eleven and enjoy the hell out of it.

So, now that the Kanon Prelude is out, providing us with our first detailed look at the show, what’s the verdict? Looks pretty damn nice, if you ask me. Stunning animation? Check. The old gang? Check. Original OP+ED? Check. Sugita Tomokazu? Check.

OK, so that last one was one of the wild cards to worry about. Opinions will differ, no doubt, but I’m happy with Sugita-san’s take on Yuuichi. Honestly, I’ll admit to having been worried about the change. I had feared he’d show up on the first day of recording to a chorus of “give us Kyon!”, and, let’s face it… Yuuichi ain’t Kyon. But, no, we got something new. Not quite Kyon, not quite Mayama, not quite Rin, not quite Hideki (that would’ve been a riot!). Nope, it’s Yuuichi.

Everyone else sounds about the same as I remember. Shiori sounded a little more mature, I think, and Ayu didn’t sound quite so much like a walking, talking, taiyaki-munching Horie Yui doll, but beyond that, it was a nice trip down memory lane. Of course, as was the case with Air, the original background music and original OP+ED from the game are utilized. I have a minor complaint with regard to the the TV-size arrangement of “Last Regrets”, however: the way the drums kick in at the very end makes little sense musically. They should have either brought them in earlier or not brought them in at all.

As for the animation… well, I shouldn’t really have to say anything about that. It’s KyoAni. It’s Kanon. Draw your own conclusions.

42 days and counting…

Ichiban no Louise

9 Comments |
August 20, 2006
| Television

You know, I didn’t watch Shakugan no Shana, but watching Zero no Tsukaima kind of makes me wish I had watched Shakugan no Shana. Because, if it’s anywhere near as much fun as Harry Potter and the Harem of Tristain…

In the immortal words of Hiraga Saito, “Horse whips turn me on…”

Or perhaps it’s the pink hair.

??????? [IN STEREO]

11 Comments |
August 19, 2006
| Otaku, Television

Has anyone else noticed that Shimizu Ai is providing the voice for two different characters in Strawberry Panic? Obviously, she has a lead role in Suzumi Tamao, but she also plays Hyuuga Kizuna. If you can’t recall who Kizuna is, I don’t blame you, since she’s a minor character rarely referred to by name: she’s the pigtailed girl in Chikaru’s harem.

At first, I thought Kizuna’s seiyuu was simply channeling Shimizu Ai. Nope. It’s Shimizu Ai herself. Granted, seiyuu occasionally pull double duty - most of the guest characters in Simoun, for example, are voiced by members of the main cast - but it seems rare for a headlining seiyuu to voice two regular characters in the same show. It’s especially weird when you consider how distinctive Shimizu Ai’s voice is. While she plays each role a bit differently (Kizuna sounds more squeaky and immature), there’s no hiding the fact it’s Shimizu Ai.

Which raises some interesting questions: have Tamao and Kizuna ever interacted with each other in the same scene? I’m sure they’ve appeared on-screen simultaneously at some point, but have they ever both been party to the same conversation? Or, more importantly, have they ever spoken directly with each other? I don’t believe it’s happened yet, but if it ever does… how bizarre will that be?

The Ghost of Kamigishi Akari

9 Comments |
August 18, 2006
| Television

Scott is right. If there’s one obvious thing that separates To Heart 2 from its predecessor (and by predecessor, I mean the original series - not To Heart: Remember Not to Drink When Pregnant), it’s the simple fact that Konomi is no Akari.

Of course, that doesn’t mean To Heart 2 doesn’t have its own charms. It still exists within the To Heart world, after all, and Takaki’s female classmates are all cut from that pleasant, “girl next door” To Heart template. Konomi could be Akari if the story allowed - but it doesn’t. To Heart 2 is, essentially, To Heart Neutered. It’s a standard bishoujo game dressed up in the trademark red and white seifuku.

The funny thing is, the lack of a central figure in To Heart 2 ultimately provides each girl the opportunity to shine. In the original series, for example, a character like Karin would have gotten little attention. In To Heart 2, however, she shows up again and again. And, of course, there are hordes of Komaki Manaka fans out there (myself included!). All things considered, the two characters you would most expect to win Takaki’s love - Konomi and Tamaki - get very little screentime whatsoever. I suppose To Heart 2 should be commended for attempting to satisfy fans of each girl, at least. In the original series, one is inherently obligated to cheer for Akari.

Admittedly, I’m a To Heart fanboy, so I’m inclined to appreciate anything and everything To Heart (yes, even Remember My Memories… just pretend it’s an alternate universe or something, and it’s not all that bad). So, I can’t complain much about To Heart 2, even if it does lack most of the charm of the original series. It’s still To Heart.