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Showing posts from January, 2020

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Questions are good things. They are there to get to know others and to find the common ground with each other, with the people we want to love. Well, I would think that the biggest thing I need to learn is to love myself. I think at least. I like lists, I make lists, mainly about anime and manga that I want to read and watch. And sometimes about American books too. My life does revolve around things that I consume. And I do not know if I am fine with that. I would like to fancy myself that I like philosophy, but in truth, I like the idea of philosophy. In the sense, philosophy means the love of knowledge, because we cannot know everything. So we need to start with things that we do not know, even though there are many famous figures in philosophy, I do not want to read from them. Because the biggest thing that I do not know if myself. And, as I am right now, I am more interested in filling the emptiness in me, if that makes sense. But I like questions. So, I went out and looked for que

The Story Of An Ogre And... [review]

The Story Of An Ogre And... was written by Kuze Gaku and it is published on Pixiv in 2016. 久世岳: https://www.pixiv.net/en/users/14101374 Kuze Gaku is made this masterful short, extremely short story touching story that needs to be seen to be 100% understood. This is a short story that needs to be experienced. The tragic story of an ogre is moving and a real tear-jerker. The link above is to his all in all pixiv account, a way to get to experience his other works. To the The Story Of An Ogre And... is here:  Story:  https://www.pixiv.net/en/artworks/60494882 Of course, the English translation is found on the net translated. The art is beautiful, it seems like a detailed pencil drawing and even the environment, bare as it seems is well made. I can recommend it to everyone. Score: 10/10 Trivia: [Spoiler: I can't stop myself from writing about this story. It turns out that the chained up ogre, is someone who brings bad luck and anything that gets close to him dies. The girl, who is talk

100 Dollar wa Yasu Sugiru - Manga Review

Score: 9/10 I was lucky to read this story years before and then read again when I found it again. The story was written by Yamamoto Kazune, was published in 2008 and serialized in Akamaru Jump. It is a rather short one-shot, which is the reason why I had to give it a 9/10 rather than 10/10. This story has the potential for a longer story, at least a three-volume story. There is imagination in it. Petey, a bounty hunter who aspires to be a sheriff goes to a mystery solver to figure out why a certainly wanted poster has a minus one hundred bounty. In a time where there are too many bounty hunters since the local mine had closed down, Petey is the only one who is interested in why a pity thief would have a negative bounty. Suna, the mystery solver, bartending in a shop is rather helpful for Petey and helps her decide whether or not to go after the criminal. [Spoiler: The main point of the negative bounty is that they are highering a new sheriff and they made the petty thief into bait to

Demon Breeder {Chapter 1+2 review}

Demon Breeder is a manhua made by Zhījū ǒu dǎ cí made in 2018 published by AC.QQ and it is currently an ongoing long-running series. It's status as it found listed on mangaupdates.com is up to the 52 chapters, but currently, there are only the two first chapters translated. The beginning scene is disturbing, men beating up a woman. There is no explanation for this, but I do believe that it sets the tone. The art is actually quite boring and usual, the story, however, promises a strange story between a boy and a demon. The main character, a young Shenmo Shui is a bullied kid, who is often beaten up because his mother is a prostitute. Because of his mother's occupation, Shenmo doesn't go home. Then he finds a creepy looking egg, basically, a Tamagotchi, who wants him to adopt him and raise him, in exchange, he will grant any wish that he can dream up. [Spoiler: The egg tells Shenmo that right now, he sees what his heart desires and can read it if he takes him in, and the bond

Ode to the Spider in the Restroom

This is not really an ode, I can't write things like that. But there is a spider in the restroom of my university. Right above the entrance and the web always swings when the door opens. And I always think that he will fall on me. There is always a quarter of a meter between us and even though, Arachnophobia makes me fear your little slim legs and small body The way you are sitting on your web, unfazed by the humans is, Something mesmerizing. I named him Bonaparte because he had conquered the unconquerable. He had managed to last two months unnoticed and unbothered. He wasn't noticed by anyone and his web wasn't destroyed, Not even once. I can respect something like that, and now, that December had come, And the spiders go to sleep, he had disappeared too, leaving behind his web. His web is still standing, marking his absence in January. And I will not be surprised if there is something to remind me in February.

Snowless Winter

A snowless winter is really sad. I am usually used to snow, not too high and not to low, pilling up at the side of the road and slippery pavement. And snow falling in big pieces, sticking together and it is getting colder and colder. Now we have mist and fog. And the birds look miserable. The snow is the best part of winter. Not because it is white or that it is covering the streets, but because something else is falling from the sky other than rain. And as someone who likes rain, liking snow is a must. I am happy that I can still be happy as a kid when the snow is falling. I feel young when winter is here, around spring I just feel old, the same around autumn. But those are the times to feel old, to think and to prepare so we can open ourselves to being young again. Winter is like that for me, this melancholic idiot likes nothing more than the falling snow around the evening and leaning close to the heat of the radiator. The air is cold and chilly. The atmosphere of winter doesn't

Omoni Otto - manga review

Score: 7/10 it's a good story all in all. Omoni Otto is not a manga that I would recommend to people since it is so short, only three chapters and not having any substance behind it and the third chapter almost hints at a continuation. However, that is not to say that it is a bad story. Information! Omoni Otto was made by Yamazaki Satoshi, serialized in Gekkan! Spirits in 2014. The art is actually cute good, the character design of the main character Suguri Yukio is drawn with harsh lines and a strict scary face, which makes it strikingly contradicting when it turns out that he is good at housework and with children. Suguri wouldn't admit that he is a househusband even though he decided to take up the housework instead of his wife since right now he is in a creative slump. Suguri is actually more invested in doing housework and shopping while waiting for creativity to strike. It is a nice little spinet of his life, not really having any story behind him. [Spoiler: I would actua

The Character of Asakura Miu from "Bungaku Shoujo"

Asakura Miu is a character from "Bungaku Shoujo" and this character analysis was mainly inspired after watching the movie adaptation. I hadn't read the original novel. Her being the antagonist and the most interesting character in the entire movie deserves an analysis alone. "I wanted to hurt you, make you suffer, and make sure that you'd never forget me." Miu doesn't really care for Konoha, she only cares about his perception of him. When they were children, she would entertain him with stories that she had made up and he encouraged her to write. Miu felt appreciated by this, she liked the attention that she was getting from him. But as time goes by Miu loses the ability to tell stories and decides to plagiarize other people's works, twisting just enough that the other kid, who wasn't well-read wouldn't realize that it wasn't her story that she is retelling. This simple action talks a lot about her character. Anything goes until the peop

"Bungaku Shoujo" Memoire - Review

Score: 9/10 "Bungaku Shoujo" Memoire is a three-part OVA, that depicts the characters before the movie had taken place.  This was needed since the movie adapted almost the middle section of the light novel series. It was made by Production I.G, has the average length of an anime episode. Director: Tada Shunsuke. Producer: Kuroki Rui. Sound director: Nakajima Toshihiko. It is not needed to watch to enjoy the movie, but it gives context to a lot of things that the movie didn't have time to get to. It does carry the same atmosphere as the other OVA does, more light-hearted but it has narrative value as well. It can come out as filler, however, I had never had any problems with filler content. "Prelude of the Girl Who Gazes into Dreams — Amano Tooko is a high school student with the strange power of being able to experience books by savoring them. While visiting the workplace of her deceased father, she stumbles upon the rejected drafts for a writing contest. One of them

"Bungaku Shoujo" Kyou no Oyatsu: Hatsukoi - Review

Score: 9/10 It is an OVA that kind of explains what "Bungaku Shoujo" is about, it was released with the limited edition of "Bungaku Shoujo" Minarai no, Shoushin, as it is presented on MyAnimeList.com and it was made by Production I.G released in 2009. The director was Tada Shunsuke, sound director was Nakajima Toshihiko and episode director Ezaki Shinpei. This OVA has a real personality to it, and it is really different from the atmosphere of the movie. It is different in a good way, and it is more comedic. I can't help to compare it to the movie since this is something that must have been what they had teased the movie with. It is a good marketing plan actually, but they managed to make it into their own thing. This one focuses on another classic, same as the movie, and this is more a taste of what the movie will be like and it could feel like it is a filler. But it is quite well-recived filler on my part. Is it mandatory to understand the movie: no. I can'

Lost

It is natural to feel lost in life or what you want to do. And it is again, easy to feel lost when you don't want to do anything. I hadn't really chosen to go to college, I knew that I could get a few more extra years getting my bachelors then masters degree could win me time. And that is a horrible attitude to have. However, I manage to have a few good things. Recap of three years: I had discovered that I have a gift for art. I am not a good graphic designer, more an autonomous artist, one that is more interested in aesthetics than contemporary conceptual art. That is maybe a good thing in this climate when it seems the concept is starting to get boring. Maybe combining the two things could be good for me in my future. I had returned to anime and manga. Just to Japanese media in general. I have a passion for subcultures. I still don't like conversations and public speaking. I will never like it. I have gained a different kind of respect towards my teachers in my school and

Envying my childhood self

I'm not proud to admit that after living twenty+ years, my mind often wanders back to the time when I was a kid and had no problems in my life. I had spent the three years of my college life in walking around the riverside with my twin, and often pointing out how much I envy the free time of the other kids, (see: teens) that cross our paths. I think that I am in agreement with him when I mention that all I want in life is just as much time as a teen has. In other words, I don't want to grow up. And I feel that I am selfish because of that. The water soothes me when I don't know what to do. It is not like I had a life, maybe I never wanted one. As a kid, I had a hard time looking people in the eye, mainly because I didn't really bother to be interested or involved in other people's lives. And this hadn't changed. As a child, I could get away with it. And now I envy that quality of myself. What I learned from after a few years of living is how to fear other people

Cell phone novel

"Phone novels started out primarily read and authored by young women on the subject of romantic fiction such as relationships, lovers, rape, love triangles, and pregnancy. However, mobile phone novels are gaining worldwide popularity on broader subjects." - Wikipedia. As it stands right now, the cell phone novel is the first genre of art that had come out of the new age starting with around 2000 and still going strong, having many famous titles published in book format as well. Cell phone novels are enjoyed all over the world. The nice thing about art is that it always finds a way to do what it wants to do. And I am happy that this can be said about the writers around the world. I always had deep respect towards communities that are none profit and keep themselves up as a team. "The first cell phone novel was “published” in Japan in 2003 by a Tokyo man in his mid-thirties who calls himself Yoshi. His first cell phone novel was called Deep Love, the story of a teenager en

[+18] "Boku wa Senpai ni Josou wo Shiirareteimasu." - Review.

"Boku wa Senpai ni Josou wo Shiirareteimasu." is the work of Shono Kotaro, was serialized by WAaI! Mahalo and it is only one volume. "Wataru starts his high school life by getting forced to cross-dress by his senpai, Ayane Takamura." - MyAnimeList.com T hat's a ll f olks !   – ̗̀ 𝓗𝔞𝔱𝔢𝔯𝔰 𝔤𝔬𝔫𝔫𝔞 𝔥𝔞𝔱𝔢 ̖́- ᕕ( ᐛ )ᕗ✧ Seriously, there is nothing about this manga anywhere - pornography doesn't need explanation. Quick, before I go on a tangent on this: Art: it is beautiful. The boys, our main two leads, are drawn cute and the outfits are cute too. Ayane is objectively attractive and funny. The background is bland, but you can't ask for a lot of things, here, you know that you won't be watching the goddamn corridors! And this is an ecchi, I don't need to tell you what that means. There are plenty of pantie shots of both Wataru and Hinata, and of course, of Ayane's too. But it never goes past this. Story: it's ecchi... but it is somewh

"Aoi" Hikaru ga Chikyuu ni Ita Koro...... - Review

The quasi-delinquent Akagi Koremitsu ends up being haunted by a schoolmate of his, Mikado Hikaru he is stopped into fulfilling one last promise that Hikaru had made. Otherwise, Hikaru's spirit can't rest in peace. However, Saotome Aoi is mad at Hikaru and wouldn't have anything to do with the feared Koremitsu. I decided to write my thought as I go in reading the manga since even though I find it decent I don't have much hope to it being something that would impress me too much. The art of the manga is beautiful and simplistic. Here I mostly mean the characters, the two leads, Koremitsu and Hikaru are complete opposites of each other and that is shown nicely in the rendering of the characters. The background is something that should have gotten a little bit more polishing, it is boring to look at but helps to make the characters pop out more. However, this runs the risk of the arts seemingly being uninspired and hard to remember. It is interesting. You can skip ahead pas

"Bungaku Shoujo" Movie - Review

Score: 9/10 The review contains spoilers. "Bungaku Shoujo" Movie, is the movie adaptation from Production I.G, directed and storyboarded by Tada Shunsuke. This movie adapted the fifth volume of the light novel series: "Bungaku Shoujo" to Doukoku no Palmier according to myanimelist. The series of "Bungaku Shoujo" is broader, having a long-running light novel series and a manga series written by Nomura Mizuki. That saying, this movie is an adaptation of a smart part of a larger story and a lot of things can be explained away with that. However, I don't think that it will take away from the enjoyment of the adaptation to people who had read the original. Tada Shunsuke had directed World Destruction: Sekai Bokumetsu no Rokunin, an anime that I had watched with the English dub, but one that I hadn't regretted it. This was a pleasant surprise for me since I will definitely talk about that series too in a positive note. This means that as a director Tada

"Gokko" - review...

Another review as we go, I will possibly spoil somethings for you. This one is short. Fuyuko can't get rid of Sawai who wouldn't leave her apartment, but he claims to be his long lost brother. Fuyuko doesn't believe this, but since she is learning to be an actress, she agrees to play along with him and play make-believe with him. [Spoiler: We never really get to know if the two of them are siblings or not. This is not really an insta-romance since they spend quite a time with each other. It is also implied that Sawai is just using Fuyuko to stay so he could write his scrip for a competition, I don't know, this is strange.] In the next story featuring Suzuki Hana, a well-known singer who starts working on the radio as an assistant and co-host. I don't like this one, it gets pretty confusing pretty fast. There are two love interests, Minakami and Zen, but neither of them is that interesting. [Spoiler: I think she dates Minakami and then ends up loving Zen, but it is c

"Haikai Roujin" Don Quixote - Review

Score: 8/10 "Inspired by Cervantes'  Don Quixote , the author criticizes heartless individualism and indifference in modern Japan, as seen through the eyes of an old man, who, although childish with age, sees the truth of things. " - MyAnimeList.com A wandering senior in modern-day Japan tries, to find his way around, and fighting a losing battle in trying to wake the people around him and trying to make them see the reality of the things surrounding them. It is a moving story about an old man who had lost everything but still keeps on fighting. This manga was written in 2000-2001, created by Shiriagari Kotobuki. The presentation of the manga is unique. The art style is not something that can be called appealing for the average reader but it leads tho interesting scenes and the feeling that this is all just an old man's daydreaming. The sketchy drawings are fitting for the style. I am not certain if I should have felt like the old man is just hallucinating and there i