Anime

[BBOvenGuy]

The New York Times has a rather detailed article about the rise of shoujo manga. There's a great deal of attention paid to the fact that many of these "girls' manga" stories involve "shonen ai," or "romances between two impossibly pretty young men." Not my thing personally, but it's interesting to see the subject getting such attention.

On the other hand, I am following the anime version of another shoujo manga that sadly doesn't appear to have made it to the US yet. It's Glass Mask, the story of a girl with a passion for acting. There's this romantic storyline, too, but fortunately it hasn't been very obtrusive - so far. Only 5 episodes have been subbed, but there's another anime version from 1984 (shows you how long the manga's been around) that I'm going to check out.

I'm also watching Planetes, a show set in space that's actually a farily realistic depiction of what life in space would be like. What a concept.

[BBOvenGuy]

Bumping this topic to comment on the new season. I'm actually much more interested in the new anime season than I am in the new American network season I may not be able to tell one desperate housewife from another, but I do know a thing or two about some other shows.

The headliner of the season has got to be Mai Otome, simply because it's the follow-up to last year's Mai HiME. It may be of particular interest to Kittens, since in just the first five episodes we've seen hints of not one, but three possible F/F relationships. The potential downside is that the people in charge of this show are all about teasing teenage boys with fan service, so perhaps we'll never see anything more substantial. Also, Mai HiME took a dark turn worthy of you-know-who last year, so I'm still taking a wait-and-see attitude this time around.

Meanwhile, if it's a Slayer you want, look no further than Blood+, which follows the adventures of a Japanese vampire-slayer named Saya. Also there's Shakugan no Shana, featuring another sword-wielding girl who's something called a "Flame Haze," whatever that means.

As for continuing shows, Zettai Shonen appears headed for a big finish - but the show that continues to captivate me is Glass Mask, even though the fansubs are coming out at glacial speed. I've been scouring the net looking for anything that will give me some idea of what's going on in the raws.

So, is anybody else watching anything interesting?

[Kieli]

I'm watching Mai Otome, Blood+ (because I saw the original Blood movie), and Jigoku Shoujo which is really rather creepy. I don't have time for anything else other than getting caught up on the Ghost in the Shell: 2nd GIG eps. I'm also reading the Lady Snowblood manga which was FINALLY picked up and translated. It's supposedly the inspiration for the movie Kill Bill. Uma Thurman can't hold a candle to the Lady.

[BBOvenGuy]

I watched the first episode of Jigoku Shoujo. It was interesting, but then as the subsequent episodes came out, I started reading things like "formulaic" and "no character development," so I decided to bail on it.

The actress who did the voice for Akira in Mai HiME is now starring as Katajima Maya in Glass Mask - but the low Akira-voice only comes out when Maya is acting out certain roles. The rest of the time, you'd never know it.

[Kieli]

I watched the first episode of Jigoku Shoujo. It was interesting, but then as the subsequent episodes came out, I started reading things like "formulaic" and "no character development," so I decided to bail on it.

Don't listen to everything you hear about it. I am very much enjoying it thus far, if only to hear the seiyuu for Marimite's Shimako as Enma Ai.

Bakuretsu Tenshi's OVA is coming out in February. That should fill in the gaps from when Meg and Jo have adventures together to when they are recruited by Sei.

[BBOvenGuy]

Hello... what's this...? Something called Kasimasi - Girl Meets Girl, due out in 2006.

Here's the description from the Anime News Network:

Hazumu confessed his love to Yasuna, but she turned down him. To ease his heartbreak, he went to Mt. Kashimayama where he had met her first. He lost his way in the mountain, and it was night time. He saw a big shooting star, and when he began to wish, he found something was wrong. It was not a shooting star, but it was a falling space ship. He was involved in the crash. He managed to survive by the help of the alien. However, he became a girl due to the accident during the reconstruction of his body.

Okay, so it sounds like a pseudo-lesbian cheat, kind of like what Star Trek: DS9 did with Dax at one point, but still... it could be interesting.

[Kieli]

Hello... what's this...? Something called Kasimasi - Girl Meets Girl, due out in 2006.

Here's the description from the Anime News Network:

Hazumu confessed his love to Yasuna, but she turned down him. To ease his heartbreak, he went to Mt. Kashimayama where he had met her first. He lost his way in the mountain, and it was night time. He saw a big shooting star, and when he began to wish, he found something was wrong. It was not a shooting star, but it was a falling space ship. He was involved in the crash. He managed to survive by the help of the alien. However, he became a girl due to the accident during the reconstruction of his body.

Okay, so it sounds like a pseudo-lesbian cheat, kind of like what Star Trek: DS9 did with Dax at one point, but still... it could be interesting.

Hmmm...this sounds familiar. Let me check something and get back to you.

[Kieli]

Just an FYI for AnimeSuki Forum Kittens, it got hijacked by a bastard named Snowblower and hacked. So you won't be able to get there anymore. I'll keep you posted as to when it gets back.

[BBOvenGuy]

Just an FYI for AnimeSuki Forum Kittens, it got hijacked by a bastard named Snowblower and hacked. So you won't be able to get there anymore. I'll keep you posted as to when it gets back.

Wow, that's a bummer. I really like that board.

Have I got a new anime for you. It's Kaleido Star, the story of Sora Naegino, a Japanese girl who comes to the US to join the Kaleido Stage, this Circque de Soleil type of place. The series chronicles her joining the troupe and rising through the ranks to become one of its feature performers.

Around the middle of the first season, something very interesting happens. Sora starts to form this relationship with the Kaleido Stage's biggest star, Layla Hamilton. Within a few episodes, it's time to wake up and smell the subtext. Everything is expressed in terms of their performing together, of course, but they're very passionate about each other and have no problem saying so. I imagine there are a lot of Layla/Sora fanfics running around out there somewhere.

Kaleido Star came out a couple of years ago. It's currently being reposted on the USEnet, and it's also available through BitTorrent. Definitely worth checking out.

[Kieli]

Have I got a new anime for you. It's Kaleido Star, the story of Sora Naegino, a Japanese girl who comes to the US to join the Kaleido Stage, this Circque de Soleil type of place. The series chronicles her joining the troupe and rising through the ranks to become one of its feature performers.

Around the middle of the first season, something very interesting happens. Sora starts to form this relationship with the Kaleido Stage's biggest star, Layla Hamilton. Within a few episodes, it's time to wake up and smell the subtext. Everything is expressed in terms of their performing together, of course, but they're very passionate about each other and have no problem saying so. I imagine there are a lot of Layla/Sora fanfics running around out there somewhere.

Kaleido Star came out a couple of years ago. It's currently being reposted on the USEnet, and it's also available through BitTorrent. Definitely worth checking out.

You know, I've been seeing this anime in the Fansub forum of AnimeSuki for some time now. I was curious because the title caught my attention but My Otome, Blood+ and Jigouku Shoujo had been taking a lot of my time. Now that I've ditched Blood+ and may partially be paying attention to JS, I may look for a torret for this one. What eps have been subbed thus far and what ep are the raws up to? BTW, I just applied to be an Asian/Middle East Studies major at Univ. of VA. The Japanese classes are going to SO kick my ass

[BBOvenGuy]

You know, I've been seeing this anime in the Fansub forum of AnimeSuki for some time now. I was curious because the title caught my attention but My Otome, Blood+ and Jigouku Shoujo had been taking a lot of my time. Now that I've ditched Blood+ and may partially be paying attention to JS, I may look for a torret for this one. What eps have been subbed thus far and what ep are the raws up to?

It's already a completed series. In fact, I think the third sequel OVA is coming out sometime soon. There are 51 episodes in all, although I'm told that eps 27-28 are only recaps of the first season. I've seen up through ep 20 so far myself.

What made you ditch Blood+? That's funny, because I like Blood+ and ditched Jigouku Shoujo.

BTW, I just applied to be an Asian/Middle East Studies major at Univ. of VA. The Japanese classes are going to SO kick my ass

Oh boy, you'll have to tell me how that goes.

[Kieli]

It's already a completed series. In fact, I think the third sequel OVA is coming out sometime soon. There are 51 episodes in all, although I'm told that eps 27-28 are only recaps of the first season. I've seen up through ep 20 so far myself.

I noticed that. And I noticed that Mai Nakahara (from Mai HiME) is the lead. Why am I not surprised? She always seems to go for the shoujo-ai shows.

What made you ditch Blood+? That's funny, because I like Blood+ and ditched Jigouku Shoujo.

Meh, I'm a big fan of the original Blood OVA and the manga (which are NOT for the fainthearted) so the anime is just taking too damn long to get to the point. Plus all of the fangirling over Haji and David is making me ill I'm tempted to check out Planetes but Otome has got 90% of my attention at the moment. Erstin is my current fave but Arika is a real close second.

[BBOvenGuy]

I noticed that Mai Nakahara (from Mai HiME) is the lead. Why am I not surprised? She always seems to go for the shoujo-ai shows.

Actually, I haven't seen Mai Nakahara's character yet, so I'm figuring she shows up in Season 2. The main character Sora is played by the same person who was Rakka in Haibane Renmei and Rinna in Stellvia - two of my favorite characters.

Meh, I'm a big fan of the original Blood OVA and the manga (which are NOT for the fainthearted) so the anime is just taking too damn long to get to the point. Plus all of the fangirling over Haji and David is making me ill I'm tempted to check out Planetes but Otome has got 90% of my attention at the moment. Erstin is my current fave but Arika is a real close second.

What anime board(s) are you going to now that AnimeSuki is down?

I like Otome, but I don't trust it. I can't bring myself to give it my full attention until I'm sure they're not going to take a walk on the Whedon side. One positive sign, though, is that they've already come out and said there are perfectly logical scenarios where the Otomes might have to fight each other, even if they're the best of friends. My biggest gripe about Mai HiME was that I felt like the HiMEs fighting each other came out of nowhere and didn't have any real motivation (hence my expression, "walk on the Whedon side" ). At least in this series, if the Otomes do have to fight each other, it won't be something completely out of left field.

[Kieli]

What anime board(s) are you going to now that AnimeSuki is down?

Well when it WORKS, the Shoujo-Ai Forum. More often than not, the connection is interminably slow or you get Bad Gateway messages. But it's the only other decent place other than the Chinese forums to go. Sad to say, AnimeSuki is still the best place for information. You could try HongFire's Forums but I can't guarantee there will be a lack of idiocy.

I like Otome, but I don't trust it. I can't bring myself to give it my full attention until I'm sure they're not going to take a walk on the Whedon side.

I can see why you think that. They threw the ShizNat thing in our faces this time around just to please the shoujo-ai fans but methinks a rat will come jumping out soon enough. Now if Nina could only get over her father complex and Major Wang (jesus could this be any more suggestive other than Sergay??) needs to clamp down on his loli fetish.

One positive sign, though, is that they've already come out and said there are perfectly logical scenarios where the Otomes might have to fight each other, even if they're the best of friends. My biggest gripe about Mai HiME was that I felt like the HiMEs fighting each other came out of nowhere and didn't have any real motivation (hence my expression, "walk on the Whedon side" ). At least in this series, if the Otomes do have to fight each other, it won't be something completely out of left field.

I hate the fact that they have to fight each other, period. But it wouldn't be a Sunrise production without ridiculous amounts of angst. Hmm...sounds like someone else we know

[BBOvenGuy]

I hate the fact that they have to fight each other, period. But it wouldn't be a Sunrise production without ridiculous amounts of angst. Hmm...sounds like someone else we know

The way it's been set up provides a good opportunity for drama, and ultimately a strong anti-war message (one that will probably be realized by Arika, given that she's already said she would stop wars if she was an Otome). I don't have a problem with that. What irked me about Mai-HiME was that the "festival" came out of nowhere, and the HiMEs all went along with it way too easily. Come on, one minute they're partying at the karaoke bar, and within 48 hours (as the story flies) they're at each other's throats? I never bought that, and ultimately it ruined the series for me.

[Kieli]

The way it's been set up provides a good opportunity for drama, and ultimately a strong anti-war message (one that will probably be realized by Arika, given that she's already said she would stop wars if she was an Otome). I don't have a problem with that. What irked me about Mai-HiME was that the "festival" came out of nowhere, and the HiMEs all went along with it way too easily. Come on, one minute they're partying at the karaoke bar, and within 48 hours (as the story flies) they're at each other's throats? I never bought that, and ultimately it ruined the series for me.

Well Nagi's little revelation to them the night of the karaoke was a bit of a shock, I'd imagine. Nao seemed to be the only one really bent on doing whatever the hell she wanted if anyone got in her way. Mai really did try to keep things civil but Yukariko's little manipulation threw a wrench into the works far more quickly than I think would've happened otherwise. Ishigami-sensei had his own agenda and he pushed things into motion faster than even Nagi expected, I'm sure. So...I wasn't all that put out with that. I was more annoyed at how they portrayed Shizuru as the psycho lesbian (and that came out of nowhere more than anything else) and her ridiculously quick downward spiral.

Hell, I was even more brassed off that people were more ready to forgive NAO for her behaviour than Shizuru. I was like

[BBOvenGuy]

This might be of interest: A year ago, one blogger came up with a Top 10 List for yuri anime of 2004. Some of the names are familiar:

8) Kaleido Star
Alternately irritating as hell and really wonderful, I never really fell in love with the story, but the heat between Layla and Sora made it work. If you have a niece who is questionably a baby-dyke, this makes the PERFECT gift - and her parents will never suspect a thing. Added bonuses of Anna and Mia being a couple, and great, if rare, fanart.

7) Kannazuki no Miko
It made no sense, it was silly, it was plain stupid in many places. But the girl got the girl and it had decent music, so there you go, it makes the top ten. The official art is lovely, too - no need for a "Newtype Effect" here - the girls are perfectly willing to get sexy with one another for real.

2) ROD The TV
One of the most talked about series this year on the Yuricon Mailing List, ROD The TV was, and is, brilliant. Writing, music, characters, yuri subtext (and overt text) action sequences, even individual flashes of stunning art - this series is amazing all over again as I watch it on DVD. The entire ROD franchise has really managed to capture some of the best qualities of shounen yuri, and this particular series has the best writing of the year. The pencil boards are a bit yucky, though. LOL

And now, for the number one anime series of 2004.....


1) Maria-sama ga Miteru and Maria-sama ga Miteru ~ Haru
No surprise here, I'm sure. At the beginning of the year I wasn't sure this would be all that, but I'm hooked. Completely, totally gaga over these girls. Now that the anime is over, I'm happily reading the manga and listening to Drama CDs and even reading the novels, because anytime spent in the company of these wonderful characters is time well-spent.

My hat is off to Konna Oyuki for creating such a vibrant world at Lillian, characters that seems incredibly three-dimensional and plots that actually make sense, are well-written and never take themselves too seriously. Melodramatic and overwrought without being cloying, and with a potential for many years of fan art and fan fiction, may the francise never cease.

[Kieli]

I'm not very surprised at the blogger's picks, however, as much as I loved the characters themselves in KnM and Marimite, the writing set my teeth on edge. The Spring half of Marimite made me want to strangle Sachiko in her bed and that damned drill cousin of hers Touro didn't help matters. There were so many wasted opportunites in Maria sama ga Miteru - Haru that the whole season irritated me despite the little pseudo-love confession at the end. That was just a lame attempt to pacify the shoujo-ai audience, IMHO.
The manga DEFINITELY weighs in better than the anime.

I definitely agree with the ROD TV choice. I've rewatched the series several times now.

[BBOvenGuy]

I've reached the second season of Kaleido Star now. Mai Nakahara plays a character named May Wong, who shows up at the Kaleido Stage and immediately declares herself to be Sora's new rival. No signs of yuri yet, but I've read some comments that there will eventually be hints of a hook-up between her and Sora's friend Rosetta.

Meanwhile, the Anime News Network has announced some upcoming new series, including "The 'yuri' Strawberry Panic!" (Yes, that's how they described it.) The official website they link to offers no hints - unless you read Japanese - but it does have an interesting picture.

Any more news about Kasimasi - Girl Meets Girl?

[Kieli]

I've reached the second season of Kaleido Star now. Mai Nakahara plays a character named May Wong, who shows up at the Kaleido Stage and immediately declares herself to be Sora's new rival. No signs of yuri yet, but I've read some comments that there will eventually be hints of a hook-up between her and Sora's friend Rosetta.

Meanwhile, the Anime News Network has announced some upcoming new series, including "The 'yuri' Strawberry Panic!" (Yes, that's how they described it.) The official website they link to offers no hints - unless you read Japanese - but it does have an interesting picture.

Any more news about Kasimasi - Girl Meets Girl?

Other than it has a pretty good seiyuu cast with actors like Ueda Kana (seiyuu who did Yumi in Marimite, Kotoha in Gokujou Seitokai and Kohaku in Tsukihime), Yui Horie (Makie from Mahou Sensei Negima), Yukari Tamura (our beloved Midori from Mai HiME, My Otome and Rino from GS)...I only see three eps done so far and they're not subbed yet to my knowledge. People seem to really like the manga but are remaining wary because of the Ranma 1/2 type plot device. I'm going to download all 13 of the translated chapters of the manga (Volumes 1 & 2) to see if its worth anything. The manga is called Kasimasi but apparently the anime is titled Kashimashi. I have no idea why.

[BBOvenGuy]

Since everybody seems to be jumping back on the Jigoku Shoujo bandwagon, I thought I'd check out the latest episode to be subbed - Episode 7 - and I just had to laugh. The setting is a very obvious takeoff of Glass Mask, with the demanding older actress who has taken a young actress under her wing and subjects her to all kinds of strange dramatic training. The young actress, Ayaka, even goes outside and sits on a swing when she's depressed, which is something that Kitajima Maya, the main character of Glass Mask, does on a regular basis.

It turns out, though, that Ayaka is very much the "anti-Maya," so I was glad when Enma Ai dealt with her.

Meanwhile, set your VCR for Turner Classic Movies on Thursdays this month. They're running Miyazaki films every week, in celebration of his 60th birthday. You can get the complete schedule from my LiveJournal entry on the subject.

[Kieli]

Since everybody seems to be jumping back on the Jigoku Shoujo bandwagon, I thought I'd check out the latest episode to be subbed - Episode 7 - and I just had to laugh. The setting is a very obvious takeoff of Glass Mask, with the demanding older actress who has taken a young actress under her wing and subjects her to all kinds of strange dramatic training. The young actress, Ayaka, even goes outside and sits on a swing when she's depressed, which is something that Kitajima Maya, the main character of Glass Mask, does on a regular basis.

It turns out, though, that Ayaka is very much the "anti-Maya," so I was glad when Enma Ai dealt with her.

Good lord, man, you REALLY need to try the RAWs sometime. I'm pretty sure you can figure out even the most basic points of the plots. We're up to ep 13 now and it's gotten far and away better with a new subplot that is proving to be quite interesting. We are learning more about Enma Ai's origins, her true age and a young girl who can see and speak with Enma outside of the normal revenge plot. She can even "see" through Ai's eyes (no pun intended) when a person requests her intervention.

Meanwhile, set your VCR for Turner Classic Movies on Thursdays this month. They're running Miyazaki films every week, in celebration of his 60th birthday. You can get the complete schedule from my LiveJournal entry on the subject.

I'm fortunate enough to have most of his works on DVD (god bless you, Ebay, YesAsia and CDJapan! LOL) so I may just TiVO the ones I don't have.

[BBOvenGuy]

Good lord, man, you REALLY need to try the RAWs sometime. I'm pretty sure you can figure out even the most basic points of the plots.

I think I'll just be patient on this show. I'm trying to follow the raws for Glass Mask, which may never be completely subbed - there were two groups working on it, but one's only done 6 episodes and the other 7, while episode 40 airs in Japan this week. Fortunately, there are several earlier versions of the story that have been done, so I have plenty of resources to help me keep up - but all that takes time. I swear, this is the first TV show that's ever made me want to learn a foreign language.

And on top of that, I've got plenty of other stuff going on, including the books I'm working on and my day job, so I think I'll just wait for the subs.

[Kieli]

Fortunately, there are several earlier versions of the story that have been done, so I have plenty of resources to help me keep up - but all that takes time. I swear, this is the first TV show that's ever made me want to learn a foreign language.

This is the reason why I try to stay away from anime that have more than 26 eps *cough*NarutoFullMetalAlchemistetc*cough*

And on top of that, I've got plenty of other stuff going on, including the books I'm working on and my day job, so I think I'll just wait for the subs.

Heh, I'm waiting for my wife to take away my PC...I've gotten that bad. Thank GOD for Bittorrent!

[BBOvenGuy]

This is the reason why I try to stay away from anime that have more than 26 eps *cough*NarutoFullMetalAlchemistetc*cough*

Ah, so this kind of thing happens on a regular basis? I've noticed that several of the completed long series I've downloaded (Juuni Kokuki, Kaleido Star, etc.) seem to have been subbed by a series of groups.

In the case of Glass Mask, though, it really couldn't be helped. Kitajima Maya is the perfect representation of the way my subconscious depicts the writer portion of my personality. And yes, I realize that Maya is a teenage girl while I'm a 40something man. Consider it my contribution to the gender-bending quotient of this board.

[WebWarlock]

So I started watching "Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex", but I have some questions.

How does it tie-in/relate to the movie Ghost in the Shell? The animation seems similar as do the American voices.

What's your opinion of it?

Thanks!

Warlock

[Kieli]

How does it tie-in/relate to the movie Ghost in the Shell? The animation seems similar as do the American voices.

What's your opinion of it?

Thanks!

Warlock

Like the title says, GITS is a stand alone series anime, independent of the movie. However, all of the characters and their seiyuus are the same. You have to get GITS Tachikoma na Hibi and the Laughing Man eps too. Ghost in the Shell the movie, IMHO, is far and away better and more complex that the anime series. But I love both SAC 1 and 2 thus far. I've got all of the fansubs except for the Tachikoma eps.

I've always been a sucker for Masamune Shirow's work. I even have all of the Ghost in the Shell comics.

[BBOvenGuy]

I'm still working my way through Kaleido Star. One thing I've noticed is that the translator for Season 2 is using a different term for the performance Sora and Layla give at the end of Season 1. The Season 1 translator called it, "The Great Feat of Illusion," but the Season 2 translator calls it, "The Mystical Act."

So now you've got Mai Nakahara's character talking about how jealous she is because Sora and Layla "performed the Mystical Act," and talking about how she wants to "perform the Mystical Act" with Layla, too. And at the same time, you've got Sora's young friend and protege Rosetta talking about how she wants to "perform the Mystical Act" with Sora, too! And... well, it's all just a little bit subtexty to my eyes and ears.

Meanwhile, I checked out the Shoujo-Ai Forum the other day, and great googly-moogly! Some of the threads had names that gave me a Giles glasses-cleaning moment.

[Kieli]

I'm still working my way through Kaleido Star. One thing I've noticed is that the translator for Season 2 is using a different term for the performance Sora and Layla give at the end of Season 1. The Season 1 translator called it, "The Great Feat of Illusion," but the Season 2 translator calls it, "The Mystical Act."

Well it's strange...all in the manner one wants to interpret the kana. For the Great Illusion (????????) and the Mystical Act (??????
) look very different to me in written form. I probably would have to hear the dialogue to understand the context in order to find a way to translate it properly. Granted, my grasp of the kana is tenuous so I'm only partly sure of this.

So now you've got Mai Nakahara's character talking about how jealous she is because Sora and Layla "performed the Mystical Act," and talking about how she wants to "perform the Mystical Act" with Layla, too. And at the same time, you've got Sora's young friend and protege Rosetta talking about how she wants to "perform the Mystical Act" with Sora, too! And... well, it's all just a little bit subtexty to my eyes and ears.

Kind of like how Static Subs translated the Shizuru/Natsuki scenes in Mai HiME. All of the translating groups had a different take on how they thought the dialogue should go. Some of them were REALLY questionable.

Meanwhile, I checked out the Shoujo-Ai Forum the other day, and great googly-moogly! Some of the threads had names that gave me a Giles glasses-cleaning moment.

Sorry! Guess I should have warned you.

[Garner]

It's been a while since I watched a lot of anime and will have to check out some of the stuff mentioned here, it sounds good. A friend did clue me into a faux anime show on Nick that is actually pretty decent called Avatar: The Last Airbender which I have come to like quite a bit. It is American but done totally in the anime style. Lots of elemental powers and a pretty interesting story overall. Has anyone else watched this?

Garner