Anime

[sam7777]

I finally caught "Kashimashi ~ Girl Meets Girl ~" and I think that it's pretty good if rather silly. It's hard to take a series seriously that has a big deus ex machina of turning the lead character Hazumu from a boy into a girl so female romance would ensue. Still the lead was such a feminine boy that this has proved to be an easy adjustment (I have to wonder if he wouldn't have done a sex change later in life given how comfortable he is as femlae). This is definitely shoujo ai romance given that the two other girls Tomari and Yasuna only get really interested in Hazuma as a girl IMHO.

The ending is open ended enough that any extra eps on the DVD (the series is 12 eps and there is rumored to be a 13th ep on DVD ) could change everything. Still it's an enjoyeable romantic story if you don't think tooo hard on the premise.

[BBOvenGuy]

I have to wonder if he wouldn't have done a sex change later in life given how comfortable he is as female.

Good point, considering that in one flashback clip we see the young boy-Hazumu wearing a dress, and in another we see how upset he was to learn that he couldn't be Tomari's bride.

Kashimashi is definitely one of the biggest and most pleasant surprises I've gotten in anime. I'm looking forward to the 13th episode that's coming out.

[sam7777]

I also found Kashimashi to be a pleasant surprise and am 100% sure that they won't change the lead back to a boy in the 13th ep either. It will be interesting to see if they change who Hazumu ends up with, however.

The first episode of Strawberry Panic! has been subbed and is now available on BitTorrent. Has anyone else seen it?

I've seen more than one person comment that the show looks very much like it's spoofing Maria sama ga Miteru. I never watched that, so I don't know for sure. There's definitely a sense of "lesbianism for laughs" to the show - lots of overt (but teasing) action, but not much in the way of serious character relationships. Then again, it's only the first episode.

Caught this last night and it is a spoof of the catholic school girl shoujo ai ala Maria-sama. Lots of exteranl similarites aboud like the elite catholic school setting, sempai/kohai relationships, onee-sama redux etc. That said the two shows are different genres IMHO. Strawberry Panic is mild yuri for the boys that girls can chuckle at while Maria-sama is shoujo ai for the girls that boys can watch imagining that the stuff in SP is going on. I don't anticipate alot of serious character stuff given the source is a boys yuri magazine but it is fun nonetheless. Trashy but fun trash with fan service thus far kept to a minimum considering the genre.

I find that gay characters in anime enjoy much much more survivability than in US stuff about 70-30% survive versus 10-90% in american stuff. With those kind of percentages, the DL cliche can be said to be almost non-existent. But that could just be the stuff that I am watching. Still it's nice to be able to watch stuff that does not automatically feel that killing off the lesbians is the only way to generate drama.

[Kieli]

Simoun is definitely catching my interest and Strawberry Panic is just now a guilty pleasure. The SP manga is FAR and AWAY better than the anime though. The manga is being translated by Dynasty and they are also doing the translations for the Kamichu! and Iono manga. Iono is adorable and so unabashedly focusing on the girls love crowd. I think many would enjoy it. Iono-sama is just cute and clueless and thinks everyone loves her. Also you might want to check out Hayate Cross Blade manga if you can read Japanese. No one has picked that one up yet to translate but I can't wait until they do...my own translation skillz are not strong enough for the task You can find scans of the Gokujou Seitokai, Kamichu and Iono manga at Dynasty Scans.

I also checked out the first two eps of the new Witchblade anime which is loosely based on the Marc Silvestri/Michael Turner Witchblade comic series put out by Top Cow. It's only fair and I might have to reserve complete judgement until I check out Ep 3. It's not being subbed by anyone just yet so I'll keep you all posted if it gets picked up. Ohran High School Host Club is HILARIOUS! Maaya Sakamoto has decided to use her seiyuu skills and who knew she could be so good! I think Ep 3 is out RAW and up to Ep 2 has been subbed. I've heard good things about Ray the Animation too.

[Rocktoddy]

Waaah, so I've just also seen ep 1 of Ouran High School Host Club and my God, you were right Kieli, that is one hilarious anime! I'm still laughing my ass off! I wasn't expecting it to be that good, I just curiously downloaded it while surfing the (bless them) Doremi-site 'cause I had nothing else better to do . Between this and the other yuri-themed anime Strawberry Panic and Simoun, I have to say that thus far I like Ouran H.S. Host Club best. I don't know if it's because of the drawing style or the ambiguity or the oh so dry wacky humour, but I do know I LOVE IT!

Spoiler:

With my thickheaded skull (and non-research) I totally did not see it coming that Haruhi might've been a girl. Duh! Imagine my surprise at the end. That was so like the cherry on top of an already great episode.

Simoun is also very interesting indeed, but I'm afraid that plot-wise it might just be too confusing for me. Not that it matters, seeing as I didn't understand half of what was going on in Mai-Otome either and hell yeah I still watched that! Besides the obvious obligatory girl-on-girl kissage, I like the art and I love the music they're using (the OP kicks ass, check out the beautiful full-lengthvid), so I'll continue to watch and follow the discussions to see if I'm gonna get any wiser of it.

Marimite. Never could get into, but because of SP I'm gonna try once more. Ain't I easy to persuade?

Sigh. So many anime, so little time... and I still gotta catch up on the shiznat fanfic, geesh!

[sam7777]

Ah yes Strawberry Panic is definitley a guilty pleasure. Caught the second ep and it was fun but if Nagisa and Etiole get interrupted before it gets good one more time.... I've read a bit of the Ouran High School club manga so will have to check out the anime for that at Doremi. Thank gawd for the net. I prefer to rent the DVDs at my local comics shop (recenly Gankutsou and Madlax) but when they aren't available for stuff like Maria-sama and Kashimashi which will prolly never be licensed, the net is a gawd send.

I have to say that I thought Madlax ended with a big thud though I was happy to see at least one female romance end happily. Lot's of folks are saying that it's much better than Noir but I really don't think so. I found the lead characters less than enthralling and the characters that I liked well let's just say it wasn't happy times. I prefered Noir's more realistic setting than all the mystical stuff in that dang gateway. And really like Utena and the power to revolutionize the world, I was really expecting more to happen with that gateway. Liked the ending better in Utena BTW. Oh well no anime can be bad that has a cameo by Kotono MITSUISHI.

Rocktoddy: Now's a good time to take another look at Maria-sama now that two seasons are out on fansub with a third OVa coming out later this year in Japan. Maria-sama is definitley not everyone's cup of tea with it's leisurely pace, all emotion "plots" and serious demeanor. That said, if you've seen Kashimashi and didn't mind the pace of that, you should like Maria-sama. If nothing else, just watch ep 11 from first season.

[Kieli]

Ah yes Strawberry Panic is definitley a guilty pleasure. Caught the second ep and it was fun but if Nagisa and Etiole get interrupted before it gets good one more time....

Actually that's Nagisa and Shizuma...I swear she's a lesbian vampire....she has the stare to freeze Nagisa in her tracks In the manga, Shizuma is far more of a predator than in the anime and I think we should be thankful for that. I've had enough of the lesbian being the evil pervert, thank you. Although the anime leaves out so many hilarious situations that all of the girls find themselves.

I have to say that I thought Madlax ended with a big thud though I was happy to see at least one female romance end happily. Lot's of folks are saying that it's much better than Noir but I really don't think so. I found the lead characters less than enthralling and the characters that I liked well let's just say it wasn't happy times. I prefered Noir's more realistic setting than all the mystical stuff in that dang gateway.

Madlax could never hold a candle to Noir, that I totally agree with. I never got as invested in the characters as I did with Kirika and Mirielle. AND it had the distinction of being one of the precious few US licenced animes that had both excellent dubs and subs. You have no idea how irked I get at shoddily translated subs. I could rant for days

Now's a good time to take another look at Maria-sama now that two seasons are out on fansub with a third OVa coming out later this year in Japan. Maria-sama is definitley not everyone's cup of tea with it's leisurely pace, all emotion "plots" and serious demeanor.

Umm...true. I loved Marimite but I truly wanted to strangle Sachiko...and Yumi! *grr* I wanted her to get a spine sometimes. Maria sama ga Miteru was good for the girl/girl interactions and the blatant implications. Satou Sei is my hero and the Rei/Yoshino dynamic was both cute and a tad disturbing.

Glad you enjoyed yourself RT...it's always good to find an anime that will just have you rolling on the floor in laughter. Patlabor the New Files totally did that for me. I was in tears laughing for almost every DVD.

[sam7777]

Actually that's Nagisa and Shizuma...I

Thanks Kieli!! I totally spaced her name so used her Etoile title.

Shizuma is definitley a perv but not an evil one in either the Manga or Anime IMHO, she's just really push about coming on to folks but it's not like Nagisa or any of the other girls is really unwilling. Yeah LOL on the paralysis thing. It would be nice if her feeling for Nagisa run a little deeper but I'm not really expecting that from a yuri like SP. Still I want those two locked in a room without interruption.

Yeah Noir rocked but Madlax was only really good in the middle bits. Madlax and Margaret were just too dull for me to care.

Umm...true. I loved Marimite but I truly wanted to strangle Sachiko...and Yumi! *grr* I wanted her to get a spine sometimes.

Keili, yeah all through Rainy Blue I wanted Yumi to (quoting Lovelykitsune) "Go talk to Sachiko you dumb c^nt". Still their relationship is improving (with the speed of a glacier but nonetheless). I liked how Yumi realized that she was focussing too much on everything little thing that Sachiko did during that arc and getting angry and upset (NO YA THINK). I think that Rainy Blue is the nadir of their angst. I've heard that in the later novels their roles reverse with Yumi being more dominant as Sachiko beginns to become more dependent on her. Can't picture it but who can say. The OVA is supposed to conentrate on Yumi/Sachiko romance which should be right if they do novel 12. I think (with no real info) that they will do at least 6 eps and cover novels 12 and 13. If they do 13 that's the one where Yumi and Yuki conspire to rid Sachiko of her hatred of men and would require Yumi to sho a bit of spine.

And yeah Sei rocks. I want to see them sneak her into the OVA even though I don't think that she's in novel 12 (which they are definitlet doing). That's the kind of license the OVA should take IMHO.

[BBOvenGuy]

Ohran High School Host Club is HILARIOUS!

Okay, on your recommendation, I've downloaded the first two episodes of this series. I'll get back to you on it...

[Kieli]

Okay, on your recommendation, I've downloaded the first two episodes of this series. I'll get back to you on it...

One thing I forgot to mention is that the eps sort of plop you right into the beginning of Haruhi's troubles (sucks they kind of skip the beginning of how s/he became a member of the Host Club to start with)...it might be sort of confusing at first, but the whole bishounen thing is a sheer crack up.

Eh, you paid attention to my recommendation? Whoa....

[BBOvenGuy]

Eh, you paid attention to my recommendation? Whoa....

Is it really that shocking?

Alas, though, I wasn't overly impressed. I mean, it was okay, and I'll probably try a few more episodes, but... there were all those... guys. I mean, what interest would I have in a bunch of pretty rich boys?

One new show that might interest you is Yume Tsukai, or at least the first episode of it. The show is about two sisters with the power to rescue people whose nightmares have broken into reality. Reportedly, it's been tamed down a lot from the manga it's based on, but that's fine with me.

Anyway, the first episode deals with nightmares arising from massive yuri repression - and nobody dies or turns evil at the end! It looks like an episodic show, like Jigoku Shoujo or Shinigami no Ballad, so I don't know if we'll ever find out what happens to the girls involved, but for that one episode at least, you might find it worth a look.

[Kieli]

Is it really that shocking?

Honestly? Yes!

Alas, though, I wasn't overly impressed. I mean, it was okay, and I'll probably try a few more episodes, but... there were all those... guys. I mean, what interest would I have in a bunch of pretty rich boys?

True...but I'm ignoring the rich boys part and laughing at the fact that they're all mooning over a girl who's playing the part of a guy. Until some of them found out her secret, it was hilarious watching the lead pretty boy go gaga over s/him and ignore the evil bitch princess from hell

One new show that might interest you is Yume Tsukai, or at least the first episode of it. The show is about two sisters with the power to rescue people whose nightmares have broken into reality. Reportedly, it's been tamed down a lot from the manga it's based on, but that's fine with me.

I'll have to check the manga and the anime out. Hopefully, they won't be in IIRC or anything because I hate using those things. Since my browser is Firefox, it always gives me a headache to have to sort through hundreds of lines of meaningless conversation.

I've been sort of sifting through downloads and I have to say Ray the Animation has caught my attention because of the appearance of the legendary Black Jack. The premise of the story is as follows:

Ray grew up on a farm, one that breeds and raises people as living, breathing organ donors. As a donor herself, Ray had her eyes taken away from her, but was given the gift of sight by a stranger. Ray's new sight, however, was far from ordinary. She was given x-ray vision. We meet Ray ten years later, now off the farm, working as a nurse and an underground medical doctor performing procedures for profit. A chance encounter with an old friend triggers Ray's memories of her difficult childhood, which inspires her to try to find the donor farm on which she was raised.

It's based on a serialised manga that was in the seinen manga magazine Champion RED and was created Akihito Yoshitomi. Looks like it might be interesting. I'm downloading the first three eps to see if it's as good or better than the 7 volume manga.

[sam7777]

The third episode of Strawberry Panic is out with more fun and Marimite vibes. The greeting ceremony for the first years is tres reminiscent as they get necklaces with crystal pendates (rather than Maria medals but really the same sort of thing). In this ep Nagisa hooks up with her roommate and the girls living next door. The latter girls have been together since Kindergarten (also very Marimite-ish) and are refered to as an "old married couple" while they refer to Tamao (?) and Nagisa as "newlyweds. LOL . They decide to help Nagisa explore the dorms and end up playing hide and seek.

Of course, Shizuma shows up (ironically while she is hiding from her duties and the student council members are seeking her). And, of course, Shizuma doesn't miss an opportunity to almost kiss Nagisa and of course, they don't kiss. Sigh. Anyhoo, Nagisa proves to be the only one who canfind Shizuna and convince her to do her duty. The vibe between the two of them continues to increase but there's no relationship or plot as yet. SP is definitley a mild yuri with little fan service and only teasing girl on girl action. The manga has a bit more plot and definitely more yuri (done in good taste IMHO) so I'm enjoying that a bit more. I'm enjoying this series. It's funny and will fill in my catholic school girl quota until the Marimite 3rd season OVA comes out (hopefully later this year).

Another show that I caught was the preview ep of was High School Girls but I couldn't get into it. Way too much fan service (re. panty shots). I don't hate lots of panty shots (I did see all of Najica Blitz Tactics) but this was too much for my taste. NBT was so silly and over the top that I couldn't get offended. Ten minutes of HS girls just turned me off though I liked the manga and it is like the manga but on the written page seems less in your face so to speak. Ah well. I was going to watch Ouran Host Club but instead downloaded Rose of Versailles. I like the Host Club manga but I can wait on the anime which given that the manga is out in the US may very well get licensed. I'd hate to start a series and be cut off in mid-stream so I will wait and prolly end up renting it on DVD at my local comics shop.

I tend to watch fansubs of series that I am sure will prolly never get a US license (Marimite, Kashimashi, Strawberry Panic) because they don't have much action and/or boy appeal. This is mostly because by the time I get round to most of them it's all out on fansub and I know whether or not it will be licensed. For example, the next series that I plan to rent now that Madlax is done is "Kannazuki no Miko" which combines shoujo ai with mecha action and I was pretty sure would get licensed. That and Blood + got licensed while I was busy downloading and watching Marimite Haru (season 2). SP is the first series that I have cought from the first ep of the fansub. No biggie cuz I prefer watching this stuff on my TV rather than on my computer (it's too much effort to burn the stuff onto DVDs for me) and renting at my local comics shop is cheap.

On TV, I'm watching Ghost in a Shell 2nd gig which has no shoujo ai but some fan service of the Major. The first gig had hints of the former and a bit too much of the latter. No chance of something between the Major and the Prime Minister, I fear. Sigh.... Still a good series and wrth a look if you get the Cartoon Network. Also catching Samurai 7 on the IFC channel which alas also lacks in the shoujo ai dept but has a stron female character in the priestess and an annoying little sister sidekick.

Anyway, the first episode deals with nightmares arising from massive yuri repression - and nobody dies or turns evil at the end!

Bob, I find that anime/manga has a MUCH better percentage of survival for gay characters than US media. I'd say 70 versus 30% survive so that the DL cliche barely applies. It's nice to watch stuff and not be certain that the lesbian MUST DIE or TURN EVIL like happens 90% of the time on US stuff. And gosh they can still tell a good story. Who'd have thought?

editted to 70-30 as my post above

[BBOvenGuy]

the next series that I plan to rent now that Madlax is done is "Kannazuki no Miko" which combines shoujo ai with mecha action and I was pretty sure would get licensed.

A good choice, but I'll give you one warning - be patient with this show. You quite literally have to wait until the last few seconds of the last episode before reacting to it.

[sam7777]

Bob thanx for the heads up. I will keep an open mind on this one.

Sureally enough, there is talk of a live action Star Blazers movie at Anime News Network (they got it from the Hollywood Reporter). SB was the fourth anime (after Kimba the white Lion, Speed Racer and Battle of the Planets ) I saw though I didn't know that it was Japanese anime till later (yeah I'm old).

[Kieli]

Sureally enough, there is talk of a live action Star Blazers movie at Anime News Network (they got it from the Hollywood Reporter). SB was the fourth anime (after Kimba the white Lion, Speed Racer and Battle of the Planets ) I saw though I didn't know that it was Japanese anime till later (yeah I'm old).

They want to do a WHAT?! Oh no they are NOT going there! I'm still scarred from the Live Action Sailor Moon. *shudder* I could not, would not inflict that horror on anyone. Good god almighty, that would just be horrific. Star Blazers was my ultimate favourite so that would be like staking me in the chest. Meh. You know you date yourself whe you can remember Marine Boy, Astro Boy, Lensman, Crying Freeman, Fist of the North Star and of course, the scary puppet shows like Captain Scarlet. *shudder*

The manga has a bit more plot and definitely more yuri (done in good taste IMHO) so I'm enjoying that a bit more.

I have to say, I disagree with this. Shizuma's controlling, yuri-centric demeanor is so disturbing. If Nagisa and she ever got together, it would smack of an abusive relationship...Shizuma would be the dominant, controlling one, never allowing anyone but her to have contact with Nagisa. I never found that to be appealing. I like other aspects of the manga but many of the yuri parts have me going Hmmmm?

That and Blood + got licensed while I was busy downloading and watching Marimite Haru (season 2).

Heh, Blood+ got licensed before Ep 3 even came out. That might come back to bite someone in the butt as the series is not doing as well as expected.

Ghost in the Shell 1st GIG is better for some implied shoujo-ai between Kusanagi-chosa and her roommates but it had a LOT more story to it...plus I loved the Tachikoma specials.

I agree with Bob...Kannaduki no Miko requires a bit of patience (and overlooking the over-the-top performance of Souma...poor sod..) the end had me going....WTH? but it leaves you with a warm and fuzzy so that's ok.

[BBOvenGuy]

Okay, I've seen three episodes of Ouran High School Host Club now, and... well, it's cute and I like it well enough to keep watching it, but it's never going to make my list of all-time favorites. Its tone reminds me of Tenshi na Konamaiki, another gender-bending show that I liked but was ultimately disappointed with, because it was obvious that the main character Megumi would end up with Genzo the "pineapple head" lunk. In the same way, it's obvious that Haruhi is going to end up with the blond pretty-boy "king" of the club - and Haruhi doesn't even have a perfectly eligible and willing girl standing there, which Megumi did.

Ah well...

[gyzmkid]

Has anyone here seen Howl's Moving Castle? I'm a huge miyazaki fan and just got the opportunity to watch it. Anime seems to be so expensive, blah. It's a bad habit. Ahh I love it so much. Miyazaki hasn't failed to impress me once again!

[sam7777]

Kieli, I guess I'm not taking Shizuna's controlling, yuri-centric demeanor seriously because despite all that "I'll punish you" and "I shan't forgive you" stuff, she's not really cramping Nagisa's style. Nagisa is still sleeping with Tamao in the same room and bed even after all that. She's still hanging out with other girls and pitching hay with her own little groupie. Shizuna let Nagisa push her away in the library. Still it could be bad so I will certainly reserve judgement on those two and will not be rooting for them to get together unless their dynamic gets more equal. I thought the other two girls in the library and the bath scene were tasteful for a yuri manga. I've seen some of the hentai yuri stuff and it could be alot worse. Still want a kiss in the anime, however, between any two female characters. SP is definitely a guilty trashy pleasure.

Yeah live action Star Blazers is a frightening thought.

The latest rumor on the Marimite third season OVA from Russia via AnimiSuke is that it will be 5 eps. If so, I'm betting novels 12 and 13 will be adapted as these cover the summer arc. 5 eps in the longer OVA format (no need to allow commercial time) will be enough to cover two novels given that they have spent 2-3 eps per novel (3 typically for Yumi/Sachiko arcs).

[Kieli]

Okay, I've seen three episodes of Ouran High School Host Club now, and... well, it's cute and I like it well enough to keep watching it, but it's never going to make my list of all-time favorites. Its tone reminds me of Tenshi na Konamaiki, another gender-bending show that I liked but was ultimately disappointed with, because it was obvious that the main character Megumi would end up with Genzo the "pineapple head" lunk. In the same way, it's obvious that Haruhi is going to end up with the blond pretty-boy "king" of the club - and Haruhi doesn't even have a perfectly eligible and willing girl standing there, which Megumi did.

Ah well...

Normally I stay FAR clear of the gender-bending shows (I felt Kasimashi was one of those and it never did enough to impress me to keep watching) but this one had enough comedy to keep me going. It's not going on my top ten but after the soul crushing Mai Otome, I needed more comedy, less yuri (or rather shoujo-ai..as much as I love it, I keep getting my hopes up...ain't worth it ). Bishounen and bishoujo characters never did a whole lot for me.

Nagisa is still sleeping with Tamao in the same room and bed even after all that.

Oh if Shizuma-sama only knew, she'd spontaneously combust.....hmm...that might be interesting to see.

I've seen some of the hentai yuri stuff and it could be alot worse.

You've actually seen the hentai yuri stuff? I am SO sorry. Hentai even makes ME blush and that's a neat trick. Most of it just grosses me out. I guess that's why I can't stand pr0n either.

The Marimite OVA better not disappoint me, dang it. I fully expect the Mai Otome OVA to totally shoot me in the head but I've been waiting too long for some sort of Marimite closure.

Has anyone here seen Howl's Moving Castle? I'm a huge miyazaki fan and just got the opportunity to watch it. Anime seems to be so expensive, blah. It's a bad habit. Ahh I love it so much. Miyazaki hasn't failed to impress me once again!

I watched Howl's Moving Castle before it got licensed. It was better before the dub came out. Christian Bale did nothing for me as Howl and I wanted someone more whimsical for Calcifer (like Robin Williams). Currently Miyazaki and his son are having a VERY nasty public feud about his son's leadership on the Earthsea anime movie project.

[sam7777]

Howl's Moving Castle is the only Miyazaki film I haven't seen since I caught the Miyazaki festival on TCM in January. They did a great job showing a bunch of his films in both dubbed and subbed versions:
http://www.turnerclassicmovies.com/this ... cid=114160
They also showed them uncut and in the original apect ratio. If you have cable, check out TCM (Turner Classic Movies). They'll prolly repeat them at some point.

You've actually seen the hentai yuri stuff? I am SO sorry. Hentai even makes ME blush and that's a neat trick. Most of it just grosses me out. I guess that's why I can't stand pr0n either.

I've seen one anime video and some doushinji as I'm not a p0rn fan by any means (no interest in stuff with real people having sex). Marimite doushinji is almost all hentai free but there is alot of hentai in doushinji in general some of it awful and some of it more explicit but ok yuri (explicit sex with love is OK to me, violent content disturbs me much more than sexual content). Of course, I'm certainly old enough (well well over 21) to look at any adult content legally and know the difference between reality & fantasy so there's no need to be sorry.

The Marimite OVA better not disappoint me, dang it. I fully expect the Mai Otome OVA to totally shoot me in the head but I've been waiting too long for some sort of Marimite closure.

I don't think the OVA will give alot of closure because alot happens in the novels after the novel 12 and 13 arcs. Volume 14 for instance has them back at school for the school term and introduces a new charater Kanako who vies with Touko for Yumi's attention. Ironically enough, I think that from then on Yumi becomes the adored and popular Rosa Chinensis en Bouton like Sachiko was with hopefully an increase in self-esteem. The novels are up to volume 23 (and still going) so there's alot more story to tell before there is any big closure. The novels are still in Yumi's second year of three at Lillian HS so there's alot more to go as I expect they will go to Yumi's graduation. All this is just from story summaries garnered on the web and my own guesses so take with a grain of salt. I hope the Marimite OVA does well in Japan so they will keep releasing OVAs or even another TV season and cover all the novels.

[BBOvenGuy]

I'm currently reading the original novel, Howl's Moving Castle, and in some ways it's very different from Miyazaki's movie. I like them both, though.

Meanwhile, Ursula K. LeGuin has posted a translation of the official Studio Ghibli synopsis for Gedo Senki, which as you may know is based on her Earthsea books. You can find it here:

http://www.ursulakleguin.com/GedoSenkiSynopsis.html

[sam7777]

I rented the first DVD for "Kannazuki no Miko" and saw the first 2 eps last night but Bob, I'm not sure why you said:

A good choice, but I'll give you one warning - be patient with this show. You quite literally have to wait until the last few seconds of the last episode before reacting to it.

unless you mean the triangle between Himeko, Chikane and Souma...which will prolly end with H/C given that Souma is their mortal enemy (one of 8 orochi/demons after them though he's fitting the demon in him and helping them) but who can say. Should be a bumpy ride.

I really enjoy the show which really is a blend of mecha and shoujo ai. Chikane really has it bad for Himeko (as does Souma but who cares ). LOL in the first ep when Chikna rips open Himeko's shirt to do CPR and cops a feel while she is at it (you go girl) and ends with a kiss (that show didn't look like the breath of life to me). Next ep she's dumping a bucket of cold water from a well (japenese shrine eqiv of a cold shower?). Despite that descript, this really is shoujo ai with their thoughts and feeling much more prevalent though there is a bit of fan service. In this show it seems that everyone has a thang for Himeko from Chikane to Souma to the other 7 orochi (demons) that are after her. Also I got a huge Marimite vide from the opening sequence from the upscale school (though secular and coed) with everyone waliking around saying gokigenyou for good day. I can't wait to see the next two eps and the DVDs when they come out.

Another anime I've started from ep 1 in fansubs (usually I never get to these things until it's almost all out) is Simoun. Caught the first ep last night and the animation is WOW. Looks like Last Exile with yuri. The girls kiss before jumping into their ships (not sure why). This race is all female until a certain age (prolly soon after puberty) where they can jump into a fountain and choose their gender. As Rocktoddy and Kieli have said the animation is gorgeous but the plot is confusing. Maybe it gets clearer in the second episode. They are fighting a faceles foe who were gas mask and helmet things but I suspect are prolly pretty similar to our heroines. Definitley will catch more of this one.

Also watching "Rose of Versailles" which has much simplere animation being from the 70's. This one inspired Utena and to an extent all the shoujo ai anime set in classy environs like Marimite IMHO. I'm enjoying it.

[BBOvenGuy]

I rented the first DVD for "Kannazuki no Miko" and saw the first 2 eps last night but Bob, I'm not sure why you said:

A good choice, but I'll give you one warning - be patient with this show. You quite literally have to wait until the last few seconds of the last episode before reacting to it.

unless you mean the triangle between Himeko, Chikane and Souma...which will prolly end with H/C given that Souma is their mortal enemy (one of 8 orochi/demons after them though he's fitting the demon in him and helping them) but who can say. Should be a bumpy ride.

Oh yes, the relationship between Himeko and Chikane is right out there for the whole world to see from the very beginning - but as a certain someone once said, "the course of true love never runs smoothly." Saying it's "a bumpy ride" is something of an understatement. But have faith - and wait for the very very end.

(Or go back to Page 1 of this thread, where I gave away some spoilers while I was watching it before...)

[sam7777]

Ah it all becomes clear. Now that KnM AMV that I saw makes sense. They did something similar in Sailor Moon Stars and that didn't bother me. Bumpy roads are fine as long as the road doesn't lead off a cliff.

[sam7777]

More "Stawberry Panic" (ep 4) and more Marimite vibes. Finally this anime does something with characters other than Nagisa and Shizuna. This ep focuses on the prince of Spica academa, Ootori Amane and her groupie from the Saintly chorus, Konohana Hikari. Anyhoo, Hikari prays at a Maria-sama statue ala marimite. This ep was a really nice change of pace from the Shizuna hanging all over Nagisa stuff that we have been getting. Amane is literally a knight on a white horse and even gets to "save" Hikari in a sense. It's quite a bit of a relief to see two of the charaters interested in one another without all the sexual harrassment.

Caught the first ep of Yume Tsukai and as BBOvenGuy said, it deals with repressed yuri but no lesbians were hurt during the making of this episode. Liked it but not going to follow the series as I have too much on my plate at the moment.

[BBOvenGuy]

no lesbians were hurt during the making of this episode.

I like that expression! I'll have to use it sometime...

I've never seen "Marimite," so I'm missing all the vibes. Still, I did like Strawberry Panic Ep4, although it seemed like an odd change of pace to me. Do you suppose they're going to have other "digressions" from the main storyline in the future?

[Giftofamber]

So, then, Strawberry Panic is worth checking out? I was a bit worried what with the whole "meant for boys" thing....

[BBOvenGuy]

So, then, Strawberry Panic is worth checking out? I was a bit worried what with the whole "meant for boys" thing....

It's silly, but harmless. "Meant for boys" means it's a great big tease, but much to my surprise, in Japan apparently "meant for boys" also includes some discussion of feelings. You see even more of that in another "meant for boys" anime, Kasimasi ~ Girl Meets Girl ~, which I highly recommend.

[Kieli]

I've never seen "Marimite," so I'm missing all the vibes. Still, I did like Strawberry Panic Ep4, although it seemed like an odd change of pace to me. Do you suppose they're going to have other "digressions" from the main storyline in the future?

Maria Sama ga Miteru is worth the watch. Sachiko irritated the hell out of me but you'll love the brassiness of Sei (Shizuma is very much like her in almost every respect. Sei lost her lover Shiori to the convent, however). They're actually running rather close to the manga so I expect to see the digressions following accordingly.