MADLAX is having the BEST WEEK EVER!

For anyone who actually reads this: I haven't updated in a while. While I do still watch anime a lot I never really feel like writing anything about it. I think I may start a BEST WEEK EVER thing for anime just to have a reason for updating. Anyways...

With a dub cast annouced in the beginning of the week, and the DVD's release date announced today(or at least I think it was today) it's no doubt that MADLAX is having the BEST WEEK EVER. The DVD is going to be out April 12th, earlier than I expected. With a company like ADV, who always has several anime in release Limbo, it's rare for an anime without a large fanbase such as MADLAX to be released only 9 months after its license. I was expecting it would be at least a year. I guess this is a pleasant suprise, although I'm a bit worried about having enough money to buy it. I'm hoping to get the DVDs as soon as they're released, but I may just buy them whenever I feel like it, which is perfectly fine. ADV better put in good extras...

I don't feel a major need to get the DVDs though. While MADLAX was certainly an entertaining anime, it didn't hit the mark. Again, the story was a bit too strange and unbelieveable, even for anime. And, while he characters were fun to watch, none of them really gripped me. The large cast actually improved MADLAX in my opinion. It was like watching a TV drama, talking with everyone about the characters and making predictions about what would happen to them. Another highpoint was the story, the story. Although it was strange, it always kept me interested. I think that the best part was the philosophy though. Friday Monday's true nature thing caught my attention in the same way Altena's philosophy did(I think of him as the Altena of Madlax). It would be really fun to discuss MADLAX in a MADLAX forum(maybe I'll make an invision free one if anyone would want to join.)

I was disapointed with Yuki Kajiura's soundtrack though. Not to say it was bad, in fact, most songs were great, but had they been more emotional they would've made MADLAX so much better. Which leads me to another rant. I've been very disapointed with Kajiura lately. While Cossette's soundtrack was amazing, everything else is overly techno and doesn't hit me as powerfully as her earlier works did. Listening to "The World" from .hack//sign then "Mezame" from Mai-Hime, anyone would notice the downgrade in quality. It's just not as beautiful. I really wish that Kajiura and Bindiger will do something together again. Bindiger is probably one of the best people Kajiura has worked with(second to Chiaki Ishikawa). I don't think that it's because Kajiura is reaching her limit, she justs needs to quit it with those crazy languages and overdone techno beats to create something more reminiscent of her work in .hack//sign or Noir. I also am a bit irratated by all of the pop ballads. "Fields of Hope" from Gundam Seed Destiny sounded amazing at first, but it got old fast. I liked "Life Goes On" from GSD though. I hope Mika Arisaka and Kajiura do something together again. Hopefully her soundtracks for Erementar Gerad(a new anime that supposedly is going to be released in Japan and USA simultaneously, although this may not be true becuase that was annouced two years ago and there's probably going to be some reason why it didn't work out) and Tsubasa Resovoir Chronicle will sound more like Noir music than MADLAX.

Kanon Vs Air episode 3

I've decided because I'm watching both Kanon and Air, I might as well watch them together and compare them. I wish I could start with the first two episodes, but it's been about four months since I watched the first two episodes of Kanon. Note: the Anime with the better episode the week before will be behind the one that I didn't like that much(in this case, Air was better)

Anyways:

Kanon Episode 3: From the beginning I knew what the main problem of the show would be, its cast. It seems that each episode will be devoted to a different girl, most of which do not interest me at all. The only really good moments were with Ayu, because she and Nayuki seem to be the only important girls. The whole amnesia theme did spark a little interest though. Overall compared to Air, this show seems more like a dating sim, with the cliche "cousin returns home and meets a girl from his past who he doesn't remember" plot.

Air episode 3: Is it just me or is Air becoming a bit more comedic? It doesn't matter too much though, there seems to be a nice balance between comedy and drama. Air also balances its characters well. Each one is given enough screentime for us to be able to keep up with their stories without feeling like other characters are being abandoned. The music fluctuated in quality a bit in this episode(well it does in every episode). Some songs were good and perfectely fit the mood, while others felt like music I had heard in any typical dating sim. Overall Air feels like a fast paced slice of life and will keep me waiting each week. It is better than Kanon in basically every aspect(not to say that Kanon is bad though).

Best so far: Air

Kino's Journey: Conclusion

(SPOILERS)


Oh my god.

Having heard that the last episode was a parrallel of the fourth one, I was worried that it would end in a similar fashion, except with Sakura dead instead of Kino. The true ending was actually so much more sad than that.

The entire first 2/3 of the episode is just development of the Country and the people living in it. While everything seems friendly there is obviously a secret. Why does every traveler badmouth this Country so much?

Then comes the eruption. While watching this scene I could not control myself(I probably looked a lot like Kino did). I collasped to the ground and gasped, almost knocking over my soda. It was nice to see Kino letting out her human side, a side in which Hermes knew nothing about, as he explained how people die in an eruption. At first I was a bit irritated by the mother's statement, but I realize now that they had clear intention to save their daughter. They asked if she would like to travel, but she said no. She knew what she wanted to be, and she wouldn't do it in any Country other than the beautiful one they lived in. It must've been truly painful for the parents to allow her to stay though. I only have one question, did Sakura know this was going to happen?

There was a lot of death in this series, but every other person killed didn't seem nearly as kind as the people in this country. Perhaps that is why this struck me the most. Some say that this ending was inconclusive, but I disagree. There was no way for this series to end in a conclusive manner, since there was no real story. The only way it could end is if Kino died. Somehow I think this would be better. I can't wait for the new movie to be released. Does anyone know if the novels are licensed?

So much anime, so little time

Tonight seemes to be the night I watch the anime I've been putting on hold for so long.

Miene liebe episode 3 was pretty entertaining, but nothing special. The atmosphere to this show is nice, but it doesn't seem to have much of a plot so far. I'm glad that the characters are being developed though. Hopefully this series will pick up more, and hopefully Mashimo's next series will be a bit more traditional(Normally change is a good thing, but when someone who mainly directs shows about females makes a show with an all male cast, you know the results might not be too good).

I think I'm enjoying Bee Train's other series, Rozen Maiden, a bit more(I'm at episode 3 in this one also). It's nothing groundbreaking, but still entertaining. Shu obviously has a secret that would explain his fear of people. He was probably bullied or something. It's nice to see him open up though. Hopefully by the end of the series he'll at least go back to school.

I gave up on Mai-Hime after hearing bad comments about episode 4, but with episode 8 being so popular, I decided to watch 2-8 to see what was so great. And, despite a few slow episodes(mostly 4 and 6) I must say that I'm glad I watched this and will continue. I knew that Mai-HiME had a darker side to it shown briefly in some episodes. The ending of 8 kinda let that side out and added a twist to the plot, one that will most definitely be important to the rest of the series. And Yuki Kajiura's soundtrack really sounded great throughout episode 8. Unlike in most episodes, the music stood out and screamed, "I am music by Yuki Kajiura!" I also enjoyed episode 7. It's probably a close second. Nao is just an interesting character, and someone needs to stop those pedophiles. Nanri Yuuka is also pretty good at sounding seductive. Hopefully the next episodes will be as good as these.

Yuki Kajiura: I love you!

While searching on Gendou's Anime Music, I stumbled upon a song called "Fields of Hope" from the new Gundam Seed series. I clicked it, not really realizing what I was doing, not really caring. And then the song started. It's one of those songs that just makes you stop what your doing and tune out everything but the vocals. Needless to say, I absolutely love it. It's probably somewhere high on my list of favorites by Yuki Kajiura. Thank you Ms. Kajiura, for never ceasing to amaze me!

Comedy

Comedy is a unique, artistic anime short by studio 4c. Despite being only 10 minutes long, the anime creates interesting characters with the time given. The story follows an irish girl whose town is being beaten up by the british. Near her town is a castle, where a black haired man is said to live. He does not ask for money for a service, but only rare books. She decides to go off and see if he will help save her town.

Comedy is like watching a fairytale book in motion, with beautiful illustrations and faded colors. Ave Maria does add to this feeling, although once in a while the song doesn't mesh well with the dialogue. Comedy would probably be better without the dialogue, and instead with just inserted text explaining what is going on.

Comedy was an interesting anime that reminds me of Tim Burtons works, specifically Edward Scissorhands(probably because of Absolutedestiny's AMV, which is also great). I see no reason not to suggest it, considering that it's only 10 minutes.

Infinite Ryvius: Conclusion

Well, it's finally come. Something that I've both been looking forward to and dreading to the point where it almost completely drives me crazy. After a few days of comtemplating, I've finally finished the series.

Infinite Ryvius is about a to another level, focusing heavily on the characters and their reactions, a major point bunch of kids, who orginally were going to a bording school type of thing in space, that get stuck on a ship without adults. Sound familiar? But unlike the book "Lord of the Flies," Infinite Ryvius takes the drama I think LotF missed. By the end of the first episode, some characters develop and change more than some characters do in a full series. That being said by the end of the series everyone is completely different. Some go through insanity, others live in fear, but no one is the same once it's finished.

I would recommend this to any fans of LotF, or drama in general. Be ready for some intense moments though. Infinite Ryvius will leave you on the edge of your seat until the 25th episode(the last one just shows how everyone is different 6 months later.)