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 Trinity Blood
Summary: The three important groups, the Empire, the Vatican and the Order of the Rozen Kreuz, are always in conflict. The Empire is on a country called Methuselah and the race is called Vampire. There is conflict with the Vatican for the difference of races. The protagonist is a priest called Peter Abel Nightroad, who travels through the countries as a representative for the Department of Foreign Affairs in Vatican. However, he also belongs to a secret agency of the Vatican known as "Ax", a Special Operation Group controlled by the Cardinal Catherina Sforza, secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs. His encounter with a young girl called Esther will determine the struggle and survival between the human race and the vampires.
As friend said to me: "that guy is like Vash!" Indeed, Trinity Blood has appeared to me to be a cross of sort between Hellsing and Trigun (both series which starred main characters that looked very much alike design wise). So while it's nothing new, it's been fun to watch so far.
Love and Peace!!
May 12th 2005
I'm kinda annoyed.
Last Monday, Teen Titans season 4 episode 7, Prophecy was aired in Canada. Why am I annoyed? Well, even if I live in Canada, it was aired on YTV, which I don't get. So close, yet so far.
Of course, I've been doing as usual and tried to get it via the net, but with little result thus far (just 7.38% via eDonkey). It's really annoying how darn easy I can get episodes of Justice League (also first aired in Canada) or The Batman without even trying, but can't get TT episodes with the same ease. I had thought that the fact that Prophecy was a long waited episode would make it easier (more demand = more sources going around) but alas, it doesn't seem to be the case. I may end up actually watching it at the same time people do in the US at this rhythm, in other words, in June.
Oh well...
May 6th 2005
Finally, I was able to actually be outside without a coat or jacket on for the first time today. It was a bit chilly, but still comfortable enough to actually be outside with a long sleeve shirt. That's a big change from the crappy weather we had the previous week. The winds were very bad, which brought snow or rain storms the entire week. To add to the overall problem, the unusually strong weather revealed that apparently, I have a little water infiltration problem in the basement... right in my computer room. It's fairly upsetting, since I just had the floor redone. Though luckily, I hadn't been working on the Monday that string of bad weather days started and was working on my computer, so I noticed the sound of water dropping, just in time before it hit my equipment. If I hadn't been there that day, odds are strong that I would have at least lost my main monitor and my laptop computer.
So in the end, the entire content of the room ended up doing more or less a 180 degrees turn, moving from one corner to the next, the corner and wall with the water problem now deserved until I'm certain it's fixed (something I'll work on soon if the nice weather keeps up and I can find the right stuff to do all the sealing joints on that side of the house, and apply a water sealing treatment a friend of my father's told me about - honestly, I know nothing about that stuff, so I'll just try what I'm told).
For all the annoyance, it was actually a good move, since I really like the new layout of my computer room. It was also a good opportunity to clean everything up and put some order. The only downside is that I have to keep one bookcase out until I'm sure there won't be water anymore, since it'll be going against the wall with the dripping water issue, but I don't mind all that much.
Fanfiction wise, I did do a bit of writing, but I still have a lot to go on the current chapter. Though, already I've had ideas of how to re-use some of the situations created here later on, which is always good. Though, unfortunately, my muse seems set these days about thinking of situations for what I dubbed "The Chosen Chronicles", basically lemon "what if?" side stories. I blame that Mayumi doujinshi for that.
Anime wise, I've been growing very interested in Witch Hunter Robin, which I started watching last week. The story has been interesting so far, and I like the character of Robin. She manages an interesting balance of mystery and innocence, though I'm still left wondering about just how far she could go, if forced to. Her design is fairly refreshing too, contrasting with the more common fanservice female characters who more commonly see. Weird hairdo aside, she has a certain elegant look, added with a very slight gothic touch. I'll probably be trying to watch at least an episode every day.
When it comes to fansubs, however, I have a lot of trouble following the latest series, along with the previous ones that are still running. I may have to get rid of some stuff, due to simply no time to check it out. The only three new series I've been able to check out so far are Tsubasa Chronicle, Sousei no Aquarion and He Is My Master.
The first thing that comes to mind about Tsubasa Chronicle is recycled characters. With this new series, CLAMP has been recycling characters from both Card Captor Sakura and Magic Knight Rayearth, and maybe even more that I don't know of. Not only did they use the basic characters designs, but they went as far as using the same names, which really weirded me out at first. When all is said and done, though, I think it actually works. I'm in fact wondering if Shaoran and friends won't visit the worlds of MKR and CCS during their inter-dimensional adventures (as Shaoran has to visit numerous dimensions with alternate worlds to gather all the memory fragments of his childhood friend Sakura, which were accidentally scattered).
Sousei no Aquarion feels like a weird blend of Evangelion and Getter Robo. In a future world that was devastated by angels (or so called creatures anyway, it seems that the people's only hope lies in the Aquarion, a giant robot born from the union of three jet like vehicles. Sounds familiar? The show hadn't felt all that great so far for me, but I may try a few more episodes. After all, there may be some interest in a show where the female pilots have an orgasm from the feel of the synch and union of the Aquarion's units :P
He Is My Master is yet another maid girls series, but with a twist this time... they young (male of course) master they serve is actually a pervert for once. Though I'm really ambivalent about the alligator (I think he annoys me), this has been so far a light hearted series and something silly to watch when one needs to simply sit back and smile.
Next on my list of series to try out:
- Basilisk
- Emma
- Erementar Gerad
- Eureka Seven
- Honey & Clover
- Ichigo 100%
- Speed Grapher
- The Law of Ueki
I really need to get to it soon, considering that my hard drives are almost saturated. Need to find what is good and what isn't quite good so that I can make some space.
Love and Peace!
April 6th 2005
I had a dream last night. In it, for some reason, the ceiling in my home was dripping. Never mind that the room (or what bit of it I was conscious of anyway) looked like nothing like any of the room in my home. I still felt I was "home" and that the ceiling was dripping. More precisely, my workplace ceiling. Now, at first, I was annoyed, since it kept falling on me. Then I realized the dangers of it. So I started to move my computer away from the falling water. But no matter where I moved the computer, it kept falling on it. In fact, the further away I moved it, the more water fell. And so, the inevitable happened and suddenly, my computer fried.
I woke up gasping. It's fairly silly, after all, a computer is really just about data. But still, my computer is also in a sense, the container of close to ten years of my live. Mails, collected pictures and songs, etc. So, at that moment in the middle of the night, the surrealistic thought of having lost everything hit me hard. Considering that I actually double my data on two hard drive (well, once a month or so - I'm kinda due these days, actually), the only way to loose EVERYTHING is basically for the computer to be entirely destroyed (by fire, power surge, water flood, etc).
Think I'll do a backup tonight. Well, and tomorrow too, after all, it is about 80 Gb or so of data that I need to copy from hard drive to hard drive.
My sleep has been troubled lately. I've been having stupid dreams of late. For instance, I remember waking up two days priors because I had dreamed I had received a wooden chibi anime-like moose in the face. Don't ask me where that came from, I have NO idea. A week before that, it was because a foot large hairy spider had jumped on my face. Now, I've never really recalled dreams or nightmares in the past, so that's more or less something new. And so far, nothing more than an annoyance. If at least my dreams had been constructive and could have served as inspiration for my writing, all would be good, but all it does right now is cut down on my sleep.
Which makes me cranky.
My sleep has been somewhat also affected by my reading, these last few days. I've been reading more than usual. If some of you are French Canadians like myself, you probably have heard of the book series "Les Chevaliers d'Émeraude" (would translate as "The Emerald Knights") by Anne Robillard, or at least have seen them in most local book stores. This series has steadily been gaining more and more success in Quebec, and I can easily understand why. The darn thing is addictive! A fantasy story, it stands more or less in between Forgotten Realms novels and Harry Potter. The story has this same, simple and reachable style than the works of Rowling-sensei, but instead of teenage wizards, it's rather set in an elseworld fantasy world, where brave knights try to defend their homeland of Enkidiev, against the invading forces of the insect emperor Amecareth. Truth be told, Robillard-sensei herself admitted that the Harry Potter craze gave a little push to her series (the success of the LotR movies probably helped to), book companies looking for new material to satiate the appetite of new young, and not so young, readers who redeveloped a taste, if not need, for something fantastic and magical in today's cold and crazy world. Most fortunately for us. Though I have no doubt that she would have managed to get her work publicized either way, if it hadn't been for the growing interest of the fantasy and fantastic genre, I might not have heard of it.
So, anyway, I've been going through those books, six tomes out of twelve for now, like candy. I mean, for instance, I bought the sixth tome two days ago, and I'll probably be done tonight. And that's without a decrease in EverQuest playing time, and a few hours spent going through my paper files trying to find some information I needed for work (which explains my lack of sleep, as I've been staying up longer to read "just one more chapter" on a regular basis). I haven't done that since the last Drizzt Forgotten Realm novel. So you'll guess that I haven't done any work at all on Chosen in the last few weeks. Though, since the seventh tome isn't out yet, I figure I should be able to try and write some more tomorrow or the day after. With any luck, this will actually give my muse a slap in the face and get her working again. I mean, writing a naked Myssa scene shouldn't be THAT hard to write.
No new anime this time. Actually, I'm kinda behind in what I want to watch, as I have several episodes of Bleach, Xenosaga, Jinki:Extend and Starship Navigators that I haven't watched yet, without mentioning several DVDs I haven't had time to check out either (some Wolf Rain, Ghost in the Shell, Gungrave, Figure 17, etc). I'll probably have to do some catching up soon. Though, I've watched the end of Mai-HiME (or My-HiME? Could never find out which one was the right one). Satisfying, though, in a sense, I also got the feeling that too much happened, too fast. Still, the series as a whole was a very enjoyable one, and I await for it to be picked up by a studio or another so that we could get the DVDs eventually.
On an entirely different subject, there seems to be a recent flood of new and not so new Evangelion doujinshi on the a.b.p.e.a newsgroup these days. Among those, I've been pleasantly surprised to discoverer a doujinshi called "Another You". This is actually the first Evangelion doujinshi focusing entirely on Mayumi I've seen to date. Doujinshi wise, Mayumi's presence is fairly rare. I can only recall two doujinshi pages inside a longer story (were Shinji seems to get rejected by everything female), two illustrations, and a short "story" in one of the Paradise Lost anthologies (which wasn't all that interesting since it was fairly censored AND involved the old SEELE men). Considering the sheer size of my Evangelion doujinshi collection, it made this doujinshi a very special treat, even if the plot itself is fairly standard:
- Girl is depressed (due to abuse, mind rape, unrequited love, or plain simple NGE kid angst)
- Shinji cares about girl (with optional stay in the hospital for our favorite wuss because he did something reckless)
- The two gets together
- Shinji gets lucky
- He and the girl are happy
It's really a shame that Mayumi is such an unknown and underrated characters, as I would love to have a translation of that one. The two really looked good together, maybe I'll have to write a short Mayumi/Shinji fic when I'm done with Chosen, in hopefully less than two years, if I still remember about it. For some reason, I get the feel they could pair up well. The two are both soft-spoken, though Mayumi isn't quite as Rei is, so if Rei/Shinji fics can work, Mayumi/Shinji could surely work too.
I guess I just grew fond of her through my use of her in Chosen.
Back to the Evangelion doujinshi, there was a surprising number of doujinshi featuring a female Shinji (paired up with Kaworu). It's somewhat interesting. Obviously, we had authors there who liked the Shinji/Kaworu pairing... but didn't want to draw yaoi. It's somewhat reminiscent of the move I made in TOILI (in retrospect, I still regret it... it wasn't really necessary). Though I still seem to have the exclusivity to a female Kaworu :)
Love and peace!
March 11th 2005
In the end, I didn't get to do any work on Chosen 14 while I was out of town. Truth be told, of all the time I was there, I only really spent one night in my hotel room. The rest, I was either on the road and simply got there to sleep, or I was away all night doing the local shops, looking for new manga, a few DVD deals, and trying to find the elusive
6.5" Super-Deformed Raven.
Apparently, Teen Titans doesn't have much an impact over the area where I was, since I didn't even see a single TT merchandise, let alone the Super-Deformed Raven. Dang it! I wanted my Raven!
The only night I actually stayed in my room, I had to wake up early the next day, so I had to get to bet at 9pm and I spent half the time I had checking out the latest, and last, Home/Bodies chapter and the other half watching the fourth Rune Soldier Louie DVD (which I had inadvertently forgot to buy when the series came out and that I found in a store at a pretty decent price).
Now that I'm back, I find myself overloaded with an email inbox crammed with SPAM.
Really, I have to ask, are these people so stupid that they think we'll fall for their crap, or do they think so little of us that they figure WE'RE stupid enough that we'll fall for it. The sad thing is... it actually probably work with enough people to motivate them to litter the cyberspace. I don't know whether to laugh or feel insulted.
Still, when you look at it, it's pretty sad...
Canadian pills: Hello?! I AM Canadian? WTF would I want to order online Canadian pills. If I need some, I just take my prescription and go to the drugstore. Heck, my job insurance covers 90% of the cost. But again... I'm Canadian, so I don't need Canadian pills. Already got some when I need them.
The dating service woman who lives 22 miles from your home: Hello?! I live in the middle of nowhere. There's only one main road. The only thing there is 22 miles from my home are TREES! No wonder that woman is bored if she lives there... Though, at least it's more plausible than the dating service woman who found my profile on the web and thought I was interesting. Ah-a! I have NO profile on the web. Well, aside perhaps the one on my webpage, but that hardly counts and I wouldn't call that interesting.
The webcam girl: Sorry, but women who like to play with webcams just for the fun of it would probably hang around chat rooms with f20 tags (or something like that) attached to their nicknames, they don't start mailing perfect strangers about wanting to have some webcam fun. The only ones who do that are those charging a "few" dollars per minute. The day I'll get a mail from one of my female readers (I mean, aside friends, the only other people writing to me are readers) wanting to give me a webcam show, Hell will freeze over for sure. That's how high the probability is.
The Dead Rich African Guy: What the hell? How many of these guys died lately anyway? And they all happened to find that I would be a trustworthy person to administer their fortune? Yeah, right...
Stupid SPAM... If at least SPAM could be *remotely* useful, like TV commercials are on TV. And I can't even put a filter on, because it could accidentally eat up an email from a previously unknown reader. Oh well..
Back to sorting mail, I guess...
Love and peace!
March 4th 2005
 Many were those who suspected it for some time, but with the last episode, its been confirmed. The guys behind Teen Titans are FLCL fans.
Episodes such as Mad Mod and Fractured and their sheer nonsensical silliness had been hinting at that for a while now, but really, with Employee of the Month, it can no longer be a coincidence. From the style of Beast Boy's moped to his moped riding look (helmet, scarf and goggles), everything screams Haruko from FLCL. Add in the fact that this was the silliest episode since... well, the beginning of this season, and you can see the FLCL influence.
Not that its entirely bad, as this was a Beast Boy episode that worked well (unlike precedent attempts at BB humor episodes, such as Every dog has his day and Crash). Mind you, this wasn't the best BB episode (The Beast Within being fairly hard to top) but it was at least quite an enjoyable one. Though, I would have preferred the series to go on, instead of being stuck there for a few months while we wait for new episodes. Darn. And just when The Prophecy was only two episodes away...
FLCL aside, there were quite a few others homage within this episode, as per Teen Titans tradition. The most preeminent one being Gatchaman, though others will notice a wink toward also The Matrix, Soylent Green and even Akira.
On fanfiction news, yes, I've finally released Chosen Chapter 13 in its full integrity. The chapter can of course be found on the Chosen, as well as on ff.net and a copy was even sent on the EFML, just to see if it was still alive.
As for Chapter 14, it's still in creative limbo at the moment. Now, I may end up pondering it during my plane flights and I'll be taking my laptop with me, so I may end up doing some work on it, but no guaranties there. I just may end up watching some anime instead for all I know, not to mention that I may take the opportunity to do some shopping, or maybe even see a movie if there's a good one on.
Still on fanfiction, since I seem to be on a Teen Titans mindset and considering that I've been reading a lot of it, I figured I might as well share some of my favorite Teen Titans fanfiction links. Like for NGE fanfiction on ff.net, it's not exactly an easy task to weed out the gems out of the less well written stories, but I still found a few good stories and authors.
Seth Turtle : Author of rather decently sized stories, the setting of those begins before the events of Betrayal and Aftermath. They've been both tweaking around events that occurred in the animated stories, while adapting elements of the comics, while adding his own twists. Very addictive and very recommended. He mostly favors Robin/Star and Raven/BB.
Rurouni Tyriel : This author begin with a rather clever prequel to the animated series, which managed to adapt the events of the comics into the spirit of the TV series. The remaining of his stories try to fit into the existing animated continuity, with his latest taking a leap into the future, in what he assumed could possibly happen after the events we have yet to see in The End. Also favors Robin/Star and Raven/BB. Some spoilers warnings for people who have not yet caught up to the latest episodes shown on Cartoon Network for the later stories.
Nate Grey : This author wrote stories of a more humorous tone, but also very serious one. Also used other DC characters, mainly from Justice League, Superman and Static Shock. No real bias towards character pairing, which is good once in a while.
Gotham at Daybreak : Bruce Wayne has died, killed by a mysterious foe. And so, Robin must come back to Gotham City, torn between the Justice League's wish for him to carry the Dark Knight's legacy, his own feelings for his old mentor and the life he has managed to make for himself, away from his shadow. Works well in keeping my Raven/Robin cravings satiated.
And now, unto anime. While they've been out for a few weeks now, I've been checking three recent anime series lately. As it is right now, I can't really tell if some of them are worth getting on DVD.
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 Jinki:Extend :
Plot Summary : Aoba liked hobby kits. One day she was kidnapped and taken to Venezuela. There, mysterious life forms called Kodai Jinki appeared and attacked the inhabitants of Venezuela. In order to protect the citizens, the government made a new divison called Anhel and developed Mechas named Jinkis to fight against them. Soonly later Aoba became a Jinki pilot. But that was just the beginning.
Another anime robot series, even after three episodes, I'm having a hard time grasping the feel of the series. It may be due to the fact that we seem to be getting flashes of events occurring either in the future or an alternate reality, which really are more confusing than helpful. I really hate it when that happens. Sometimes, it just feels like a cheap way to keep you interested as you wonder what will happen for the story to reach that point. Well, its still been nice over all, so I'll probably watch more.
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 Mahou Sensei Negima :
Plot Summary : Negi Springfield, 10 years old, graduated from magic school in Wales, UK and is sent to Japan to complete his "training." He becomes an English homeroom teacher for the All-Girls Mahora Academy Middle School Campus class "2-A." (8th Grade)
By Ken Akamatsu, author of Love Hina, a number of people were looking forward to it, and so was I. The series hasn't disappointed so far. An aspect I like is the fact that Negi is only ten year old. In other words, while we can still expect the usual Anime Girl Harem(tm), Negi IS still a child and acts like it, even if he's also a mage. So romance shouldn't be at the forefront like it was in Love Hina, which is somewhat refreshing (probably won't stop those fanfic writers though...). So it'll probably be more focused on Negi balancing his teacher work, with supernatural related hijinks, while at the same time looking for one or more partners to assisting him as Magister Magi, and the quest of finding his father's whereabouts. Or so I expect.
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 Starship Operators :
Plot Summary : For the 73rd class of cadets of the Defense University of the small planet Kibi, a shakedown cruise on the fleet's new starship "Amaterasu" is a fitting lead-up to graduation. As they are returning to their home planet, however, they are shocked to hear news of a declaration of war by the aggressive kingdom of Kibi. When their planetary government surrenders without a struggle, the cadets decide to launch their own war, aboard the "Amaterasu". To gain funding, they make a deal with a galactic news network - and find themselves the "stars" of their own "reality show". Unfortunately, this is the kind of reality show that can get you killed...
Another series that I have trouble to grasp my impressions of it. A sci-fi series this time, focusing on the story of a group of cadets that went rogue and stole the state-of-the-art warship they were serving on after their planet surrendered to another galactic rule, after a single battle. But despite all that, the series seems to be more axed on the crews interactions than climatic spaceship battles, so its perhaps the slow pacing that's throwing me off. Though, again, it's interesting enough to keep me interested in checking out a few more episodes.
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Note: the pic featured in this update is the work of jodi-seer. The full sized version, as well as the rest of her great artwork can be found on his deviantART page
February 18th 2005
Valentines Day has come and gone this year, pretty much leaving me indifferent this time around. Its was a bit strange not to have anyone to think about this time, though, I'm not depressing over it either, so I guess it's good in the end. At most, I think I felt, and still feel, a bit nostalgic. Whether or not it works out, being in love is still a special feeling, and I guess I miss that.
*shrug* It's not like it can be helped, I guess.
Though, I did wonder a few times in the last week what happened to some of the women who used to be in my heart in the past. Did Jasmine managed to make her first million dollars by thirty like she wanted? Did Mylène manage to find the direction in life she sought, while burring the past she left behind. Are Deina's medical studies going well? Heck, is KW still studying in the States, or as she returned home to practice? So much people I've cared about with whom I've lost complete contact with. Some of them, because I was no longer needed as a friend. Others, by my own fault, I guess. Or others simply because, well, we drifted apart.
C'est la vie. At least, I have memories. Some bad, but a lot more that I'm found of.
In any case, with one of the corporate industries excuse to sell chocolate gone (there's still Easter left), I've now entered the period leading to my soon upcoming birthday. Again, this leaves me pretty indifferent. In fact, I have trouble remembering what day of the week it is. Shows how much I care about it. More than anything else, I simply see it as being the last year I have before hitting the big 30.
Now, THAT is a mildly scary concept. Of course, I know that it's really more a number than anything else, but still, I can also see it for the milestone that it is... and begin to understand how the following 40 can be even more worrisome.
At thirty... well, you're no longer in your twenties. A person isn't exactly old, but can't either be considered as a young man or woman. Assuming that I live up to sixty, thirty would mean that half my life is pretty much gone. It's certainly something to wonder about. For instance, if I compare to my father, I had been about to enter high school when he was that age. More or less.
Freaky.
In such context, one can't help but wonder what he's done in the last ten years, since I've been an adult. You feel pride at the good things you've achieve, while feel regrets for the things you haven't.
Yet, again, I know better than to get depressed over that. My life is my life. If I don't like how it is, then I should work to change it. But I have no reason to bitch about it. After all, it's not like I don't have good health.
Introspection aside, I have a bit of good news. I've finally wrapped up Chosen Chapter 13. It's currently in the hands of Darren, who'll either correct the newest bits, or tell me that its crap. I'm hoping for the former. All in all, I'm happy with this chapter. It was pretty hard to write, but I'd like to think it works out well. And it reached the size of 180kb (without Hikari's D&D stats, on which Darren is also working on), 12Kb over the previous longest chapter. Now, while size doesn't exactly mean quality, I'm still glad when I can manage to develop a lot of content on an idea that had been shaky at first.
Unfortunately, I also have bad news. After correcting more or less the first half of Chapter 14, Darren had a Good Idea. Now, since it's a Good Idea, I can't actually dismiss it, especially since it makes a lot of sense. So even if it throws part of my overall outline planning out of whack, I'm all up for it. But it also means that I've got to completely restart my mind storming for this chapter from scratch. And for you all, well that means further delays. Why? Well, to write a scene, I need to play it out in my head. Multiple times. Until I really get the feel of it and it comes out of its own. But since the remaining parts I had to write are now bumped to Chapter 16 and replaced with new stuff, well now I have to start again and begin to ponder the new idea.
I wouldn't be surprised if I find myself not writing one word for at least two weeks.
At the very least, I guess this should mean that Chapter 16 will be pretty action packed. But for the mean time, Chapter 14 will take longer to come out. Then again, anyone reading Chosen should be used to those delays by now.
 On a different matter, I was able to get the latest Teen Titans episode fairly early this week. Now, while Cyborg the Barbarian wasn't really as intense as Birthmark, I've found it to be one of the most Cyborg episodes I've seen so far. It certainly is better than the abysmal Crash and Car Trouble. Let's face it: aside perhaps Beast Boy, Cyborg tends to have the worse episodes. Even the finale of his season, with Titans East, was only so-so. But, back to Cyborg the Barbarian. If we forget some details, like the fact that steel weapons came around the medieval ages and not around 3000 BC, I've found it entertaining. That episode came out a bit like an homage to Army of Darkness, so considering my love for the Evil Dead saga, I guess it's understandable that this episode worked out for me. In fact, one of the main problems I have with it is that, like the earlier Robin episode called The Quest, it felt like thing went too fast.
Well, with luck, someone will do a fanfic that retakes that episode and flesh it out further.
Speaking of Evil Dead, I've caught rumors that a remake of it would be made. However, Bruce Campbell not be playing Ash. Evil Dead without Bruce Campbell... I'm not sure I like the sound of that...
Well, on that I'm off to discover a bit more about Dragons of Norrath, the lastest EverQuest Expension.
Love and peace!
February 9th 2005
Wow...
That's really the only word that comes to mind after watching the latest Teen Titans episodes (Birthmark). Without contest, this was the damn best episode so far, and if the rest of season 4 is on par (not considering the fillers), it will be one hell of a ride. Easily one better than the Brother Blood/Cyborg arc. Truthfully, very often, the animators have surprised me in their ability to walk the fine line of the Y7 US rating imposed on them, and just how far they manage to stretch things without being shut down.
Damn American kiddy TV ratings. I swear, if the show would have been made with a Japanese audience in mind instead, it would have kicked even more ass.
Oh well...
Speaking of Japanese audience, I've been checking out some more new shows. Three actually stand out more at the moment.
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 Ah! My Goddess! :
Plot Summary : Now, if you don't know what this show is about... you really need to get up to date on your anime and manga lore.
Based this time more faithfully on the manga, the new TV series follows it more closely than it's OVA predecessor. Because of that, the show's pace is a lot slower, even after five episodes. In fact, having followed the manga for years now, its very weird for me to come back and rediscover a rather insecure and indecisive Keiichi, compared the more mature young adult he's now in the manga. But it's also cute, and I enjoy rediscovering the origins of the series, once again. Not to mention that visually, the show is very stunning. The opening itself is a very nice threat. We're far here from the artwork of the author when he started his manga.
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 Mahoraba - Heartful Days :
Plot Summary : Shiratori Ryuushi is a young artist-in-training, about to start studying at a vocational school. Arriving at his new lodgings, Narutaki Sou, he finds himself the focus of attention for the collection of weirdoes that inhabit the place. He also meets and falls for the landlady, Aoba Kozue, who seems to be both lovely and charming. However, Kozue is not what she seems to be... in fact, she's more.
A new show, which I'll qualify as a fusion between Ai Yori Aoshi and Nanaka 6/17, with one or two twists. A very cute show, that fittingly use a sorta more childish artwork (despite the main characters actually around 18) and a use bright colors. The concept is certainly not entirely new. The main protagonist goes to live in a new multi room place, meets weird people while hijinks and possible romance occurs. But... it's cute. Really, I just like it. Not to mention that in some ways, Kozoe really sounds like Yomiko Readman. Minus of course the book fetish.
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 Xenosaga :
Plot Summary : Based on the famed RPG game, Xenosaga (more accurately Episode I: Der Wille zur Macht), where Humanity has been forced into space for unknown reasons. Now, enter the story during the struggle between KOS-MOS and the Gnosis race, who are bent on wiping out all of humankind. Or so it seems.
While I have yet to play the game itself (curse you EverQuest and your perpetual lure!) a few years back, I was able to get all the game videos. Which is actually several hours worth of cut scenes. Because Xenosaga cut scenes last VERY long. So even without the game, I could follow the story itself and really enjoyed it. So, now that its been animated, its no surprise that I find myself enjoying it very much. I think I've noted some minor divergences (mainly with the presence of the initial anonymous 100-realian series girl), but overall, the TV series follows pretty closely the story of the game. Initially, I didn't care much for the character design, but I'm getting used to it now, though, I'm still finding that the colors seems to be lacking a certain brightness. I can only hope that it'll look better in DVD format.
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Those aside, I always make sure not to miss the latest episodes of My-HiME and Bleach, as well as One Piece. I have to say, the latest twist in My-HiME took me by surprise... I wasn't expecting that one at all. Fun, fun, fun. As I stated before, I'll be sure to get My-HiME and Bleach on DVD. Though, I won't make an effort for One Piece, considering how butchered the TV show is. Oh well, at least I expect it to get off the air soon enough. There's only so much they can do to make it pass the Y7 rating.
Did I mention that I loathed that American Y7 TV rating?
On other matters, yes, Chapter 13 is progressing. Only one scene left. Though, this one ties a lot of strings together, so I'm careful in how I'm handling it. With luck, maybe there will be a release in two weeks.
But you should know better by now than to count on luck :P
Chapter 14 is probably over half done as well, which is currently in Darren's hands. Again, with luck, I won't have to rework too much. Perhaps he'll even add a few things of his own to it too.
Well, on that, I'll be uploading these latest set of news, then re-watch Birthmark... Wish I could have it on DVD now instead of in maybe two years...
Love and peace!
January 14th 2005
As announced earlier, the draft for the first part of Chosen Chapter 13 is now online. There is about three scenes to complete and three more to write for the second part, so it should be released within the next weeks.
January 2nd 2005
Hi!
Well, a new year has come, and hopefully it won't suck as 2004 did. Personally, I guess it was a pretty good year for me, but globally, it sure has been a fairly bad one, if not catastrophic, if we compile the casualties in Iraq, those from the storm in Haiti and the recent loss due to the South-eastern Asian Tsunami. And let's not forget the terrible situation currently occurring in Sudan.
Not to mention the seemingly inexorable decent of the United-States into bankruptcy and total economical failure, as the country's global dept just goes higher and higher with no sign of stopping any time soon.
Mind you, in retrospect, there seems to always been several terrible dramas each year. Nevertheless, it doesn't mean we can't wish that this year will be better.
And at the very least, I can wish that you, my readers, will have a good year 2005 :)
What have I been up to these past few months? (as I realized that my last update dates from last September). Not all that much really, just the usual. Watching anime, reading now and then, writing now and then and playing EverQuest. Tried EverQuest II, but never fear, I don't seem to work up an interest in it. Then again, I still play EQ just as much as I did, so I guess no changes for you all.
The recent holidays were just as quiet. I've been busy a few days with family visits and such, but overall, it wasn't anything to get excited about. A good thing really, as it gave me a change to get some rest, and pick up a few things (though really not enough) that had been left hanging.
Like writing.
As of December 31st, the first part (as I decided to publish it in two part on FF.net, due again to a rather lengthy size) of Chosen Chapter 13 has been fully drafted and is currently in the hands of co-writer and pre-reader Darren Demaine. Yes, you read me correctly, co-writer. Truth be told, Darren's assistance with this chapter has been very extensive and I'm not certain that the sudden burst of writing I had in the last two weeks would have happened without him (who himself did a lot of work, though a lot of it is centered on the second part). Of course, unlike me, Darren actually has a life, so it may still be a few days before he actually returns said first part with corrections, suggestions and changes. So my guess is that you shouldn't expect it to go online until the next episode of Teen Titans, in other words, next weekend. If all goes well.
Now, mind you, I think that Bunny Raven is something to look more forward to than Chosen 13 Part 1, but that may be my personal opinion.
We also did good progress with Part 2, with a few scenes to go. Now, I don't want to be too optimistic, but my personal hopes are to have Chapter 13 (full version) and Chapter 14 out (at least in draft form) before my birthday, March 1st 2005. Two months may be a bit unrealistic, considering my writing speed, but Chapter 14 should be easier to write (not to mention there's already 45 Kb done already) and maybe if I set some goals, I'll have better change of not neglecting the story.
Story aside, not much really. I've managed to finally take time to finish my various DVD collection profiles, which made me realize just how extensive my collection is... and saddened me to realized just how much money has been engulfed in it. I could probably have bought a car instead (not that I need a new one yet...) Then again, I suppose there are worse addictions like alcohol, drugs and smoking. At least, I have something to boast about, and something in my possession for the money I spent, instead of it just disappearing in a haze or smoke.
My Anime DVD Profile
My American Animation DVD Profile
My Live Action DVD Profile
This actually brings my collection to the whooping number of 750 DVD titles (not disks, as several of those are actually multi-disks boxsets). No wonder I'm starting to lack wall space in my basement... ^^;;
As for Anime (well, what I don't own) my current new interests are (summaries are borrowed from Anime News Network... cause they are better at it then me and I'm lazy... plus, I've been writing these news for over an hour now):
Beet the Vandel Buster:
Plot Summary (none, so I guess I'll have to do half an effort): Beet the Vandel Buster is a story of a young boy with dreams of killings monsters (Vandels) with his idol's team, Zenon. Unfortunately, all Beet managed to do was get in their way and to save Beet's life, who was seriously injured during a fight against a particularly dangerous Vandel, the Zenon Squad members had to infuse Beet with their Saiga, mystical weapons Vandel Busters uses and that are tied with their life forces. Now that he carries the very lives of the Zenon Squad within himself, Beet has promised to become the greatest Buster ever and put an end to the Vandel's era of darkness.
Kinda cute fantasy type story, set for the younger kids. I think it could actually work on Fox and certainly be more interesting that some other crap I've seen. Like with Pretty Cure, for some weird reason, I find myself enjoying it very much even if it isn't the greatest stuff around. Not sure I'd buy this one though, unlike the others that follow.
Bleach:
Plot Summary: Kurosaki Ichigo is not a regular 15 year old, because he has always had the ability to see spirits and ghosts. One day, a female Shinigami (God of Death) named Kuchiki Rukia appears before him, hunting for an evil spirit. But during the confrontation, the Shinigami's powers are transferred to Ichigo. Thus begins the adventures of Ichigo and Rukia and their mission to herd Hollows (fallen spirits).
Don't let the semi-weird and colorful intro fool you, it's actually a pretty interesting show.
Grenadier - The Smiling Senshi:
Plot Summary: Rushuna is a blonde and very beautiful Senshi (gun expert) that travels through the world with one purpose. This is to make the world a peaceful place by instead of fighting with weapons, taking away the people's will to fight by giving them a smile. Although she doesn't want to fight, she is forced too and shows amazing gun skills. In this journey she meets Yajiro, a Mercenary that uses a sword to fight and joins her on her journey.
If the series has a bit of fan service (with the main heroine set between Naga and Misato breast wise) it's very gorgeous and really a fun watch. A bit of a fantasy setting, with guns and other more "high tech" weaponry. And really, Rushuna is so lovable that it's hard not to like her.
My-HiME: (though I find myself wondering if the title isn't really Mai-HiME, it just seems to make more sense... anyway)
Plot Summary: Tokiha Mai and her sickly younger brother, Takumi, have received a scholarship to attend the prestigious Fuuka Academy. On the way, the ferry they are travelling on becomes the site of a destructive battle between two girls wielding apparently supernatural powers. This is only the beginning of their troubles, as Mai learns that she herself possesses these powers - the powers of a HiME.
Another story with girls with super power, but an interesting one, with just the right blend of action, humor and even at times drama. The end of one of the episodes actually surprised me, at how sad it got (which of course, raises the interest a few notches, as the potential of things going Very Bad has been plainly displayed).
To Heart 2 - Remember my Memories:
Plot Summary: Time flies by; Hiroyuki and Akari are 12th-graders now. Both of them and their friends have grown up gradually in someway, physically or mentally, but one of their best friends is missing: the lifelike android Multi. To their surprise, Multi is brought to their campus again without notice, yet she is no longer the same Multi they have known.
If I haven't actually gotten *yet* to watch the first one, I'm finding the sequel interesting. Yes, I know, weird to watch one series if I haven't seen the original, but since To Heart is one of Myssa's favorite, I'm watching this one as it's released. Well, I think To Heart was announced on DVD, so I'll catch it then.
Viewtiful Joe:
Plot Summary: Joe and his girlfriend Silvia enjoy a seemingly normal trip to the movies to see an action flick starring Joe's idol Captain Blue, when suddenly the villain from the movie pops out of the screen and takes Silvia into the movie. Joe is forced to follow her by Captain Blue's mecha, Six Machine, and after being chased by some random enemies meets Captain Blue in the flesh who grants Joe the power to become an action movie hero in his own right, Viewtiful Joe.
Based on the Capcom game of the same name, initially, the character designs for this series can seem a bit... weird, with every one super-deformed and not quite in the usual way. But you quickly get used to it and in fact, I think Silvia is rather cute. Sure worth saving. Emm... anyway, this show is just plain, silly FUN. Like the previously mentionned Beet The Vandel Buster, a series for the younger kids, but like the game (well, what little I've seen of it) this series doesn't take itself seriously... all the better for us. Viewtiful Joe is plainly put a good dose of zany entertainment. Viewtiful!
Henshin-A-Go-Go, Baby!
Yakitate Japan!!!:
Plot Summary: Azuma Kazuma isn't terribly clever, but he's got a good heart and great skill - at baking. Since childhood, he's been on a quest to create the perfect bread to represent Japan internationally. Now, he seeks to enter the famous bakery Pantasia, in hopes of reaching his goal. But plots abound...
A show about bakers and bread making. Now, I know that doesn't sound all that exciting, but really, I find it a fun show to watch.
Looking interesting but that I've had no time to check also seem to be School Rumble and Genshiken. I'll probably have to try and check a few of those to see if I'll be getting them on DVD as well.
On that, I'm off.
Love and peace!
Alain
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On the anime front, one series I've recently discovered and enjoyed is Ginban Kaleidoscope. The concept immediately drew me in. A Japanese ice skating girl who's trying to get to the Olympics who suddenly finds herself haunted by the spirit of a Canadian guy? A Canadian character (even if he's a ghost)! Now, that's not something you see everyday in anime. Of course, there are some inconsistencies, such as Pete being an air show plane pilot at age sixteen (you're barely allowed to drive a car at sixteen, so a plane?) but if you forget those, it's actually a fun show. Not exactly new stuff, as there is plenty of sport anime out there, but still a series I've really enjoyed so far and that I'm eager to see more of.
As for new anime, due to the interferance of three Babylon 5 boxsets, lots of unwatched new anime DVDs and previously mentionned heavy EverQuest raiding, I didn't get to check out as much as I would have liked. Though I've grown very found of Gun X Sword. This series is set in a world somewhat reminescent of Trigon from its style (western-like with bits of technology seen here and there) and Van, the main Character, somewhat makes me think of a small mix of Vash the Stampede adn Spike from Cowboy Bebop, but with a "I don't really care about anything aside finding that guy" attitude. To me, it's been a fun show so far.
Erementar Gerad
Eureka Seven
He is My Master
Ichigo 100%