Monday, March 2

Some thoughts on ToraDora! character development so far



Among the 3, Taiga showed most improvement and she is barely recognizable now from episode 1. In terms of character development, she wins by huge mileage. She might still have the violent streak but it is tempered with compassion now since she is receiving human warmth that is markedly absent in her entire life pre-anime series. She is perhaps one of the loneliest girl in anime series I seen so far but thanks to certain someone, she is now getting back on track on being a self actualizing person. Which is very impressive to me.



Ami's refusal to be honest is the reason why she is stuck with her own impasse, hence her frustration is bottled up and she often take it out on Taiga. Worst part, she knew it herself. Her character development is glacial but explosive when it happens. A worst manifestation of her Jekyll/Hyde personae dramatis. She is hot, seductive but ultimately stagnant due to her own mind games she played on herself and Ryuji. However she believes in action and decisiveness, which is why realized from day 1 that she missed the bus sorely in fight for Ryuji's heart. She settled to be a counselor and devil's advocate in the series but her emotional pain did peek out once in a while in tantalizing moment which predictably missed by Ryuji not just because he is stupid but also he has reason to believe she is faking it due to her record past. Just as Taiga, she is another very lonely soul but she did get her kickbacks a little in this aspect but unfortunately she is too conceited to admit it to Ryuji especially. This is why despite her fascinating complex character, she is "stuck" now.

Minorin fake cheerful self is counterproductive despite her inherent kindness, she is seeing a future beyond relationships despite her feelings for Ryuji. Her semi ignorance of his feeling after the Christmas episode is major negative point to me and I actually agrees with Ami's anger towards her. It looks like she is trying wriggle her way out from this by do nothing. This is worst thing a person can do in my opinion. Minorin is another lonely girl but she covering it up with her antics with propensity to run away from any emotional conflicts if she sees fit. Or do nothing. She is not mature and selfish, certainly leaving people on the lurch but quick to anger if these being pointed out. On good side though, she is a loyal friend.

This leads to serious emotional catfight between a stuck and a half truth while Taiga is stumbling towards Ryuji in steady pace at expense of other 2.

Edit: (something from 4chan, an interesting thought on Ryuji)

Ryuuji isn't very well liked because he looks angry all the time. His denseness is his defense mechanism against his off-putting looks, but he isn't a retard. It's just his defense mechanism kicking in, because he's always been wondering if there were going to be people ever liking him.

He's a very nice guy and he's very perceptive of other people's needs, too. However he can't reciprocate or even understand Ami's suggestions or even Taiga's actions because he cannot simply understand that people like them could ever like them romantically. I think it's very realistic; I mean, if I befriended a hot model and she'll insinuate that she'd like me I'll think it's just all bullshit and I'll just be hurt eventually. That's what Ryuuji thinks about Ami, and that's why she could never get her emotions through. In addition to that, he hasn't realized Taiga realized her emotions for him because he simply plays his role as a father.

Taiga as a girlfriend to him, while subconsciously desired, isn't really one of his visible options: to him, he's a father and a guiding hand even if subconsciously the imaginary house they built among themselves is toppling down. This was why Ami was angry toward Minori: things can't always stay the same, and that's why she tries her best to reveal the truth of everyone involved. She herself has invested her feelings that she couldn't see it end as it had begun.


Saturday, February 28

Saitama Art Showcase Success

Saitama Prefecture, Japan launched a website showcasing art works of Saitama residents recorded 10,000 hits since December 18 - February 2. The perfectural government was so pleased with the reception that it extended the showcase scope to professional artist in hope to promote culture of the province.

The site

Special Announcement

Here is special link to special anime themed game. Have fun!

The link

Friday, February 27

Top anime series of 2008 in DVD sales

Anime DVD+BD(volume.1) Sales for the Year 2008
(Oricon for the weeks Dec. 24, 2007 through Dec. 15, 2008)


61,884 Macross Frontier
58,385 Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion R2
20,450 CLANNAD AFTER STORY
14,961 Kannagi
14,520 ARIA The ORIGINATION
14,205 Strike Witches
13,652 Natsume Yūjinchō
11,712 Library War (Toshokan Senso)
11,531 Junjo Romantica: Pure Romance
11,006 Hakaba Kitarō
10,367 To Love-Ru
10,026 Hidamari Sketch×365
*9,883 Sekirei
*9,823 Soul Eater
*9,327 Kanokon
*9,139 Spice and Wolf
*8,980 Ikki Tousen
*7,556 Nogizaka Haruka no Himitsu
*7,444 Rosario + Vampire
*6,045 Kurogane no Rainbareru
*5,937 Zero no Tsukaima: Princesse no Rondo
*5,634 Koihime Musō
*5,512 Ga-rei
*5,251 Sayonara, Zetsubou-Sensei (2nd Season)
*5,128 Minami-ke: Okawari
*4,864 xxxHolic: Kei
*4,830 PERSONA -trinity soul-
*4,648 Nodame Cantabile
*4,060 Slayers Revolution
*4,053 Chi's Sweet Home
*3,926 Da Capo II
*3,773 The Tower of Druaga: The Aegis of Uruk
*3,040 Kamen no Maid Guy
*2,869 true tears
*2,869 Akaneiro ni Somaru Saka
*2,704 Rosario + Vampire CAPU2
*2,662 Kimi ga Aruji de Shitsuji ga Ore de
*2,588 Zettai Karen Children

Normally series that sold more than 3000 copies of DVD have more chance to sequel as a benchmark; more than 10,000 copies is considered exceptional. Movies are not counted here.

TYPE-MOON DVD sales entry

Tuesday, February 24

8th Tokyo Anime Awards goes to.....


Hayao Miyazaki's Ponyo grabbed 5 wins including best picture and director (with reported box office profit of 15.5 billion yen which roughly translates into cool 164 million USD) . Best TV shared by 2 major 2008 mecha/drama seinen animes, Code Geass Season 2 and Macross Frontier.

What heartens me most is winner for OVA section is Detroit Metal City, one of surprise hit for me since I never heard of it before but now one of the better offering from 2008 in my consideration.

The list compiled here:

Best Director: Miyazaki, H. (Ponyo)
Best movie: Ponyo (Miyazaki, H.)
Best Original Story: Ponyo (ibid)
Best Screenplay: Code Geass S2 (Ichiro Okuchi)
Best Art Direction: Ponyo (Yoshida Noburo)
Best Character Design: Sky Crawlers (Nishio Tetsuya)
Best Voice Actor: Jun Fukuyama (Code Geass S2)
Best Music: Macross Frontier (Yoko Kanno)
Best TV series: Code Geass S2 and Macross Frontier
Best OVA: Detroit Metal City
Best Foreign Animated Movie: Kung Fu Panda
Open Entry: Descendants (Heiko von der Scherm)

Cheers.

Source

Monday, February 23

Summer Wars (2009) /サマーウォーズ


New movie from director who gave the world "The Girl who Leaps Thru Time" Hosoda Mamoru, so far there is sparse information on it. All I knew is the movie employ same scriptwriter from Toki wo Kakeru Shoujo and the story is all about a girl who went vacationing in countryside after invited by her crush, while being there is "big" war happens to pass by.

There is not even a preview available for it.

Homepage

Animated by Madhouse(YES!), character design by Yoshiyuki Sadamoto (the EVA guy).