Last post of 2010

[taotrooper]

Go to your archives/calendar, take the first post you made each month and write the first line of each in your post. This is your year in review.

January
Sooooooo, real life was sucktacular like always, but fandom was awesome this new year's.

February
Argh, exam tomorrow and I'm sick of studying/working!

March
I can't believe that between FFVI (my copy arrived yesterday) and Robot Fucking Unicorn, I haven't finished AAI yet.

April
So long since I last posted, and it's obviously a meme.

May
So, what are your favorite non-Asian comic series?

June
So apparently there's an Avatar: The Last Airbender artbook out right now.

July
Can you name the Animes by Opening? Got 87/101.

August
Um, so. I idled out LJ for some reason.

September
Greasemonkey script to disable Facebook/Twitter from LJ comments.

October
Welp, I just recovered from a really nasty flu that destroyed my family.

November
SO YOU KEEP ON TROLLING, CLAMP.

December
Welp, it's December now.

Now let's talk fandom for a bit, if I may.

i. Yesterday the anime of Kuragehime ended. As it obviously couldn't conclude the main conflict in one episode (mind you, not even in the manga is resolved), they went with a cheap copout that sort of annuls most things the main characters have been working on and it leaves some plotlines too open. Except for this episode, which did adapt well the few parts that were adapted, I do like the anime. They did what they could, but they couldn't finish it well for the lack of time. It's a pity about some parts that couldn't make it to the anime, like the Amars meeting Kuranosuke and Shu's dad, and the former having to make shit up and say he was a girl raised as a son, Rose of Versailles style, so he could keep entering the Amamizukan. And the next time, his outfit is almost an Oscar cosplay XD

But that's okay because I found the raws of volume 6 and spoiled myself on what they really did next. I love that Mayaya (my favorite Amars, NGL) had this much spotlight. And my biggest issue with Shu/Tsukimi is gone now, although I still like her better with Kuranosuke.

I wish scanlations could come out faster. Now how do I get my fix?

ii. I also read Afterschool Charisma, and my god is it a mindfuck and I really need to know what happens next D: It also made me realize that EVERYTHING WITH CLONES GETS MINDFUCK-Y. And full of weird issues. This series' premise is basically Let's Clone Historical Figures (As Teen Bishounen And Bishoujo) And Put Them In a Psychological Thriller, so the combination of clones + thriller + conspiracies = MINDFUCK x 10. This is pretty much the anti-Tales of the Abyss approach, where the story tells you that clones must become their own person. In ASC, we have clones wanting to, but not being allowed by the system as they're not even thought as real human beings with rights. Everyone is "disposable" and if they wish to be individuals, they must be replaced. It's quite depressing even without the menace on their heads.

But still, this manga is a damn good seinen if you like that genre and mindfuck (or Weird Al's "I Think I'm a Clone Now"). Of course, you have to switch off your brain to the bishie and forget how the original people really looked like, or you'll die of an ulcer. Some people are pretty much unrecognizable until they tell you who they are, so you're warned.

iii. I immediately read Kame Odoru (I am a Turtle) in the same website of the former, to rinse the taste of impending doom. I do love 4 koma comedy with animals and silliness, so it was a good 10-minute waste. That turtle is so fucking cute!

Comments

[hamsterfactor.livejournal.com]

I haven't seen the last two Kuragehime episodes (I'm waiting to see them with zauberer_sirin), but I did read the first scanlated chapters and they were pretty awesome. I also prefer Tsukimi with Kuranosuke, but I don't know whether to still be hopeful or what, lol.

I'm always looking for good seinen, so I'm writing that one down. Thanks!

And Happy New Year's btw! :D

[rainmage.livejournal.com]

They were! I downloaded the first 5 manga volumes in raw though, so I watched the anime kinda spoiled and learning what they were saying with the episodes. It's actually quite a good adaptation except for the rush of the last episode to wrap something impossible to wrap somehow. Too bad the group is too busy/slow :(

Afterschool Charisma is a little hard to find. The Viz/Ikki (http://www.sigikki.com/series/afterschoolcharisma/index.shtml) page has almost all chapters online for free right now, but for the volume 1 hole I had to read Spanish scanlations.

Happy New Year! ♥

[la-vie-noire.livejournal.com]

Oooooh. I'm probably interested in 1 and 2. XD

(Also, I couldn't watch Kino no Tabi, but my friend (Mako) did, and she loved it, and so recommended it, so I'm trying to download it.)

[rainmage.livejournal.com]

Kuragehime is interesting in the fact that there's focus in female geeks who are just awkwardly antisocial instead of the creepy basement otaku fanboy, and it treats the occasional makeover as a way to present yourself well to society more than ~looking pretty and get love~. The crossdressing boy that shares the protagonism is refreshing because while he's genderqueer, he's still a CIS heterosexual man (...I think. I confess I have problems getting the LGBT terms right); however, he's also a manipulative, pushy, arrogant rich boy, so he's kinda YMMV. The series has issues, but it can be endearing and it's short.

Liking Afterschool Charisma depends first on the ability to stand the fact that the clones look nothing like their originals XD But past that, it's good mindfuck.

(Awwww, I really wish you can watch it one day. It's pretty awesome)

[kirarakim.livejournal.com]

What I really want from Kuragehime is a side story with just Shu's driver. He's my favorite character. He amuses me too much. LOL

But I still have one more ep to go of the anime. I kind of assumed Tsukimi would end up with Kuranosuke but I admit I don't have a strong preference.

[rainmage.livejournal.com]

DO WANT. That guy steals the show whenever he shows up XDDD He's hilarious and he's voiced by Koyasu.

The anime is leaving more subtext for K/T without Tsukimi returning anything, but then the raws are bringing Shu's crush back in the latest volume (while that woman's crush for Shu is left one-sided by now), so who knows with this triangle now.