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ローゼンメイデン 
February 29, 2008 | 
13 Comments
In comparison to last week's episode this one feels kind of weird and uneventful. If one has to sum up the plot, Tomoya is basically trapped in a relationship with Nagisa without even realizing it. I find it amusing since Nagisa already starts acting like she's his girlfriend, asking him not to go back home late, scolding him, etc. Oh well, I hope the writers can make this interesting since it's obvious that we're stuck with this pairing for the rest of the series. I am also interested to know more about that little robot creature and its role in the real world/series. It's kind of annoying that although we've seen this character a few times, there doesn't seem to be any hint on how it might be related to the main plot of the series. One of the fun things about Kanon is the correlation between the real series and that dream about a girl in the forest. And it didn't take long to figure out that she was the girl who was involved in the accident.
February 23, 2008 | 23 Comments
Well, this is a nice surprise. I never expected the Harem situation to be addressed in the series. I thought it'd be like Kanon, where the other girls just disappeared into the background while Ayu-Ayu took center stage. Instead, we got a full-blown train wreck, and I mean that in the best possible way. It feels like a train wreck to me because it's fascinating to watch even though it must be painful for the characters involved. I think I managed to guess where the scene was heading the minute Tomoya and Nagisa watch the game together and that song kicks in. Speaking of which, the song feels vaguely Fushigi Yuugi for some reason. I think it's because it has that premonition feel to it despite being J-Pop and all. I'd really appreciate it if someone can tell me the name of the song since it's not mentioned at all in the end credit. The song made it easy to understand the crushing blow that the girls must have felt after they saw the interaction between Nagisa and Tomoya. The best thing about this is that in one fell swoop the writers managed to end the harem situation. This means we now will head into Tomoya and Nagisa's story.
February 19, 2008 | 17 Comments
To new visitors, this is the archive for the drama version of Honey and Clover. If you're looking for the anime archive, check the Honey and Clover archive. Anyway, this episode is actually not as bad as the previous episode. The episode retains the majority of the plot from the manga and for the first time and there is an interesting character development for Takemoto. His interaction with his stepfather is not as touching as the one in the anime but that's a minor point. Mayama and Yamada also still retain their complicated and messy relationship. The interesting here is that Nomiya is actually not as persistent as he was in the original story. He doesn't actually pay interest in Yamada until he saw her crying. The only thing that I don't like here is Morita and Hagu. These two seem like two completely different characters in the story. Morita doesn't seem to have any kind of motivation and it's disappointing to see him back so soon after only one episode. I also realised that showing Hagu without any kind of comic element makes her kind of boring. The one redeeming factor about Hagu in the original series is how she gets to be the target of Morita's prank.
February 17, 2008 | 14 Comments
I haven't had effective days in the past two days mostly because I've been pre-occupied with this game. I can't remember the last time I find a game being this engaging and charming. As a background, Patapon is a rhythm strategy game for the Playstation Portable (PSP). It is created by Japan Studio, the same internal developer responsible for creating LocoRoco. On a glance, one can immediately see the similarity between the two. Both games possess a very unique and cute look courtesy a design studio called Rolito. What sets Patapon apart from LocoRoco, however, is the depth of its customization. There is an RPG-element embedded into the rhythm/God-sim part of the game. You are constantly required to upgrade various weapons and outfits that the Patapons use in the game. One can even mix and match various elements to create brand new Patapons. If that's not enough, there are several mini-games which allow you to obtain rare materials to create rare Patapons. A combination of the elements mentioned above turns out to be an addictive and deep game.
February 16, 2008 | 8 Comments
Hirai Ken - Canvas (55.2MB, for PSP/Quicktime) | YouTube version
Released in time for Valentine's Day, Canvas is a song about one's inability to let go. Because of this, it's not surprising that the song is a perfect company for Honey and Clover's heart-wrenching moments, especially those involving Takemoto or Yamada. Unfortunately, the PV doesn't seem to have any relation whatsoever to Honey and Clover. If anything, I'm confused about the story that the PV tries to tell. If I had a choice, I'd rather see Ken singing in front of a big ferris wheel like the one shown on the cover of his newest single. I guess it'd be too close to Suneohair's Waltz PV but anything resembling Honey and Clover motif is better than a generic narrative. Anyway, regardless of the PV, it's still a hauntingly beautiful song that captures the essence of the series. Now, if only the live-action could up its game, I'll be happier.
February 10, 2008 | 16 Comments
I'm sorry for the 12+ hours downtime yesterday if you happen to visit the site and couldn't connect to it. My favorite service provider was down as usual and didn't bother to notify anyone about it. If it's not because I'm too busy these days, I'd spend the time to look for another provider. Unfortunately, not only I have busy schedule these days, I am reluctant to do major move to another server. I just finished an upgrade of the Movable Type blogging software that I use and am not in the mood to do another stressful blog-related maintenance. Anyway, these two episodes show major progress in the storyline. It looks like the writers are going to combine Kyou and Tomoyo story into one arc while inserting some obvious Nagisa/Tomoya moment in between. This makes me wonder if the rumor that the series will get 52 episodes is true or not. Since I have no idea of the story, I don't see why this series can't end in 26 episodes.
February 9, 2008 | 11 Comments
I actually fell asleep not once but three times while trying to watch this episode. I think the adaptation has lost its appeal for me. I'm disappointed with the way the whole thing feels all over the place. In addition to this, they keep adding new situations which are neither funny nor interesting. I've lost any interest to watch the next episode except that I'm kind of interested to see how they handle Takemoto's journey later on in the story. I guess I'm hoping that there'll be some fantastic Japan outdoor scenery to see. Storyline-wise, though, I'm worried what might be in store. On the other hand, this episode made me realized that I do lose my interest in something quite easily. It's hard not to feel this way though, especially since this is an adaptation of my favorite series. Unfortunately, this situation is true for most manga/anime to live-action adaptation. I think the only exception to this is Nodame Cantabile live-action, which was closer to the spirit of the manga and is superior to the anime adaptation.
