Normally, I'm more of a manga fan, and I do like the manga for this series.  However, there were a few things about it that bothered me.  IE, there was no character development for about 6 books out of 10.  They were pretty much pure humor, which isn't bad exactly, but honestly, I like my humor mixed in instead of pure.

But now, I've finally started watching the anime.  And, after a few episodes--1,2, 23, and 24--I have to say that this anime is actually better than the manga.  *Gasp*  I can't think of any anime I've seen that I've liked better than the manga--when I've been able to get a hold of both, that is.  I honestly didn't expect the animation style to hold up well with the movement in anime, but it just serves to make it quirkier!

I don't like the theme songs, which would usually be a big deal for me, since they're sometimes my favorite part--Nadia:  Secret of the Blue Water, for example, was long and boring, but had a great opening.  It made me feel better while I was trying to get through the entire series.  But this series is actually one that makes up for the theme songs with the actual show.

Besides the great animation, my favorite part of the show has to be the voices.  Now, I'm not one of those people who obsesses over the voices.  Honestly, if I'm watching a sub--which I usually do--I don't think about them unless there's something unusual.  However, these voices are GOOD!!  They suit the characters--though I thought Takenaga's voice would be softer instead of deeper than Ranmaru's--and they're just as quirky as the characters.  Sunako and Noi's voices have to be my favorites, though Yuki's suits him exceptionally well, and Kyouhei's is the perfect mix of defensive and offensive--which you'll probably understand if you like the series.

I'll admit that I was surprised by how high Sunako's voice is, but the seiyuu's range seems to be quite good.  I was expecting something deep, dark, and threatening, but instead it focuses on her complete kookiness.  She shrieks, grumbles, mutters, and squeaks.  I don't think I've ever heard such great noises.

Noi-chan, who is supposedly the 'normal' girl, is just as quirky in her own way.  Her voice is just about as high as Sunako's, and yet there's no way you could mix them up.  Noi-chan's voice is perky, cheerful, and cute, just like her.  If you know the series, then you know that she's seen as a step above most girls, and the voice projects that really well.  Even though there's nothing overtly unusual about it, it still somehow seems different from the other, 'normal' girls.

Overall, I'm in shock at how great this anime is.  There's probably a lot more I could say about it, since this 'review' is assuming that you're familiar with the series.  I haven't even touched upon Hiroshi-kun and those guys, or the loli-goth girls!  Maybe I'll write about them later, but for now, I just suggest finding out for yourself by watching this awesome show.

current mood: cheerful

Do you ever just feel like cussing yourself out?  I have to do it mentally, since I don't curse (out loud, in American English), but I've been doing it on and off for the last few hours.

See, I'm reading (another) new webcomic called Deuling Analogs.  (www.deulinganalogs.com)  It's funny and stuff, but...My gods, I actually understand pretty much everything he's talking about.  And when I don't get it right away, I follow the links and read the wikipedia articles.

Usually, I take signs of my nerdiness with good humor, because no matter how much I joke about it, I really do like who I am.  But this...This is on top of everything else.

I'm on the computer for more than I'm out of my house.
I read manga and know lots of obscure comic book heroes.
I know obscure facts about heroes.
I know video games, video game magazines, and various conventions.
I've joined an RP.
I have more than three blogs.
I am in more than 5 msn groups, basically becase my favorites list is getting annoyingly long.
I read and write fanfiction.
I've reviewed a few THOUSAND fanfics.
I have...probably over 200 manga.
I have even more books than manga.
I have over ten plushies.
I have about 20 figurines--when I don't even COLLECT figurines!
I freaking well found a way for me to get to Japan.
I know most of the famous webcomics.  And read or have read them.
I have various other anime/manga/video game related goods.
I happened to have the clothes, so I went to school dressed up like Lara Croft.  And to a party/festival as Duo Maxwell.  (Those were when I was in high school.  Now, I have clothes that look like Naruto's.)

I've always known that I'm not exactly normal, but this just...Days like this make me realize that I am actually a FREAK in all my glory.

Ha!  The other day, my teacher suggested I might have culture shock, since I read a lot, forget the day, and obsess over what I'm eating.  I had to say 'no, this is ACTUALLY HOW I AM.'  Seriously, I say that there's nothing wrong with me anymore--I've gotten over most of the OCD, paranoia, and whatever--but how can I say that when I look at the facts?

Nice girl or not, good student or not, there is no denying it any more.  I'm barely even a person.  I'm just...an otaku.  Gods, I laugh at the big-breasted girl characters instead of feeling insulted, and more often than not, I like the character who kicks the most butt, ie, the freaky-looking guy.

current mood: depressed

[url=http://www.quiztron.com/tests/color_is_soul_painte_quiz_23687.htm]What color is your soul painted?[/url]
 
My Results:

 
[url=http://www.quiztron.com/tests/color_is_soul_painte_quiz_23687.htm][img]http://www.make-a-quiz.com/quiz_images/full_322992279.jpg[/img][/url]

 
Yellow
 
Your soul is painted the color yellow, which embodies the characteristics of joy, happiness, optimism, idealism, gold, hope, liberalism, sociability, friendship, death, courage, intellect, confidence, communication, travel, movement, attraction, persuasion, and charm. Yellow is the color of the element Air, and symbolizes the sun, grain, and the power of thought.

current mood: hot

So, the site I've been a member of for 3 YEARS has gone down.  Now, there are little replacement sites popping up.  *sigh*  I've joined most of them, looking for my friends from the original, but I've found that most of the long time members are sticking to the one called Naruto Manga Reborn.  So, Kaia-chan, if you read this, go there!!

As usual, I've managed to find some mondo-interesting stuff to read.  Yes, I have no life outside of finding stories.  No, I don't really care. So, anyway,  I was helping a friend with her graduate thesis the other day, and she happens to be doing it on a classic book that I love and very few other people rememeber/recognize, called Daddy-Long-Legs.  It's about an orphan who gets her college tuition paid for by some rich guy she's never met, because he liked her essay.  She writes him letters, but since she's never met him, and doesn't even know his real name, she begins to call him Daddy-Long-Legs.  (She saw his shadow, and it had long legs...)  Anyway, it's a book about early women's education, as well as having a cute romance.  (I won't tell you the ending unless you ask.)

But, my point--because let's face it, I wouldn't be bringing up a book I read years ago without something new!  It seems that this book was made into an Anime.  O.o  Two, in fact, but there's loads more information on the one that aired in the 90's.  How weird is that?  A vaguely popular classical novel being made into an anime...People in America don't even really know about that book.  As you can imagine, I was quite surprised.

More news:  I've finally caught up with Tsubasa Resevior Chronicles.  I have to say, CLAMP has outdone themselves with Fai's angst.  I mean, seriously, just when you think that they can't get any angstier, there's a new chapter about FAi.  If you thought Kamui or Subaru had it bad, you haven't been reading TRC.  I can honestly say that I think Fai has the worst past out of any CLAMP character, and possibly out of any manga character I can think of.  I won't go into it point by point, just in case some of you want to go and read it--MSN groups has a site with current scanlations--but I really suggest reading it.

Oh yeah, and you know what?  Sakura is actually kind of cool.  Like I said, I finally caught up with the series, which involved rereading lots of early chapters.  Just when I was starting to go crazy because of Sakura's innocent/cute/naivete, I got to Bondage World.  Okay, okay, there's another name, but still, that's what it SHOULD be called.  Frankly, I enjoyed the outfits from that world. ^_~  But yeah, by the end of the Acid Tokyo arc, that girl finally got a backbone, and this was the first chance we got to see her really show her stuff.

I'm pretty sure that Kurogane and Mokona are the only characters who really are what they seem.  On that note, I have to say that I really enjoy seeing Mokona being an actual character, instead of a goofy little mascot.  Until the recent chapters, he's been sort of in the background, less of a character than the ones who came and went.  But...he cried.  He was selfish.  He screamed out his worries.  I finally like him.

current mood: contemplative

Okay, I don't have the copies of my manga in front of me--they're halfway around the world--but I think I can recall enough 'proof' without them.  I'll begin with Mai, and then move onto Naru.

Point A:  Mai did not realize that 'dream-Naru' was a separate person.  Her initial thought was that 'he' was a figment of her imagination, created to help her deal with her powers.  In her mind, 'he' was kind and comforting because she wanted to see Naru act so.  Whatever Gene's thoughts on the subject, Mai did not have enough information to form a real opinion.

Point B:  Mai's actions toward Naru change dramatically at different points, however, never do they reach indifference.  In any plotted work--books, manga, anime, movies, etc.-- with any romance, a strong case of attraction is shown in two basic wasy, assuming that neither character is insane.  There is either mondo-squishiness and mooning a la most harem comedies; or the characters fight like cats and dogs.  When there is a love triangle, both options are used.  Off the top of my head, more than 75% of the time, the character chooses the one that (s)he fought with over the one who was sweet.  Fighting is seen as a sign of a healthy relationship, as long as there are moments of caring as well.

Point C:  Naru teases Mai more than any other character.  He will tease the others only if they protest his actions or orders.  He teases Mai pretty much anytime he doesn't feel the need to be completely serious.  Is anyone else reminded of a grade-schooler with a crush?

Point D:  Naru grew up with a darker personality partially because he always had someone there to be his lighter half.  With Gene out of the picture, he needs someone else to achieve a sense of balance.  (This is not normal or perfectly sane, but very few people are either.)  Even in the few scenes of their childhood that we've seen, Naru has never seemed to be much of an optimist or a people-person.  After consideration, I think that a large part of the reason he might have hired Mai is because she reminds him of Gene.

D-1:  Mai definitely empathetic, a trait that Gene seems to share--from what we've seen of him.
D-2:  Mai says the same thing that Gene said when Lin admits his dislike of the Japanese.  Lin wouldn't have laughed so hard if it were just those words that they shared.

Point E:  As Masako notes, Mai is the only female member who Naru calls by her first name.  It sounds strange to say it, but this is especially significant because he DIDN'T grow up with the Japanese honorific system.  Trust me, as a Gaijin staying in Japan, I can tell you that when you're talking to someone--a new friend or classmate--there is always that moment when you question what you should call that person.  It is never a wholly unconscious decision.

Most of these points are based on psychological or 'narrative' logic.  People don't always realize it, but there are rules to storytelling, darnit!  Once you figure out these rules, you can pretty much predict the character's thoughts/actions.  It is easiest to do in romantic situations, because they cannot rely on the element of surprise.  Romantic situations need build-up, and so they become easiest to predict.

current mood: geeky

Darn it!  I finally broke down and joined LJ.  I feel like a teeny-bopper already.

But seriously, what else could I do?  I need to get the latest info on my manga series, and I'm always on the lookout for good fanfiction and spoilers...*sigh*  I really will do ANYTHING to get a story.

I guess I should introduce myself, in case someone's reading this and is like 'eh?!'  I'm Azamiko, 21 years old, blah-blah-blah.  Do you really care about that?  If you do, ask; I don't really mind telling perfect strangers all of my personal info.

Since you're looking at this page, I guess you somehow found me.  Okay, good for you.  This tells me that either you're some weirdo who lurks around this sort of site, or you somehow saw that we had something in common.  Considering my interests, I feel it's safe to assume that that common interest is manga.

So, manga I like:

Aw, heck, who am I kidding?  I'll read pretty much anything.  If you have a suggestion, feel free to give me all the info.  Don't worry about spoilers, I'll probably look them up later anyway.  If you want to debate a point, great, I'm all for it.  Even if I agree with you, I'll argue the other side, just because it's fun.

I'm not a yaoi fangirl, but I do read it.  Seriously, it's hysterical.  There are some pairings--het, yaoi, or yuri--I'll argue for, but unless it's one of my main pairings, I don't really give a hoot.  If you want to show me a fanfiction with Akamaru/Hinata, more power to ya for making the attempt.  But if you send me a Naru/Hina, I will make a disgusted face and ignore it.  That's if I'm in a good mood, of course.  If I'm in a bad mood--which doesn't happen that often but is not impossible--I might just decide to make a long rant about the improbability of that pairing.

My main fandoms--for fanfiction--are Naruto and Ghost Hunt.  I write fanfiction for both, which, again, if you are reading this, then you probably knew that.  I'm a loyal fan of Sasu/Naru from Naruto and Naru/Mai from GH.  Other than that, I'm pretty much willing to read whatever.

I'm an academic type of person, so yes, I will correct your grammar, your philosophical arguments, and your assumptions about reality.  I'm a big nerd and not afraid to show it.  Fear my red pen.

Right now, I'm staying in Hiroshima, Japan.  However, I'm a Jersey girl, born and bred.  I like playing pranks and consider my totem animal to be the fox.

current mood: nerdy