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  1. aikatsu-logo.png.72c36deba6e23f78446433d32ac10c22.png

    <spoilers ahead>

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    Ichigo was a normal middle-school girl that was rope into the world on idols after watching Mizuki’s performance. It was then when Ichigo’s passionate idol activities started. For 2 season + a movie, we saw Ichigo’s journey from rookie idol to the #1 idol in the country. Her passionate idol activities, captivated everyone, and in the end, Ichigo became part of everyone’s life. The emotion of sadness when she lost to Mizuki at the s1 finale, to her finally achieving her dream of becoming the #1 idol in the Movie. Ichigo’s journey was shared by many and in the end everyone from /ai/ (a community in 4chan that started because of Aikatsu) loved Ichigo.

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    In season 3, Ichigo was replace as the main character by Akari. Akari was obsessed with Ichigo, even using Ichigo’s named to introduce herself during her audition. Akari was different from Ichigo, Akari had very little talent, she sucked at dancing and was just horrible around. In season 3 she improved every step of the way to fulfill the promise she made to Ichigo during the Aikatsu movie, that she would meet Ichigo at the top of the Idol world. Was she able to fulfill this promise? In episode 177, the penultimate episode Aikatsu, Akari pulled off a Special A appeal, making her the only idol in history that was able to pull off that kind of appeal, thus winning the Starlight Queen competition. This scene said it all.

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    Then the final episode, I woke up at 5:30 am est, to watch the livestream of Aikatsu with my fellow /ai/. The final performance by Luminas x Soleil, playing Calendar Girls, it hurts so much. Not only because Calendar Girls was Aikatsu’s 1st ED but its the last time Ichigo and co will take the stage. In the end Ichigo stayed true to her playful self and never changed during the performance.

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    Now the show that officially started /ai/ and brought us all together is now over.

    It’s been a great 3 and a half years. Thanks to Mezashite for being the reason we could all get into a cartoon from Japan about middle school girls who sing and dance.

    Next week, Ichigo won’t be part of /ai/ or my daily life. Next week, Aikatsu Stars starts a whole new journey for myself and everyone who enjoyed Aikatsu. In the end, Ichigo and Aikatsu taught me a lot of things during that 3 1/2 years.

    So before I end this, lets do this one last time.

    MY PASSIONATE IDOL ACTIVITIES

    AIKATSU!

    IS ABOUT TO START!

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    So in my experience of watching anime I have been deemed a feels addict. I have been all over the battlefield that is anime. These are some of the titles I have seen that will make you think about things you never thought you would think about by the end of them.

    1. Your Lie in April

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    Without spoiling anything, this anime is about a boy who plays piano and the things he needs to overcome to keep playing. The setting is amazing, the art is wonderful, and the story it tells is one that you will remember. By the end of this anime, you will have rolled through so many different emotions that you won’t no what you are doing any more. I Highly recommend Your Lie in April.

    2. Say I Love You

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    Say I Love you is about an outcast girl who meets the most popular guy in school and he falls for her. At this point you are thinking greeaaaat, another romance anime, but this title is more than that. It tells the story of how an outcast is able to make new friends, build trust in others, and forge new relationships and feel things she has never felt before. This anime will take you on a 13 episode emotional roller coaster and leave you smiling at the end.

    3. Love, Chunibyo & Other Delusions!

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    Love, Chunibyo & Other Delusions is a very light hearted anime that delves into some interesting topics to say the least. This anime starts off nice and easy and then brings you into the feels zone. You will laugh and cry with the characters and generally be glued to the screen. This anime will make you feel very happy at the end and it will also teach you some lessons, such as to accept people as they are.

    And so ends this list. If you like this list and would like to see another please let me know. I had fun writing this and I would very much enjoy writing another. See ya!

    Sincerely,
    Paladin Lunchmeat

  2. greek-carnival.thumb.jpg.fe37e211b7f27f3d80dbf0d2c768b4fa.jpg

    ETYMOLOGY
    Over the years, I’ve heard one too many different opinions about the origins of the word ‘canival’. However, it appears to hail from the late latin words ‘carnem’ (meat) and levare (to remove/ take away) which actually sums up the purpose of the carnival period: to prepare yourself for the Easter fast. The greek word ‘απόκριες’ (apokries) also indicates an abstinence from meat.

    HISTORY
    The celebrations that accompany carnival originate from ancient Greece and the Dionysian rites, that took place in late winter and symbolised the coming of spring. In Athens, specifically, a chariot would make its way to the city while being followed by dancers and singers, who were dressed up in costumes that resembled goats and sang satyrical songs. After the prevalence of Christianism, pagan elements were fused with the new traditions, thus indicating the beggining of the Lent.

    Modern carnival started appearing in Greece during the 19th century, after the Ionian islands were unified with the mainland. The Ionians, that were under heavy italian influence, contributed greatly in shaping contemporary celebrations.

    DURATION
    The duration of the carnival period can vary, depending on Easter. The opening ceremony always takes place on a Saturday night in mid January. The same doesn’t apply for the closing ceremony, though. The Burning of the Carnival King, that marks the end of celebrations, is exactly seven weeks before Easter. If Easter comes late, like this year, carvival can last up to two months!

    CELEBRATIONS
    Different cities host different events and, honestly, there are too many of them to be written here. Therefore, I will only focus on those that take place in the city of Patras, where I live.

    Organisation:
    In order to take part in the parades, you need to sign up in a crew. Crews can be found anywhere in the city and each of them has their own set of costumes for males and females (you can choose whichever you want). Sometimes, crews have more than one costumes to choose from (mostly for females, though :P). You need to pay for your costume (duh!) and price depends on quality as well as the number of members. (If you go with friends as group, you get discount, discount good! *said in russian accent* 😛 )

    Events:
    Opening Ceremony
    One would think that the opening ceremony of such a grand series of events would be rather extravagant and it would feature a variety of shows but, actually, it’s more of a warm-up. It lasts for a few hours only and usually features singing by local singers/bands as well as dancing by some of the cities dance schools. A fireworks display couldn’t be missing of course (this time they went a bit overboard with it, making it even more gorgeous!). This year, we also had an acrobatics show that was a really nice addition

    It’s also the first day we can dress up, although most people go for a simple pair of animal ears or a mask rather than a full costume (at least I think it was, because I’m short and couldn’t see well ._.)

    Smoky Thursday
    After the start of the carvival period, no major events take place until the famous Smoky Thurday. Every meat lover lives for this day. Just like the name says, it’s a Thursday…. a barbequed one! Every store, wheather it is a hair saloon or a bookstore can set up their rotisserie (is this even a word? that’s what google gave me…) and roast dozens after dozens of souvlakia, selling them ridiculously cheap to passerbys, with loud music blasting out from the speakers.

    At schools, students and teachers can dress up however they want. In some elementaries, parents and teachers come and set up the rotisseries in the school yard and give children souvlakia for free, while they are having a party dressed up in their costumes. In middle schools, teachers usually order from a store and students have to pay a small price to get their souvlakia. In high schools…. well, they just let the students off much earlier without giving them any meat. It is a great chance to go out and eat with your friends, though.

    In the city center, certain events are organised for this day. This year we had a comedy wrestling show, in which various weirdos engaged in fake fights to win food. Later in the day, we have the annual ‘Marriage of koulourou*’ (*erm…that can be translated as ‘a woman who sells buns’ or something…?). It’s an old custom that presents a marriage and it takes place in the old part of the city, near the Roman Conservatory. It is based on a local myth, of a naive old woman who fell victim to the pranks of her fellow citizens and was lead to believe that the president of America, Wilson (1913-1921), was going to marry her.

    Hidden Treasure
    It’s a game played by the crew members. They are given hints and visit different locations in the city until they find the treasure and win the prize. Unless you have a ride, don’t participate, it’s suicide.

    Chocolate Wars
    People throwing chocolates. Just that… JUST THAT!!!!

    Children’s Parade
    Also called the ‘little’ parade. Hundreds of children in their costumes join a parade along with their parents. They dance to the music or board one of the floats and lazily wave at the crowd…. (my parents never let me go when I was young…..). The little parade happens a week before the end of carnival.

    Float Parade
    Floats designed by the city’s artistic workshop have their own time in the spotlight the last Friday night before the ending ceremony. They usually feature satyrical themes such as …..wait for it…… politicians! What else?

    Night Parade
    The Saturday night parade is the biggest and most important of all (Note that Patras has the biggest parades in the country 😛 ). You see people flocking downtown in large masses, only stopping to take a selfie or two with their friends. The center gets closed down so cars won’t enter and everyone is able to roam the streets freely. Colorful and creepy costumes flood the place, as everyone is striving to look unique. It’s a great opportunity for otakus to cosplay without getting any odd stares (ok, I take that back, I got a lot of odd stares 😛 ). It’s also not strange if a person completely unknown to you comes to chat or ask for a picture with you because, clearly, your cosplay is so awesome (it’s not like I’m bragging about myself here….). Alcohol is abundant and so are whistles and all kinds of trinkets that make noise. If you’re an old man living downtown, don’t even consider sleeping. Partying lasts until morning 😉

    Big Parade
    I don’t really get why they still call the Sunday parade ‘big’… It’s much smaller that that of the previous night for one simple reason: hangovers!
    Even so, it’s still pleasant to watch or take part in, whatever you prefer.

    Ending Ceremony
    The ending of the carnival period is signaled with the burning of a large gag-statue, the Carnival King. Every year, the artistic workshop makes a different King to be burnt, although it’s usually a famous (and hated) person…like……. wait for it….. a politician! What else? Once the King is on fire, there’s another fireworks display. And after that, it’s all over. See you next year!

    Others
    In between the major events, lots of others are being held like plays, concerts etc.

    THE GOOD SIDE
    Carnival, unlike the western Halloween, lasts for a long period of time, allowing people to live it to the fullest and take part in more events that they can count. You can look however you like and really be yourself without a care in the world. It’s also a huge financial relief to the city since tons of tourists come to visit.

    THE BAD SIDE
    Obviously, all big events have their downsides. The night parade especially, can be quite dangerous. Lots of people means lots of perverts as well. Stick close to your group! And, for God’s sake, when will people realise you can have fun without getting drunk? The 2-3 months after carnival are the ones when the majority of abortions take place….. guess why…

    OVERALL
    Carnival is something I both love and hate at the same time. I love the freedom it gives you but I hate noise and crowded streets. Still, if anyone asked me when is the best period to visit the country, I’d definately choose this (summer sucks). As long as you’re careful, it can be a most joyous experience.

    Stay safe and happy!
    Evil Bunny, signing off~

  3. Hello and welcome to my Kanon 2006 Article! I can’t remember the last time I had enough time to write an Article for Anime Forums. Life has been crazy but it has slowed down for the time being for me. So here I am, back with another Article! This Article will be different from my previous Articles. (if anybody who has read those is still here xP) I will not be doing an episode guide. Instead, I’m going to discuss the main characters of Kanon 2006.

    Do NOT open the spoiler tags unless you’ve already watched Kanon 2006 as they contain MAJOR SPOILERS.

    Aizawa Yuuichi

    kanon-2.png.0fdfb6f97e0f1751d96c42df844cee6a.pngAizawa Yuuichi is the main character of Kanon. He used to visit the city but, after a terrible tragedy, he leaves and doesn’t return for seven years. When he finally goes back, he hardly remembers anything from seven years prior. He lives with his cousin, Nayuki and her mother. As he interacts with the people he met in the past, he slowly starts to regain his memory. Yuuichi is this fun guy who teases all the main girls but he has a good heart and often acts like an older brother and protects them. He does choose a girl towards the end which I’ll discuss later on.

    This whole person going to a city, leaving for seven years and returning with few memories really reminded me of the anime Celestial Method which I absolutely loved so that alone instantly got me hooked on Kanon. I seriously would love to be Yuuichi. All he does is go to school and then wander around talking to beautiful girls xP He’s a really great guy.

    Yuuichi’s Ending

    kanon-3.png.f065cde108dee239d5ad71ad47e60dd5.pngLater on, Yuuichi realizes he is in love with Ayu. They share a kiss. Ayu’s ending occurs and after lots of tears, heartaches and a miracle, they end up together.

    I’m not going to go into this too much since most of it involves Ayu’s route and I’m going to discuss it later. It’s really sweet and a good pair up for Yuuichi. (although not the best in my opinion but I’ll get to that later. xP)

     

     

    Nayuki Minase

    kanon-4.png.0d29aab5093a34867dba10b0e2e47734.pngNayuki is Yuuichi’s cousin. She loves strawberry sundaes. She’s such a heavy sleeper that she has to have a plethora of alarm clocks and even then, they don’t always wake her up and Yuuichi or her mother has to get her up. Even when she gets up, she is often in such a sleepy daze that, she can eat, get dressed for school and head out to school with Yuuichi before she even wakes up. Then she’s confused as to how she got to where she was fully dressed xP This often causes her to be late for school and she often ends up running. She runs to school so much that she became the school’s star runner and captain of the track team. She loves cats despite being highly allergic to them.

    Nayuki is an extremely fun character to watch. Her sleepy dazes are always so amusing to watch because she usually passes out again, often while eating or walking. xP  Her “neko mode” is pretty adorable as well. She easily has the best facial expressions out of every character in Kanon.

    Nayuki’s Ending

    kanon-5.png.e6dd2b3bbe676a0579b2420b17066d33.pngAfter a request for strawberry cake leads to Nayuki’s mother getting in an accident, Nayuki shuts down and completely blames herself for what happens. She tries to pretty much cut herself off from all her friends saying that she doesn’t deserve to be happy since it was her fault that her mother was in the hospital. It’s mainly due to the intervention by Yuuichi and some of her other friends that snap her out of it. Her mother survives the incident. It is also revealed that Nayuki is in love with Yuuichi.

    Seeing that expression on Nayuki’s face, in the above picture, nearly destroyed me the first time I was watching Kanon. She’s such a sweet girl that I just want to save her from the pain although that pain does make her stronger in the end. With this being based on a Key VN, I was soooo afraid Nayuki’s mother was going to die. I was so relieved when it was revealed that her mother didn’t die.

     

     

    Mai Kawasumi

    kanon-6.png.e26724dd8b63b7608c975c160f3ad065.pngMai Kawasumi is a mysterious girl. Due to her disregard for what’s considered “normal behavior”, she’s viewed as a delinquent by the other students. She can usually be found with her best and only friend Sayuri. She doesn’t talk much and even when she does, it’s usually brief responses. After meeting Mai in the hallway of the school at night, Yuuichi starts eating lunch with Mai and Sayuri and Mai slowly warms up to him.

    Mai is the cute, quiet type in Kanon. Don’t let that disguise fool you though because she’s a badass with a sword. She is extremely protective of Sayuri and let’s just say you wouldn’t want Mai to catch you being mean to or hurting Sayuri. It won’t end well for you xP.

    Mai’s Ending

    kanon-7.png.85b5b6b964f36f5e30c6ed592ca764b4.pngIt is revealed that Mai’s mother became ill when Mai was younger. After her mother is miraculously healed, we find out that Mai has the power to heal anybody and anything.  This power made the townspeople fear her and as a result everybody except her mother ostracized her. Mai was told that she would meet someone who would be able to put aside her powers and become a great friend and that friend was Yuuichi. Soon after, Yuuichi had to leave town and return home. This made Mai sad and, out of desperation, she made up a story about demons invading the field of wheat where they played together. Soon afterwards, a school was built on that field and Mai started walking the grounds at night, sword in hand, fighting off the demons. It is revealed that the demons are the manifestation of Mai’s power. Together with Yuuchi, Mai defeats each of the demons and afterwards, she tries to commit suicide but fails which lands her in the hospital.

    Mai’s ending is okay. You basically just find out that the destruction is caused by Mai not accepting her healing powers and the fact that she missed Yuuichi. Each time a demon was killed it hurt Mai. She survives her suicide attempt due to something I’ll discuss later.

     

    Shiori Misaka

    kanon-8.png.ee89e93e87c8ba5783bbeba0f62a9941.pngOne day, while adventuring with Ayu, Yuuichi meets Shiori, although during the first encounter, Yuuichi doesn’t get her name. A few days later, as Yuuichi is staring outside the window during class, he notices that Shiori is standing out in the snow right outside the school. When lunch comes, Yuuichi goes outside to talk to Shiori and learns her name and that she is outside waiting for somebody. He also learns that she is a student there but she is sick with a cold and that is why she isn’t in class. Yuuichi tells her to go home since she is sick and it’s snowing which isn’t going to help her get better. Nevertheless, she shows up every day waiting for somebody.

    Shiori reminds me a lot of Nagisa from Clannad (Nagisa’s character may have been based on Shiori since they are both Key titles) She’s sick, sicker than what she tells Yuuichi at first. She has a dream and that’s why she’s waiting for someone everyday at school even though she is too sick to actually attend. She’s a really sweet girl.

    Shiori’s Ending

    kanon-9.png.1f9cb7077f2b1f1d8077250560c51842.pngShiori is expected to die before her next birthday. We also find out that Kaori Misaka (Yuuichi’s classmate) is Shiori’s older sister but because she knows Shiori is going to die, she acts like Shiori doesn’t exist. Yuuichi eventually gets Kaori to acknowledge and to spend time with Shiori which makes both girls much happier. The person Shiori was waiting for was her sister Kaori. It was her dream to go to school with her sister. However, Shiori does not die and starts to get better due to the same reason Mai didn’t die which I’ll discuss later. This leads to Shiori returning to school and fulfilling her dream.

    Now you see why Shiori reminds me of Nagisa: the lasting sickness, potential death and wanting to fulfill her dream. I was so happy she didn’t die. Her playful personality despite the fact she knew she was dying was beautiful.

     

     

    Makoto Sawatari

    kanon-10.png.2936d6042b4e7890b6cdd0b1ec92a350.pngYuuichi meets Makoto when she attacks him out-of-the-blue in the middle of town. She was then carried her back to his cousin’s house (where he is living), where she lives as a guest for the remainder of her story. Despite having lost her memories, she eventually remembers her name and is sure that she holds a grudge against Yuuichi from the past when he visited the city back when he was younger. Makoto’s amnesia, is much more severe than Yuuichi’s or Ayu’s, but from an entirely different source. It takes her a while to warm up to a stray cat she finds and taking Yuuichi’s suggestion, names it Piro. Makoto loves Piro very much and will often carry the cat around on her head. Makoto has a mischievous personality which leads to her performing various pranks exclusively on Yuuichi during the middle of the night due to her strong dislike for him, something she constantly reaffirms. Her pranks vary in severity, such as simply dropping food on him or once even throwing lit firecrackers into his room. Yuuichi always counters them and as a result, Makoto is the one upset in the end. As time passes and Makoto starts feeling more like a member of the Minase family rather than a stranger, she honestly grows to like Yuuichi, effectively looking beyond her latent distaste for him. Makoto has an idiosyncratic expression, “auu~”, which she says when she is frustrated or sad. It has no real meaning. Another unique speech pattern of hers is that she always refers to herself in the third person. Near the end of her story, Yuuichi buys a present for Makoto, which she chooses. It’s a bracelet with two bells on it. Makoto enjoys the sound they make.

    Finally! I’ve gotten to my favorite girl in all of Kanon! Makoto is so adorable and her failed attempts at pranks usually in up with adorable scenes with her. Auuuu~ She’s so adorable when she says Auuuu~ I just LOVE IT!!! Her interactions with Piro are always super adorable too! She’s easily the best character in all of Kanon in my opinion. I don’t think I mentioned it earlier but she eventually becomes addicted to manga and meat buns and she eventually gets Yuuichi to read to her. So adorable I could die xP

    kanon-11.png.be7f64b60595648f529abdc72a40e294.pngMakoto’s Ending

    We find out that Makoto is not a human but instead a fox that Yuuichi found ten years ago when he came to the city as a child. Yuuichi first found Makoto, back then a young fox, injured on Monomi Hill and he took the fox back and kept it in his room for the rest of the summer. One day, Yuuichi tells the fox about an older girl that he had a crush on named Makoto Sawatari, which is where Makoto’s name is derived from. At the end of summer break, Yuuichi takes the fox back to the hill and he runs away soon after releasing her, leading her to be angry with Yuuichi. Her desire to see Yuuichi again was so strong that her wish was granted…..at the cost of her memories….and later…..after her humanistic qualities start to fade and all she can say is Auuuu~, Yuuichi takes Makoto to Monomi Hill and pretends to marry her,  making her final wish come true. Soon after, Makoto dies fulfilling the final requirement of the miracle.

    Makoto has the saddest route in Kanon because she actually dies. My heart broke and I hated that the cost of her miracle was her memories and later her life….Even now, I can barely type my thoughts on the matter because being reminded of it just makes me want to cry :’( :’( :’( :’( :’(

     

     

    Ayu Tsukimiya

    kanon-12.png.75156ccb87be0ec4dbc08975669d3069.pngAyu is a rather short, strange, energetic, and a very mysterious girl who literally bumps into Yuuichi early on in the story. She is easily recognizable by her winged backpack, and her red hairband. Ayu is left handed and loves to eat taiyaki. Ayu often takes out her frustration by using the idiosyncratic expression “uguu” much like Makoto with her “Auuu.” She is searching for an item that is important to her but she doesn’t remember what it is only that she’ll know it when she sees it. She has a severe lack of present day knowledge such as she doesn’t know what a cell phone is. She has memory loss as well.

    Ayu is really adorable and my second favorite girl in Kanon. Her “Uguuu” makes me die of adorableness just like Makoto’s “Auuuu~” did. Encounters with Ayu are pretty funny because she usually runs toward Yuuichi trying to hug him and he dodges which leads to her hitting a tree or falling over. She never stays mad at Yuuichi for too long though because he buys her taiyaki which she loves. And now onto the final ending of Kanon.

    Ayu’s Ending

    kanon-13.png.f6416f49b2b0164c9953405a84936c7a.pngSeven years before the story begins, Ayu falls out of a tree and hits her head on the last day Yuichi was going to be in town. At first, he believes she died, but Akiko reveals she is in the hospital and has been in a coma for the past seven years. The Ayu Yuichi has been meeting in town is actually an astral projection of herself (similar to Fuuko in Clannad). Later on in the series, with Yuuichi’s help, she breaks out of her coma, and gets her hair inadvertently cut too short when she goes to a barber shop, leading him to comment how much she looks like a boy like he did before. The item she had been looking for was a small angel doll that Yuuichi had given her telling her that it would grant three wishes as long as Yuuichi could make the wishes come true. She uses two of them and then her and Yuuichi bury the doll in a jar as a kind of time capsule. While Ayu is in her coma, she gains the ability to have one wish granted and she chooses for the one she cares deeply for to always be happy; that’s why Nayuki’s mother, Mai and Shiori didn’t die.

    I was heartbroken when I thought Ayu was dead. I was so relieved to find out she was in a coma and when she finally awoke. If Yuuichi couldn’t have Makoto, I would settle for him loving Ayu. I don’t know why Ayu’s wish didn’t extend to saving Makoto….maybe the cost of the Makoto’s miracle overrode the effects of Ayu’s wish. I just don’t know…..

    It was a pretty good ending to a great anime!

     

     

    I hope you’ve enjoyed this journey I’ve taken you on through the lives of the main cast of Kanon and I hope that you’ve either watched it or that this Article will inspire you to watch it! Thank you so much for taking the time to read it! I hope you have a great day!

    ~Ryuji

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    As the winter 2016 anime season is starting, multiple new animes are coming out that catch the attention of any type of anime genre viewer. Whether they deserve for you to anxiously wait until they are released in a week’s time is all up to you. This season I have choosen to anxiously wait for the premiere and run of the anime, Dagashi Kashi, literally translating to cheap sweets candy. The premise of this anime follows Shikada Kokonotsu and his father,owner of a rural sweets shop, and his plan for Kokonotsu to take it over one day. However, Kokonotsu drem is to pursue his manga career, to which his father believes is not the best path for his son. One day in the summer, a cute but weird girl Shidare Hotaru,the heir to a famous candy operation, comes to visit the Kokonotsus. Apparently, Kokonotsu’s father is famous and she wants him to join her company. The story of this anime begins to unfold with the contract of Kokonotsu’s father to Hotaru, the only way for him to join her is persuading her son to inherit the family shop.

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    So far, the anime has a very captivating plot that although it is masked behind the enormous amount of forced and genuine humor, still reminds you the main objective of this show and this story. The plot doesn’t seem to let go any hint of any romance between any of these characters, but it is possible as many jokes were made about relationships throughout the course of the show. Characters seem to have room for development throught the course of the series.The animations are pretty good and the opening song is cute. As a result I award the story with a 4/5, animation with a 3/5 , characters with a 3/5, sound with a 2/5, and my personal enjoyment 4/5.Giving this anime a 3.75 , rating of watch it and await its release.This is definitely going to follow and await its release. If you enjoy slice of life, and comedic animes check this one out. And even if you don’t still check it out. Tell me your feelings about this anime in the comments.

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    We all have to start somewhere and it’s not easy with so much great anime out there , it makes it a little hard to choose what we want to start with.
    There are many genre’s to choose from and depending on where people start they may have a fractured view on the world of anime , especially if the first is not to their liking , so the first is quite important.

    In that regard it is important that the first should have a large enough range so that you can find some part of it to your liking and from there find out more about your own taste in anime , knowing what you like in movies series and books helps quite a lot as well as you can direct yourself more towards what you know you like and develop your palate from there.
    For instance , if you like romance you start off watching romance and as you go on you diverge into romance + mech , romance + supernatural , romance + SoL and so on so that you can find something that you enjoy and from there explore the new genre that you have an interest in and grow more interest in anime as a whole.

    No one ever stops changing so your current favorite series or genre might not always be the same but if you explore and find more that you enjoy you will never find yourself unable to enjoy anime as there will always be something that will interest you.
    Here are a few anime I believe are great for new anime fans or people who want to start watching anime.
    [In no particular order]

    Shigatsu wa Kimi no Uso

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    Drama , Romance , Music , School
    This series shows a lot of emotion and is a great starting point if you enjoy drama , music or romance. The music is also brilliant and if you enjoy the music genre it will not disappoint.

    Magi -The Labyrinth of Magic

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    Action , Adventure , Fantasy , Shounen
    This series has a lot of action , adventure and magic and is a great starting point if you enjoy fantasy. In addition to it’s brilliantly done fight scenes it has some powerful scenes that tug at your emotions.

    Mahou Shoujo Madoka Magica

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    Drama , Magic , Psychological , Thriller , Magic Girl
    This series is a great place to start for people who want to get into the Magical Girl genre as it is both a brilliant Magical Girl anime and has a serious tone to it that allows even those that are not fans of the genre to truly enjoy it. It is also a brilliant thriller and psychological theme anime and should not be overlooked even if you doubt Magical Girl anime.

    Bakemonogatari

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    Mystery , Romance , Supernatural , Vampire
    This series is a grate starting place if you enjoy mystery or the supernatural. The use of the vampire genre is not over used , though not forgotten or neglected and the series is that much stronger because of it.

    Love Hina

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    Comedy , Ecchi , Harem , Romance , Shounen , Slice of Life
    This series is a great place to start if you enjoy the comedy , SoL , ecchi , romance , or harem genre’s. The comedy is great and the harem and ecchi scenes are done well all while being grounded in real life so that it is not too outlandish.

  4. I’ve noticed that there’s lots of anime fans who don’t know much about films outside of the anime.I’m sure and know for a fact that not all anime fans are like this but there’s some who do want to broaden their horizons but don’t know where to start.

    So,I thought I’ll make a list of films and compare them to some anime to convince some people to watch.

    FARGO/CASE CLOSED
    Fargo is the first one I’ll talk about because it’s a bit more simplistic.
    PLOT:a down on his luck car sales man hires two criminals to kidnap his wife for money because her father’s well off.then,things go horribly wrong for everyone.

    WHY SHOULD YOU WATCH:
    It’s kind of funny that I compare it to cased closed but it’s the closes thing I could think of.there’s not much similarly between the two but I picked because if you love mystery then this is for you.

    Simply put it’s a really simple crime film.there’s not much “fancy” detective work going on but that only adds to it.since the plot is simple it gives more time to develop the characters and more time to spend learning about the environment the characters are in.the snowy hell and freezing cold weather just adds to the feeling of solidarity.

    BLACK CEASER-GANGSTA/BACCANO
    Black Cesar belongs to a genre of films called Blaxploitation.it’s a genre that started off somewhere around the 70s and with films like shaft,coffy,and foxy Brown,ect.

    THE PLOT:the plot is very simple it’s about a group of black gangsters rising from the underbelly of new York to become a vicious gang.then,our main lead slowly watches the very same things that gave him his wealth destroy and corrupt everything around him.

    WHY YOU SHOULD WATCH:
    Coffy and foxy Brown both starred the extremely talented Pam Grier and it launched her into superstardom along with other actors in this genre and one of them is FRED WILLIAMSON this movie has other really talented actors but for the sake of simplicity we’ll just talk about him for now.

    Fred Williamson gives a wonderful and powerful performance as a gangster along with the ferocity that comes with being one.I recommend this film because this along with other gangster films of it’s time inspired a look and feel that things like gangsta,baccano,ect have.
    The big fancy Cadillac,clothes,and extravagant lifestyle are exemplified perfectly in this film.the violence subtle but leave impact that never leave your mind.
    d’urville martin is amazing as he plays a corrupt preacher pushing a Mafioso agenda.

    DUEL TO THE DEATH- KENICHI THE MIGHTY DISCIPLE/AFRO-SAMURAI
    if you’re looking for a badass non-stop action film then look no further.if love the old school style of kung fu that anime like afro samurai and mighty have then you’re in for a treat.

    PLOT:there’s a competition for the best samurai of two villages and they both send thier best warriors to fight.soon enough over the course of the film the two main characters become friends.

    WHY YOU SHOULD WATCH:
    This movie looks and feels like a fight is about to happen.I love kung fu anime but the main problem is it doesn’t look right sometimes because their is no sweating,heavy breathing,the clanging of swords doesn’t sounds or feel right.The dubbing is really damn good too but some might find it cheesy or dumb.I think it’s one of the things that add to the overall atmosphere of a kung fu film.
    I’m not saying that mighty isn’t a great but at some points I thought it could have been better but comparing live action and animated movies on the feel and look isn’t easy.duel to the death along with the other films on this list Inspired me to write this list because it’s not an easy task to compare.

    Duel to Death gets so many things right in the fighting department but does something that’s really hard to do.what’s that you ask? It’s nailing the look.

    Long wide shots before a battle.

    Using environments to set a tone(feeling).

    THE TOWN THAT DREADED SUNDOWN/THE ZODIAC-HIGURASHI
    Damn,choosing between the two was almost f****** impossible so why not both?

    PLOT OF THE TOWN THAT DREADED SUNDOWN: the year is 1946 and their is a serial killer on the loose in Texas.then,the police send one their best to catch this killer who seem to disappear into night.
    WHY YOU SHOULD WATCH:
    These two films the town that dreaded sundown and the zodiac have two separate elements that make higurashi great.one is suspense and the other is psychology in nature.

    The town that dreaded sundown is down some what like a old style cop show like drag net.if you’re not familiar with the show think of those cop shows that reenact the crime scenes.I choose to call this one suspenseful because it’s a fear of the unexplained and how the film uses narration,low lightning and other techniques to make you afraid.
    The fear comes from the simple fact that the killer is from a small town and that he could be anyone.hell,he’s probably sitting down next door to anyone of us preparing dinner or simply going to bed.

    PLOT OF THE ZODIAC:
    The zodiac is a movie basically on a real serial killer that called himself the zodiac.he’s still on the loose and has yet to be caught.

    WHY YOU SHOULD WATCH:
    This film is a bit longer than most of the film’s here but I have faith that it’ll grip you and never let go.I’ve said that these two films each have separate elements that I believe made the show great and the other half I mentioned psychological horror.
    While the things that made the film scary where fears of the unknown what makes this just FUCKIN SPOOPY! Is what we do know and facts not adding up.
    The film is very factual in it’s presentation and let’s decided what is true and what isn’t.the film follows the zodiac killer and his unpredictable patterns from taunting the police with notes with riddles and clues to his identity.
    The main draw of the film is the psychology and how it takes a toll on the main characters as they’re partially chasing a ghost.they’re restless pursuit for the truth leads to dead ends,clues that don’t make any factual sense.

    DEATH RIDES A HORSE-TRI-GUN/COYOTE RAG TIME SHOW
    While the film isn’t a futuristic western like tri-gun and some what lean more on the anime coyote rag time their just so much too love.

    PLOT: a young boy watches his family get killed by outlaws and plans his revenge and waiting for the right time to strike!

    WHY YOU SHOULD WATCH:
    One of the things most of the film’s on this list have is a very simple plot compared to the anime that I’m comparing them to.it’s quiet easy to forget the joys that come with a fairly simple plot structure.
    This film is rather old but I hope that doesn’t scare some of you away because it has so much too offer.what made both tri-gun and coyote rag time show great was the vast landscapes and the bizarre and colorful characters.
    The film feels familiar because every character has a gun and a checkered past or an axe to grind.a town full of deceit and crime with the only solution is to bring justice one shell at a time.

    FULL METAL JACKET/MECH-ANIME/GRAVE OF THE FIRE FILES
    This movie is really dirty in every single way possible.and,yes that way too.

    PLOT:this film takes a looks at the daily lives of soldier’s in the Vietnam war from training to the actual battlefield as the war takes a it’s toll.

    WHY YOU SHOULD WATCHC:
    With lines like “This is my rifle. There are many like it but this one is mine.” I felt incredibly dirty and uneasy.I could sit and name numerous things and point out the geniuses of Stanley Kubrick but I won’t.
    From the beginning of the film’s icon opening in a boot camp the soldiers quickly learn that it’s another cog in the war machine and just made to spit out military officers who clearly aren’t ready for the Vietnam war.
    The trauma doesn’t stop there as our main lead finds out about lots of cover ups and fake news reports to lessen the work load and to keep us feeling safe in this losing battle.soon,the soldiers get use to this reality and it’s all they know.

    I hoped you enjoyed the reading I much as I enjoyed writting.also,tell me what you think?

  5. drill's Blog

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    After a year of being on here, I’ve noticed that more often than not, that many users might already have an idea on what anime they like, but haven’t a clue when it comes to manga. As such, there are some suggestions listed below based on what you might like:

    Do you like extremely long titles that get released rather frequently, along with a unique Shounen twist in it? If so, you might actually be more interested in Manhwa (Korean manga pretty much). Here are a few titles that you might want to start off with:

    Tower of God

    This is quite an interesting title as there are so many plot twists, and has great fight scenes and character development as well. As many titles that run for a long time, it does start to make quite a few of the characters more generic past around chapter 180 or so.

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    Magician

    The first Manhwa I’ve ever read. It has an excellent blend of adventure and action, and does quite well with world building. Like Tower of God though, it starts to make some characters more generic later on, but sadly, I would say that it does it more so than Tower of God. Ah, and I need to mention, don’t let the artwork at the beginning turn you off, it gets better rather quickly.

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    However, maybe a long running action/adventure story really isn’t your thing, and you’re looking for something more relaxing. These few titles are slice of life, and are quite relaxing (and quite cute as well).

    Love So Life

    I’ve only just started reading this one, so I can’t actually say too much about it, but everything about the manga so far is really heartwarming. I think one of the main reasons why I like it so much is the MCs flashbacks are a lot darker than the story itself which helps contrast and explain certain decisions she might make during the present.

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    Nukoduke!

    A story about little cat people called Nukos who live with their owner Yuuya and their every day lives. Its a rather short manga as it has very few pages per chapter, and really doesn’t focus too much on character development, but rather just being an extremely cute slice of life.

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    Finally, maybe you are looking to read a high school manga, but are tired of cliches that have been done before.

    Relife

    This is an amazing manga. It starts out quite a bit different from your typical high school setting since the MC is ten years older than everyone else at high school. I found it rather enjoyable, and a bit nostalgic as well, as it does a much better job at creating a high school atmosphere than most other stories do. Not only that, but all of the characters are well developed and have their own realistic problems.

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    Well, that’s it for recommendations for now. I’ll probably come around again in a bit and make another list that focuses on supernatural and romance next time. Thanks for reading! 🙂

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    This is a little idea I came up with a while back.

    I’ve always been able to find my own way as regards to what shows I watch. Sometimes I watch it for the aesthetic (Nisekoi, Anohana, and Lain, all I really enjoy) but sometimes I tend to delve into more unknown animes than the usual Naruto or Dragonball.

    So, here’s how this is going to work.
    I’m going to list off some well known anime titles and I will be recommending other titles for people who have seen them and liked them.

    #1: Death Note/Monster

    Well, this one doesn’t need any kind of explanation.
    Death Note, is by no means a favourite series of mine, but I can see why some people like it. However, there is another series that I have seen compared to Death Note all too often.

    Naoki Urasawa’s masterpiece, ‘Monster’.

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    The man you see pictured is probably my favourite villain ever, Johan Liebert.
    ‘Monster’ tells the story of Dr. Kenzo Tenma, a Japanese brain surgeon living in Germany. One day, two children are admitted to the hospital he works in after they discover their parents murdered, one of them manages to escape, grows up, and becomes a notorious serial killer. It centres around Tenma trying to catch the killer known as Johan Liebert.

    ‘Monster’ and Johan are known throughout the anime community for being one of the best horror series and arguably one of the best villains anime has ever seen. Guillermo Del Toro, director of Hellboy and Pan’s Labyrinth, has shown interest in making it into a TV show or a movie. It has the same aesthetic and it’s a great gateway into deeper, darker anime.

    #2: Clannad/Anohana

    Ever get one of those shows that you thought you didn’t like but then, you re-watch it and you love it? That’s how I felt towards Clannad.
    The animation style was the only thing I didn’t like, the rest of it was amazing, especially After Story!

    However, there is an anime that, it being my favourite, I can recommend for any Clannad fan, that’s because a Clannad fan recommended it to me.

    Anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day.

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    “We found you.”
    Well, this being my favourite anime ever, I can’t help but sing it’s praises.
    Anohana tells the story of Jinta ‘Jintan’ Yadomi, a teenager who is a hikikomori (someone who does nothing but sit in the house, play video games, and watch anime). During Jintan’s childhood years, him and a group of friends (Poppo, Tsuruko, Yukiatsu, Anaru, and most importantly, Menma) formed a gang called the ‘Super Peace Busters!’. The gang was struck by tragedy when their friend Meiko ‘Menma’ Honma passed on.

    10 years later, the gang has grown apart, and Jintan is playing a video game when the ghost of Menma visits him and tells him that she has one final wish. The series centres around the group of friends trying to figure out what that wish is and trying to fulfil it. It is the only anime that has ever made me stop the episode because I had to finish crying. The character development is great (because the story is mostly character driven) and the animation style is beautiful. It’s definitely a 10/10 in my mind but it sadly hasn’t gotten an official release in the UK yet. You can view it on the US Crunchyroll. The similarities to Clannad include dealing with the death of a love one, and friendship. The last episode of Anohana is probably the saddest episode in any anime I’ve ever seen. I ain’t gonna spoil anything, but from episode 4 right up until the end, it’s the saddest anime I’ve ever seen.

    Also, I made the entire character cast on Tomodatchi Life, THAT is how much I love it.

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    #4 Sword Art Online/Log Horizon

    Data-base, data-base, just living in the data-base, woah-oh…

    Everyone knows Sword Art Online, however, not everyone likes it, and I can see why. It is very poorly written and the MC is very unlikeable. Which is why I’m saddened to see that shows such as Log Horizon, No Game No Life, and Btooom! are in SAO’s big shadow. Whilst Btooom! and No Game No Life aren’t strictly speaking the same as SAO, Log Horizon is the same, but so much better.
    The premise doesn’t need explaining but I’m going to do it anyway.
    Teenagers and adults alike sign up to play ‘Elder Tale’, a new game. They get stuck in the game and essentially have to try and find their way out of it.

    I’m going to leave it there, because I don’t want to go into too much detail about other shows as Naruto, DBZ, One Piece and Bleach should be easy to find recommendations off.

    Thanks for reading!

    -Jack

  6. *Has nothing to do with anime but i was just bored, feedback is appreciated :) *

    FICTIONAL STORY 

    I'll call this "Series A" incase i decide to continue the story at a later date. 

    10/29/2018

    5PM

    Somehow it happened, on a cold day, in a warm room, where the blinds hid any sign that there was more to life than the school i was sitting in. I was sleeping peacefully on my desk, blissfully unaware of whatever my teacher was talking about... things were perfect. I was dreaming of colors. There was no plot, no characters, no setting... just feeling. It was the type of nap that only comes around once or twice a year. The type where you question if your even sleeping. 

    I awoke with a jolt like a soldier with ptsd... then i scanned the room as i waited for my breathing to slow down. The room is empty, but i could have sworn that somebody tapped my shoulder. Its as if i can still feel their hand there, as if they only moved away a moment ago... i guess stranger things have happened. I pinned it on my overactive imagination and made my way into the hallway. It was empty and in the simplest terms creepy. The red lockers flashed in and out of my vision due to the light at the end of the hall that was having a spaz attack... that was normal though, me and my friends had  even nicknamed it the murder corridor because we figured if there was ever i killer on the loose, he'd want to set the scene....Everything was still blurry from my tired eyes and although i kept rubbing them i couldn't seem to get them out of their murky fog. I've never regretted not bringing my glasses to school more than i have in this moment. Then i heard something shatter... glass? I wonder what broke? I start walking down the hallway somewhat frantically, checking the classrooms as i went by... what time was it? Where was everyone? All the blinds were shut so there was no telling what time of day it was, and there was no way i was going to open them to find out. I don't know why... something just seemed off about the whole thing.

     

    Finally, I'm at the main stairs. Its a big spiral staircase in the center of the school and if you look down you can see the lobby four floors away. I feel stupid, like a little kid who's running form their own shadow....whoever is monitoring the security cameras must be having a blast right now. I shake my head at the idea, causing my long braided pigtails to slap me back into reality... I really hope that i don't get killed... its not that I'm not ready to die, i just really don't want to die with smudges mascara and the same hairstyle i wore on my first day of kindergarten... I realize I'm getting side tracked and start running down the stairs, the pitter-patter of my shoes echoing through each floor as i pass it. 3....2....1 

    I'm in the lobby. I slow to a walk as a catch my breath and make my way toward the door. The sun looks as though I've been looking for it for an eternity. I cant help but kind of smile at myself, at the stupid idea of there actually being a killer on the loose, at the fact that i fell asleep in class and nobody bothered to wake me up. I open the door and feel the rush or fresh air. It feels so crisp and clean, as if I'm taking my first breath after almost drowning. I take my first step outside only to find the earth crumbling beneath me.

    The breeze is now hot with flaming embers in its grasp. I'm trying to cover my eyes.... i cant help but look down... I wish i hadn't looked. The earth has cracked and i can see every layer, the most distinct being the lava below me. The heat is unbearable. The air smells stale and brings the suffocating feeling of claustrophobia to my lungs and suddenly i widen my eyes and realize that these are the colors of destruction... suddenly everything slows and the heat subsides to the point where its tolerable. I look up to see the embers, falling like snowflakes, turning to ash before they hit the ground... suddenly i feel like I'm in grade school again. I'm happy and playful and smiling. The crack has almost closed up and i jump over it as if i were jumping over a puddle. I'm on the other side now, frolicking in the ash... I've forgotten it was ash thou, by now I'm convinced it is snow. It peppers my hair in a way that is gentle and kind... its been so long since I've felt so childish, so free. I look up again and as i do so i stick out my tongue to catch a snowflake...it lands... it burns. I feel the fire creeping down my throat and dropping down to my stomach, I'm being burned from the inside out. I open my mouth, only to release black smoke like a chimney and then begin coughing uncontrollably from the flames inside me. In the distance i see a shadowy figure in the window of the school, their watching me burn... i cant see their face but somehow i know their smiling, i cant feel it. I gasp for air in an effort to save myself and suddenly i wake up...

    *****

    I wake up coughing like crazy in the middle of class. People are looking at me funny. There's a movie on about the civil war and the teacher has stepped out for a minute. Once i finally get my cough under control my best friend leans in to tell me that I've been talking in my sleep for about 10 minutes, and that they didn't wake me because apparently its bad luck to wake someone up during a nightmare... some best friend... at least I'm not dead though. that's always a plus.... This is the story of my first day of high school... this is how i became branded a weirdo for the next 4 years..

  7. Na11's Blog

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    Hey guys, and I was thinking about adding something, reviews!

    It was an ok episode, but has the same beginning, a dorky, clumsy girl trying to go to school, how about something new?

    The art and quality were fine, and the sound (especially the opening). The opening is beautiful, it’ll make you say: EVERYBODY JUMP, or something similar.

    You can also tell that the villain in this episode is pretty badass. And wait, cure happy, holy light?? She doesn’t look holy to me..
    Seriously tho, she doesn’t look holy.

    Miyuki personally isn’t my type of protagonist, but hey? She a cute, loveable character. And she’s pink, that’s like my favorite color!

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  8. 5. Death Parade
    Okay, I know this isn’t exactly what you would call a Survival Game, but it’s somewhat similar to it.

    Genre: Drama, Mystery, Psychological
    Episodes: 12
    Aired: Jan 2015 – Mar 2015
    The anime plays in the bar Quin Decim and follows a bartender, who makes his guests play games for their life – well, that’s what they think. But in reality they’re already dead and in the afterlife, competing against each other to see who deserves to go up or down.
    The 2 competitors are always related in some way, but they lose their memories about how they died and can only gain them back, if they play the game. This gives the anime a good dose of drama and you notice how you start feeling with the characters after just one episode.

    4. Deadman Wonderland
    This anime stayed in my memory mostly because of the character designs – not only did they have very unique looks, but their personalities also differ.

    Episodes: 12
    Aired: Apr 2011 – Jul 2011
    Genres: Manglobe

    The teenage boy Ganta is sentenced to death after he was the only survivor when a mysterious man killed every student of his class. He then has to go to the craziest prison you’ve ever seen – Deadman Wonderland.

    The prisoners of this disturbing place are forced to compete against each other in many different death matches.

    3. Danganronpa: The Animation
    I never thought this anime would actually become one of my favorite animes so far. The mix of mystery and survival game is great and makes you want to continue after you’ve finished an episode.

    Genres: Mystery, Psychological, Thriller
    Episodes: 13
    Aired: Jul 2013 – Sep 2013
    Naegi Makoto was invited to enter a high school for people with special talents – even though he has none.
    Soon enough this school turns out to be a survival game: 15 students are captured and the only way to get out is to kill someone without anybody noticing. But if someone finds out, you die.

    2. Mirai Nikki
    The anime, that is famous for its yandere character, Yuno Gasai.

    Genres: Action, Mystery, Psychological, Thriller
    Aired: Okt 2011 – Apr 2012
    Episodes: 26
    The story follows the student Yukki, who writes everything he sees around him in his phone diary. One day he gets a strange message from his imaginary friend, that he is supposed to participate in a survival game.

    If you’re the last participant alive, you become the God of time and space. Later he finds out, that his diary can suddenly tell the future – but he’s not the only one who owns something as powerful as that; Every participant has their own unique diary, that gives them a different advantage or disadvantage in battles.

    1. Btooom!
    No matter how often I watch this anime, it never gets boring!

    Genres: Action, Psychological
    Episodes: 12
    Aired: Okt 2012 – Dec 2012
    Ryouta is a NEET – he doesn’t go to school, doesn’t have a job, the only thing that is on his mind is the famous game Btooom. In this game you try to kill people with different types of bombs.

    Suddenly Ryouta finds himself on an island with many people trying to kill each other. He then finds out that somebody he knows sent him there to die. But there is still one chance to get out of this survival game: You have to kill seven people. And the only weapon you have is bombs – just like in Btooom.

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    Since you are reading this article I will assume you are a horror lover like I am. The horror genre in anime and manga can be really good but we come into problems with the lack of content in the genre.

    Anime Horror Recommendations
    Here are some horror anime titles to check out:

    1. Higurashi No Naku Koro Ni

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    If you are a horror lover this is the first show you need to watch. The show has great psychological elements and a mystery to keep you interested in the show until the end. THe show has a second season but only watch it if you enjoyed this one. However viewer be warned: The English Dub is absolute garbage. Do not watch the English Dub.

    2. Parasyte

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    While this show focuses more on drama and action I do say that it definitely plays a lot with body horror. The way you see the parasites is absolutely bone shilling at times and is still a decent show all around.

    3. Shiki

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    Vampires. This is a show about vampires. The show has a slow start but quickly turns into a gore torn show and it is absolutely awesome. The horror towards the end of the show is really good and with the drama it adds even more to the MANY deaths in the anime.

    4. Tokyo Ghoul (First Season)

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    Again we focus on the theme of monsters but this show is more focused on plot and character at first. The horror is nearly there for effect at first but plays well into the show as it goes on. However two disclaimers for the show. Firstly the second season was absolute garbage and was a complete waste of time, don’t watch it. Secondly is that the show is currently censored on most legal streaming sites but an uncensored version is around and I definitely recommend tracking it down.

    5. Corpse Party: Tortured Souls

    corpse-party-tortured-souls.thumb.jpg.6212e26278e7c36fb17853dbf99452a0.jpg

    If you are looking for straight up horror this is it. This show is the finest horror and gore I have seen in the anime medium to date with every scene played to excellent effect. However with great horror you get only an average plot and kind of bland characters. THe show is not perfect but if you are looking for straight up blood, guts, and scares this is the show for you. Plus it is only four episodes so you hav eno excuse.

    Manga Horror Recommendations
    A list of a few horror mangas if you prefer to read your frights:

    1. Uzumaki

    uzumaki-spiral-into-horror-v2.thumb.jpg.c313b205f34dfcc74aad382be26a5f5d.jpg

    This is considered a must see in the genre. Similar to Parasyte int he fact that it is body horror but Parasyte does not compare. The story is overall very good and the art is f****** scary. However during the later chapters I felt the manga got a little more on the ridiculous side and that may turn off some people so be warned.

    2. Franken Fran

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    While focusing more on some comedic qualities this manga is absolutely still scary. It contains some of the best artwork in the genre I have seen and the characters are so much fun. WHile this is not straight up horror you will find moments where you gasp and amy stay up at night thinking about them.

    3. Hideout

    hideout-manga.jpg.67dbb32f7133ec5205bace3dcf82070d.jpg

    My personal favorite horror manga and it is for a reason. The manga is THE BEST because of its story and art. THe story is very well executed and the art it just adds so much to the story. I really can;t say how much I loved this manga but the only downside to some is that it is very short.

    4. Ibitsu

    ibitsu-manga.jpg.35dffb4c132d2ae1e3e4966ef0116812.jpg

    This was my introduction to horror manga and if you were to start anywhere I would start here. THis manga plays a lot with talkers and the constant “I am going to get you” kind of plot. However Ibitsu makes the plot work withs some interesting character and an ending that will leave you wondering “Wha tthe f**** did I just read?”.

    5. Doubt

    doubt-manga-horror-v2.thumb.jpg.600c97d37bcc27365643b343dcbaa127.jpg

    This manga has the main focus on psychological scenes but the tense atmosphere it creates makes the manga even scarier. I recommend this to people who are scared of the unknown and don’t mind solving abut of a mystery.

    Well those were my recommendations and I have not seen every single show or read every manga. If you felt that I missed something please feel free to comment them and I will be sure to include suggestions that I think should have been on the list.

  9. $3x¥'s Blog

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    nisekoi-1.thumb.jpg.adf4baeeb17b53a02b72a82c6a00380c.jpg

    Note: Before reading realize there are some spoilers in the second paragraph.

    Nisekoi is an anime that miraculously manages to take a large number of overused anime cliches and surprisingly make them enjoyable for both the new anime fans and the old. The anime takes these cliches and combines them with stunning visuals and animation and brings them to life in a rom-com that surprised me as well as many others.

    Nisekoi is set in a peaceful town where, Ichijou Raku, the son of a Yakuza gang leader, is forced to date a girl whom he has a grudge against for various reasons, because she is the daughter of an enemy gangs leader. They date in order to keep the two rival gangs at bay and maintain the towns peaceful aura. Of course they’re both against it, but, both comply with their fathers wishes and to keep their friends and family, as well as their town, safe. Raku, however, frets over his long lost “wife” whom he had promised to marry years prior, their only connection being held between a key she carries and a lock she gave him. However, after this twist of events in his life, Raku is thrown into a circle of events (arcs), where he manages to unwillingly seduce several more girls, ignorant of the fact each of them loves him (with one exception) while still looking for the holder of the key, his future wife.

    Anyways, this anime has eye catching animation and character designs, and is altogether fluent. Each character has a unique design and an interesting background. The soundtrack of the anime is catchy and the opening’s animation and color is just as, if not more, of an eye catcher as the actual anime, showcasing (however quick some of them might be) all the characters you’ll be introduced too over the course of the anime.

    However, I felt the script was the best part of this anime. As I mentioned earlier, the anime uses an absurd amount of cliches as it’s main source of humor and plot. Normally, an anime like this would go unnoticed by the masses and would most likely be ridiculed by the majority of those who did watch it all the way through. However, Niskoi’s script is well written and these jokes actually seem entertaining, regardless how many times you’ve heard them. The characters and plot are much like the anime’s script; they are cliche and overused. But once again, the writers keen abilities allowed him to write such a cliche, yet alluring script, characters and plot while still managing to entertain a majority of viewers.

    However, at 20 episodes, this anime can stretch itself out at points and most of the content, though funny, is overused. This overuse of cliche jokes can get people who are picky about what they watch upset, causing them to drop it. This anime also lacks a definite ending, as Raku does not pick a girl at the end of the anime whom he has decided to love (which, would be fixed if a third season is introduced).

    So should you watch Nisekoi (False Love)?

    If you’re new to anime or don’t mind watching a harem, go for it. I think you’d enjoy it as Nisekoi is quite a popular (which, for the most part, it deserves) harem and the cast as well as script is lively. However, if you don’t like cliche anime or unoriginal content, Nisekoi is probably not the anime for you as it is entirely comprised of such content, from it’s story to it’s jokes. Nisekoi is also not for people who want a definite ending. So far, the series (anime wise) has not finished (though I believe the manga has) and Raku has not made a decision on what girl to date. If you don’t mind the jokes, but do mind the indecisive ending, read the manga. I haven’t read all of it myself, but from what I have read, it’s just as enjoyable as the anime itself.

  10. The 2017 Summer Anime Season started off strongly, with quite a number of shows that have gained my interest instantly; and quite a number that seem interesting enough to keep watching. So with the number of new releases dying down, I think that this would be the optimal time to get my first impressions of it out.

    As usual, my goal with these kinds of posts are to introduce to you some of the shows that I will be watching this season – for those of you who don’t have time to check all of the premiers out. Moreover, I will be explaining what’s to be expected out of these shows and why I like them in the first place, in order help you decide whether or not to check them out.

    This selection was made after viewing, and dropping, around a dozen or so newly released shows. So without further ado, these are the ones that stood out to me.

    Ballroom e Youkoso

    Ballroom-e-Youkoso.png.390d44f1f1467bf137b66ecfc377ae42.png

    Source: Manga

    Quote

    A professional dancer named Sengoku rescues Tatara, an introverted third-year middle school student who is being harassed by delinquents. Tatara ends up at Sengoku’s dance studio where he meets Shizuku Hanaoka, a schoolmate he comes to secretly idolize. From this defining moment when Tatara enters the world of dance. Sengoku is a free-spirited, dynamic international dancer who recognizes Tatara’s potential and begins to coach him. Through dance, Tatara meets another schoolmate, a dance prodigy named Kiyoharu. Through these new friendships, Tatara develops a passionate desire to improve as a dancer and be accepted by his peers and rivals, which nurtures his own native talent. And through interaction with Tatara, other dance members are encouraged to take steps to overcome their own challenges and issues.

    Along with Kakegurui, this show probably had the strongest premier this season. The artwork is sharp and expressive while still retaining a very human, and down-to earth feeling; and the characters and story do seem to have a lot of potential. Given, the underdog story has been re-told countless amounts of times before and may be considered overused by some. However, it is still effective (from a storytelling perspective) to get the viewer automatically invested in a character, and is up to the rest of the show to build upon that investment. With Ballroom e Youkoso – I have the confidence that it will do so beautifully.

     

    Isekai Shokudou

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    Source: Light Novel

    Quote

    At the bottom floor of the building with a dog signboard, in the shopping district near the office street, there lies a cafeteria called “Youshoku no Nekoya,” that has an illustration of a cat on the door. It’s been open for fifty years and has satisfied various salarymen from nearby offices. Despite it being called a Western cuisine cafeteria, it also provides other varieties of menus. For the people of this certain world, it’s their one-and-only special cafeteria.

    There is, however, one secret to “Nekoya.” The cafeteria is closed to the public every Saturday in order to make way for special guests. When a bell rings, customers from different places of birth and races appear who ask for mysterious and delicious dishes. They are actually the same dishes served to the salarymen, but these special guests find them to be more exotic than to what they are used to. As the cafeteria aims to serve masterpieces, it is usually referred as “Isekai Shokudou.”

    This anime is a food anime at heart, but what makes it stand out is the little “twist” of having different entities, from different walks of life taste the delicious food prepared every week. There is just this light-hearted delight from watching other life forms gobble down a scrumptious looking plate of human food. Along with that, we are treated to their backstories, personality, and how they got to the restaurant in the first place.

    If you are looking for something episodic and easily digestible to watch, I wouldn’t hesitate to pick up this anime.

     

    Kakegurui

    Kakegurui.png.89ff6c1ca8b284cfc6319425aa19ab40.png

    Source: Manga

    Quote

    Hyakkaou Private Academy. An institution for the privileged with a very peculiar curriculum. You see, when you’re the sons and daughters of the wealthiest of the wealthy, it’s not athletic prowess or book smarts that keep you ahead. It’s reading your opponent, the art of the deal. What better way to hone those skills than with a rigorous curriculum of gambling? At Hyakkaou Private Academy, the winners live like kings, and the losers are put through the wringer. But when Yumeko Jabami enrolls, she’s gonna teach these kids what a high roller really looks like!

    There was a lot of hype coming from the manga community even before this anime aired, so I just had to check and see what all the hype was for. And thank god I did, because this anime certainly justifies the excitement people had for it.

    I would recommend this anime to others as a “more condensed and refined version of No Game No Life” as it is able to instil immense amounts of tension, excitement and border-line fear into the viewer in each and every gambling scene. This anime may not be for fans of the more light-hearted genres, since it tends to try and invoke extreme emotions in the viewer through almost devil-like facial expressions the characters often put on, and the growing steaks each time the main character gambles. I am assuming that that the series will have an episodic format of storytelling – with new opponents each and every week, which is awesome, because that means more gambling; and gambling is what this anime excels at.

    Watch the OP, and if you don’t like the show by then, it is safe to say that you may as well just drop it. But if you loved the vibe from the OP – watch on! I know I will most certainly be doing so.

     

    Youkoso Jitsuryoku Shijou Shugi no Kyoushitsu e

    Youkoso-Jitsuryoku-Shijou-Shugi-no-Kyoushitsu-e.png.44e7500bba60bddf92d8f8913414fb57.png

    Source: Light Novel

    Quote

    Koudo Ikusei Senior High School is a leading prestigious school with state-of-the-art facilities where nearly 100% of students go on to university or find employment. The students there have the freedom to wear any hairstyle and bring any personal effects they desire. Koudo Ikusei is a paradise-like school, but the truth is that only the most superior of students receive favorable treatment.

    Ayanokouji Kiyotaka is a student of D-class, which is where the school dumps its “inferior” students in order to ridicule them. For a certain reason, Kiyotaka was careless on his entrance examination, and was put in D-class. After meeting Horikita Suzune and Kushida Kikyou, two other students in his class, Kiyotaka’s situation begins to change.

    I am usually sceptical when it comes to light novel anime adaptations. Especially light novel anime adaptations that are set in high schools, and are solely about high school life. However, what sets this show apart from the multitude of similar ones is its premise. As a bunch of mismatched, lazy and even naughty students earn their pocket money each month based on the class’s performance as a whole. This is yet another underdog story of students whom have been placed in the lowest ranked class; but the characters are interesting and I enjoy how they play off one another, so I’ll be sticking around to see how the progress.

    “Youkoso Jitsuryoku Shijou Shugi no Kyoushitsu e” translates to “Classroom Of The Elite” in English, and I am definitely excited to witness D-class’s transformation into that.

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    Angle MoonShadow
    Latest Entry

    Hey! Its been awhile! Good news, I passed my finals, and I got my acceptance letters to both colleges I Applied to!

    So HappY!

    Lets go crazy!

    【Nightcore】→_I'm_Gonna_Show_You_Crazy____Lyrics.mp4

  11. It's been a long time since I've written here in my blog. I really write writing and somehow it's my way of venting out my feelings, emotions and especially my frustrations. Speaking of frustrations let's talk about my frustration about cooking. So if you knew me for like quite some time maybe way back December 18 or something I've written this blog about living on my own in college and so here I am today still unable to cook a single grain of rice for dinner. We all have that feeling heroic moments when you just suddenly woke up from an 8-hour slumber induced by no sleep late last night due to a long quiz that never happened caused by your teacher feeling like, "Oh, I'm not gonna give a quiz today just cause I don't want to." and think that you could do everything you want to do cause you think you're the most capable being on earth. So here you were, washing some rice, readying for your first ever cooking show and humming to yourself while putting it over your rice cooker.  You take out your phone taking the most epic picture possible just cause it's your first time cooking rice and its expected in your country to know how to cook rice at the age of 10 and you're already 18 and ambitious enough. You take this little stroll in insta until you smell something burning and this time it's not your hair. It's your nonexistent work of art. You forgot to add in some water and all you had to do was wait for that rice cooker to just say keep warm! 

    So College life is going well for me aside from the fact that I had to buy my Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner from the Cafeteria. Good job self! You're going to survive it all so come at me life! *notice the potato sarcasm* So if you're having a bad day out there cause you're crush can't notice you, or your being bullied by someone who doesn't really know your true self at school, or you're bored all the time just cause you have all the time in the world and time is your slave or you're just plain frustrated with life's problems and hurdles remember there's a girl out there that is supposedly  expected to capable of cooking rice at the age of 10 and is now 18 but still can't have dinner due to her own clumsiness, negligence plain old stupidity. Don't be too harsh on yourself. We learn from mistakes but for me I think I'm going to learn from youtube since Mum's not here. 😛 

    Keep Breathing~ 

  12. So... @SoullessMarshmallow already did an entry on this topic, but thank god it wasn't copyrighted. So here I go.

    There was this guy I met online. He's an AWESOME friend, and when it comes to anime we're basically best buds. So I finally met him in real life after discovering that he was in the same school as I was in. So we kinda started talking, but the convo lasted only a minute. Afterwards I literally ignored him and he ignored me too. All he would do was stare at me. Finally, one day I couldn't take it anymore and asked him why he only stares at me but doesn't talk. And he just responded that he doesn't stare at me, but somebody else. Seriously, I mean, who  DOES THAT?!

    After that we kinda just ignored each other at school but online I was literally telling him EVERYTHING that has been going on with my life. And yeah, we were literally awesome friends online, but in real life... Well, it gets really awkward when he's even ten feet near me.

    Then this one day at school I confessed to him and like everyone, and I literally mean EVERYONE, heard my confession. Now I'm literally being laughed at and it's really hard to avoid those guys.

    So I kinda lost my Instagram (aka I cannot DM anyone anymore since I use Instagram on PC instead of my phone) and now I got "someone" (*cough* @I.Zara2006 *cough*) to talk to him. Now this "someone" told him that I want to talk to him in school. And... Things got REALLY out of hand. Everyday I'm LITERALLY playing Hide 'n Seek with him after we're done with our exams and everyone's just, like, milling around the campus. This was really embarrassing for me.

    After he rejected me I kinda backed out. But now, I feel like I'm not in his "friend circle" or "trustworthy circle" anymore. I just want to be good friends with him. But now, I'm so stressed out about this situation that I CAN'T. THINK. STRAIGHT.

    I did not put any "important" details in here, since he MIGHT be reading this. Who knows?

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    Now, if you're not really interested about music, don't read this post. I'm not going to persuade you that music is brilliant, because you won't believe me and that's not what this post is about.

    Also, I will warn you, in case you haven't scrolled down. This post is LONG. It has had countless hours pumped into it. (Actually, not countless, more like 3.)

    If you aren't comfortable reading loads and loads about music, why I like it and what examples I can give of music I like, then this isn't the blog for you.

    If you don't mind, or are instead smiling at the thought of reading Nectar's very detailed thoughts on music, then do please continue. I would love for you to hear what I have to say.

    Nectar - Music

    Part One

    (of two)


     

    I want to talk, in this post, very generally about Music. Notice the capital 'M'.

    Just "Music".

     

    It's a wonderful thing, and it also plays a massive role in my life.

     

    I've estimated that I spend around 13 to 14 hours a day with Apple EarPods inside of my ears on a weekend.

    That is a massive portion of my day. And yes, this does mean that there is music playing in my ears most of the time.

    It is rare for me to not be listening to music. I'm not listening to anything right now, because I really wanna focus on this post.

    However, I still have the earphones in my ears, though I'm not listening to anything. I mean, why remove them? I'll probably listen to something soon anyway.

     

    What all this means, is that I listen to music a hell of a lot.

    You may be wondering because of this, why does Nectar spend so much of his time listening to music? What does it mean to him? What does he listen to? Why that music? Is there anything he doesn't like?

     

    These are all perfectly reasonable questions. I discovered halfway through a reply to a thread that my reply was too long for a forum post. This is my third attempt and rewrite to actually respond to that thread, and it has taken me 19 days to make any kind of response at all. But I'm free from the confines of a thread here, so I'll address all of these questions without feeling guilty.

     

    Why does Nectar spend so much of his time listening to music?

     

    It has become a sort of habit, recently. I've been having trouble being productive for the last few months, actually. Music has become one of the few driving factors that have actually improved my productivity, and I had may as well mention why. I spend so much time listening to music because... well... it interests me. I like listening to stories. Music is the ideal medium for storytelling in my opinion. A good musical story has very few dependencies. You don't even have to be able to play an instrument, be able to sing, or read musical notation to tell a story with music. You don't have to be able to read, write or be literate in any meaningful way. It's easy. Here are the simple requirements for composing music:

     

    • You understand the concept of pitch. Some noises have a higher and lower frequency to other noises.

    • You understand timings. You understand that if you make a few noises, it sounds better if you leave equal or divisible gaps between them.

    • You have a story you want to tell. You might hate society, you might really really like the female anatomy, or you might just want to tell someone you love them.

    • You have a thing that makes noises. There was that one song that got around this rule, but generally you're gonna need to either use your voice, whack a thing, or twang a string.

     

    That's all you really need. There's nothing in there about what language, if any, you speak. You don't need me to tell you that it doesn't matter what background you're from. Practically everybody is capable of appreciating music and creating music. Not everybody can write a book, not everybody can paint a picture. There are more people in the world that fit the above requirements than there are people capable of producing any other art form.

     

    That is why it is the ideal storytelling tool.

     

    Let's get interactive for a moment. (holy shit)

    Imagine grass. You know grass.

    Imagine a 1m square lawn.

    Try to imagine how many blades of grass there are in that lawn.

    It's hard to imagine even 1m squared's worth of grass blades.

    Now try to imagine how many blades of grass there are in the whole world.

    You done it? No? Failed miserably? Same.

    Well, here's a little secret for you.

    There are more songs, written, unwritten, imagined, and unimaginable, than there are all of those blades of grass.

     

    Now that's a fancily huge amount of music to listen to. Try fitting that on your iPod.

     

    Good Lord I've strayed away from the topic. I like stories, and I find that music is the best way to access great stories. (anime is fun too)

    You can express so much more in music than just your thoughts. Here in this post, it is difficult for me to convey much tone. I find myself putting slants on words, making some words have thicker letters, adding emoticons, and all just because there is only so much you can do with writing alone. Plain text bores me far faster than music does. I can read a book, but then that's it. I don't read it again unless it's fucking Harry Potter. If I watch a film, it is very rare that I'll ever watch it again, unless it's fucking Harry Potter. Music, on the other hand, can last me weeks, months of replaying. Now, my mileage varies with what I'm listening to, but I'll discuss why later on. The stories that music can tell you can be so complex that replays are actually necessary in order to get the full experience without it.

     

    The first time I listened to The Dark Side Of The Moon, an album by Pink Floyd, my first impression was that it was hugely unremarkable. It wasn't catchy, it wasn't clever, the lyrics were boring, it just kind of droned on and finished. I went to sleep the night I heard it, thinking exactly that. It was the following few days that I actually went back and listened again, and it was on around the 3rd complete playthrough that I realised how great it is.

     

    Good music often takes time to get into your head properly. And that's because it's sneaky. Music is a massive tease. It plays with your head and your heart, and it only gives you small amounts of the full story in each play. The reason you listen to songs more than once, and in rapid succession, is because you want to hear more. When you finish a book, you have the same feeling. You just want more. But do you read the book over and over, 10, 20, 30 times? No, of course you don't. But you'll listen to your favourite song again. Why? Because every time you hear it, you hear more of the song than you did last time.

     

    If you listen to your favourite song on repeat for too long, you'll get bored and it won't be your favourite any more. No song that I've ever found is indestructible when faced with the replayability test. They never last forever. But they last longer than other mediums do.

     

    So back to the question. Why indeed do I spend so much of my time listening to music?

    The simple answer now is that I have the means to, there's plenty of it and it's damn interesting.

    That answer isn't long enough. There are more reasons than that. Looks like I had better keep talking.

     

    What does it mean to him?

     

    Music is a very expressive medium. I think I've probably said that enough times now that you understand what I mean.

    It is cheesy, but the music that I listen to is both the soundtrack, and content, of my life.

     

    If you watch a movie that contains not a single second of musical score, it doesn't have nearly as much life as one that does. The Dark Knight is a good example of a movie made 10x better with it's soundtrack. TRON: Legacy, is another one.

    Hans Zimmer and Daft Punk use music to symbolise every emotion in the movies that they composed the score for. Every thought can be made so much more apparent when paired with a musical sequence.

     

    Imagine a bird's eye view over New York City. Straight away, if you imagine the camera moving slowly over the city, you can hear music. Of course, the pigeons that orbit the city don't have earphones in, listening to dramatic movie scores. And yet, it is natural for us as humans to imagine an orchestra scratching some strings with horse hair in a lot of different circumstances. This shows that music has very deeply established itself in our subconscious and our culture, that there is a soundtrack buried deep within everybody.

     

    And there's a soundtrack buried deep within me also. Hans Zimmer doesn't compose it for me, I discover my own.

    I am very aware that the music an individual listens to forms a soundtrack of their life. Something I have more recently realised, however, is that that soundtrack is a fairly accurate mirror of the content of that person's life also.

     

    The music that I listen to represents me. I gravitate towards music that is relatable to my exact circumstances. Sort of like how humans tend to fall in love with people that are similar to themselves and their parents.

     

    I know that I've listened to wowaka's UNHAPPY REFRAIN because I've had direct frightening experience with depression.

    I know that I've listened to Wintergatan because I dream of life in a peaceful Eastern European style village full of bicycles and cobblestone roads.

    I know that I've listened to Pink Floyd's Wish You Were Here because I've had to deal with the loss of somebody I love very dearly.

     

    I could point at every album in my iTunes library and tell you why it's really there. It has taken me a very long time to understand that, but I know now that there is something that subconsciously draws me to certain music. And it's probably because I recognise that that I spend so much of my time with EarPods in my ears.

     

    Sometimes I go outside, late at night or early in the morning, with a coffee and an album/song. I'll sit and listen to it, and reflect on the parts of my life that it reminds me of. Music that is visually engaging really shows you a lot about who you have been, who you are, and what you want to be.

     

    That's what it means to me. It's a tool I use to gain a deeper insight into my life that no person's words could possibly provide. It only takes a few minutes of my attention to learn about entire years of my life. If you've read this far, you're interested in what I'm saying. I encourage you to go look through your music library. Look at the album covers. Look at the titles, remember the lyrics and the music. Think about why it got into your library. Think about what it shows about you. When I did that, I woke up the following morning knowing more about myself than I ever had before.

     

    I intend to post Part Two at some point. It could be soon, or it could be a while. I wanna cram as much content into it as possible. So yes, a part 'three' might end up coming to be xD

    Regardless, I'm gonna talk about specific bands, their stories, and what they have shown me. I will talk in detail about the precise things that I look for in music. I'll talk about what I don't like. I'll talk about the music industry, and my thoughts on it's direction. And more.

     

    Thank you a whole bunch for reading this so far.

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  13. So, here is my episode 4 review. Let's go!

    We start with the Principal talking to Mrs Sakurai about discipline and the need to better enforce it. This is the setup for the first half of the episode and is quickly delivered before going to the OP.

    After that, Mrs Sakurai is motivating herself in regards to new task of enforcing rules. She bumps into Sasahara, who is eating a cooked meal layed out on a tray he has hung from his neck. There's also wine, because eating in the halls is something Sasahara does with sophistication. Naturally, Mrs Sakurai freaks out. But she tries to take Sasahara on. It works, amazingly. This is the first time Mrs Sakurai has done this telling a student off thing successfully and with Sasahara of all people. Of course, Sasahara feels the need to loudly declare that those who prepared his food should be notified that he found it delicious. Instantly, Misato is behind Sasahara with a minigun. So, she too has a special power. Everyone seems to do in this anime, but I guess that's to be expected in this shounen ani...wait, this is slice of life? Whar?

    Well, I hope Misato has better amunition this time. Mrs Sakurai nervously reprimands Misato on the minigun she has. But a person suddenly calls Misato over, so Mrs Sakurai doesn't have to deal with that. She then asks Sasahara about his cravat, which she calls a frilly thing. He first responds with a random bit about how their ordinary days might be a series of miracles, with Sasahara and Sakurai being shot as though this is some super meaningful moment. Then Mrs Sakurai asks Sasahara aboiut the cravat again, since she doesn't know it's name. He laughs and says he'll tell her it's name. He then leaves without finishing the sentence of “It's name is...” with a actual name. But this is actually better than usual, so Mrs Sakurai is happy. This is very good day for her in terms of accomplishments. Well done! So it has to finish off with Sakurai asking a student about their hair and that student becoming upset, loudly confessing after being pushed by Mrs Sakurai that their hair doesn't grow on the sides.

    We get a random bit where a student is counting for a game. When he turns around from the wall he was facing, he gets told by another student that the others involved in the game have gone home. Oh, the transition bit for at this point is a shot of a urinal. That's odd.

    Nano and the Professor are doing food shopping. Nano's dealing with the problem of taking a young child around shopping. The Professor wants snacks and has zero interest in healthy foods. Plus, she already has snacks back home. But Nano does accept that they can get some snacks for Sakamoto. While looking for those, the two notice a snowman on the sehelves and Nano asks a store worker about it. It's actually made of ice and some other people express interest in it. But Nano decides to buy it. You know, because it's cute. Yeah, that makes total sense in regards to buying something that'll melt and that you'll be shaving ice off for shaved ice treats. The Professor uses this brash impulse purchase to leverage some snacks out of Nano. It is understandable when Nano got a snowman for herself. Well, Sakamoto is stunned by this. He doesn't care much, as long as he has his own food. 

    Yeah, Nano forgot that, thanks to the distraction of the snowman. So, your meal is shaved ice, Sakamoto. Enjoy! Hmm, are there actual frozen treats for cats? I wonder.

    We get the rock paper scissors game between Nano and the Professor again. This time, her hand launches into the air, with a cord attached to it that links to to Nano. It stops extending after a point and pulls Nano up into the air. Come back, Nano! We still need to do the rest of the episode!

    Okay, next bit. All the students are in class and working. Mrs Sakurai has fallen asleep. Yukko is looked freaked out at something. That turns out to be Mai standing on her desk while no one pays any attention to that, apart from Yukko. Then Mai is suddenly gone, Yukko looks around and then finds Mai behind her, lying on top of the lockers. She then lifts her hand up and has a finger touch a hand drawn behind her with it's own finger extended, like that famous painting with man reaching out to god. Hmm, perhaps it is Mai who is meant to be God. Yes, that makes perfect sense! God is an anime girl who does random stuff to screw with people.

    Yukko tries to get Mio's attention, but Mio just thinks it's an eraser Yukko's after and hands one over without even looking at Yukko. Then Mai is back at her desk, but is taking off her hair. Yukko freaks out at this. So does the Principal, who we see through the class window. Then the bell rings, stirring Mrs Sakurai and getting her to end to test. We then cut to Mai and Yukko on the rooftop with Mai holding the wig she wore for the whole no hair thing.

    We get a bit with Mrs Sakurai in the office, musing on thinking about what others want and what you want. It's not a joke, but it's short and nice.

    We get another bit with that person playing the game from earlier. He is still trying it with no one around playing with him and the person who told him the others had gone just telling him to stop already.

    Yukko goes up to a window, tired. Then a bird, some sort of exotic bird, appears and tells her that it has gotten used to this form. Yukko freaks out.

    Nano is cooking umeboshi. Sakamoto tries one, but they aren't cooked yet. The Professor gets a foxtail from the garden and says she can play with Sakamoto with it. Sakamoto isn't pleased with the way he is adressed and the Professor keeps using the undesired form of address while trying to apologise, annoying him further. Nano goes shopping, leaving Sakamoto with the Professor. She annoys him further, though the way she sways the foxtail left and right begins to distract him. Then the Professor leaves him to got to the loo, giving him a moment to think. He thinks about how he is the only adult there in the house and will have to take a parent role, an attempt at being mature which is hard to take seriously when Sakamoto starts playing with an eraser part way through his inner monologue and gets seriously into playing with it. Then the Professor pops back and wonders what he was doing. So save his dignity as the self-proclaimed parent, he says he was sleeping. Then he gets distracted by a fly while trying to explain himself and starts trying to swat it. He then gets distracted again by the foxtail and leaps at it. Yeah, mission accomplished, Sakamoto. The Professor will surely take you seriously now that you've gone full cute kittie in front of her.

    *sighs* Why won't cats ever go full cute kittie for me in real life? Whyyyy?!

    After that, we see the hair guy from before at home, trying to arrange his hair to look more normal. It works, but his mum pops in and both of them freak out.

    Yukko and Mai are outside, after school. Yukko spots Mai reading a book hidden by a book. Yukko says this is likely part of Mai working to her role as the funny man. But she decides to poke fun at 4this anyway. This annoys Mai, who says her good jab effectively overshadows her funny man act. It's amusing in a way, since Mai is the most serious in the way she acts. But I'd say Mio is the straight man of the group, while funny man of the group is potentially applicable to Mai. Anyway, Yukko is actually a bit confused about what Mai is doing. Mai says she doesn't need to explain and thought Yukko would just understand, since she;s quick on the uptake. Then it gets briefly tense with Mai saying they aren't friends. Mai clarifies a moment later that they are best friends and thus don't need words. Yukko says some words are okay and tries to hug Mai. Mai pushes her back and it's tense again, with Mai saying she shouldn't do that. Then it gets odd, with Mai saying she'll fall further in love with Yukko. Yukko thinks this is a best friend sort of love, but Mai tries to clarify. It's the romantic sort of love thaty girls normally have for guys. Yeah, so Yukko freaks out at this.

    It was a joke. Yukko says she believed it, then tries to lie her way out of that. Mai then says, very seriously, that she hates people who try to lie their way out of situations. Yukko apologises.

    It was another joke. Yukko is just utterly confused at this point. Also, the comment about Yukko being quick on the uptake was meant to have Yukko respond with “No I'm not” as an alternative setup for a joke than the whole sudden love thing.

    Well, in my opinion, that was an improvement over episode 3. It was very funny. There was no super animation moment, but all the jokes worked wonderfully.

  14. Well, here we are again...

    I would like to start this off by simply saying that at times being down really, really sucks. We've all been through it, since its just human nature.

    But tell me why it has to be such a great weight, huh? 

    Now, I always try to stay as positive as I can, but sometimes things get to me. Recently I have been going through some stuff, and in all honesty I just feel unhappy all the time. While its not exactly apparent on the surface, it feels as though there is a little part in the back of my brain that's rotting. Like a nagging doubt and decay.

    Either way, I just tell it to stuff it!

    I'm not giving in to some nagging mournful voice of doubt. I've had this before, and i sure as hell am not having it again!

    Anyway, regardless, the point in this was not for me to complain. In fact, I actually wanted to vent about why I love the anime forums so damn much. 

    Over the, well, I would like to say two years as a a cover, of being on this forum, it has slowly become much like a home to me. Everyone here is like family, and I wouldn't change that for the world. So, thank you so much Optic, and everyone who has been along for the ride. it's wonderful to have such an amazing community, and I look forward to seeing where we all end up in the next few years.

    So yeah, just know that you are all amazing people, and you all deserve to know that. Here, we are family.

    Anyway, like I said, thank you so much for allowing me to feel welcome in such a loving community. Without it, I don't think I would be as happy as I always am now ^w^

    (P.S: Don't worry about me either xD I will be fine in about a month or two. I cant stay unhappy for long. I'm too positive...... xD)

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    Wow, it’s been some time since I made a blog. Things have changed a lot since then, I met new people and made some new friends. And lost some along the way but hey that’s life. Anyway my life has been a bumpy ride, I had a job and got fired. I went to a fan con last year, I had tons of fun!

    I also had a crush on someone, we tried it out but it didn’t work. Also someone told me she liked me but I turned her down because I had feelings for someone else. Yeah romance hasn’t been going too good for me. Maybe one day i’ll find someone special.

    My mental health has improved greatly since my little incident back in 2017. I nearly died from my own hands but I got help and got better slowly. I still have dark thoughts rarely but I just ignore them. I’m just happy I decided to stay you know. Mental illness effects anyone. 

    Lastly I just wanted to say i’m happy I found this place, I know i’m not here and don’t post often. I want to work on that since I consider some here friends, I feel they need my time because that’s how friendships can grow. 

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