Welcoming the New Year

Welcoming the New Year

Sunday, January 29, 2017 / No Comments

It’s been a month since the start of 2017 and we’re right into Chinese New Year. I’m sure most of you guys are busy visiting relatives and for the others, enjoying their time off from normal schedule. I too visited my Chinese relatives. My grandaunt of my father’s side of the family to be exact. Visiting her brings back memories of my late grandmother. All the stories she shared and all the care she had given to me when I was growing up. My grandaunt had some photo albums of the past. I had changed a lot over the years. I looked like a nerd back then. Wearing big clothes that my mother bought for me and my thin green glasses. Come to think of it, I’ve changed my glasses five times. From green to white, then to another white, yellow and now black due to army.

Talking about army, I’ve passed most of my theory tests and a few practical. Now left with a few more activities before I POP again. Well, actually it will be my first experience POP-ing as I was unfit for duty for my recruit one. Throwing my cap to the ceiling and having it fall smack down on my face isn’t what I want to remember my POP by. I’ll get a new uniform to wear and finally be posted to my unit.

I had bought a few games recently. Well, two of them were bought while another two was free. 

Gravity Rush 2’s finally out and so is Fate/Extella: Umbral Star. I’ve yet to play Gravity Rush 2 since the day I bought it as I have been spending my time on Fate/Extella. 

I’m currently just playing the side missions. Playing as Tamamo was really hard as she is not as durable as the other characters. I struggled so many times, failing a few missions and dying in the process but it was fun learning how to play each character. Waiting for the English version of the DLC to be available so I can change their costume. The two free games that I got are God of War III and Tales of Zestria. I have been wanting to play Tales of Zestria since last year but put off buying it as I have not much time to put into playing it but since it was free on PS4 as I have Playstation Plus, I had to get it. 

Probably playing it next week or in two more weeks as I want to try out Gravity Rush 2 first as I had just finished Fate/Extella’s main storyline.

I re-watched a few old shows this month. 

I started off with Heroman which I had stumbled upon when I was searching for Rockman.exe. It looked interesting enough and I gave it a try. 

I also watched Gundam 00 as well as in the midst of Tiger & Bunny. Guess I had a craving of watching shounen shows. The Flash episodes finally began airing again where episode ten greeted us last week. It felt like a year waiting for an episode to air and I kept checking on it every week when I get back home from camp.

I also went through some sort of change this year. My song playlist on my phone have expanded from just Japanese songs to an international one. I’ve stared to listen to English, Korean, Malay, Bollywood and Chinese. I’ve also been reading manga more than watching anime. I try my best to keep myself fit by working out after I wake up. I guess being exposed to both army and the people in them have influenced me to change. Not sure how long this change or slight diversion will last but I find it okay at the moment. In fact, I quite welcome it and I hope it stays.

Mata ne~

Written by Zwei

Keijo!!!!!!!!

Keijo!!!!!!!!

Wednesday, January 25, 2017 / No Comments

Through the years, I've watched my fair share of sports anime, from evergreen games like basketball and football to more esoteric ones like ice skating. But none of them prepared me for the likes of Keijo!!!!!!!!. I picked it up late into the Fall season, initially writing it off as a generic fanservice anime produced for the sole purpose of selling merchandise. As shallow as it sounds, I eventually gave it a chance due to how active each episode discussion was on Reddit and how much advertising was done for it in Akihabara while I was in Japan.

Keijo!!!!!!!!'s premise is simple enough. The fictional sport is essentially sumo wrestling cum mixed martial arts on a floating platform in a swimming pool. Also, Keijo players are only allowed to use their breasts and buttocks while fighting. The last player left standing on the floating platform wins, after the rest are either knocked into the pool or are incapacitated. The anime follows 18-year-old Kaminashi Nozomi, a former gymnast who aims to be a professional Keijo player and eventually attain the Prize Queen rank; much like your Meijin rank in Shogi and World No. 1 placing in other sports.

The 12-episode long anime covers Nozomi's time in Setouchi Keijo Training School. For manga readers, this means that the introductory arcs are cut out entirely, for better or worse. As someone who's both read the manga and watched the anime, the chapters before Nozomi enrolled in Setouchi fleshed out her character, providing additional details regarding her family background and how she got to know eventual classmate and bunk mate Miyata Sayaka. On the flipside, these chapters do not translate well into a one cour anime, only serving to slow the pace down drastically. I do wish that they end up getting adapted as an OVA somewhere down the line though.


I'm glad I gave the anime a shot and I'm even considering 
rewatching it during this slow Winter season. The fights were fast paced and unpredictable, with numerous breast and butt puns punctuating the normally serious atmosphere. Be prepared to see puns and references like 'Shoryucans', 'Hip of Babylon/Gate of Bootylon', 'Buttack on Titan/Attack on Hip' and many more. Otaku viewers will have a ball of a time identifying each anime, manga or videogame reference. The students of Setouchi were easy to root for too, each possessing a unique personality and a whole set of original Keijo techniques.

As a result of the anime taking itself so seriously, any potential fanservice is weaved well into the Keijo techniques, attractive character designs and of course, your usual wardrobe malfunctions ala the image above. The only overt fanservice I can think of is Kusakai Mio's flirting and Keijo techniques. 

Through its great mix of humour, action and cast of characters, Keijo!!!!!!!! held its own in a strong 2016 Fall season that featured the likes of Hibike Euphonium 2, Flip Flappers, Yuri!!! on Ice and the third season of Haikyuu!!. Fingers crossed that the Blu-Rays and DVDs sell enough to convince Xebec that a second season is worth producing.

Written by ET

Shouwa Genroku Rakugo Shinjuu 2

Shouwa Genroku Rakugo Shinjuu 2

Tuesday, January 24, 2017 / No Comments

Rakugo has returned, or more specifically Shouwa Genroku Rakugo Shinjuu. I don't claim to be an expert in this (far from it in fact), but I remain intrigued by its hauntingly beautiful (pardon the lack of adjectives here) presence. I tried reading up on rakugo, but its overall technicality was too dry - an obvious hint to stick with the anime instead, since it is considerably easier to digest. Naturally, people and things move way faster in the adaptation.

The new season picks up from the present - that is, Yotarou's promotion to shin-uchi and the official title of Sandaime Yuurakutei Sukeroku. He has much shorter hair (honestly I prefer him with longer hair) and a great boost of confidence following his promotion. A sort of ceremony is held with his master Yakumo's concurrent promotion as the head of the rakugo association. 

Sukeroku is also more dedicated to preserving rakugo as its dwindling presence over the years hits Yakumo, who thinks that the mortality of the traditional art form should probably go down with him when he passes on. Meanwhile, a famous author Higuchi Eisuke encourages Sukeroku to work towards a future for rakugo. He also lets on a couple of secrets which surprises Sukeroku.

Konatsu becomes Sukeroku's wife, though somewhat unwillingly at the beginning probably due to her insecurities. But deep down, she knows that she is fond of Sukeroku, who has taken the major responsibility of looking after her and her newborn child. By the way, Sukeroku isn't the biological father of Shinnosuke (that is the child's name). From the cover art of the manga, I used to think otherwise. I mean, don't the three of them look compatible as a family? 

Seriously, I am really curious as to how the entire series turns out! The manga has officially ended in September last year with 10 tankoubon volumes. I don't know if I would ever read the manga, as much as I would love to. I mean, it looks a little steep to me! Anyway, I shall just keep focused on the anime - the new generation looks awfully exciting to say the least.

Eccentrically Yours.

Written by J.Fluffysheep ♪ 

Two Epic Zombie Mangas You Have To Read

Two Epic Zombie Mangas You Have To Read

Thursday, January 19, 2017 / No Comments

Watching Train to Busan last year seemed to ignite a zombie fanatic spark in me. From then on, I had become totally enraptured with the genre. I binged on The Walking Dead for a long while, fangirled over Daryl and then dropped it at season 7. (It really started to go downhill when Negan appeared like… That dude has no substance. Nice teeth though. The Governor was the best villain in my opinion. Anyone else agree?? Okay, I should shut up about TWD.)

Back to the point, I’m totally feeling zombies at the moment. I literally can't get enough of them. So I thought I’d share the stuff I’ve been reading, and that is worth reading, so far. Sweet dreams peeps.

I Am a Hero by Kengo Hanazawa

   

The main character is a struggling mangaka, insecure in both his work and love life. When a zombie plague breaks out, it’s up to him to become the hero of his own story.

There’s a pretty major turning point that occurs in the latter part of the story which includes a plot twist about the zombies. It starts to get extra weird and I would say that it gets even better. I don’t want to pigeonhole such a great manga, but I must admit it begins to take on a very Gantz vibe.

Keeps surprising me with its unpredictable turn of events, WTF moments (those who have read it will know what I’m talking about gosh) and intricate storytelling. I love that the zombies are humanised, there is great character development and the art is beautiful. A unique aspect is its first person perspective sequences which make you feel like you’re in a video game.

A tip for people picking this up for the first time: pay attention to side characters who don’t seem too important at the moment – they have a tendency to reappear as main roles or have unexpected relations to the main characters.

Rating: 5/5 – the best zombie manga I’ve read so far. It’ll be hard to top for sure.

Recommended soundtrack: Kokomo album and Zombie by TheCranberries (I HAD TO GUYS, just imagine an MMV to this holy cow)

Apocalypse no Toride by Kazu Inabe and Yu Kuraishi

Set in a juvenile prison full of OP good looking teenagers, Apocalypse no Toride has perfected the formula for the ultimate zombie romp – badass characters, grotesque violence and a big dose of creativity. It’s loads of fun to read when survival is at the core of the story, and this manga piles on the action with nary a wasted panel.

The characters’ backgrounds are gradually revealed in depth as flashbacks, making them more than just one-dimensional delinquents. Coupled with Hollywood worthy dialogue and seriously cool zombie designs, it entertains while also touching the heart. The only thing that held me back from giving it a full score was the obviously rushed ending, which although was still very satisfying, left a lingering sense of plot holes.

Rating: 4.5/5

Recommended soundtrack: Rock and Metal Mix (Down with the Sickness by Disturbed is absolute perfection for this)

Written by Faelan

Yowamushi Pedal: New Generation

Yowamushi Pedal: New Generation

Tuesday, January 17, 2017 / No Comments

Well, well...who do we have here? So I have kind of forgotten that the Souhoku gang has returned alongside their rivals for a third season of Yowamushi Pedal. Aptly titled New Generation, one can feel the heat escalating by ten-fold (or at least half at the beginning), with new stories and characters in line (and of course, brand new bicycles for the boys).

It helps (and still does) that the manga is way ahead, keeping the alternative open for those who would like their YowaPeda experiences to be consistent since it takes longer for the anime to bring the episodes to life. I can't remember just how many times I have re-watched the previous seasons and movies! I can confidently say that YowaPeda is the only sports-themed series which I could sit through and feel so much for, despite having no dream whatsoever of becoming a competitive racer. 

With New Generation, Souhoku undergoes several changes, in particular the retirement of the seniors and the departure of Makishima to England. Teshima and Aoyagi become Captain and Vice-Captain respectively. Onoda and his friends will soon have a taste of playing senpai to some new members. Onoda is especially anxious about keeping up to the team's higher goal. After all, he is still pretty inexperienced in the sport. With Makishima's words lingering in his mind, Onoda puts tremendous pressure onto himself, and becomes way too distracted to focus on training. Luckily, Teshima sees through Onoda's uncertainties with nothing but encouragement and understanding. It is fine to rest and worry, Teshima assures.

On a more light-hearted note, the third season opens with a hilarious exchange between Onoda and his mother. Onoda's mother had accidentally stumbled upon the Inter-High tournament during her trip with some friends. She reprimands her son for taking his bicycle up to Mount Fuji, though it is apparent that she already knew something wasn't 'right' by her own interpretation. With Imaizumi and Naruko's intervention, Onoda's mother quickly relents and shows her support towards her son's new-found passion.

Gosh, I can't wait for new episodes to air! Even though I already knew what would happen in the manga...

Eccentrically Yours.

Written by J.Fluffysheep ♪  

Year of Fate

Year of Fate

Sunday, January 15, 2017 / No Comments

Unless you've been living under a rock for the past month or two, you would definitely have noticed the slew of announcements and previews for the Fate/Stay Night franchise. From films to OVAs, the sheer volume of content that will be released in 2017 will excite both hardcore and casual fans. 

For those of you who're completely new to the world of Fate, this is probably the best time to start reading the original visual novel. Once you've whet your appetite with that, the many anime adaptations, manga, light novels and games will ensure that you know the franchise better than some of your closest friends.

Here's a handy list of what will be airing and with the AnimeJapan exhibition approaching, expect more updates and trailers to come.

Fate/Apocrypha (A-1 Pictures)
Fate/Apocrypha is the title I'm least familiar with out of the five listed here, having an entirely new cast of Masters and Servants. It is a five-volume long light novel series depicting a Holy Grail War between two warring factions. The vastly different format from the original Fate/Stay Night also doubles the total number of the Servants and Masters. I'm optimistic that A-1 Pictures can handle the intensity of the fights, having produced the Sword Art Online, Aldnoah.Zero and Nanatsu no Taizai anime.

Fate/kaleid liner PRISMA ILLYA 3rei!! film (Silver Link)
The 3rei!! film picks up where the anime left off and viewers expecting to see more magical girl antics and mana transfer action from the trio of Illya, Chloe and Miyu will be sorely disappointed. What you get in return is a flashback story bearing the same bleak tone of Heaven's Feel and Shirou at his manliest, producing one highlight reel after another. I'm looking forward to this one as much as the Heaven's Feel film, having read the PRISMA ILLYA manga.

Fate/Stay Night Heaven's Feel (Ufotable)
The final route of the original Fate/Stay Night visual novel will be adapted in a series of three films, unlike the 26 episode-long Unlimited Blade Works. This means that screentime is a lot shorter, no matter how long each movie is. However, I'm confident that Ufotable can pull it off, having enjoyed their adaptation of Unlimited Blade Works previously and rewatching it one too many times. Heaven's Feel closes the book on the original story and ties up any loose ends that were present. It also provides much-needed development for characters who were sidelined in the previous routes.

Fate/Grand Order First Order (Lay-duce)
I finally understood the premise of the mobile game after watching the OVA on New Year's Eve itself. Before this, I knew nothing about Fate/Grand Order's story, bar the fact that you traveled across Earth to battle enemies and save the world. Seeing the original Rider and Lancer in different classes and outfits duke it out was a treat and of course, it wouldn't be complete without Saber making an appearance. I hope that more Grand Order OVAs will be released, making up for the lack of translations in the game's story.

Fate/Extra Last Encore (SHAFT)
Imagine the Holy Grail War in a more futuristic setting, where mages are also A-grade hackers. I've completed the original PSP game but it's reported that the plot for the anime adaptation is being rewritten by Kinoko Nasu, the creator of Fate/Stay Night. Whatever the case, I'm happy to see Nero Claudius being animated and by SHAFT, no less. I'm expecting references to the odd combat system of the game and gags making fun of it.

Out of the five titles, four of them will be premiering this year, with the exception of Fate/Extra Last Encore, which makes its debut in January 2018. I expect to watch the PRISMA ILLYA and Heaven's Feel movie in cinemas and not on my computer's monitor, hopefully. Did I also mention that Fate/Grand Order is receiving a major update titled Epic of Remnant and the localised version of Fate/Extella for the PlayStation 4 and PS Vita will be released in the next two days?

Written by ET