End of 2017, Beginning of 2018

End of 2017, Beginning of 2018

Wednesday, January 10, 2018 / No Comments

Happy new year to one and all! Just a few hours before the clock struck midnight for 1st January, I was discussing with a few pals from university how we'd all rather stay at home than... meet up with people, or attend countdown parties. (We're just a bunch of introverts, honestly.) Well, I did attempt to catch the midnight fireworks a few years back but I had to get home before that since I still had a curfew. :(

Then again, I never went for one again and probably never will unless I'm at a gathering with close ones. Staying warm and safe at home sounds like a much better alternative (it has gotten a little chillier lately with the average temperature today around 25 degrees celsius o.o).

I'm also one of those people who don't really subscribe to the "new year, new slate" belief, but it's always fun - to wish everyone a happy new year and hope they generally have a good time ahead; seeing tons of new fanart for the new year etc! I find it quite a big occasion regardless since most people worldwide would be hyped up about it.

We start off this year with birthdays from some characters already! Here are 1st January babies that I know of -

Sawamura Daichi from Haikyuu!!

I haven't caught up on the manga since... (crickets chirping) maybe 2 years ago, when the manga was still on the shiratorizawa-karasuno arc. I do think he might already have graduated since the series started when he was a 3rd year in High School. Regardless, he'll be remembered as an excellent captain with his solid receives in-game. (There were a few jokes about the senpai graduation being the equivalent to an anime death but nah, he's not dead, he just deserves to be remembered.)

Kurosawa Dia from Love Live! Sunshine!!

Student Council President of Uranohoshi Girls' High, serious and meticulous in her duties. Also a third year (c'mon, that's enough "anime deaths" already!) - and though she's not high on my favourites list she's the dear sister of my third best girl in Aqours (Kurosawa Ruby!) and has her own unique charm as well!

LLSIF also released a New Years' Aqours set on 31st December - not sure why Dia-oneesan is not the featured UR since it's her birthday on New Year's, but this SSR (idolised) of hers is also really beautiful and a great way to celebrate the occasion as well! ^^

I am pretty sure there are others that share the same birthday, but they are all I remember for now ^^; Anyway!

The last week of 2017 was spent rather memorably, at least for me. There are at least two things:

1. I managed to finish Durarara!! (only the 2010 anime, though!) and was quite impressed by how the story developed throughout. I nearly wanted to drop it since it got kind of boring several times in the beginning (as warned by my friend) and Orihara Izaya was starting to annoy me but the later episodes motivated me to pick up the pace and see the plot to the end.

A few messages from the series popped up for me as well which served as a good wake up call... I can put them as my new years resolutions, I figure. Number 1, don't run away from my problems, number 2, have better communication with people... Man, this is not easy!

My interest in the series has been piqued though, and I might want to continue watching the rest of the series when I get the time to. For now this is my favourite character. He dislikes Izaya too.

2. Comiket 93

No, I was not physically there (I wish...) but I asked a proxy to help me queue up for some stuff I was really keen to get. The problem was that I contacted proxy-san too late and the items I wanted sold out before they could place my orders. :( I had to settle for a blanket preorder which costed me a whopping 140sgd but no regrets! I'd be able to wrap my husbando around me in no time :3

And no, the proxy did not go back for the 2nd and 3rd day so I may have to settle for searching around online for the things I wanted to get. (more crying)

Since now we're on this topic, let me introduce to you my new hyperfixation which is why I even paid attention to comiket this time round. I can't wait for the movie which was announced at the end of the anime!!

I had been eyeing this item...

I hope I get them soon even if those items put a dent in my wallet....

And on to the new year! I don't have much to add on other than hoping this year would be a better one than 2017... but that requires us to do our very best as well! I feel like I've lost a lot of what is important to me, and lost a lot of time to illness - but new year, new plan, and new strength! I will end off this post with a few new year greetings from my favourite Aqours cards.

あけましておめでとうございます！

Written by
Ritsu

What's In My Playlist

What's In My Playlist

Sunday, January 7, 2018 / No Comments

I've been doing a lot of commuting during the holiday season, be it for a gathering, party or just shopping for gifts. Music has definitely helped me deal with the crowds during the festive period and Singapore's now less-than-efficient public transport system. My anisong playlist has been expanding steadily, no thanks to the many titles and movies I've watched through the years and here's just a few that I've been putting on repeat during the last month or so. Happy holidays and best wishes for the year ahead, everyone!

Jingle Bells ga Tomaranai - Aqours
I still remember purchasing a physical copy of the album on the day it released in Japan over a year ago. How time flies! The jazzy Christmas tune from Aqours probably got the most mileage out of all the songs featured here. The upbeat song definitely helped make navigating the crowds more enjoyable and unfortunately, I'm a sucker for Christmas music in all languages and styles, so I won't be stopping the jingle bells anytime soon.

GloryStory (Herbst Musikfest) - Choucho
Girls und Panzer grew to become one of my favourite anime titles in the past few months. I've re-watched the anime series and movie several times now and I'm betting I'll do the same with the upcoming 6-part movie series as well. The soundtrack was gripping and I even caught myself whistling several marches and the main theme on more than a few occasions. I particularly enjoyed Choucho's rendition of GloryStory at Herbst Musikfest 2015, with the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra providing the instrumentals rather than the usual backing track.

Awaken the Power - Saint Aqours Snow
The mini-arc in Love Live! Sunshine!!'s 2nd season which led to this collaboration between Aqours and Saint Snow was thanks to Ruby and Leah from both groups respectively. I definitely did not expect the collaboration single, predicting a duet between the two school idols instead. If only μ's and A-RISE from the original Love Live! series teamed up to produce a song or two (And no, Sunny Day Song does not count). It's an inspirational track and one that makes even more sense if you've been watching the anime.

Nandemonaiya - Radwimps
You must be living in Itomori if you have no idea what this song or film is. It's been over a year since the movie aired in Singapore but the soundtrack remains captivating till today. I'm glad that Radwimps was the one who scored the soundtrack for the film instead of your run of the mill composer and although the only songs I have from the J-Rock band are from the film, I'm definitely checking out the rest of their discography soon.

Hana no Uta - Aimer
Hana no Uta was the theme song for Fate/Stay Night: Heaven's Feel I. presage flower and how fitting for it to be performed by Aimer, who previously sang Brave Shine and Last Stardust in the Fate/Stay Night: Unlimited Blade Works anime. The haunting vocals and instrumentals was a sharp contrast to Brave Shine and Last Stardust, providing the biggest hint to how the film trilogy will play out along with the tone it will adopt. I was initially put off by how slow the song started but it paid off by the time it reached the chorus, much like the Heaven's Feel route itself.

Written by ET

Blend S

Blend S

Friday, December 29, 2017 / No Comments

The Fall anime season has ended and sadly, this also means that Blend S has finished airing as well. The quirky comedy was one of the few titles that I managed to fit into my packed schedule and I'm glad I stuck with it as it aired. It has kept me thoroughly entertained through a busy semester at school. And to think I picked it up in the first place only because of the abundance of memes the opening theme song spawned. For those of you wondering what the show is about, think Working!!, except the setting this time around is a cafe with each waitress having a specific facade instead of a family restaurant.

I firmly believe that a strong cast is required for any slice-of-life anime, regardless of whether it has an overarching plot or not. Fortunately, Blend S delivers in spades. The waitresses at Stile have two personalities effectively, the facade they put on for work and a vastly different one once the uniform comes off, except for a very special Surprise later on. The waitresses are introduced at a steady pace, with reserved and cheerful Sakuranomiya Maika being scouted by the cafe's manager Dino in the first episode to play a sadist no thanks to her innately nasty glare. She joins the bubbly Hinata Kaho, who ironically fills the tsundere archetype. College student Hoshikawa Mafuyu, doujin artist Amano Miu and high-schooler Kanzaki Hideri round out of the rest of the wait staff. Akizuki Koyo, the cafe's chef and Kaho' high school schoolmate, completes the ensemble.

Unfortunately, Blend S isn't a perfect anime and it shows during the episodes that aren't set in Stile. There is little opportunity for the girls to show off their dual personalities and the reliance on running gags or tropes to generate laughs would wear out even the most easily entertained viewer. This was especially apparent by the final quarter, with only one of three episodes hitting the mark for me. As entertaining as the cast was, seeing Dino or Koyo fumble in their romantic advances could only squeeze that many chuckles out of me. On the other hand, the episodes that were set in Stile had me in stitches. I even re-watched several episodes and clips because they were that funny.

Several standout moments include the waitresses fully utilising their character archetypes to convince the customers to order items they recommended, buying time for Dino to restock the pantry and fridge. Another one would be Mafuyu rejecting a customer after he confessed to her, while in character. I was simultaneously laughing and cringing. And of course, Hideri's introduction episode took the cake and Tokui Sora's voice acting had a huge part to play in that. Her wide vocal range came in handy, for those of you who're curious. I really wish that more time was spent showcasing various situations in the cafe, like Working!!!, rather than the various jaunts they had out of Stile.

At the end of the day and despite the problems it had, Blend S was one of my favourite titles this Fall and I'll eventually make time to re-watch the entire season. It was the perfect stress reliever and a great way to unwind during the weekend.

Written by ET

Junji Ito Collection

Junji Ito Collection

Wednesday, December 27, 2017 / No Comments

Oh my goodness, is this really going to happen? Any fans of horror manga artist Junji Ito here? I sure am a little fan, and I just discovered that there is an anime adaptation of the master's works due in January next year! Aptly titled Junji Ito Collection, the anime covers popular titles that I have read before in varying degrees. Well, back then I didn't have a good command of Japanese, so I mostly read scanlations and Chinese editions from the bookstore. But from the striking visuals on that poster, I instantly recognised what some of those stories are!

Hello there, Tomie! Tomie is one of Junji Ito's widely-read masterpieces, and I have to say that the series is an increasingly unsettling read. It is also quite lengthy, bearing two thick collections with haunting cover art. Tomie has been described as the most beautiful woman in this world. Well, if you happen to find her pretty...good for you? :P Having read Junji Ito's work from time to time, I can gather that the most sinister beings often reside beneath the shells of 'beautiful people'. Yeah, it is the pretty and handsome faces that you should be very cautious of!

Uh oh, here comes Souichi. Argh, please don't look at me like that! Gosh, Souichi is also another widely-read series that would embed very deep into the reader's mind like a parasite. Souichi is a very twisted boy with a penchant for curses, lots and lots and lots of nails, voodoo dolls, and making people around him extremely uncomfortable. Yeah, it isn't difficult at all to be turned off by Souichi. In fact, he is so dangerous that even his own family has to be wary around the clock! Souichi is human unlike Tomie, so I would like to think there is still a tolerable side of him. Okay, never mind.

Junji Ito Collection will premiere on January 5th, 2018 through WOWOW, and is scheduled to run for 12 episodes! I am looking forward to it, and meanwhile I shall go dig up the manga to refresh my fond (?) memories...

Eccentrically Yours.

Written by J.Fluffysheep ♪

Milkcananime Team Gathering: Brunches Cafe

Milkcananime Team Gathering: Brunches Cafe

Friday, December 22, 2017 / No Comments

Wednesday afternoon was a lovely one well-spent with Max and a few other fellow writers from Milkcananime! We met up at Brunches Cafe, located at 96 Rangoon Road which is a short walking distance from Farrer Park MRT. Nonetheless, if you happen to be rather clueless about directions like yours truly, it is easy to miss the place! Anyway, Brunches Cafe is a comfortable, relaxing alternative to the usual coffee and dessert spots.

I wasn't surprised to see Christmas decorations and such sprucing up the place. The vibes would make one feel right at the core of a truly wonderful time. As I was the first person to arrive (I was early and nearly lost), I took a few pictures while waiting for the others at this long wooden table.

What an awesome vintage car! It is actually a seat for two I believe, and just look at the vehicle plate and front boot! Can you spot Santa Claus and the snowflake? Oh, the cafe also has rows and rows of vintage dolls that might just remind some readers of Annabelle (or anything similar to her). I love the chalkboard menu over there! But really, the cafe has a wide selection of food, drinks, and desserts.

Allow me to recall what each of us had ordered that afternoon. Obviously, mine would be the easiest: a refillable pot of tea known as Slow Down & Relax! Neko and ET had Coffee on the Rock, Ritsu ordered a Rustic Mushroom Soup, Reina had...okay, some kind of coffee, Max had some kind of coffee as well plus a Molten Lava Cake (I think Ritsu and Reina also shared a lava cake?). Neko and Devi decided to go for the lava cake as well, and a plate of Popcorn Chicken appeared in the middle of our table. Devi's drink was some flavoured soda I believe...okay, my memory is so bad!

Anyway, all of us had a nice time (we stayed for nearly three hours sans Neko who had to leave early for a dinner appointment) in Brunches Cafe. Believe it or not, this was like the first actual team gathering for Milkcananime with an almost full attendance! A few of us had met each other through separate events and such, so it would be awesome to have more team gatherings like this where hopefully the entire Milkcananime family could make it and hang out together! Looking forward! ^^

Eccentrically Yours.

Written by J.Fluffysheep ♪

An Early, Random Christmas Chatter

An Early, Random Christmas Chatter

Sunday, December 17, 2017 / No Comments

Ho ho ho...well, not quite. But Christmas is only about a week away, and for somebody who doesn't really have a festive spirit I find it difficult to relate to the many redefinitions of Christmas. Well, there is always the food I suppose! Someday, I would like to spend the year-end holidays in Japan, just for the long overdue exposure. The Japanese people get buckets of fried chicken for Christmas, which we don't have a practice of. I don't remember what I had last Christmas. Selective amnesia, maybe?

I have had several Christmas gift exchanges, though the meaning of such has long lost itself on me as the people and myself inevitably drifted apart from one another. Besides, the presents were usually just convenient grabs off the discount racks or candies for rainy days. The odd surprise or two along the way has become fuzzy as well quite unfortunately. But the temporary bliss back then was still pretty genuine.

Yeah, I think I am more or less like that nowadays! I have nothing against parties and the generic joy that comes with them, though any hint of excitement would just wear out very quickly and turn into discomfort and awkwardness. Wallflower, anyone? But I guess I should be a ninja in the middle of the party, and secretly disappear into the darkness after having my fill of cakes, chocolates, ice-cream, whatever! Not possible, you say? Yeah, I know.

Santa Claus is coming to town!!! When I was a kid, I had free gold coins that were in fact half-melted chocolate. A group of Santa Claus cosplayers (okay, back then nobody called them that) would distribute those gold coins around busy shopping malls to greedy children and adults. Oh yeah, there was no explicit rule preventing anybody from having seconds, thirds, fourths and fifths. Nope, I didn't jump back into the queue, because I was downright disgusted by the mess the chocolate had made on both my hands!

I am not sure what Santa Claus would bestow on me this year, but I do count some blessings every now and then. Anyway, a chilly Christmas with snowball fights and hot chocolate sounds really lovely! Hmm, maybe I should just get myself some fried chicken that day...

Eccentrically Yours.

Written by J.Fluffysheep ♪