Two orders from RightStuf arrived today. Over the three weeks it took them to make their trans-Atlantic journey, I’ve been brooding about the relative success of US-based anime distributors’ strategies vis-a-vis my wallet and how we, fansub-downloading anime fans, can better market ourselves.
The first shipment was a pre-order, made during the previous RightStuf Bandai sale, for the Haruhi Limited Edition boxsets 2-4 and joins the first Haruhi LE boxset in my anime DVD collection now. The second batch was a panicked order, a few weeks later as GENEON USA announced that they were closing down, for the first season of Black Lagoon, the Kannazuki no Miko and Kamichu! boxsets (with ADV’s 801 TTS Airbats and Bandai’s Onegai Twins also in this shipment).
Continue reading ‘Can the Church of Moyism bring salvation to animebloggers?’
No surprises that the Haruhi ED, Hare hare yukai, has stormed to the top of the Amazon.co.jp charts (ANN). I’ve already expressed my heresy about the full-length version - too bloated. For the same reason, I was also quite disappointed with the full length version of Jyukai’s Fate/Stay Night ED. In contrast, I’ve been enjoying the Girl’s High ED, incl., very much. For the immediate feature, I am looking forward to the release of the Black Lagoon OP, red fraction, and the Higurashi OP and hope that full length versions will not disappoint.
This has also spurred a couple of random thoughts about how factors other than the singer’s voice and accompaniment style affect whether or I enjoy, or not, anime OP and ED singles - particularly the visuals of the OP or ED sequence in the anime. Continue reading ‘The Enjoyment, or Not, of OPs and EDs’
Happy new year! Finale, review and conclusion of this retro-blogathon! *Phew!* Chikane stops a grieving Himeko from killing herself. The truth is revealed as ancient memories are unsealed. The girls reveal their feelings to each other but are soon separated with Chikane’s death, the defeat of the Orochi and the revival of the world - minus Chikane who has been sacrificed to that end and whose past existence has been completely erased though Himeko feels that absence. After the end credits, an older Himeko meets a Chikane-like figure (whose face is not shown) who is wearing the other half of the kaiawase pendant. Himeko rushes to embrace her and the series end with Himeko and Chikane saying “We fall in love again” in unison. Continue reading ‘Kannazuki 12′
It’s the end of the world. Himeko launches off in Ame no Murakamo with Souma (mounting Tsubasa sword power boost) riding shotgun. After several Big Robot fight scenes and running a gauntlet of chains, mirrors and projectile weapons, Himeko finally comes face to face with Chikane. The most romantically worded sword fight ever occurs but Himeko refuses to really put up a fight until provoked with Chikane’s coldblooded destroying of the whole world. MAJOR SPOILER AHEAD. Continue reading ‘Kannazuki 11′
Against expectations, Himeko makes progress with the revival ceremony alone. After a silent vision of Chikane pleading to be saved, Himeko revives Ame no Murakamo. Chikane then returns as if nothing happened and proceeds to pamper Himeko. They spend the night (chastely) together but Himeko awakes to Chikane’s invitation to a dance of swords to the death. Continue reading ‘Kannazuki 10′