Category Archives: Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya

The talent of Aya Hirano

I’m not a fan of Aya Hirano. While I think she’s talented, I’m just not swept away by her voice acting the way I am by, say, Shizu-sama or Maaya Sakamoto. That said, I have enjoyed her work as Haruhi Suzumiya (megalomania ♥) and Shizu Shidou (Ijimekko~~) but, to date, my Top Favourite Aya Hirano role has to be Konata where she really made the role her own, conveying the chara’s distinctive blend of otaku passion, family/friendship love power and :3

Aya-hatred will be proof of her talent if she continues to grow and prosper in spite/because of it. Another Ogiue lesson is applicable in Aaya’s case methinks:

Real talent doesn’t admit defeat after one little beating. If she truly does have talent, then the talent will show itself no matter how many beatings she takes. She’s gotta be ready to be hated, beaten down, crushed and forgotten.

Charmed by two-faced beauties

Hypocrisy is often regarded as an Absolutely Bad Thing. I don’t think it’s necessarily so. Scholars, like Nils Brunsson, have even argued that it is not only an inescapable part of complex social forms of life but also an essential part that keeps things going. While not as essential to anime, the two-faced beauty is often a treat to watch. And we have two such exemplars this fall.

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Peeking is a crime

"Nozoki wa hanzai desu," says Asakura Ryoko ever so sweetily as she prepares to eviscerate you for peeking at her darling Yuki while she’s changing into her swimsuit.

After a seemingly interminable wait, Alter Yuki (Swimsuit version), based on that evil MEGAMI poster, is finally in mine Zaku grips! MEGAMI tends to up the ero-level relative to the anime but this works really well in terms of having great appeal to both to silent girl moé and erojiji crowds (crowds may overlap, batteries not included).

For much better photos and reviews, see: