Suzumiya Opening
Original Version
English Version
Link of the Day [4.23.08]
If you watch anime or read manga, you are going to encounter the
sexualization of young girls as out right erotic, teasing imagery and
somewhat suggestive poses. Do the authors create this for their
audience or does it come from their imagination? I wonder what it is
about Japanese culture that lets this be pervasive? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lolicon
Link of the Day [4.21.08]
Here's an interesting read about making your neighborhood Borders or B&N
into your own personal library. Specifically, the author calls out the
people lolly-gagging about the manga aisle.I usually spend a lot of time in a bookstore. I confess to doing this
on occasion, but only for the satisfaction of finding an interesting
book. I am guilty at buying books that I don't read. Just not for
manga.http://animealmanac.com/2008/02/27/manga-hobos-japanese-culture-meets-american-laziness/
Link of the Day [4.20.08]
Today we’re gonna visit the godfather of Japanese manga and anime, Tezuka Osamu. He did Astro Boy and for people my age, he also did what was called in America, Simba the White Lion.
This isn’t subtitled
Doing a daily post whether it be link or quote of the day makes posting an actual item even more urgent. I don’t want my “latest post” list cluttered with those lame titles. And they are lame. So I have to post something worthwhile. That hopefully some one will comment on.
Anyway, I’ve been watching some anime lately, and I must admit to not minding the English dub.
Whaat?!
Those anime-maniacs would be yelling blasphemy right now. They’ll say that the English voice actors could not match the original japanese seiyuu. But they’re too clannish and can be wrong at times.
I do eventually watch the anime I own over again with the original language and subtitles, but I like to watch the shows first in English to actually watch the anime. I don’t want to be busy reading and not taking in the animation. Or seeing what is being shown on screen. If you’re too busy reading sometimes you miss things.
The English dub is also good for multi-taskin while watching the anime. I can listen to the story while surfing the net or doing something else. When I watch in the original japanese, I have to either pause or rewind to get the gist of the present scene.
The recent anime I have seen have the English voice actors try to capture the original tone and performance their japanese counter part. I say they have done a good job for the most part. They’ve been matching tone and delivery very well.
One thing though, I find that I watch the anime that are television series or 30 minutes or less in the English dub first. Any movie anime, I watch in the original language. I wonder why is that? Perhaps, I like to think that the movie anime is more artful than a tv series.
Of course, I guess I’ll have to learn japanese so that I can not worry about all this. Yeah, right!
5 cm/s
5 Centimeters Per Second is a short film anime about love and separation. The characters grow close, but slowly drift apart. They love, but can’t make a lasting relationship. They are.
This so captures many of the feelings I have in my dreams. That, when I was young, I had fallen for a girl. That we had some sort of relationship that was. That as I never told her my feelings, they and her drifted away over time. Then we grew up and became older, mature, adults. And these dreams and feelings of love could not be expressed again because of their childish nature. Then I wake up wondering where she is, what she’s doing, and wish to go back to those younger days. Yet, all that is left is the present and the future coming with no hope of re-establishing those days. And I feel sad.
The anime is divided into three stories following the character, Takaki Tono, as he ages. It shows the first blossoming of love and its end as it just started. Then it moves a few years to show him inspiring a surfer gal to love him, but not express that love. Finally, he is a programmer in Tokyo who may have seen the love of his life pass by. Regrets they have, but life is meant to be lived and only if.
5 of 5 stars.
Melancholy
Here's my latest anime viewing: "The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya."
Nothing can compare to School Rumble, for me, but this one isn't so bad.
It's science fiction and a very light touch. I seem to be drifting away from mecha. Big robots are starting to bore
me. I like the romantic comedies or even some kind of comedy or even
some stuff. But the robots are getting played out. Luckily, for me this one is just a plain anime. It's a novel in Japan,
so I don't think they'll try to translate it for the English audience.
Yet, it's going through as much change as other manga. It's like one of
young adult fiction stories you see in the bookstore. Too low for my
station? Yet, it's a fascinating tale. The first DVD is somewhat
boring, but the second disc delivers some bangs like a kiss. Nice.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Melancholy_of_Haruhi_Suzumiya
School Rumble
Watching School Rumble reminds me of the NewsRadio quote, “Because I’m neither Japanese, 14 years old, or a girl.” Bill says this to Matthew thanking him for the Hello Kitty! school bag in his own acidic way. I am not Japanese, or 14 years, and I’m not a girl, but School Rumble is fun in a way that makes me feel like that. I’ve got the first two DVDs and am now eager to see the rest.
If my ramblings do convince you to watch it, catch a few episodes here.
Reeeeberrrrrrrrrr!!!!
It’s going to be a busy weekend. A cousin is going to be married. So we have the rehearsal and the rehearsal dinner on Friday. The wedding takes place on Saturday. Congratulations are forthcoming when it happens. This is the preview.
Unfortunately, we will miss Otakon 2006. We’re missing the chance for the the Max and Mirya special edition valkyrie. We’re missing the chance to get Gunslinger Girl shirts. Hentai! Damn. Couldn’t their wedding have been in February like all cool kids do nowadays.
Looking towards September and I find that the Baltimore Comic Con occurs the same weekend as The Civil War Century. I can’t buy a break here.
Bi-Mon-Sci-Fi-Con
After spending the morning browsing the wares at Farpoint 2006, I wondered what other geeky activity is in my future. To go with all the Robotech posting, I may have to try Otakon this year.