I am sure most of the older ‘fans’ of my blog remember the Armani competition I entered in March this year. Fortunately, I had over 26000+ votes that pushed me to be ‘The National Winner’ of visual print in the category of other countries. For my reward I won a set of ‘his’ and ‘her’ expensive Emporio Armani watches as well as six sets of perfumes. I’ve thanked you all once before and I want to thank you all once again.

^ This the ‘her’ watch I won. I suppose my only question is ‘What do I do with it?’. It’s lovely but I really don’t think I’m ever going to wear it. I haven’t since I got it and I planned on selling it on ebay or whatever else. Hmm… Any suggestions?

But lately, I’ve become so sick and tired of trying to make people happy. I try and I fail. FAIL FAIL FAIL.

I suppose that’s all I have to say.

Immature rant on: HA! Serves you right, Naoki/Irie! Let that jealousy seethe and burn into your cold hearted soul forever! Bwahahaha! :immature rant semi off

Review:

From the ending of Episode 18 you find out that Keita, one of Kokoto’s nurse friends, is secretly in love with her. In this episode it dives deeper into Keita’s respect and understanding for his silly and slow learning lab partner. Even more so, Keita isn’t too shy to stand up to Irie and say ‘You suck at showing affections and respect towards your wife. You’re a shitty husband!’

And Irie’s typical response is ‘She’s my wife, back off. What I say to her doesn’t concern you.’

Kokoto then goes out with her nurse gang to the bar for a few drinks since one of them is deeply upset that a guy s/he met turned him down. It is there that Keito tells Kokoto that he feels that Irie doesn’t love her through Irie’s actions and words. (See second picture) She leaves heartbroken, realizing that Keita may be right. It ends by Keita chasing after her and telling her ‘don’t go home to him’. (See first picture)

My thoughts :

Keita (guy to the left in the above picture), you’re awesome! This episode really made me hug myself. Kokoto does deserve better and it’s about damn time she realized it. ‘It’ being that her husband Naoki has always treated her distantly and with hardly any tangible or visible care for her. Of course, since we have omniscent presence in this series, it does seem he cares for her at times when he is alone.

But even then I have to wonder : “Was his ‘proposal’ and now this recent event only out of jealousy? Has Kokoto only become his tree that he pees on to spite other dogs that prowl in the neighborhood?’ Why do you have to be so damned distant and cold Irie?! Why can’t you tell your own wife that she means something to you and that you love her?! She should leave your sorry ass.”

I know that there are some that feel Irie does truly love Kokoto but he has a hard time showing it. I agree but to a certain extent. He’s married to her. He’s slept with her.  Why is he still so distant and cold? I can’t imagine anyone lasting long in a relationship like that. You can only give so much until you realize you’re getting nothing back.

I finished the first volume of Vampire Knight a couple weeks ago and thought it was best to sit on it and think about a good review.  In other words, I procrastinated. I wasn’t enthusiastic about writing a review for several reasons. But before I name those reasons I have to tell you something.

I do love a good vampire romance. Not in just anime but among other things. Brom Stoker’s Dracula for example. But something that is NOT an example is Queen of the Damned because that was just rubbish. That aside, now you know that I enjoy vampire romances.

They make me happy in a very sad way.

Now on to the reasons -

1.  Zero’s an arse. I liked him at first but over the episodes his level E vampiric, emo bull crap side just really pissed me off. Then that pissing just became boredom.  (He should have drank blood eons ago!)

2. Yuki isn’t that strong of a character. I can’t think of one good adjective to describe her as I can with the other characters.

3. The anticipated ’sexual tension’ really was not there. As Kiyo-chan described it: a ‘pseudo romance’. Who does Yuki really want?

4. The apparent villian of the series only showed up in the last 4 episodes of the first volume and then she kicked the bucket too easily. She didn’t have any amazing powers. She didn’t have any cool fighting moves. She just had a lap dog that did her dirty work for her. I suppose one could argue and say that the true villian of this volume was Zero’s resistance to his vampiric self but even if that is true it wasn’t presented strongly.

However, I will be watching volume 2 when it begins in October. Though my expectations were let down from what I believe to be a good vampire romance, I still have hope for it. I felt the atmosphere was great even though a little confusing at times. I really loved Kaname… the dark wonderful pure blooded vampire god he is and I now in the ending episode, Zero is saved. Maybe he’ll come to terms with his new self.

I started watching Vampire Knight several nights ago and the first time I heard this song, my ears pricked. I’ve turned away from my dark ambient goth ways years ago but whenever I hear such a beautiful song in a genre that I really loved long ago I can’t help but slide back into my former self and enjoy it.

This is 19 year old Kanon Wakeshima’s debut song and it is yet uncertain if she will continue with a full album. She started playing the cello at the age of 3. She first performed as a cellist-singer at the age of 16. For more information about her go to her website: http://www.kanonweb.jp/

Also, forgive me on being late on this. What do you expect?! I just learned of it a couple days ago.

I’m not much for subtle hentai (ecchi) or anything with the scent of perversion but I suppose I should have said the same with Rosario + Vampire.  I’ve told myself lately that maybe I should just come to terms with that I do enjoy ecchi since a couple of the more recent animes that I’ve seen has been just that.

But then I stop and regain my dignity by questioning myself ‘Would I like it if there wasn’t a story line?’. And the answer is a great wall of “NO”. Besides, some of the stuff I picked out due to recommendation (thanks Kiyo-chan as well as several other anime blogger sites). I like to surprise myself when it comes to anime. As long as I know it’s a comedy or romance, I will definitely add it to my infinite list of ‘must see’.

And… the reason I just told you all of that is because I’m a big insecure numpty that doesn’t like people thinking of me in a certain way. So in short… I’m not a pervert! T.T

——————-Now on with my long winded synopsis————————

Minato Sahashi is a failure when it comes to most things. From the beginning we find out that Minato has failed his college exams twice and is a complete plonker when it comes to standing up to his mother, sister and other women.  During the fateful first episode, Minato meets a young woman named Musubi, a Sekirei. Sekirei are super powered beings that have some sort of elusive association with a group called MBI. From Musubi and the MBI, he finds out that he is an Ashikabi - a human with special genes that allows a Sekirei to have ‘wings’.

Through this Ashikabi-Sekirei partnering, a Sekirei becomes deeply attached to their Ashikabi. Humourously to the point that you’d think the Sekirei has wifely like feelings towards them (in reference to episode six).  However, this wifely attachment does not stop other Sekirei from partnering with Minato, who feel the same type of attachment towards him.

The MBI Corporation is the reason for the sudden release of Sekirei because of something called ‘The Sekirei Plan’ - a plan where the Sekirei fight each other in a massive battle royale throughout the city of Tokyo. In total there are 108 Sekirei and each one of them is given a number. (Hence the numbers below the characters faces in the image).

Minato finds himself stuck between a rock and a hard place when he learns of The Sekirei Plan and what it could possibly mean for his other beloved Sekirei.

—————And finally the review————————

I’m certain that episode seven is out by now in Japan but I will have to wait for fansubs. I find the concept of ‘The Sekirei Plan’/massive battle royale overdone in many anime but by no means do I feel that it becomes any less boring. I absolutely love a good battle royale. I even love it more when it is between ‘cute girls, buxom women and bishonen’ who actually have individual and lovable personalities.  Developing each character individually is always something I absolutely love about most anime.

In reference to Sekirei, it’s more ecchi harem than a properly serious battle royale but I suppose that adds to the light-hearted side of it.

My favourite character so far is Kuu-chan. Her attachment to Minato as a Sekirei is more like a little sister than a crush. She clings to him as if the world would end if she separated herself from him. I also love Tsukiumi, the complete opposite of Kuu. She’s a hard ass and gravely serious a lot. In episode six, she plans to kill her destined Ashikabi who is Minato. But eventually she gives into him and from then on refers to herself as ‘his legal wife’ after Minato gives her wings. I love it in any person who shows a small portal of softness behind a rough exterior!

Right now I feel I can only give a small dose of how I feel about the entire series but as soon as it is finished, I will hop on this again and give it a proper review. But so far, I would definitely recommend it to anyone who can stomach the eye-roll worthy ecchiness.

8/10

*Spoilers involved.. Read at your own risk… Really don’t read if you don’t want it to be spoiled. Actually this is a review go ahead and read it. But I warned you*

Wikipedia’s Entry -

Itazura na Kiss tells the love story of Kotoko and Naoki from their days as high school students to their marriage. The story continues after the marriage as they continue to grow as a couple. The story starts with Kotoko finally building up the courage to confess to Naoki Irie by giving him a love letter but was rejected in front of everybody. After that humiliating moment, she decided to give up on her love for Naoki. That same day, the Aihara’s newly-built home was destroyed during a mild earthquake due to poor construction. They ended up staying in the Irie household thus starting the development of their relationship.

With every episode I’ve watched thusfar I thought of different ways of starting this review. My first review introduction ideas were about my hopeful idea of a romance between the cute and tenacious female protagonist Kokoto Aihara and the cold hearted yet suave Naoki Irie. I desperately wanted underdog Kokoto to woo to get Naoki to realize she’s perfect for him despite grades, intelligence and social stature. Most importantly, I wanted Naoki to stop bullying Kokoto and treat her with the respect she deserved as someone who’s admired and loved him for years.

But I suppose that was asking to much. Even when Naoki marries Kokoto he still treats her like shit despite his knowledge of her feelings through the years. Even though he is faithful to her when a beautiful woman comes onto him during their honeymoon, he remains cold, distant and verbally abusive towards her as he did since the day he turned down her first love letter. I admired Kokoto for putting up with so much from him but as episodes went by my cheery admiration became nothing more than a plead for her to divorce his ass and find someone better.

Maybe it’s for comedic humor that Naoki has a funny way of showing his affections or love to Kokoto? I just don’t really find it funny myself that someone treats the one that loves them, no matter what sex, like crap. It was funny from the start but then it got got fist clenching-ly irritating. Even Kokoto’s persistence to a complete ass became worthy of my teeth gritting.

However, there is still a part of me that wants to keep watching to see if Naoki lightens up or is Kokoto stops putting up with his abusive behaviour. I would also continue to watch for the reason that I loved all the other characters very much. Especially Naoki’s mother who absolutely adores Kokoto.

As for a rating from me a 7/10. That’s being very generous.

Call me whatever you’d like but I thoroughly enjoyed this romantic harem comedy. It is about a young man named Tsukune Aono who is unable to get into any private schools due to his less than perfect grades. When he is finally accepted into one he quickly finds out that his school is a school of supernatural monsters disguised as humans. For his life’s sake he hides the fact that he is human. He meets several Yokai who turn his life upside down. Among one of them is Moka Akashiya - a beautiful young vampire who has one side that is innocent and delightful and the other harsh and arrogant. Only when the rosary and seal around Moka’s neck is removed is her colder yet unusually strong side revealed as it is her true nature and form as a vampire.

One of the most obvious and main genre of this anime is that it is a harem. I’m not much of a fan service fan myself but I do find that some harems have delightful and lovable stories and characters. Being a straight female, I don’t exactly get excited over the idea of hilariously large breasted character rubbing herself against the male protagonist. I suppose for me that it adds to the humour and the hopeful ‘I hope he chooses (insert character’s name here)!’ but not much more than that.

A thing that I found interesting and really like is that Nana Mizuki, the voice of Moka, is also a songstress that sings the main and ending theme of Rosario + Vampire. Her voice has been loaned to many anime as well as many songs.

Overall, I really loved Rosario + Vampire and would suggest to anybody who can get past the borderline naughty fan service to enjoy the cute comedy of several young women protecting their precious friend Tsukune from many foes. (Or to anybody who likes fan service in general. )

My rating is a 7.5/10. Repetitious summoning/fight sequences annoy me.

It’s a Chinese band! I was watching a documentary on China yesterday with X and found their culture interesting on different levels. But it’s not what I want to talk about… I want to talk about THIS!

New Pants - Everybody

OMG - It’s wonderfully daft on so many different levels! This song concluded the documentary.

The thing is… Bye Bye Disco and You’re My Superstar don’t sound like a cat going through a blender. So are they taking the mick out of their own sound? O.o