Month: March 2015

Kill la Kill Review

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It’s been a while since I have been wowed like this. Mocha-quality Kill la Kill strips down a basic yet stupid idea, over sexualizes women, showcases butt-naked men, and gets rough, rowdy and ridiculous all for the sake of boldly venturing where not many anime go. The burning question at hand: “Why do humans wear clothing?”

Hot-blooded high school girl Ryuko Matoi is in search for “the girl with the scissor blade;” the same girl who killed her father. Her clue hunt has led her to Honnouji Academy, a militaristic school structured by the “Goku uniforms,” uniquely ranked suits that grant students superpowers. As such, there is a fine line drawn between the mighty and the weak. Law and order is maintained through the school’s “Elite Four” and their supreme student council president, Satsuki Kiryuin, who rules over the domain with unquestionable judgment and absolute authority.

As the unwavering Lady Satsuki and fierce Ryuko meet face-to-face on the bloodstained battlefield that is Honnouji Academy, the threads of fate begin to unravel, and the whole school – as well as the world itself – is at risk of destruction.

Starred uniforms that give students unimaginable power? Yep, it sounds stupid. Very stupid. But through countless fights against a variety of opponents, Kill la Kill makes it work. Why they were made, how they were made, and what they actually are made of are all concepts that the anime explores thoroughly. Don’t try to wrap your head around things – Kill la Kill is NOT a “concentration-necessary” show.

Though fast-paced, the show never seemed rushed. Starting from the fateful encounter, the series gradually builds up to about the ¾ point, after which like any other 26-ish episode anime, it becomes a dramatic and serious blaze to the finish! The anime never seems convoluted in plot and serves as a great storyteller.

Ryuko Matoi is our main heroine. She will do anything to uncover the truth about the powerful Scissor Blade and to avenge her father, including “sacrificing” her body to Senketsu, one of the most powerful sailor suits in existence. While she’s hot-blooded and eager to fight aggressively, Ryuko always seems have issues with Senketsu; the two struggle to agree on matters and as a result have bonding troubles. “Losing her way” would be the proper term to explain her conundrum.

But Ryuko undergoes numerous transformations that make her easily likable and somewhat old-fashioned. Her character reminds me of the typical heroine, yet one embodying the resolve of the classic male hero, too. Because we get to see both sides to her, feminine and masculine, Ryuko becomes a relatable and rather enjoyable lead female – one of the best I’ve seen!

On the other side of the coin is Satsuki Kiryuin, the commanding figurehead and rival to Matoi. A Machiavellian leader, Lady Satsuki is calculating, observant, influential, and above all, sexy. Her iron rule comes from her infamous tagline, which I’ll put in quotes at the end of the review.

In a very similar style to Ryuko, Satsuki exemplifies the feminine and masculine qualities of the archetypical hero. While I can’t leak too much for spoiler’s sake, I can say that she carries a softer side as well. Satsuki is brilliant and inspirational – a rare beauty and one of my favorite characters in general! “HAIL SATSUKI-SAMA!!”

The supporting cast can be broken down by simple goals and stereotypes. The Elite Four consists of 3-star fighters who serve and protect their Satsuki at all costs: the guardian, the fighter, the brains, and the little girl you should probably be terrified of. “Nudist Beach,” the organization opposed to the Goku Uniforms also resembles the usual resistance team.

One other character to point out is Mako Mankanshoku, a goofy, hyperactive student at Honnouji Academy. After literally diving into Ryuko’s life, the two become best friends. Even though she is the moe girl, Mako and her wild family stand as a constant reminder to Ryuko as to what a good family is. Mako is a bit too much at times, leaping in at the last minute to save Ryuko from inescapable doom, but beyond that she is entertaining, friendly, and loving.

Animation by Trigger – hate it or love it. The style is rough, extreme, and lacking in detail. It’s a great change of pace compared to the typical class room setting, however, the obnoxious bold lines sketched all over the place occasionally take things too far. Tension, comedy, and impact are perfectly-balanced strengths, shown best through the very first 10 minutes of the show. Sometimes the animation is very expressive and does the show justice, but other times it’s indistinguishable. The best things about the animation are the communicative facial expressions and high-energy fights. Trigger clearly wasn’t scared to show anger and explosive rage, as they hit that ball out of the park!

For the OST, this is by far Hiroyuki Sawano’s best work. Superior tracks such as “Blumenkranz” are pure evil (fitting for the f*ck-tastic villain Ragyo, might I add), while Satsuki Kiryuin’s theme or Jakuzure’s anthem match their character PERFECTLY. And as much as I hate Nui Harime, even her theme gave off this bizarre feeling of creepy. I NEVER got sick of Kill la Kill’s over-the-top, epic soundtrack! 😀 (PS: 2nd OP “ambiguous” by GARNiDELiA is really awesome)

The only possible turn-off is the surplus of fanservice. Naked men from Nudist Beach and Kamui crop-tops with miniscule panties are overbearing. The director probably wanted to attract as much attention as possible, and hey it worked; thin straps covering well-endowed breasts and sword-wielding beauties? Yep, that’ll stop traffic. But also consider this: the show rebels against clothing, so doesn’t the nudity in a sense support the main message . . . ?

Kill la Kill is great because it is not afraid to show some skin and express itself boldly, however brash it seems at times. It doesn’t hold back when it comes to furiousness, fiery combat, or majestic speeches – it let’s all hell loose, and it’s fantastic. I full-heartedly recommend Kill la Kill for an awesome story, memorable protagonists, and the best rainbow-haired, purely evil antagonist IN EXISTENCE – just get past the nudity first and you’re golden! If you like action and overwhelming emotions please do yourself a favor and check it out. Its nearly mindless-fun approach to storytelling might intrigue you.

“Fear is freedom! Subjugation is liberation! Contradiction is truth! Those are the facts of this world! And you will all surrender to them, you pigs in human clothing!” – One of the greatest leaders to live, Satsuki Kiryuin

Thanks so much for checking out my thoughts on Kill la Kill! I love this anime so much it’s crazy! IT HAS A VERY SATISFYING ENDING. If you enjoyed the review, hit that like button – I’d really appreciate it. Feel free to drop a comment below, too! Until next time, this has been

– Takuto, your host

Ben-To Review

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While ramen bowls and instant rice make for a quick, cheap meal, the premade bento box featured in grocery stores is the dinner for kings – some say it’s even to die for. Today, an anime centered on retrieving that ultimate dish not only for the driving guts, but for the incomparable glory.

Yo Sato, a high school pervert who revels in playing old SEGA games, decides to purchase a bento box from his local grocery store when he realizes that was his first mistake. Waking up from his unconscious state, he sees that all of the bento are gone. “Wolves,” intense brawlers who live thrive for the taste of a half-priced bento fight in the store until only the mighty survive. Yarizui, the “Ice Witch,” is the head of the Half-Pricer Club at his school, and upon his cold knockout, forces Sato to join the club and to enter the battle of the bento!

Taking an unnecessarily serious approach to the art of low-budget dining, Ben-To is hilarious. There really isn’t much more to say. It is a pure comedy, lacking any dark history or overly dramatic plot twists. The show is perfect for “rinsing your anime palette,” especially after watching something really intense.

The characters are also light-hearted. They each have their own unique names they are coined for: “Ice Witch,” “Lady of the Lake,” “Wizard,” so on and so forth. Over the course of the show, you begin to realize how they got their name, their concentrated strategies and styles, but most important, their motive and willingness to fight – the honor of the bento. None of the characters come from a distorted past, meaning that they are pure enjoyment! That’s not to say that “what you see is what you get,” however; you’ll be surprised by the interesting personas provided by each character.

It’s also amusing to watch the stereotypical archetypes duke it out in what? A grocery store. The quiet girl, the perverted girl, the ordinary high schooler, the “older sister,” the twins, the leader type – it all works, and it’s fascinating! J

I’ve never seen animation by Production David, but they did a fine job with the dramatic brawls that unfold in the store. And while the characters look really beautiful up close, specifically the eyes, even a couple feet away from the viewer the characters’ eyes appear really spaced out/messed up. It becomes distracting after a while, and during a few of the softer moments it kinda trashes the overall appeal.

Interestingly enough, the OST for Ben-To features many brass instrumentals, which is a cool change in music compared to other anime. For those who’ve seen it, it’s reminiscent of C: The Money of Soul and Possibility Control.

The saucy opening “LIVE for LIFE” by Aimi matches perfectly as far as lyrics and context. The in-depth views of characters in the supermarket make the scene look very busy, and in the anime, it most certainly is! In contrast, each day concludes peacefully with the ending, “Egao no Housoku” by Mariya Ise, featuring a soliloquy-esque spotlight by the cerulean-haired red-eyed babe Yarizui.

There is plenty of ecchi scenes and fanservice, and while I’d like to say it’s for the girls, for a change it’s actually for Sato. Oshiroi, the perverted girl and innocent classmate, never stops shipping Sato with the other boys and older men in the series. She reminds me of Rikka from Haganai. Characters such as the student council president or the head of the judo club also have a bolt to pick with him. As a guy, the natural hatred by the setting followed by the slow growth to fondness is comical. Besides this, there are still plenty of skin-revealing scenes for everyone, so yeah . . . awesome.

There isn’t really much else to add besides the known fact that Ben-To is a must-watch comedy series. The ”shop till you drop” story makes for fantastic hand-to-hand combat, my favorite being Shaga, though I also like Yarizui, and it never loses its touch. Though the show’s not family friendly because of the platefuls of fanservice, it’s definitely a great watch after a really sad/dramatic or intense thriller anime. Ben-To will make you hungry, so why wait? The laurel wreath sticker has been placed, the “Wolves” are ready at their marks, the doors close, finally BAM – it’s time to dine!!

“Say your thanks before you eat.” – Sen Yarizui

Thanks for checkin’ out my rather quick review of Ben-To, a comedy action series booming with fun! I have not seen the dub yet, but I love Trina Nishimura, so yeah, got to check it out. Please give me a like if you enjoyed the review, as it makes my day! Until next time, this has been

– Takuto, your host

Date A Live Review

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So I crossed this show when I saw some of its key visuals: a powerful warrior clad in a violet, pink and gold-armored dress, with hair of a rich purple hue. Some know her as Tohka, but she’s also known as the girl who was revoked by her own show. Today, a shambling show of plot, yet a decent display of boobage – Date A Live.

Itsuka Shidou is yes, your average high school student. He lives a normal life with his red-headed little sister Kotori, despite him having bold blue hair (she’s got to be adopted). His life is disrupted, however, when another “spatial quake” explodes in his city, causing mass destruction and panic to spread.

These spatial quakes bring Spirits, mystical and powerful beings of unknown origin, coincidently hot/cute chicks. His sister also just happens to be the commander of an Anti-Spirit Team aboard the Fraxinus. As she and the other crew have analyzed, the only way to seal the powers of the Spirits is by making them fall in love with Shidou – and by giving them a kiss. “Kill or kiss the world,” as they say! Failure to accomplish the mission will be met by deadly firepower from the AST’s flying powered suits – worn by half naked women, might I add.

Date A Live is a harem, romance, action, school, comedy, mecha, sci-fi . . . so on and so forth . . . anime. It poorly jumps around between being absolutely serious, bat-sh*t crazy, and fluffy as daily life can be. I enjoy really dark, thoughtful, and intense anime, with a few slice-of-life scenes splattered during the appropriate times – and there are a couple of crafty surprises packed within the show. But this anime is not organized with its plot whatsoever.

Recall that scene from episode 3, the one where Tohka and Origami face off and she accidentally shoots/kills Shidou? That was easily the best moment of the anime; it was second to Kurumi’s creepy assault on the humans in the woods. Too bad the end of the series was met with just a mech fight (not hating on mecha anime or anything, but seriously). – _ –

Also, I don’t really see how the dating sim system the AST uses is helpful. By the time everyone reads the three weird options, votes on one, and tell it to Shidou through ear piece, the moment is long gone and would be too late to respond to questions. But whatever.

Besides Shidou having a really cute face, he’s just the boring middleman between the Spirits, taking in and returning expressions of “absolute concern,” because you know, he’s the good guy. I suppose he can be comical at times, and he’s not an annoying protagonist too, which are pluses, but yeah, he’s not anything new either.

I could sit here and talk about each of the Spirits and how “different” they all are, but really they can be grouped by stereotypes: Yoshino, the shy and quiet girl, Origami, the secretly-in-love-with-classmate, Kurumi, not gonna lie, a decent villain yet tossed to the side the last couple episodes, Kotori, the little sister, and that just leaves one girl – Tohka. While they are all entertaining, comedic, and cute (with great curves :3) they lack the flushing-out that I enjoy most.

Tohka is the first Spirit we are introduced to. She’s tsundere at first, but develops into waifu for Shidou. It’s similar to Asuna from SAO, though Asuna is a much better fighter and character! Anyway, not only does Tohka have a heart-warming food-consuming personality, she also has a beautiful design. When I think about it, Tohka is just Saber (Fate/Zero) if Saber did not have such strict social contracts binding herself. I love the purples, pinks, light blues and golds on her armor and in her sweet eyes!

Yet the one thing this anime had going for itself was put to the side because WHO THE HELL KNOWS. Tohka is a great fighter and by this point she is the best character, so why dump her? For the other girls I guess, but it ain’t worth it. After episode three, Tohka doesn’t get the spotlight again until the end; that’s +6 episodes of Tohka just eating and sitting on her ass. A shame.

This was the high point for the show – the animation by AIC Plus+. Again worth mentioning are the superb character designs, but additionally the sharp and colorful background scenes. I can’t recall low quality of any kind from this show, so a round of applause to them! The only thing I could complain about are the fight scenes, which rarely happen – and I’m talking all-out fights, not a missile launch here and there. The action sequences featuring the dominant Spirits clashing with the AST units are spectacular, but sadly few and far between.

The soundtrack was a real surprise for me. Not only are the daily life scenes well-supported by casual themes, but the dramatic sections are gorgeous and truly melancholic. Anthems for battle ring with a full on orchestra plowing down the field, and intensity is never lost by the OST.

Infamously known, the opening “Date A Live” by sweet ARMS quickly catches attention as an opener. Its passionate choir vocals along with an addicting melody are a great way to start each episode! The ending second “SAVE THE WORLD” by Iori Nomizu is also so catchy! I’m quite attached to them both!

But great background music and quality detailed animation won’t save the failing date that is Date A Live. The show brings nothing new besides its unique yet unorganized story idea, and if you’ve already waded through several harem anime, then you’ll know all of the ins and outs, getting more and more tired of this show’s determination to be something it’s not. If you are not a critical viewer and are simply looking for time to blow on an action/romance with comedy, impressive fights, and fan service then this is perfect. Otherwise it doesn’t live up to the hype.

“Just killing and killing and killing? You deserve to die and to die and to die.” – Tohka Tatogami

Yeah, bummer, it was disappointing. However, there is a second season, so I will be checking that out soon. Since I watched it in subs, I hear the dub for Kurumi is really awesome, so I might give that a watch too . . . if only I could ever find the time. Thanks for reading – slap that like button if you enjoyed my review and until next time, this has been

– Takuto, your host

Evangelion: 1.11 You Are (Not) Alone. Review

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Hideaki Anno had already captured the minds of millions when his most popular series Neon Genesis Evangelion was produced way back in 1995-1996. In 2007, he started the Rebuild of Evangelion, a series of movies that would reaffirm and branch off of the original series, hence, a rebuild. Today I’ll look at his first film, 1.0 (later to be released as a special edition, 1.11), and see if it meets his grand intent of pleasing fans and drawing in a wider audience with better visuals, music, and hopefully, an improved story.

2015. Tokyo-3 is the only remaining city in Japan after the Second Impact devastates the world. The lone city is not at peace, however, as gigantically scary extraterrestrial life forms known as Angels seek to exterminate the human race. As young boy who has not seen his father for over eight years, Shinji Ikari is called to NERV, an organization assembled to take down the Angels, where he will be piloting Evangelion Unit 01. Ikari’s father, the head of NERV, demands Shinji’s combat against the Angels; choose to not fight, and the already-injured and mysterious pilot 00 Rei Ayanami will be forced to. Getting himself into much more trouble than a robot fight, Evangelion 1.11 features the first three Angel clashes in remastered HD quality.

As far as changes go, this movie is almost an exact adaptation of the first eight or so episodes from the original series. As such you can check out my Neon Genesis Evangelion review here for a more in-depth review. The movie does a great job at recapping the old material, but of course, it drops quite a few scenes for time’s sake. Veterans of Evangelion might be disappointed with this, despite the new, incredibly detailing scenes that were added, but to newcomers it gets straight to the point.

The characters are also the exact same, with the exception of Shinji Ikari receiving less annoying dialogue. He just seems like a troubled 10 year-old instead of some rude brat when he refuses to fight at times.

For pacing, the show is rather rugged. It’s almost always on the edge of its seat, seeming like a string of intensity instead of a smooth-running film.

Another reason fans were let down was because it just didn’t feel like Eva. Everything is clear-cut and dialogue is cleaned up, making for fewer interpretive scenes and lessening the overall enigmatic effect. For unfamiliar people, this is a good thing, but for those who had seen the original, it doesn’t maintain the shady and “distorted” Evangelion quality.

I was pleased to hear that all of the main characters and some of the side were portrayed by the same English and Japanese voice actors. Props to FUNimation for the great dubbing!

The music is top-notch, though most of the tracks are just pulled from NGE. Model examples include “Decisive Battle” and “Angel Attack,” two of the main battle themes of the show. The ending, “Beautiful World” by Utada Hikaru, is simply a beautiful song, no joke. It was a cool way to end the film. I listen to it off and on as one of my alarms – it’s a great way to start the day!

Studio Khara revives the original series with amazingballz visuals! CG for the Angels, specifically the complete makeover of the 6th Angel (blue diamond one), is brilliantly done. Architecture is clean, for when Tokyo-3 goes into Angel alert, the sunrise combined with the colossal rising and falling buildings is a splendor. And of course, the Eva Units’ new computer graphics are glorious!

For a 2007 film, it easily rivals and surpasses most of the animated films of today. Fans will be pleased, as I was for sure. However, since it only encompasses the first quarter of the show, this will raise more questions than answers for newcomers to the franchise. Though it lacks footage and original atmosphere, Evangelion: 1.11 You Are (Not) Alone manages to be a great reaffirmation of the old anime, and masterful edition to the Evangelion series.

I hoped you enjoyed my quick few thoughts over the Rebuild of Evangelion’s first film! Drop a comment below if you had similar or different thoughts, because I love reading them ~ Until next time, this has been

– Takuto, your host

No Game No Life Review

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I have this system that allows me to recommend anime even if they have this “read the manga” bull-sh*t ending. After all, it’s usually the ride that counts for me. No Game No Life is a quizzical anime adaptation based on Yuu Kamiya’s light novel series, and its lack of an animated ending hurts the series the more I think about it.

Bro and sis Sora and Shiro are gifted NEETs who form the notorious “blank” across the gaming world. Together they are an unstoppable force: pulling all-nighters, eating junk food, and learning all of the ins and outs of various games just to achieve victory – but they never cheat. They both find the real world to be harsh and even crappy, donning it as just another game. When challenged to a complex game of chess supposedly designed by God himself, Tet emerges upon their triumph, and the two are warped to another world.

In this world, God has outlawed war and violence, so instead of physical brawls, everything is decided by games. Want all the money from a bank? Beat its owner. What about living in a castle? Simply defeat the king – and that is exactly what “blank” does. With the humans or “Imanity” chased to the board’s edge by other races, is it up to Sora and Shiro to save the Imanity and conquer the gaming world – but in real life this time.

No Game No Life’s basic premise can be carried out in many ways, yet “beat the boss, next floor” format doesn’t flow in this anime, and that can be appreciated – to a certain degree. While you know Sora and Shiro will win all of exciting and intriguing games (cause if they lose there wouldn’t be a show), it’s the ride to that final draw that make 12-episode anime worth it. The games are wacky and chalked full of weird rules, however, that makes them so much fun to watch!

On the other hand, the slight lack of explanation in each challenge often results in seemingly impossible feats. The games can be confusing and drawn out to two episodes at a time. As such this show is a binge watch – you’ll lose track if you try to space your viewings out.

Sora overwhelmingly takes the lead as the perverted-older-brother-mad-hatter type of character. He’s clever and brainy, desiring to win a library for knowledge of the world that he and his adorable sister were thrown into. Logging it in their phone, Sora immediately makes it his top priority to challenge the God of this world. Yoshitsugu Matsuoka (Kirito from SAO, Arata from TRINITY SEVEN) performs with such strong lust in his voice acting that makes for quirky dialogue. He certainly plays the role well!

For a female lead, Shiro is not that interesting. She’s cute, quiet, and relies on her onii-san. There is a much more intellectual side to her, unlike her brother, that makes for quick-witted comebacks and in contrast respectful monologues. While Shiro gets a couple of great episodes to herself – literally by herself – there isn’t really much else to say.

The only other mention is Stephanie Dora, an emotional young Imanity girl who is the daughter of the recently dead king. She is stubborn, whiny, and expressive, yet has an intelligent side regarding the Imanity. Because she flips from being a genius to a dimwitted casual – just to make Shiro and Sora seem smarter, might I add – she was poorly treated by the writer(s). Stephanie is easily likable, but only when she has her dignity intact.

NGNL’s animation by Madhouse is rather . . . how’s to say, bright? The effective use of reds, blues and other vibrant colors as outlines instead of the usual black adds to more eye-appeal. Everything else is also energetic in color; these upbeat hues help to bring the world of games alive! It’s fun J and not like your average anime!

Sound-wise, I wasn’t too impressed. There are a few “Aha!” tracks for the intense gaming climaxes, but the more emotional bits are supported, yet without memorability. I can recall the epic challenges that Sora and Shiro surpass, but I can’t remember any of the characters spewing out their passion, and part of that is because the actual-game-sounding music just wasn’t on-par with the anime. Besides “Predawn,” it’s not bad by any means, but could have been more.

The show gives off this foreboding vibe, as if Tet foreshadowing the darkness behind the gaming world is where the series would end, however, we never get down to the heart of things. That disappointed me most. A perfect reflection of my thoughts are in the opening, “This game” by Konomi Suzuki. The piano introduces us to a mysterious and devious land, yet past this rich piano solo, the song turns into your average anime opening, revealing its sense of playful trickery.

I have troubles recommending No Game No Life particularly because it just ends with another game. Upon release of a second season, which is most likely, then I will 100% recommend this anime to anyone, despite the mild nudity. The characters can drag the anime down a little bit with their ecchi playing, but when the boobs are put away, No Game No Life functions as a great piece of entertainment, and I enjoyed its cleverness thoroughly.

“’Checkmate’ doesn’t mean you’ve simply cornered the enemy king. It’s a declaration that the enemy king is yours. That’s why I said it the first time I met you. ‘Checkmate.’” – Sora

The anime has been licensed by Sentai Filmworks, so we can expect a dub release sometime soon hopefully. Thanks so much for reading my review over this fun gaming anime! If you had similar thoughts, hit that like button and follow me for more material like this. Until next time, this has been

– Takuto, your host

I’ve Been Nominated!? (Liebster Award)

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A while back I was nominated for the Liebster Award, and I’m now finally following through with what that entails. Before I start, I would like to thank anyone who has stopped in and read my material, commented, liked, and even followed since I started. A special thanks goes to LitaKino, for without her, I would not be writing this post. Thanks LitaKino!

To the questions!!

  1. What made you start your anime blog?

Well, I’ve always wanted a small café or business, the kind where everyone knows each other, etc. I honestly want to start a YouTube channel, as videos are easier to watch and tend to attract more customers 😉 but I thought I’d start solid with a blog first, then build up from there if I got more into it. The blog also functions as a file for my anime adventure through time and space, logging my exact opinions the moment I finish a show!

  1. Ice cream or pie?

Ice cream for sure – I always like picking at a good ol’ slice of pie, but for some reason I can never finish it!

  1. What is the most expensive thing anime-wise you have bought?

                If we’re talking single items, then that would be Sentai Filmwork’s recent Collector’s Edition release of Love, Chunibyo & Other Delusions!, which cost me about $80.00. For complete series, I own Aniplex of America’s DVD release of Fate/Zero Seasons 1 & 2, which cost me about $130.00. Both totally worth the purchase though!

  1. What other hobbies do you have?

I collect anime, play the cello, competitively swim, and read, write, draw, and play guitar on the side. I’m never bored.

  1. What is your current opinion on how the world is?

Preface stage. There is a lot of tension building up everywhere, good and bad, and I know it’s leading up to something terrifyingly gigantic that will change our world on a global scale . . .

  1. Do you have a favorite genre of anime you like to watch?

I really enjoy intense psychological thrillers that change my perspective on the world. But after watching them, I force myself to watch something fluffy or slice-of-life afterwords. They both come hand-in-hand.

  1. Is there an anime character you really would like to cosplay?

Too many to count! Eren Yeager (Attack on Titan), Saber (Fate/Zero), Shion (No.6) and the list goes on. However, I will be wearing a Tennouzu First High School uniform from Guilty Crown as a casual cosplay for Shu Ouma!

  1. What is one anime thing you are stalking to buy currently?

Log Horizon: Collection 1 on Blu-ray. It will be mine.

  1. Do you think wordpress is an easy blog site to use?

I’ve never been good with web design stuff, so considering that I’m finding my way around it quite well must count for something!

  1. Do you have any favorite anime reviewers you love to follow?

I love to follow all of my followers and then some on this blog! On YouTube, the infamous Arkada of Glass Reflection. He’s been an idol for a while now. I also enjoy stalking Slightly Otaku from YouTube with their anime unboxings and hilarious thoughts.

  1. Do you have an anime crush?

I’d be lying if I said no, but I’d be a hooker if I said yes because I crush on everyone boy and girl LOL. Sinon (SAO II), Saber, are to name a few . . . I’ll save the rest for a later date 😉

Facts about me!!

  1. I’ve always wanted a YouTube channel, but I’ve never started for some reason
  2. I tend to like most of all things related to anime – Yaoi not “un-included”
  3. If you do not stop me – I will buy it
  4. While I run this little café, I actually don’t care much for straight-up coffee. It’s good, sure, but yeah
  5. I’d be willing to sacrifice possessions, memories, and even a few people (I’m not crazy I swear!!) just for a long rainy day
  6. If I could be in any anime I’d be in A Certain Scientific Railgun’s Academy City as an esper
  7. I occasionally enjoy chick-flicks, my favorite being Monster In Law
  8. When I eventually do, I want die EPICALLY (again, not crazy at all)
  9. I do this little Anime Movie Theater with my siblings where I pick 5 to 10 shows, print posters, they buy tickets that fund the anime I buy, and we watch them together >.< otakus unite! The next Theater Premiere is this summer and it’ll probably be one of our last 😥
  10. I’ve been trying to write my own light novel series, as I can draw, but a manga would take forever. Like the Survey Corps and the Titans, I’m fighting a losing battle
  11. I love wedding cake and Steins;Gate is real.

Heads up, I will recommend these people regardless of them having 1,000 followers or not.

And now for a few people whom I nominate, as they deserve to be read from more often:

Danineko’s Otaku Blog – the cute blog of a South African otaku

The Otaku Judge – a reviewer with truthful things to be said about a variety of shows

tcondon1 – “review all the things” great day-by-day episode reviews

Rocco B – though they’re not anime I’m watching, humorous episode reviews and just overall thoughtful

thelimitlessimagination – ponderous thoughts in a fan-loving shoujo style

ZeAnime – interesting news in the anime and Japanese community

Shay-shay’s Anime Blog – blogger with cool topic ideas and just fun reads like challenges and fanfic

LitaKino – back at ‘cha for fangirling to the max and for being an awesome blogger friend

If you’ve already been nominated and you’re on the list, no problem, just comment below with a link to your Liebster Award Nomination post because I want to read it! If there is a question here that you feel the need to answer, feel free – comment away! 🙂

Questions for my nominees (again, you can simply comment below with an answer to one if you have already been nominated):

  1. What is your favorite Japanese animation studio?
  2. What do you do for fun besides anime stuff?
  3. Cats or dogs?
  4. Yaoi or Yuri >.< or none!?
  5. What was the first anime you have watched?
  6. What do you like most about anime?
  7. Do you see yourself still with anime ten years down the line?
  8. What do you think of fanservice in anime?
  9. What anime made you scratch your head for a while?
  10. Do you recommend anime to non anime fans around you, or do you keep it to yourself?
  11. If this café served actual beverages/food by an anime character to you, what would you order and from whom??

Official Rules of the Liebster Award:

If you have been nominated for The Liebster Award AND YOU CHOOSE TO ACCEPT IT, write a blog post about the Liebster award in which you:

  • Thank the person who nominated you, and post a link to their blog on your blog.
  • Display the award on your blog — by including it in your post and/or displaying it using a “widget” or a “gadget”. (Note that the best way to do this is to save the image to your own computer and then upload it to your blog post.)
  • Answer 11 questions about yourself, which will be provided to you by the person who nominated you.
  • Provide 11 random facts about yourself.
  • Nominate 5 – 11 blogs that you feel deserve the award, who have a less than 1000 followers. (Note that you can always ask the blog owner this since not all blogs display a widget that lets the readers know this information!)
  • Create a new list of questions for the blogger to answer.
  • List these rules in your post (You can copy and paste from here.) Once you have written and published it, you then have to:
  • Inform the people/blogs that you nominated that they have been nominated for the Liebster award and provide a link for them to your post so that they can learn about it (they might not have ever heard of it!).

 

You all have such interesting blogs; each having something to admire! I would like to thank LitaKino again for the nomination – it’s such a wonderful thing for a small-town blogging community. I have had a lot of fun writing this, and I hope you have had fun reading this! Catch me in my anime reviews and as always, until next time, this has been

– Takuto, your host

End of February Update 3/2/15

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~ Konnichiwa, and I’m back with another update for anyone who actually cares! LOL

As those who’ve been in the café recently know, I’ve had the pleasure of diving myself headfirst into Evangelion, an old staple for the deconstruction of robot anime. While that has definitely been the highlight of my month, I have also been diggin’ around FUNimation’s website – specifically in the slice-of-life/harem genres to quell my pensive Eva mood.

Recently finished:

Neon Genesis Evangelion – though confusing at times, it struck a nice chord with me, read my review!

The End of Evangelion – the thorough conclusion to the series, check out my thoughts here

Evangelion 1.11 You Are (Not) Alone – what it lacks for in retaining original quality makes up for with winning animation, review on the way

No Game No Life – cut-short anime in need of a second season, review on the way

 

Currently watching:

Ben-To – only two episodes in, but it seems it doesn’t get more complex than this

Date A Live – been wanting to watch this one for a loooonnnggg time, and I hope it doesn’t disappoint

Unbreakable Machine Doll – yeah, I haven’t technically started this one yet, but it has an interesting setting

Evangelion 2.22 You Can (Not) Redo – again, waiting to pick this up, but I might as well include it in this update

Parasyte – things are definitely reaching an end, but I don’t know if that’s a good thing or a bad one

Log Horizon – is it sad to say that I am awaiting its end? It’s fascinating, yes, but it drags quite a bit

ALDNOAH.ZERO – season two continues to flesh out one of the main characters and support itself with more clever fights; bravo!

 

And for those who read these, I still have not even touched the Sword Art Online Light Novel Volume One. It’s a good book – I swear! – But yeah, no progress . . .

Thank you to all of my new followers and of course, returning customers! I love reading what you guys have to say, even if it’s just a “hey” or whatnot 🙂 Please continue to like and follow like ya do, and until next time, this has been

– Takuto, your host