Okay, on to my post. To quote Meng "Olivier, Nick, James, William and Le talking about: coding, environment, future, games, art, music, science, comedy, short stories, porn, hentai, independence and DotA with different attitudes. (did I say hentai? I meant anime)" Please correct me if I am wrong: coding has been discussed; the environment has been discussed slightly, like the 'heat wave'; the future... meh, actually Meng noted his aspirations regarding China; Le created a comical post regarding DotA - games; other people's art has been posted on the blog so that does count right?; science has been covered by Meng; comedy has been rampant, James provided a great short story; and procrastination highlights an important aspect of independence. Thus music, porn, hentai - anime are areas left to 'talk about'. I am going to shy away from porn and hentai... I honestly do not believe anyone from Blue Scribble is qualified to post about either of these two topics, an 'outsider' may be required. So I aim to cover anime (well manga predominately) and some music relating to anime > <.
Finally my post has a direction. I enjoy reading manga, but I generally 'dislike' watching anime - well dislike may be too harsh a word, but it sounds better than the term which incorporates the meaning of inconvenient and painful. English dubbed anime is really unpleasant to listen too, and sadly the opening and ending theme songs replaced. 4kids also makes various visual changes to make the show more American and child friendly, for example in One Piece they replace Sanji's smoke with a lollipop and the Marines' guns with water pistols (At this point I would like to diverge into a rant regarding English anime changes -dam 4kids 'censorship'- but this post is going to be long enough without it so I will save it for a vent source for a future occasion). In its original Japanese form is still flawed in my eyes. An anime series is often adapted from a manga and often this doesn't lead to the anime following the storyline of the manga. In some cases this leads to a 'fabulous' anime like Ouran High School Host Club, other times it turns out like the second half of the second season of Tsubasa Chronicle (which CLAMP thankfully stopped and released 3 OAD to cover what actually transpired in the manga). Oh before I forget, and possibly to save myself from some comments from at least 2 other members from Blue Scribble, and another dear friend, Evangelion is another successful anime conversion (the difference was with Shinji's relationship with Asuka and Rei). Fillers provide me with ample annoyance; a whole period where character development occurs, new skills learnt, and bonds created or broken. All of this is suddenly erased when the anime returns to the main storyline - I have a few baka images later making light on this. The animation quality of characters vary, which I assume is necessary to keep fan boys/girls happy I guess. It is rather difficult to explain in written English, without the aid of gibberish, visual examples and random hand gestures - though I should be able to find another baka image to illustrate. Everyone is entitled to their own views and those were mine, I would not think any less of anybody who enjoys watching anime (though I may observe you with a great misanthropic interest like Gregory House does with his patients - sorry I am not aware a non-fictional individual with similar behaviour). I have no objections or negative intent to those who follow manga alongside its anime counterpart; I just have a slight issue with people who just anime without taking any interest in the original manga, and it somewhat sickens me when I hear of individuals who stop reading the manga altogether when the anime series comes out. The feeling is like drinking a lot of water quickly and continuously after a filling Japanese meal to the level where you are most likely poisoned by it, you feel stupid about having done that as you suffer walking around feeling bloated and queasy, but you can walk/sleep if off... though the stupidity feeling endures. Please feel free to leave any comments, however please skim though the next bulk of words as I will most likely give anime a good slap to the head and feed it a few scraps of praise when due.
This following section may be hard to read because of its presentation and various terms used, but for your own benefit please try to read on. A a list and description of the manga
I am currently reading or have already read:
Naruto (Ongoing)
Not much needs to be said about this series, both the manga and anime are very popular - English dub anime version is atrocious 'believe it'. The current arc will hopefully answer many questions. Naruto Abridged (youtube it) is worth mentioning for parody 'goodness' hehe moo.
Bleach (Ongoing)
I assume that this series is just below Naruto in popularity, and again I guess there is not that really needs to be said. Though it is always surprising to witness a characters ability to fight is not hindered by large amounts of blood loss. The manga is currently detailing the events that occurred in the past which acted as catalysts to what is occurring in the present. Read the manga if you want to understand what that meant anime viewers :P
One Piece (Ongoing)
Another popular series, but I am under the impression that many of my friends do not follow it. It is a light hearted series with great comedic value (The reindeer's ,Chopper, reaction to only having a 50 berri bounty was priceless), though it has some serious aspect to it at times (theme of aspirations, past sufferings, and 'the new world'). The level of comradeship portrayed is actually inspiring at times despite it being a work of fiction. One Piece has almost reached 500 chapters, but do not let this be a deterrent.
Death Note (Completed)
I do not care if you watched the anime or saw the live action films (though the application of the rules in the film was very clever), acquire a copy of the complete manga and read it.
School Rumble (Ongoing)
Current readers of this blog should be at least aware of this series. The chapters are rather short and have only recently started to meld into a distinctive arc so the anime is the better comedic option in this case. Eri's voice actor is Horie Yui (Hitomi from the Dead and Alive video game series and Naru from Love Hina - wiki for more). She is also a singer, with generally upbeat 'happy' songs. Not everyone's 'cup of tea' I guess I need to listen to her music once in a while due to my sad sad life > <
Blue Dragon: Ral Ω Grado (Complete)
I am starting to get more lazy so my comments will become briefer and briefer. Illustrated by the illustrator of death note, inspired by the game Blue Dragon. It is a short enjoyable manga.
Black Cat (Complete) Basically a manga about assassins fighting other assassins and Kyōko and Eve ^_^ Actually this is a good manga to start of with for action anime fans. The fight scenes are illustrated rather well and since the series is complete the whole fight can be read seamlessly in the collection of chapters.
Tu-LOVE-Ru (Ongoing)
Illustrated by Kentaro Yabuki, the author/illustrator of Black Cat. Thus it was not surprising that characters sharing the same name and appearance as Kyōko and Eve exist. The series is rather random with some direction here and there. I enjoyed it before it got its ecchi and harem classification, and as long as it is used for inducing laughs and nothing else I will continue to enjoy it.
Ichigo 100% (Completed)
Finding the girl with strawberry panties... An interesting focus for a main character to have at the start of a manga. It is worth reading. Many fans were upset with the ending, but given the events that occurred throughout, it could not have realistically ethically ended in any way. Read it and prove me wrong ;P oh Lilim Kiss is also by the same author/illustrator (KAWASHITA Mizuki) and is much shorter, so take a quick read of it to see if you like the author's work.
Suzuka (Complete)
I am really starting to get tired > < but I must continue for the sake of propaga... I mean err... spreading the word. The anime was discontinued whilst the manga went onto a satisfying completion. So whoever has watched the anime please read the manga... I am referring one individual in particular, he know who he is. The main character Yamato is an idiot and the events in the manga punish him for that. Despite beginning somewhat like Love Hina, Suzuka follows a much more mature (no not in the hentai way... ecchi yes but no H) perspective of relationships - again the main character is an idiot.
Pretty Face (Competed), Mx0 (Ongoing) - yes I am lazy
These two series are by the same author/illustrator. Pretty face is about a guy having to pretend to be a girl's twin because his face was burnt badly and a 'sadistic' doctor surgically made his face look like the girl (hence pretty face) > < just read it, it is funny. Mx0 revolves around Kuzumi attending a magic school when he can not really use any magic, having to fake it, etc. Funny read it, I am tired T T.
Fairy Tail (Ongoing)
Somewhat like One Piece, but mages not pirates and missions not sailing. If you like One Piece, read it.
D.Gray man (Ongoing)
If you like Naruto and Bleach you should like this manga as well. (yup tired)
Hayate no Gotoku (Ongoing)
Witness the misadventures of a socially awkward teenage combat butler... please T T
Series with outstanding art (sound like an award...);
Mahou Tsukai ni Taisetsu na Koto (Completed) - aka Someday's Dreamers - has really vibrant colour pages (my current background)
Ashita no Yoichi (Ongoing), Kanaete Aizen (Completed)- by the same author/illustrator
Series with interesting themes;
Saki (Ongoing) mah-jong related manga, only just started but seems promissing
Wolf and Spice (Ongoing) medieval trading and economics (meh I am a business student... this interests me)
Bah also I mention a few more series that I am following which have somewhat fallen of the radar; Kage Kara Mamoru, Busou Renkin, Kain
Manga good, anime not so good (bad), *falls of chair and faints*
Okay I still have not quite finished yet since I have neglected to mention the famous CLAMP. Thanks to Wikipedia a long drawn out rant is not necessary, just wiki clamp then click on clamp(manga artist). Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicle and xxxHOLiC are their current priority projects. I am an avid fan of both and they both are ranked as my favourites just above Death Note (so please take an interest and read it). The themes of synchronicity, fate, wishes, dreams, etc connect well with the storyline and between the two series. I really have no more energy to do this series justice. I will try to edit this at a later date. Yui Makino, Maaya Sakamoto, and Yuki Kajiura are notable singers/composers - youtube theme (don't need to watch really just listen).
Lastly youtube eminence and Joe Hisashi - pieces such as War War War Ghibli, Tonari no Totoro, Kimi wo Nosete are very soothing (listening to them now)
K bai, and I will edit this post soon hopefully ahh and the baka images
