I finally got an ABnet account! Check it out here:
http://subculture.animeblogger.net/

This is what I really wanted to do in the first place, so I’m very happy about it. I have some plans for this blog in the back of my mind, but I probably won’t get to it for awhle. Well until then~

Forget Comcast, I know what I’m switching to right away!

http://www.google.com/tisp/

The set up looks so easy that you can get started right away!

Now Google is one step closer to taking over the world.

(April Fools.)

Sorry for the lack of updates lately. I’ve been doing a lot of behind the scenes graphics work, and trying to get involved in a lot of other communities. I’ve also been trying to get involved with a blogging community specifically for anime (cause I know all of you that read this blog aren’t that interested of it or hate it lol). If I can get set up there, I will make this more of a personal blog, with graphic projects and stuff probably. Until then, looking forward to the summer! I’m planning on getting lots of work done. ^

1. Buiiki Kaesu!!
2. Zetsubou Billy
3. Kuso Breakin Nou Breakin Lily
4. Louisiana Bob
5. Policeman Benz
6. Black Yen Power G-Man Spy
7. Akagi
8. Kyoukatsu
9. Bikini Sports Punchin
10. What’s up, people?!
11. Chu Chu Lovely Muni Muni Mura Mura Purin Purin Boron Nurururerorero
12. Shimi
13. Koi no Mega Lover

This album actually came out like two days ago, but I didn’t get a chance to check it out till today. It has both the Death Note OP2 and ED2 in it, as well as other songs from their various other mini albums and singles. While listening to it, it’s obvious where their influence comes from (American Punk Rock). I loved the album. It seems to have a lot more quality than their previous albums, while keeping a good punk rock sound.

Recomended!

We actually went to watch this last night at the Pinnacle 18, but I was too tired to blog it then. Well, the movie is pure action. We go from fight scene to fight scene, all of which were amazing. There is a plot, but anyone who knows their greek mythology will already know what happens to the 300 Spartans in the end. It’s like watching the Titanic and ‘wondering what’s going to happen’. The filmography was great. Most of the movie is done in bluescreen to mimic the original graphic novel’s look, from which the movie is based on. There were some very impressive scenes. Anyone who likes the whole action war thing will like this movie.

Tonight, we dine in Hell!

1. Boys Be Suspicious
2. Phantom
3. the WORLD
4. Criminal baby
5. Alice
6. crevasse
7. 18sai
8. Black Sick Spider
9. Gianism shichi
10. The Fool
11. Alumina
12. Morpho
13. ~lulu~

Got Nightmare’s new album today. Of course the Death Note OP and EDs, the WORLD and Alumina, are on it. I’m not really big into the whole japanese goth rock stuff though, so whatever. The wailing and stuff just doesn’t appeal to me. However, I did like the transitions and stuff in the begining. It was a decent listen.

The human body consists of 46 chromosomes, 23 from each parent.
2/3= .666
11:12 PM – 11 + 12 = 23
February 3 – 23

So is 23 a blessing or a curse? The number, what does it mean?

The Number 23 is about a man who comes across a book that seems to be based on his life. Within the book are many hidden messages, but they all lead to one thing. The number 23. He becomes obsessed with this book, but the closer he gets to solving its mystery, the more troubling it becomes to himself and his family.

Jim Carrey playing a serious role? Yea, he pulled it off though. Death and paranoia are central themes in this film. Throughout the movie, the number 23 is displayed everywhere. We are constantly given things that relate to the 23 enigma. The theme of near insanity was constant in the movie, as we watch the protagonist tear himself apart. The movie definitely falls under the psychological genre that I love so much. The movie also featured some subtle humor Actually, you might say the movie was more of a comedy than a thriller, depending on how you look at things (Suicide girl’s scene…priceless). I loved the scenes from the movie, including the text written on the characters’ arms and on the walls. The scenes from the book were also nice. I would recommend this movie to anyone who is looking for a psychological thriller with some humor to go with it.

You’re looking for 23, so you’re finding it.

1. 遠雷 〜遠くにある明かり〜
2. レジスタンス
3. DIVE into YOURSELF（YOUR VOICE Version）
4. 恋心
5. オキザリス
6. ハミングバード
7. The moon illuminates
8. 夜明け前
9. 三度目の桜
10. 火花
11. 睡蓮
12. LAST WORD
13. a shape of love
14. 辿り着く場所
15. オキザリス（MOVIE VERSION）

HIGH and MIGHTY COLOR’s third album came out today, and I was a lot more excitied about it than UVERworld’s album. As usual we have Maakii’s pretty voice paired with Yuusuke’s crazy vocals. Once again, they go for a new sound without straying too far from their rock/pop sound that we enjoy. Just like Gounon Progressive, some of the songs reminded me of soundtracks for movies. This isn’t too suprising, since quite a few of their songs have been featured in major films. I’m a pretty big HAMC fan, and this album didn’t disappoint me.

Episode one of Byousoku 5 Centimeter opens up with a girl named Shinohara Akari telling her friend Toono Takaki that sakura petals fall at the speed of five centimeters per second. She comments that it looks like snow. He simply agrees with her as they watch the sakura blossoms fall. She hopes that they can watch them together again next year.

The scenes shift to the future, and we are shown Takaki doing various school activities, while we hear Akari’s dialog as she talks about how things are on her side. The two have been exchanging letters since they have been separated, a year ago after their elementary school graduation. We find out that Takaki is moving to an even further place, so they have agreed to meet once more on March 4, before he has to leave.

We are shown a few flashbacks to their childhood. In one scene, they find a cat that Takaki mentions is always there. Akari mentions that it looks lonely today, and that it must be sad to be alone. We also see Takaki defending Akari from other kids who had been making fun of them for being a couple. He mentions that as long as they were together, they weren’t bothered by any of this. He talks about their similarities, like how they would both rather spend time in the library than outside, and how they were alike spiritually somehow. For some reason, they thought they would both transfer to the same junior-high, and stay happy forever.

In the next couple of scenes, we watch Takaki as he travels across the trainstation. We get another flashback, where Takaki finds out that Akari is transferring over the phone. He was of course frustrated, but at the same time he could feel her pain, and regretted that he couldn’t do anything to help her. The trains are constantly being delayed because of the heavy snow, and Takaki mentions that every minute he waited felt like an eternity. He remembers when he got Akari’s first letter, how happy he was, and how long it took him to write a reply. Whenever he pictured Akari from the letters, she was always alone.

Takaki finally reaches his destination, but he has become extremely late because of the delays. He doesn’t think that Akari would be waiting any more, but he is surprised when he sees her sitting alone next to a heater. When she sees him, she grabs onto his coat and starts to cry. Akari has prepared lunch for Takaki and herself to eat. Takaki says that it is the best food he has ever had, but Akari says that it is because he is so hungry. The station employee tells them that no more trains are running and that the station is closing. He tells them to be careful because of the snow.

As they both walk outside, Akari points out a large tree. The cherry tree that she had mentioned in one of her letters. A flashback goes back to when Akari had mentioned that the cherry blossoms looked like snow. Standing there, it is like it was back then. At that moment, they embrace each other, and share a kiss.

That night, they spend the night in an old shed under one blanket, talking for hours before falling asleep. In the morning, Takaki is boarding a train while Akari bids him farewell. They both thank each other, and tell each other to take care. Takaki says that he will be writing and calling, as the train doors shut. As the train leaves, Takaki remembers that he forgot to tell Akari about the letter he meant to give her. He had lost it to the wind while traveling through the stations. Because he felt like that kiss had changed the world altogether, all he wanted was the strength to protect her. At that moment, we see Akari take out a letter from her bag that she couldn’t give him as well.

The ED theme is Yamazaki Masayoshi’s One more time, One more chance. We get a preview of the next short story, told in the view of a girl who has feelings for Takaki while he is in Kagoshima.

Impression

This episode definitely lived up to my expectations. The animation was beautiful and the story was extremely heartfelt and emotional. The soundtrack was as good as it was in the trailers, but it was more subtle than I thought it would be. I loved the parallels from the past to the present, and how the dialog was told. The animation, especially during the long train scenes and flashbacks, definitely strengthened the emotions of the characters. I could almost feel the two characters’ feelings reach me, which was to be expected from this type of film. I cannot wait to see the next two short stories. I suspect that they will be even stronger than this one, since this is more or less an intro. The next arc looks very interesting.

Byousoku 5 Centimeter (5 Centimeters per Second) is actually a movie told in three short stories. The plot centers around a boy and girl, and their separation and reunion. It is being directed by Shinkai Makoto, the same person who did The Place Promised in Our Early Days, and it looks nothing less than amazing.

I’ve been waiting to see this since I saw the preview a couple of months ago. The first episode has actually aired already on Yahoo Japan. It is a romance drama, which is my favorite genre (besides maby slice of life comedies). So, I will definitely be blogging this when I can get my hands on it.

As for blogging other anime, I probably won’t be doing any full season shows right now. I don’t really have the time and I’m behind in starting this season anyways. Depending on how things go, however, I may start blogging in the spring season. This is especially because shows like Nagasarete Airantou and Lucky Star, two highly anticipated shows, are going to be airing.

Look forward to my first anime blog post! ^