| "Saimoe, Fall anime, and Hugurashi Analysis" by Totaku (2006-10-12) |
It seems lately, I keep get myself into lots of perdicerments as I have lots of work that keeps me busy and makes me unable to update, thankfully the pruessure is lifted for now.
Anyways, In Saimoe, we are now in the Block Finals, and it seems the days just continue to get more vicious as we count down to the top Moe.
In the first round Eri from School Rumble just barely managed to overcome the challenge of Mion Sonazaki from Higrashi within 5 votes.
Follow this up with the Fate vs. Nanoha where in the end Fate was the one befriending Nanoha and thus Fate advanced forward.
Just recently, we had saw that Chikaru from StrawBerry Panic made a shocking impression by taking out Shinku.
...and now we are currently in Block D with Suiseiseki of Rozen Maiden vs. Alice Carroll of ARIA.
the rest of the week will continue with more intesne matches including Yuki vs. Mikuru, Shana vs. Aruru, Rin vs. Yurie, Tamoa vs. Eruru...
Once this fight was over, then the remaining eight will be shuffled and placed in the quarter finals....anything can happen at this point and it looks like this year, Saimoe continues to surpise us as ever.
For more info and conversation regarding the event, feel free to come to the thread and we can discuss the remain part of the tournament and also learn how to vote if interested.
The next thing on the list is to talk about Fall animes. It seems this year has been full of good stuff and it seems that it just keeps coming....
As for this season, I have plans to watch 6 different animes (if I have the time). The Kanon remake, Negima?!, Bartender, Death Note, Kujibiki Unbalanced, and Happiness! Lemme give you a quick idea on my thoughts on these...
Kanon- This version is a remake of the old 2002 version and it based on a visual novel by KEY. I've had a chance to see the first episode of this and I was litterally taken off my feet by it's beauty and love. This is an anime that will probably become memorable epecially since Kyoto Animations is working on this. Everything about it is remrkably beautiful and pretty, and yet I feel something tragic will happen as well. I shall be definetely looking at this one.
Negima!?- Ok, I know I didn't see the first Negima, but after hearing how bad off the first anime format of Ken Akamatsu's manga was I knew I needed to stay away. This time however the Pani Poni Dash team is working on this...and it is taking a whole new direction in this revivsion, alot of things are going to change here, I'm not sure if I'll like it or not, but it's worth taking a shot....(PS: Be sure to look at all the quote references to QUALITY anime on the chalk board on the first episode, it's a laugh. XD)
Bartender- Huh? What? An anime about a Bartender.....serve me up a couple of good ones cause this look like it might have some serious potential! (I'll check on this later)
Death Note I'm certain people already heard of this. But as you know Death Note is now in anime format. I had werid thoughts on how they would approch it since I consider Death Notes style is unique compared to most styles....but in the end, this anime has turned out to b a winner. Definetely worth looking into.
Kujibiki Unbalanced This one was sorta a surprise too. Considering how good Genshinken was, I would have never thought the team behind this would even try to make an anime off of the parody anime which the whole club tema form Genshinken watched. XD This might be interesting....but only if it can be good. I noticed some QUALITY moments in it that makes me wonder if it'll be worth it. But I'll give it some time. I expect it'll get better. ^^
Happiness! If you heard of the game and played it from that point and liked it...good. But if you heard of it due to the Jun fandom that has been spread across the net....then you all have probably been facinated in see your lovable trap in anime format. It seems every where I go I hear about Jun and seen Jun all the time. I can see why people like Jun, he is probably the most interesting trap to waltz in since Bridget....ahem....Anyways, the anime is based on the game from the same title. And it'll probably turn out good for a Magical Girl Harem....for all the Jun lovers out there....please don't expect Jun to be the main focus. ^^;; We all know his role is minor even though we love him to death. ^^;;;;;
Hehe, ok now to finsh up my rant with my Analysis on Higurashi No Naku Koro Ni.
Higurashi no Naku Koro Ni analysis
Welcome to Hinamizawa
The year is 1983, and we are in a small village called Hinamizawa, a small peaceful village where life seems normal...however....things aren't always what they seem....lately a string a murders have been occuring in his small town. During every June on the Watanagashi Festival, somebody dies, and somebody disappears... this leads to many to belive that this is the "curse" from a god known as "Oyashiro-sama". But during this June....things would take a shocking turn as certain charaters fall into the path of insanity within each arc....so what is behind the muders? What is the mystery of the village? Who is Oyashiro-sama? The mystery itself unfold as the viewer watch this horrifiying anime as they try to perdict what is happening. Can you figure out what is behind all this?....
Meeting the people of Hinamizawa
Hinamizawa is full of all sorts of interesting people....and yet in each arc we get to see certain things chance between them.
Keiichi- Keiichi is a young student who moved to Hinamizawa not too long ago. He's been attending a school that he's been having a wonderful time at, He's even made four friends (who are all girls) that he hangs out with and attends thier club. However, Keiichi also has a shadowed past as well. What could he be hiding....I wonder, I wonder....
Rena- Rena Ryuguu, one of Keiichi's friends....she a nice and kind hearted girl, who has a loving way of talking and has an obbsession on cute things. She along with her friends also attendes the club. But like Keiichi, she also has secerts too....
Mion- Mion Sonozaki, another friend of Keiichi, she's the club leader of the club that all her firends attends. She has a nice, sharp, smart aleck personality, and is loveable to live with. But at the same time, she also lives the life of a Yakuza hier to a family organization that runs the village....what could she be hiding?
Satoko-Satoko Houjou, another friend of Keiichi, she may be younger than most of the people in the club, but she also a clever girl and sneaky too. She is also known as the master of the traps. But she has a troubled life as well......what can it be?
Rika- Rika Furude, a friend of Keiichi as well and roughly the same age as Satoko. Rika may be a little girl by nature, but she also is a cute loveable girl because of her nice personality and her cute phrases such as "Mi~" and "Ni-pa~" which makes anyone think of her as cute. She is also the head Priestress that performs in the Feasitval each year....but she has something mysterious about her as well....
Shion- Shion Sonozaki, an identical twin sister of Mion. Work as a waitress in Hinamizawa. Shion has a nice going personality as well and can be smart alecky if she wants...but being that she's connected with Mion....she too is a mystery.....
Tomitake- A camera man, who appears one day in Hinamizawa to take pictures and check out the village, loving guy and nice person. He comes to the village each year, however on June 1983......
Takano-A woman who works a a nurse in Hinamizawa, she also takes a day off to hang with Takano (she knows him) on the day of the Feasitval. Have has a modest like personality...however on June 1983.....
Ooishi- Vertran Police Detective who has been coming to Hinamizawa to invesitgate the scene of murders that have been occuring during the same year. He want to hopfully solve this mystery soon, but can he?
Irie-A doctor in Hinamizawa, works there to help the sick, he also is a nice going man, he also manages a baseball team as well. But can a doctor be hiding something?....
Arasakasa- A young police officer who visits Hinamizawa back in 1978. He came thier to investigate a kidnaping that occured....but he also recives a forwarned message as well form a certain someone....
Looking into the arcs
The Question Arcs
The question arc are 4 dirrent chapters that go through various situations of the same charaters. We get to learn about the charaters and what goes on and we get to see how thing spiral downward as someone goes insane and it leads to some creepy killing. And yet it seems the main charater of each of the story dies....so what do in that occasion? Simply Reset and relook at it in another way. The 4 arc repesent sent the same place, but yet different situations....All you should be doing is gathering information and coming up with theories as of this point....
The Answer Arc
The Answer arc unvails the mysteries in a different light by helping you get some nessary clues to help solve the mystery. there are a total of 4 chapters in this arc as well. And as you look though these,,,,your answers behind who done it, the mystery of the town, and the myths will all be solved over time....The anime however stops after the 6th arc....but by then you should have enough information to center your mystery done to someone at least....
Impression on the anime
Well I've seen the whole thing and I have to say I enjoyed it pretty much. What I explained above, is a good idea of how the atmoshpere of the game is like and you'll learn more as you watch it. You can get really deep into this anime if you like to go solve mystery or just like really scary stuff. While it is promising, I would like to note that the anime only covers roughly 33% of what the sound novel covers. But it does cover the most vital information that you will need. The charaters are all loveable, and the intensity is great but there are times that I wish the animation quality was better As during some animations the charaters looks creepy during certain animation movements. But even though all this, it still somewhat captutes the feel to an extent.
Highlights of the anime
WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD!
1st arc- The whole first arc is very creepy in genral. ALot of scary stuff happens to Keiichi that drives him into panic and fear....And Rena is also got some promising Highlight with her creepy scene (epecially in Episode3 and 4) This also include the scene with the door which is very heart trembling...
Rika's Prohecy This part was a big shock when I saw the 4th arc cause it started to make some of the puzzles I been trying to solve fit together. This part is very crtial too.
Shion's spiral into Insanity: 5th Arc While the second arc, may have left you guessing, the fifth arc let you know alot, epecially since we learn alot about Shion, and watching her fall down instanty road is a trip. The arc was excellent in many ways....
Keiichi vs. Rena rooftop showdown While not as epic as the game, the anime does manage to capture it to a goood extent, even if the animtion is a little jerky. Worth it for finally....
Not a highlight, but an important fact....
Good Ending in my 6th Arc? The way the anime ends is sort of a confusing note...cause it ends like a good ending but not exactly a good ending. For some odd reason DEEN decided to skip the "plot twist" that would explain what happpen and just jumped to a small portion of the 7th arc as it's final piece for the show....not exaclty a good way to end it....but whatever....
END SPOILER
Well that conclude it here...feel free to send comments in the forum if you like...it'll next time.
Ja Matta. ^_^
-Totaku