Monday, October 16, 2006
	| First| Prev | Next |Last | Experimental Comic Kotone #492 "Laika 57" (Story Arc: Laika story arc) | First| Prev | Next |Last | "Laika 57" by Akira (2006-10-16) 2006/10/12 12:00 - Again I tried to wake up at 6 AM, but failed... I'll restart working on the comic strip when I get back from work around 10 PM. 2006/10/16 02:00 - I tried to draw but failed... I think I'll able to finish this morning... 2006/10/17 16:12 - I tried to wake up but failed, I'll try to finish the page when I return from work tonight. 2006/10/18 03:00 - Finally finished the page. I had difficult time with dialogs AGAIN as usual. I couldn't come up with a good image for 7th panel, so I went with hands again (just like last page)... Animation review continues. Hataraki Man #1 (A) Animation based on manga written by Moyoco Anno (published from "Morning" magazine). Moyoco can write a girl's comic like Sugar Sugar Rune (which became an anime too) and a realistic adult manga (meaning 'normal' adult men/women can read) like this. She is very talented. Ghost Hunt #2 (A) I like how this story progress, since you don't know if poltergeist happening in old school is real or fake. You don't know which one of characters are talking the truth: 1) a narcissistic science guy, 2) a shaman girl, 3) a blond ponytailed buddhist monk, 4) an exorcist boy, 5) a sexy miko, or 6) a strange school girl. Busou Renkin #2 (A-) I'm enjoying this series a lot. I love their strange jokes and lovable characters. I'm so waiting for "Papiyon" to fully show up. He is my favorite character from the original manga. Pumpkin Scissors #2 (A-) Animation follows one of manga episodes very closely. I wonder how much they can cover the story, since manga is still on-going... Yamato Nadeshiko Shichihenge #2 (B+) I'm enjoying gag scenes like how main character's nose-bleeding spread over floor after seeing a beautiful naked guy taking shower... I still like horror scenes of Sunako-chan. There are dancing sequences at ending (like Suzumiya Haruhi), but it's strange and scary -_-;... I'm sure noone will try to dance that... By the way, this anime is directed by Shinichi Watanabe who did "Excel Saga". 009-1 #2 (B) I'm quite impressed since character design are so much like Shoutarou Ishinomori. And I'm also impressed I'm enjoying the story too. Negima!? #2 (B) Animation of opening was cool. There wasn't any song part for most of the part, but maybe they might change it later? They used an interesting "frame" effects in some scene. I guess they are going to continue with "BakaRanger" series -_-; Red Garden #2 (B) I enjoy the battle scene, because it was rather realistic except for the last super-power jump scene. I assume it's super-powered girls fight against monsters" type anime. Asatteno Houkou #2 (B-) Story flows very slowly. I mean very slowly... Souten no Ken #2 (C+) Story follows a very standard hard-boiled(?) format. I wonder what Chinese people will think when they see this anime... Dai Mahou Touge #5 #6 (C+) I liked episode 6 better than 5, but Punie's submission move was quite cool in episdoe 5. I thought a tempo of jokes was little off for a gag anime... Tokimeki Memorial Only Love #2 (C) Episode about sport clubs trying to scout the main character. It was a typical slap-stick gag anime. All male characters are strange, just like typical love-sim games. Black Blood Brothers #2 (C) I didn't know vampires are weak against water... Third main character appeared from this episode. Nothing much happened in this episode. Otomeha Bokuni Koishiteru #2 (C+) Explains about "Elder Sister" system. Nothing much happened, since I know most of the story from the game. Super Robot Taisen OG #2 (C-) All the robot battles scenes are done in CGs. It doesn't look too bad. But I guess they don't have enough time or money to spend on animation part -_-; Please write your comment to this strip at pOnju forum

	Tuesday, October 17, 2006
	"Fall Anime" by Konstantin (2006-10-17) Finally got around to seeing some of the anime from the new season. Still spending most of my time finishing off the last season's shows, but here are my initial impressions. Kanon - In a word, moeeee~. Been looking forward to this one ever since KyoAni announced that they're doing the remake, and so far I am not the least bit disappointed. Beautiful animation, even more beautiful music, sad girls, snow, you know the drill. Might not be everyone's cup of tea, but I'm definitely going to be watching this one. I do wish they'd take the Nayuki route this time around, though. Needs moar frog clock. Death Note - Looks to be a very faithful adaptation of the manga so far. Considering that I've been buying up the manga as quickly as it's been getting translated, that's a good thing as far as I'm concerned. Looking forward to the logic puzzles and mind games. Needs moar MisaMisa. Pumpkin Scissors - Silly title aside, it seems to be a very solid show. Cute female lead bursting with nekketsu, quiet but competent male lead, war-wrecked world filled with story potential, what's not to like? Then again, I seem to be one of the two people on this planet who actually look forward to Gonzo shows because of rather than in spite of their Gonzoness, so your mileage may vary. Needs moar head-biting dog. Code Geass - It's like Red Dawn. In Japan. With mecha. And instead of Patrick Swayze there's a CLAMP prettyboy. Lots of cheese, over the top action, and puppy-kicking villainy. Good times. Black Blood Brothers - Generic vampire hunting vampires show #4234. The art style's pretty, though, and the main character looks like I-no from Guilty Gear (a good thing, in my book). Needs moar note-spitting hat. Busou Renkin - Generic shounen action show #23423. Don't know how faithful an adaptation of the manga this is (and considering how badly XEBEC managed to screw up Negima, this could be entirely their fault) but I expected more from Watsuki, considering that I still hold up his Rurouni Kenshin as an example of everything a shounen action show should be (through the Kyoto arc, at least). This feels like a stale rehash of Bleach and Fullmetal Alchemist, though. That said, Tokiko is made of win and sex, stabbity bits notwithstanding. D. Gray Man - Looks like a pretty formulaic monster-hunting show. Heard the manga for this was pretty popular, but dunno, this just failed to grab me. Seems like something I could watch in theory, but gives me no motivation to do so.

	Thursday, October 19, 2006
	"Slow days and Saimoe update" by Totaku (2006-10-19) *Sigh...this week has been a slow week. I am not sure what to discuss other than I had a realxing vaction... I just had my Fall Brake recently and I feel relived now that I got my stress out of the way during that time. Been sitting around playing Disgaea 2 waiting to see some of the remaining anime of the fall list before I give my quick review of first impressions of the fall anime. Besides that Saimoe is now in Quarter FInals now. 8 Characters remain, and as of today the quarterfinal matches have begun. Here is how they are lined up: Oct 20th Sawachika Eri VS Shana Oct 21st Suiseiseki VS Nagato Yuki Oct 22nd Fate Testarossa VS Eruru Oct 23nd Minamoto Chikaru VS Tohsaka Rin Anything can happen since we are dealing with 8 charaters all from different series. If you re interested in more feel free to check out the topic and you might find something interesting to do there. That about covers what I want to talk about today... Till next time... Ya Matta ^_^ -Totaku

	Sunday, October 22, 2006
	"Akira's Anime Reviews" by Akira (2006-10-22) I'm workin on pOnju anthology comic strips. I hope I can finish before the deadline. Code Geass #2 (A+) I didn't notice last time (since I draw comic strips while watching anime), but the map of the world shown at the beginning of the show clearlly tells kickass cool "Britannia" is USA ^_^; Geez, I wonder what American people think when they see this anime... I very much enjoyed second episode. I noticed this anime is pretty similar to "Death Note" in concenpt. The main character (Lelouch/Light), who is very smart/clever and filled with ambition to make this rotten world better, gets this super power (controls human mind or life) accidentally, and uses the power to to make the world better in his "own" way. I can't wait for the next episode. Pumpkin Scissors #3 (A-) I knew this story already since I read the manga already. It explains about the heroine quite well... I can't wait for the dance party episode. Ayakashi Ayashi #2 (B+) It's interesting that reason/cause (in this case "true name") need to be clarified in order to use the power... I think. I personally think it needed more explanation. Ginga Tetsudou Monogatari #2 (B+) It's very Reiji Matsumo type anime, and I don't dislike it a bit. Story is rather... easy to predict, but that's okay. Ghost Hunt #3 (B+) First mini-story arc ended with this episode. I was hoping they solve the mystery by more scientific/realistic solutions..., but it wasn't too bad. Sigh... Yamato Nadeshiko Shichihenge #2 (B+) This anime is filled with jokes, sometimes I feel there is too much. I was amazed when Nabeshin, who appeared a lot in "Excel Saga", appeared in this anime. I wish they spent little more money on animation... Kiniro no Corda #3 (B) I didn't know there was seven volumes of manga already existed. Sumomomo momomo #2 (B-) It was avery solid second episode of anime series, I think. Black Blood Brothers #3 (B-) Story is becoming clearer and it's getting better than I expected. More information about "Kowloon Child" vampires. Battle scenes are pretty cool (like how vampires stop bullets). Yoake Maeyori Ruriirona #2 (C+) I'm sure anime will follow Feena story arc (main story arc of the game). Feena's ending was very solid and very good (among Bishoujo games). I hope animation quality doesn't go down too much or fail to complete the story... Gift #2 (C+) Only way to distinguish between characters are hair colors. Pink, brown, blue, light-purple, and blond. Kujibiki Unbalance #2 (C+) Story is very simple and filled with slapstick actions/jokes. Characters are very predictable/formulatic, but animation moves a lot. Tokimeki Memorial Only Love #3 (C) One of girls fell in love with the main character already. I wonder how many girls will fell in love with this natural playboy... Shounen Onmyouji #2 (D+) Very typical episode continues. Nothing much I can say about it, other than heroine (princess) appeared in this episode. Lovely Idol #2 (D+) Two more girls will be added to the group... Wow.