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August, 2011:

Ikoku Meiro no Croisee Episode 9

Aug 31st, 2011
by marthaurion.
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Well, this is super late. Anyways, back at the Blanche mansion, Alice takes Yune outside to show her that she has set up a Japanese style area for tea. Yune ends up having to show Alice how to prepare the tea, but Alice has trouble with the sugarless tea (just like I’d expect from a European). She also has trouble sitting in seiza, which brings some laughs. Meanwhile, Claude continues to flashback to his time with Camille. Although she’s very playful with Claude at first, Camille slowly starts to refuse his more childish suggestions (despite still being a child) and never leaves the house with him. Claude slowly takes on a similar attitude as well. Camille also flashes back to a time when she was anxiously waiting for Claude and went to the Galerie du Roy to look for him. She arrives at the Enseignes du Roy to find Claude working with his father, peering at them through a window. Claude notices her though and she runs off. Claude catches up to her, but she tells him that her nannies are keeping Claude a secret from her mother on the condition that she never leaves the house. After talking with Yune in the present, Claude realizes that Camille was carrying a burden as a child because she cared about Claude. Sigh…Claude is kinda dense, huh? This show is entertaining for a reason I can’t quite place.

Kamisama Dolls Episode 9

Aug 30th, 2011
by marthaurion.
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Alright, I’ll do Ikoku Meiro no Croisee tomorrow, so let’s finish up for the day. This week’s episode starts with the detective (father of Kuuko) coming into the restaurant. He starts to ask Utao some questions and Utao answers nervously, which causes him to suspect her. Meanwhile, Aki is still staying with Kuuko, who is hacking her father’s computer to find more information. Moyako makes a surprise appearance at the restaurant and checks up on Kukuri. She notices that Utao used Kukuri’s left hand (it’s how she shot up Takemikazuchi) and reveals that Kyohei was the first in centuries to be able to open Kukuri’s left hand. When Kyohei and Hibino return, Moyako tells them that she came back because Koushiro asked her to bring back Takemikazuchi in a rush. She refused to return it until it was perfectly repaired, so Koushiro paid for her to finish the work in Tokyo. Kuuko continues to try to get information out of Aki, but he refuses to say anything. However, her father shows up to check on her. He searches around and finds nothing, but Aki escapes through the window. Kyohei calls Koushiro and asks about how Kirio is doing, but Koushiro tells him not to worry. Kyohei tries to ask him about his business in Tokyo, but Koushiro won’t talk. Kyohei organizes a time for Kirio and Utao to meet and Kyohei and Koushiro make Kirio promise not to fight with Utao anymore. However, at that moment, a girl Seki appears, who Koushiro recognizes as a girl named Mahiru, and hugs Kyohei as the episode ends. Everyone’s interested in Kyohei. Well, I guess we’ll see where this goes.

Yuru Yuri Episode 9

Aug 30th, 2011
by marthaurion.
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Finally, I’m back. So, in this episode, the girls are trying to beat the heat, but are rather unsuccessful, so they go to the student council room, which has air conditioning. There, they find a girl that they don’t recognize and assume she’s a ghost, due to the topic of their recent conversation. The four run away in fear, and we are introduced to two more characters. First off, the girl in the student council room, Matsumoto, is actually the student council president. Secondly, we have the mad scientist, Nishigaki, who is friends with Matsumoto. Matsumoto is soft-spoken, which gives Ayano a hard time when she tries to hear what she’s saying, however Nishigaki is able to hear it. Nishigaki, on the other hand, is banned from the science room, so she runs her experiments in the student council room with Matsumoto there to discuss her ideas with. The other girls return to the student council room just as Nishigaki is blowing it up. Chitose formally introduces the student council president as Matsumoto Rise, and reveals that she was with them all along, including during the beach trip. Ayano then asks about how Matsumoto helps with Nishigaki’s experiments, which causes her to blush (with the yuri fantasy mode background…hmm). The episode ends with Akari showing up to reveal that she was never with the girls that day, suggesting that the Akari in this episode was actually a ghost. Pretty entertaining episode and a nice one to welcome me back home. I can’t believe they’re introducing more characters, but I can’t say I dislike it. Also, more character songs for the commercial breaks were win!

Sengoku Basara

Aug 29th, 2011
by marthaurion.
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Sengoku Basara

Another one of those series that got recommended to me by the same guy that recommended Black Butler. This story is pretty simple to understand. Date Masamune and Yukimura Sanada are two rival warriors that are forced to join together to face the threat of the Devil King Oda Nobunaga. It’s set in the past in an age of swords, spears, and random ninja (although firearms are present). Other than that, there really isn’t much to the story. I would have liked to see some twists or something, but everything really ended up being fairly straightforward.

Story: Score 7/10

The characters of his series are for the most part amazing. Date Masamune is the leader of his own gang of warriors and is known as the One-Eyed Dragon. He becomes a sort of focus for the series, with Yukimura kind of tagging along. Date fights with 6 swords (at once if that wasn’t obvious) and is a very inspirational leader. He’s an interesting character that tends to include random English in his speech (if you’re watching dubs, you’re totally missing out). Besides him, we have Yukimura Sanada, an overzealous and hot-headed follower of Takeda Shingen (maybe even slightly obsessive). Although his strength is able to rival Date’s, he often loses and sort of falls into a bit more of a secondary main character role. Without going into the rest of the characters too much, I just wanted to point out that Kasuga, a ninja serving Uesugi Kenshin, annoyed the crap out of me. Yes, I understand that she’s in love with her lord, but for Pete’s sake, stop making unnecessary scenes with her (feels good to get that out of my system). Other than that, the other supporting characters are pretty cool, although none of them have much depth.

Characters: Score 9/10

The animation of this series was really enjoyable. Being originally a video game, we see video game-like attacks coming out of everyone, but they’re all well done. I’m also not sure if this is because of the video game precursor (VG animation was still fairly low tech back then), but there didn’t seem to be much blood for a show about war. The music wasn’t bad and I enjoyed the opening and ending.

Animation: Score 9/10

Music: Score 8/10

While this series looked nice and was pretty exciting, the ending was very predictable and some of the points in the story didn’t really interest me too much. It’s the kind of show I’d watch with like teenagers for the action and the violence, with minimal splatter. There wasn’t much in character development and everything just seemed the same at the end (which set the stage for a sequel that was structured exactly the same way).

Final Score: 7/10

Kamisama no Memochou Episode 8

Aug 28th, 2011
by marthaurion.
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Picking up right where we left off, Narumi rushes to the hospital in response to his call telling him that the Fourth was attacked. He is in unstable condition and unconscious, which Narumi relays to Alice. Maki calls from the concert to ask Narumi to email her the concert documents. However, when Narumi goes to do it, he finds an email from the Fourth addressed to him, half done and telling him that he’s in charge if something were to happen to the Fourth. Narumi goes back to the ramen shop to find the rest of the guys ready to go out and kill Renji, but he is able to stop them from dirtying the Fourth’s name and they acknowledge him as leader. Later, Alice warns Narumi that Renji had miscalculated because of Narumi and that he will come after him soon. Narumi goes back to his job helping with the concert and the day of the concert arrives. Narumi isolates himself and has the vocals of the band wear a replica of Renji’s shirt to lure him out, which succeeds. Alice appears to reveal that the embroidery on Renji’s real shirt is the same as that of Narumi’s concert shirt. She concludes that they must have been made by the same person (wait…what???). Alice reveals that Hison survived, but lost her womb in the incident, and that she is actually the owner of the shop Narumi had visited so many times, having taken the name Yoshiki. Renji asks why the Fourth hid everything and Alice responds that he was trying to protect Renji from the information that Hison was with the Gotouda Group’s leader and pregnant. The Fourth then shows up in his injured state to confirm everything. The Fourth and Renji get into a fistfight and finally resolve their issues. The concert goes off without a hitch and Narumi later returns to the ramen shop to find Renji’s sunglasses there. Narumi grabs them and rushes off to Alice, who tells him where Renji is and gives him Renji’s shirt. Narumi finds Renji, asking him to stay in Tokyo, but Renji insists on leaving. Narumi returns Renji’s shirt, but with the embroidery finally finished, and Renji leaves.

Sigh…I feel like I should have seen this coming, but for some reason, I didn’t. Anyways, a nice way to finally end this arc.

Just FYI

Aug 27th, 2011
by marthaurion.
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So, I’m going to be leaving (in about 30 minutes) to go to Rhode Island to meet with my family. I get back on Tuesday, so until then I won’t be able to make posts. However, I have a post on Kamisama no Memochou that I’ve scheduled to release tomorrow and a review that will come out on Monday, so you can still read your daily posts while I’m gone. When I get back on Tuesday, I’ll have Yuru Yuri, Ikoku Meiro no Croisee, and Kamisama Dolls done, so you can enjoy those too. Sorry for the trouble, but I hope you enjoy the posts that are scheduled!

Ro-Kyu-Bu Episode 8

Aug 27th, 2011
by marthaurion.
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This week’s episode starts off where last week’s left off, which Aoi showing up at the girl’s practice to find Subaru. Mihoshi shows up to explain to Aoi that she asked him to coach the girls. Aoi notices Airi as she’s dragging Subaru off, and later reveals that she’s jealous of her height. Later, Aoi is trying to give Subaru some notes for the upcoming tests and finds out that he has gone over to Maho’s teach Airi how to swim again. She shows up at Maho’s mansion and kicks Subaru into the pool. Aoi tries to get Subaru to leave, but Subaru refuses, explaining what coaching means to him and asking her to leave them. However, Aoi challenges them to a game…in swimsuits (lol). The elementary school girls take an early lead, but Aoi turns it around when he figures out Subaru’s coaching style. Aoi points out to the girls that the only way to match her is with height, which depresses Airi. Airi finally decides to help and tries to guard Aoi. Aoi taunts Airi before making her shot and Airi brings out the courage to block it. Aoi concedes after that shot and allows Subaru to continue coaching. Finally test day comes and while Subaru’s taking his tests, Airi successfully swims across the pool at her school. The episode ends with Aoi and Subaru watching a video of this and with Subaru returning some notes that Aoi gave him.

Dantalian no Shoka Episode 7

Aug 27th, 2011
by marthaurion.
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This week’s episode starts with Huey and Dalian buying some famous buns to eat. However, just as they get them, a woman rushes into the store and begs Huey to save her from some people who are chasing her. Dalian refuses, so the woman grabs their food as collateral. Huey tries to stop the men, and the woman tries to escape, but trips. Later, Huey and Dalian are talking with the woman’s father, who reveals that she is actually a talented perfume maker named Fiona. He mentions a book that Fiona used to create her most famous perfume, which interests Huey and Dalian. Huey asks to talk with Fiona, and she surprises Dalian with her acute sense of smell. Huey and Dalian are asking Fiona about the Phantom Book when a deranged man knocks on the door begging for something called Relic. He reveals that men from the Padauk Firm are trying to kill Fiona’s father and the three rush off to find him dead. Two men named Noth and Vance reveal that they are there to steal the recipe for Relic, a narcotic perfume, and kill all that know it. Huey starts to fight with Noth, but is at a disadvantage because Noth is numb to pain. Fiona takes a stab meant for Huey and then hits Noth with a different perfume, a sort of Anti-Relic. Noth passes out from the pain and Fiona hits Vance with a hypnotism perfume. Huey reaches into Dalian’s chest to grab a Phantom Book to heal Fiona. Fiona agrees to return the Phantom Book, but then hits Huey with a perfume that knocks him out. He awakes to find Dalian tied up and Fiona gone. Huey realizes that Fiona has gone over to Padauk firm and the two rush over to find everyone dead. They find Fiona shot, but they can’t use the Phantom Book again and she dies. The episode ends with Huey and Dalian burning down Fiona’s lab and discovering the scent that she had been looking for, the scent that made everyone happy, washing over the town.

A pretty interesting episode, but it reminded me too much of Getbackers.

iDOLM@STER Episode 8

Aug 26th, 2011
by marthaurion.
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Alright, finally finishing up the stuff from yesterday. We start off with Makoto and Azusa being hired for a job in a wedding magazine, with Azusa in a wedding gown and Makoto in a tux. Azusa takes a phone call and finds herself outside when she finishes. Another woman in a similar dress runs into her, dropping a box that Azusa picks up. A bunch of men in suits show up and mistake Azusa for the bride and drag her off. Makoto shows up just ask Azusa is being forced into a car that drives off. The men realize that they have taken the wrong girl and kick Azusa out on the street. Azusa opens the box to find a ring with a ridiculously large gem on it. The men also realize that she has this ring and rush off to find her again. While Azusa deals with various things trying to get back like an old lady and some lost kids, Makoto and the men in suits frantically search around for her. While Makoto ends up fighting with the men in suits, Azusa is asked to watch over a divination stand and meets the groom of the bride from the beginning of the episode. Azusa gets on a Ferris Wheel by mistake and sees the bride, chasing after her to return the ring. Meanwhile Makoto and the men in suits also find Azusa and chase after her. The result is a large crowd following Azusa as she finally returns the ring. After meeting the groom, the bride finally agrees to marry him (what a shallow girl). This episode had so many insert songs…

Mawaru Penguindrum Episode 7

Aug 26th, 2011
by marthaurion.
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Number 2: Showing those roaches who's boss

We start off with Ringo in Tabuki’s basement, like the end of last week’s episode, listening in on him. The next day, Ringo is excited when Tabuki invites her out to watch a play, but finds out that it’s actually Yuri’s play. When the play ends, Yuri is bombarded with fans, so Tabuki suggests that Ringo go out to eat with him. However, Yuri has already booked a restaurant and tells them to wait for her there. At the restaurant, Yuri and Tabuki invite Ringo and Shouma to a party at Yuri’s. At the party, Yuri announces that she is retiring and that she is now engaged to Tabuki (so predictable). Meanwhile, Kanba has another meeting with the trench coat guy to get money for their house and ask about the memory loss bullet. Ringo forces Shouma to perform a ritual, allowing a frog to lay eggs on his back, so that she can use the eggs for a love elixir. However, Number 2 ends up eating the eggs before Ringo can get them. The Penguin Hat orders Shouma to find some way to get Tabuki and Ringo together. Meanwhile, Ringo realizes that the M in Project M stands for maternity and sneaks into Tabuki’s room while he’s sleeping as the episode ends.

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