Shakugan no Shana Second 19

灼眼のシャナ II Episode 19

SPOILER Summary: As Yuuji is surrounded by the various copies of Zarovee, he realizes this Tomogara is a Jaeger -- one that gathers intelligence and thus is not a good fighter. Because Zarovee's presence is so small, he would be undetected by the Flame Haze. However, from the reports that Yuuji had seen from Outlaw, such a weak Tomogara would almost certainly be accompanied by a combat Tomogara known as a Wanderer. Yuuji starts to get angry and causes "Red Zarovee" to merge with "Light Blue Zarovee" (based on their scarf color). However, despite their fear of Yuuji's power, Yuuji is reminded that the city will be in serious danger if he harms them. Yuuji decides he needs more information.

At Yuuji's home, Shana has Chigusa drink the tea that Wilhelmina made. She also has the bento that Yoshida had made and tells Chigusa that Wilhelmina is making a remedy food for her.

In town, Tanaka meets with Ogata for their date. Down the street, Yuuji follows Red Zarovee (who'd separated from "Light Blue") and as he continues to try to figure out the Tomogara plan, he realizes that he needs to get word to the Flame Haze. He sees Tanaka and so makes a scene with Red, and in doing so, loudly lets Tanaka know he needs help without giving it away. Ogata sees this as well and wants to follow them in case Yuuji is in trouble. Tanaka figures out Yuuji's message, but struggles with what to do since he longs to keep Ogata out of this mess. In the end, he runs, with Ogata in tow, to Sato's house, where he makes his report. However, he still won't join them and seeing Ogata, Margery Daw understands tells him to get her far away from there.

Shana returns home where Wilhelmina is cooking. The bookmark she has from Margery starts glowing, indicating trouble. Elsewhere, Margery and Sato are on a roof, where Margery is waiting, letting the Tomogara know there is a Flame Haze in the vicinity. Still elsewhere, Yuuji has been feverishly trying to figure out Zarovee's plan. Zarovee reveals they are almost at the site of the battle. Yuuji knows that Zarovee can't cast a very large Fuzetsu, so what is the meaning of this? He realizes that Zarovee is simply a cage to capture the Flame Haze that are coming. Since they are now under a clouded glass ceiling, Yuuji figures that the Wanderer is going to make a massive ranged attack to take out the trapped Flame Haze.

Indeed, at a rooftop far from where various Zarovee and Yuuji are, Bifrons is waiting for Zarovee's orange Fuzetsu to activate as a signal to start the attack. Since Yuuji knows an attack is coming, he refuses to go the last little distance that Zarovee wants to go and instead activates his own silver Fuzetsu. He understands that he never wanted to leave Misaki City like he said and knows he will have to apologize to both Shana and Yoshida. He fires a fireball which takes out one Zarovee. As the other Zarovee's rush up, he strangles Red. Orange and Blue are afraid and he fires another fireball at them, taking them out. He then summons Blutsauger and hurls it at the final Zarovee, killing him.

Retrieving the sword and returning it to bookmark form, Yuuji carefully looks around and confirms his theory about the Wanderer attack. He calls for Shana, who quickly arrives with Wilhelmina. He briefs them on the situation and the forthcoming Wanderer attack. Wilhelmina tells Yuuji to keep the Fuzetsu up as she grabs him with her ribbons and leaps up into the sky, followed by Shana. They find the flame from Bifrons, who's looking much like a giant cannon preparing to fire. Wilhelmina launches Shana towards Bifrons location, but she won't make it in time, so Shana fires her own ranged attack to meet Bifrons, countering it and destroying the Tomogara in the process.

Margery and Sato arrive on the scene, having missed all the combat. Wilhelmina and Tiamat reluctantly agree that Yuuji is a good partner for Shana based on the just won battle. Yuuji still feels uneasy about the scene of the battle. However, even while still dangling from Wilhelmina's ribbons, he starts to talk to Shana (to apologize?) when sure enough, the smoking wreckage of the battle erupts into bright, large flames.

Thoughts: This was another good episode. Yuuji certainly has come a long way from that quivering thing he was in the first episode of the first series. Granted, taking out a weak Tomogara wasn't much, but it was still pretty wicked. Interesting that Zarovee addressed Yuuji as "Mystes Sakai Yuuji-dono," which indicates to me that considers Yuuji (or maybe the Silver Yuuji carries) to be very important.

Next episode -- three Flame Haze plus one pretty decent Mystes vs. the Tomogara Sabrac. That will be an interesting battle to be sure.

Hayate no Gotoku! 45

Hayate the Combat Butler Ep. 45
ハヤテのごとく！Episode 45

SPOILER Summary: Its Setsubun, and Tama is dressed up as an Oni as Hayate and Nagi chase him and throw beans at him (part of the Japanese tradition for Setsubun to get rid of Oni). Maria comes in and before calling it a night, they decide to eat the number of beans for their age. Maria takes 17, which causes the others to stare at her. She gets annoyed, figuring they think she's older than 17, but their attempts to make things right only make things worse.

At Wataru's shop, the discussion about Maria continues with Nagi, Hayate, Wataru, and Saki. Nagi and Hayate are given the idea to give Maria a spa treatment called "Ladies Overnight Plan, Relaxation Tour." Maria thanks them and they enter the hotel, where the doorman is none other than Risa-chan, one of the Student Council Trio. In their spacious suite, Hayate and Nagi have to stop Maria from trying to make tea. Hayate calls for room service and it is delivered by none other than Izumi-chan. Apparently, the school is sponsoring an event to allow some of the students to work for a day at this resort. Izumi is touched by their story to allow Maria to relax.

Nagi and Hayate are a bit concerned by school people being there, but Nagi gets Maria to the pool just the same. As she's relaxing, she notices petals in the water. Taiga-bocchan is the cause, as he feverishly tosses the petals into the water as his lazy butler watches. Nagi takes Maria to get a massage. Nagi is massaged expertly by the robot Eight while Katsura-sensei has Maria, only Maria ends up giving the massage to a grateful Katsura-sensei, who now considers Maria to be a "dai-senpai" despite being 11-years older than Maria.

Outside, Kuzuha and Shion arrive for some relaxation and decide to get a sugar boost first. Meanwhile, Nagi reports to Hayate that Maria wanted to go on a relaxing walk, which they think is just perfect. Maria, on the other hand, is having difficulties with this forced relaxation, but wants to appreciate Nagi and Hayate's efforts. Maria runs into Isumi, who'd gotten lost and is so happy to have actually made it to her final destination. Maria escorts her inside to where the SCT are waiting at the counter. Back in the room, Nagi considers that she'll be alone with Hayate. However, she thinks its too soon to consider "that," but nevertheless, she is nervous just the same as the two play cards on the bed.

Maria ends up helping the various school members with their stuff, including rescuing Hina from the hotel manager, who was yammering on and on about old stories. Shiori comes in and tells Maria that they need some help stat. Maria, after being briefed, calls Hayate and gets him to come down alone. She briefs him and we are taken to a restaurant where Kuzuha and Shion are sitting. Kuzuha needs more deserts and the waiter is panicking. However, another waiter comes out with a Mont Blank. The taste of the dish hits the spot for Kuzuha, so she and Shion leave, and it is revealed that Hayate made the desert from Maria's recipe. In the lobby, the two of them run into Maria. Kuzuha is kind of confrontational, but Maria's formal speak and attitude shuts that up.

After finishing their work at the resort, the group from the school leave and walk home, with Katsura-sensei scoring a free meal from the gang. Meanwhile back at the hotel, it is still early evening, but Nagi has fallen asleep in the room and is sleeping soundly. When they return to the mansion the following day, Maria is thankful for what they did for her, but feels the mansion is best. Hayate and Nagi try to compliment her about her looks, but she takes it the wrong way.

Thoughts: This was a fun, though predictable (in the Maria wasn't going to get to relax) episode. It also seems this was an episode to give face time to characters we haven't seen much of lately, like Tama, Katsura-sensei, Eight, Shiori, and the other two idiots with their butlers.

Nice to see Wataru's shop sell DVD's. Previously, backgrounds appeared to have only VHS tapes. ^_^;

References! (Note: the site doesn't get 100% of the references, but they do get a very high percentage. As of this posting, whomever normally puts all the references in has not done so.)

New "Slayers" TV series

ANN is reporting that the latest issue of Dragon Magazine is going to announce on page 24 the creation of a NEW Slayers TV series. I found this quote to be of interest.

The official Hajime Kanzaka Fan Club has confirmed the news and added that the project will feature an anime-exclusive story, split across two cours (two seasons of three months).

So, a new, 2-season show (24 to 26 total episodes I'd guess). That would indicate that the anime will be all original, as in the case of Slayers Try. The seiyuu cast hasn't been announced yet, but here's hoping HAYASHIBARA Megumi is back as Lina.

I'll work on finding some scans of the magazine. Hopefully this won't be the "bleh" that the movie news turned into. ^_~

Update: Someone has posted some small, LQ images of the Dragon Magazine, which can be seen here.

Tsubasa: RESERVoir CHRoNiCLE Manga Vol. 16

Tsubasa: RESERVoir CHRoNiCLE Volume 16

SPOILER Summary: When Monoka detects a feather under the building, Syaoran heads down and dives into the underground water source as Kamui observes a feather entering Sakura and thus removes the Tokyo Government Building's barrier. Kamui and Syaoran end up fighting with Syaoran getting a beating under the waters. Kamui is one of the vampire twins that Syaoran's mentor Seishirou was looking for. Kamui detects this in Syaoran's thoughts and decides to kill Syaoran. Fai senses this and goes to help Syaoran, who has turned to "Dark Syaoran" and who gives Kamui a fight. Kamui senses that Syaoran is "game" ("prey") and is amazed that a shell of a human has so much power. With Fai now in the water, Kamui asks if Fai is the owner of Syaoran, which he denies.

Meanwhile, Yuuko-san detects the seal breaking off the Syaoran at Fei Wong Reed's place. We learn that the Syaoran fighting Kamui is in fact a clone and the real Syaoran has been in the capsule. Fei Wong had captured the real Syaoran to create a clone for the purpose of collecting Sakura's feathers. However, before the clone was complete, Syaoran removed his right eye and inserted it into the clone, thus giving the clone part of his heart/soul. Fei Wong tried to remove the eye, but discovered that doing so would destroy the clone. In the end, Fei Wong decided to let it be. As long as it did its the job Fei Wong wanted, he didn't care. After this, we see that Fei Wong has killed his female assistant, Xing Huo.

Back in Acid Tokyo, the real Syaoran is coming and the seal continues to come off Syaoran-clone's eye. Fai wants Syaoran-clone to keep that soul and so uses his magic to do this. However, its no good and the eye complete comes out, looking like the yin-yang symbol. Syaoran attacks Fai and defeats him, while causing the water to float in huge chunks. As Kurogane arrives with the sleeping Sakura, he sees Syaoran-clone with the defeated Fai, eating one of his eyes for the power contained therein. Kurogane prevents Syaoran-clone from eating the other eye but takes damage for his trouble. However, now Syaoran-clone can use Fai's magic.

The real Syaoran arrives and takes back his eye as Sakura's soul, still encased in the center where the water once was, screams for her companions. The two Syaoran's fight and Kurogane has Mokona get his sword, but as it comes out of the critter's mouth, Syaoran-clone uses Fai's magic to take the weapon. Syaoran talks to the clone, telling it why he gave the clone half his heart and if Syaoran-clone didn't gain a heart of his own after his adventures with the others and went berserk, Syaoran would kill the clone. Thus, he attacks the clone after summoning a sword. Sakura begs for Syaoran-kun not to be killed and so Syaoran hesitates, which Syaoran-clone uses to stab him in the leg.

Syaoran-clone frees Sakura from the encasement and forces another feather there into her. Kamui is about to attack when Subaru, who'd been trapped, tells him not to. After sensing no other feathers, Syaoran-clone starts to leave, which Sakura begs him not to do. He briefly looks at her before leaving through the opening that Fei Wong gave him in order to continue his mission to find all her feathers. Subaru catches the unconscious Sakura and is joined by Kamui. Kurogane sees the symbol on Syaoran's shirt and recognizes it as the mark of those who killed his mother. Yuuko-san, via Mokona, confirms this but tells Kurogane that Syaoran doesn't know where his mother's killer is. Fai, who's critically wounded, is in dire straights and after being asked, Yuuko-san states there is a way to save him.

Thoughts: This was an amazing volume. CLAMP managed to turn everything about this manga upside down. All along, folks figured that the Syaoran with Fei Wong was an evil one, doing Fei Wong's bidding. Indeed, even the writing monkey's at Bee Train assumed this, as seen in the anime adaptation of the manga where their story went off on its own from the manga (and clearly before this story-arc...basically, everything after episode 42).

What interested me was how the real Syaoran is using a sword that looks like Syaoran's sword from Cardcaptor Sakura. Indeed, his Raiteishourai lightning attack spell is what CCS Syaoran often used when aiding Sakura. I wonder if this is the Syaoran from CCS, only years later considering he's a descendant of Clow Reed, which Syaoran from CCS was as well. 'Twould be interesting, no?

Plus, this manga does explain a story from xxxHOLiC (the winged creatures stealing souls), which while William Flanagan figures this to be true, he wasn't sure. It is true and in a future Tsubasa chapter, we'll see the scene from the xxxHOLiC story.

Mai Otome 0~S.ifr~ (OVA) 01

舞-乙HiME ０～S.ifr～ Episode 01

SPOILER Summary: Sifr Fran has been kidnapped and is being held by a group of men from an organization known as Schwartz on a high-speed train. Their compartment is entered by a drunk man and an apologizing maid. Not thinking anything of it, they politely tell the man he has the wrong compartment. He takes a swig of his flask, then breathes out fire. The maid rushes in and starts kicking butt, especially with a cyborg, as the man escapes with Sifr. On the roof of the train, she isn't happy about being over the man's shoulder, but shuts up when an Otome arrives. The man tosses her down to the Otome before leaping off the train himself. meanwhile, the maid having seen this makes her own leap from the train as it continues over a long bridge, and she too is caught by an Otome and escapes.

Sifr dreams of her mother then awakens in a luxury resort suite where the man and maid who rescued her are. The man, introducing himself as Bruce Wallace, and the maid, Rena (Lena?) Yumemiya, have a letter for Sifr, which states her Uncle in the kingdom of Windbloom, is ill. Thus at his request, Bruce when to get Sifr. She thanks them for rescuing her, but Bruce directs her to thank Sister Shion from the Earu Church and her Otome, Meister Raquel. Sifr is excited to meet a real Otome, to say nothing of having been rescued by one, and so goes on and on about it.

Meanwhile, Rena sees a care pull up and goes down to meet it in the garage. It is the other Otome who rescued Sifr, Meister Elliot Chandler. Rena thanks then escorts Elliot up to Sifr's room and tells her that by means of further thanks, she'll do anything she can for Elliot. Elliot asks if she's sure and when Rena confirms it, Elliot immediately attempts to have a yuri session with Rena. Rena fends off Elliot's advances while Sifr and Raquel hide behind the couch that Rena suddenly finds herself falling back on. Sifr excitedly asks if Otome are into "that," but Raquel states that only "Elli-chin" is. Bruce and Sister Shion are soon behind the couch and Sister Shion finds herself teased about the events happening on the couch. Rena manages to get Elliot under control AND punch Raquel for not helping her.

Everyone leaves and Bruce tells Sifr not to leave in light of the kidnapping attempt. She agrees, but does decide to eventually step out onto the balcony. In a room below hers, a young girl cries to her mother about her runaway cat, Nina. Sifr decides that maybe it would be OK to help the girl out and so works her way to the next balcony where the cat is. The cat comes to her and jumps on her, causing Sifr to lose her grip and fall. Meanwhile, Rena has entered the room and finding Sifr not there, goes out to the balcony just in time to witness Sifr's fall. She races down the wall and catches the girl before diving into the pool with her and the cat. The animal is safe but Rena isn't happy that Sifr didn't follow her instructions and they are observed by one of the people beside the pool.

Back in the room, Rena punishes Sifr by giving her a hard scrubbing in the tub. She does apologize and remarks on how Rena must be an Otome considering what she'd done, and thus be classmates of Elliot and Raquel. Rena says she's not an Otome, though she did attend the academy. However, she got scared before graduation and thus left the program. When asked why, Rena attempts to leave, but is grabbed by Sifr and thus ends up falling into the giant tub. Thus soaked, Rena takes a proper bath with Sifr where Sifr reveals she had wanted to be an Otome but failed the entrance exam. Rena talks about how her mother was opposed to her being an Otome since Otome are powerful and use incredible violence. Rena enjoyed school but at the end, she didn't have the courage to use that power, thusly she is not an Otome.

Elsewhere, a Schwarz member reports to "Smith-sama" that they've found their target.

At the Garderobe Academy, Otome training is underway under the watchful gaze of Miss Maria. Inside, Headmistress Una Shamrock talks with Elliot, who reports that in addition to Schwarz, Aswad cyborgs are there as well. Hearing this, Una orders Elliot to kill Sifr if she's captured by Schwarz. Elliot is shocked to hear this, but is reminded that this is their mission under Shinso-sama (the respectful title of the first Otome known as Pure White Diamond, Grand Meister Fumi Himeno). After getting assurances that Elliot will complete her mission, Una makes a call and orders the execution of order "C5."

That night, Sifr comes down to the hotel restaurant in an expensive dress and is met by Bruce, who calls her a princess. They are observed by Rena, Raquel, and Sister Shion, and are soon joined by Elliot. The four are about to find a place to eat when a giant creature with a giant mouth (a SLAVE?) is at the window apparently trying to get in. Some insectoid SLAVES enter, so Sister Shion activates Raquel's Robes and Elliot, as a Column, activates her own Robes and Rena flees with Sifr. They hide on a balcony and the SLAVE leaves, allowing them a moment to talk. However, they are soon discovered again and attacked, which destroys the balcony. Bruce joins them and the three flee, only to be met by Schwarz and Aswad forces from the train.

The frightened Sifr is amazed to hear Bruce say a phrase and tell Rena he needs her powers, so she has to choose. She calls him "Master" (in English) and he activates her GEM, revealing her to be an Otome (Lofty Crimson Jade as the translation goes). The leader of the Schwarz group, Kiddo-sama, recognizes her as "Rena Sayers" and orders his forces to attack. They find their weapons are being destroyed. Rena apologizes to her opponents but the Aswad attack. One of the Aswad, "Dai-sama," summons his named SLAVE Gakutenou, which she easily defeats along with him. As such, all of the SLAVE's return to the place of summoning in fear. As such, the Schwarz forces retreat.

However, a single SLAVE remained behind and captures Sifr. On it is one John Smith, the founder of Schwarz along with a mysterious, mostly covered, humanoid. John recognizes Bruce as Bruce Windbloom, the king. The SLAVE brings Sifr closer to a pod on it as John says he wants to see the power of a "Weaver." The pod opens and a female humanoid (android?) named M-9 emerges (dressed similar to an Otome), causing Bruce pain, and is given orders to destroy Rena. The two have a colossal battle at a draw, forcing Rena to maximize her power levels. She fiercly attacks M-9, appearing to be two Otome instead of one and appears to defeat her opponent in a large explosion.

This is all witnessed by Sister Shion and Raquel as well as Elliot. However, Rena's Robes end up taking serious damage as her GEM cannot handle all of the power Rena is using. M-9 emerges from the water and attacks, so Raquel jumps in to assist Rena. Elliot remembers her instructions to kill Sifr if she were captured, and so attempts to carry out that order. However, Rena moves to defend Sifr (and thus John Smith, his companion, and the SLAVE) from the attack. Elliot is stunned by the maneuver, allowing M-9 to score several mini-rocket hits on her. John Smith uses Rena's shock at this to shoot her in the head.

Rena falls but the bullet doesn't penetrate and falls to the ground. M-9 launches a melee attack on Rena, stabbing her in the shoulder, which also causes Bruce damage. As Sifr is taken away by John Smith, Raquel rescues Elliot and is ordered by Rena to protect Bruce-sama as she extracts herself from Rena. Rena summons a giant, bladed weapon which M-9 recognizes as a "higher order matter attack." Realizing she can't escape, M-9 counterattacks instead. The two attacks meet and Rena's GEM cracks and goes offline as the explosion sends both combatants flying. As Raquel flies off carrying the injured Elliot, Bruce, and Sister Shion, Sifr screams for Rena from the back of the SLAVE.

Thoughts: Why was I thinking this would be a prequel TV series and not just a 3-episode OVA? Hmmm.

Well, onto the episode. Wow! The episode was well written and very intense while still taking a little time for humor. Now, there's a lot we don't know, but as a beginning, this rocked on all sorts of levels. I was surprised to see Rena using different Robes than those used by Akira (her daughter) in Mai-Otome, and those Rena used in the flashbacks seen there. I guess she'll be getting those Robes now.

Based on the ED, more characters are to be introduced it appears, to say nothing of the return of Miyu, which should be interesting.

Hayate no Gotoku! 44

Hayate the Combat Butler Ep. 44
ハヤテのごとく！Episode 44

SPOILER Summary: The show starts off as an anime episode based off of Nagi's manga Magical Destroy. A chibi, super-deformed Hayate challenges the chibi, SD Nagi about this and gets the proper credits rolling.

Nagi has Hayate read her latest manga, but he doesn't get it. Ditto Maria-san when she reads it, which frustrates Nagi. Isumi appears and is very enthused about what she reads, which makes Nagi happy and they discuss it further. Isumi has an idea for the manga, which deals with a flying cat. Nagi is excited about the idea, though Maria and Hayate find it completely whacked. Sakuya appears and talks with Hayate and Maria about how amazing it is that Isumi and Nagi so well understand each other. They discuss manga creation and Maria remembers that Hayate won a prize for a manga. Considering no one's read it and the REALLY want to read it, we are treated to his creation, Mahou Shoujo Britney-chan. Maria and Sakuya aren't that thrilled with what they see for his creation.

Nagi decides to inform them of how the story will progress but fails to make progress. So, she takes Maria, Hayate, Sakuya, and Isumi into the city and to a small ramen restaurant, where Nagi flashes the cover of an anime magazine, with what looks like Hayate and Nagi in mouse ears on the cover. The female owner of the joint tells them to take a table in the back corner and when they are all seated, they suddenly find themselves in the anime studio from episode 35. It is hear that Nagi hopes to have her manga animated so that she can get the others to understand.

The staff of the anime company (which appear to all be parody characters from other shows, but since the old reference wiki hasn't been updated, I don't know for sure) reject Nagi's idea outright as impossible but a phone call soon has them working hard on the project. Work on the anime is shown through various departments before the Student Council Trio (SCT) show up. Since the "tour" had gotten up to a discussion about dubbing the anime, they discuss this, with Izumi wanting to meet seiyuu Yahagi-san (Izumi's seiyuu). Despite all the difficulties, the anime company finishes the work.

The group head to a screening theater, where the episode starts, previewed by a merchandising ad. As Nagi's anime starts, the episode now features Maria as the heroine, Hayate as the hero senpai, who's married to Nagi and has a kid (Wataru). Katsura-sensei is the witch who turns Hayate into a star-shaped thing and so Maria (Britney-chan) has a choice of whether to be with her senpai and leave Hayate as a star or to return him to human form, where he'll return to Nagi. However, there is no answer to the question, as the story changes to one about a tall cat that runs on its hind legs. Only Nagi and Isumi get it while everyone else is still scratching their heads.

That evening, Hayate decides to pay Nagi a visit and read her manga once more to attempt to understand what Nagi is trying to say. Instead, he finds Maria there reading it as well, with the same idea. The two talk and ponder about what Britney-chan would do in the story. Would she stay with her senpai in star form or would she return him to human and thus lose him to his wife? Maria figures that if the senpai were Hayate, it might not be a bad thing to have him in star form. Hayate has a reluctant Maria draw a page of the manga to see where she'd take it, and has the male character (based on Hayate) talk about scoring with all the females. Hayate thinks it sounds like he wants to rape the girls. She suggests that he then make a choice.

The show ends with (fan) service shots of all the girls in sexy bathing suits and the like, including Hayate and Nagi's masculine Britney.


Thoughts: It was fun seeing a parody of the anime process from original manga to screening (including a Nabeshin cameo). I wish I knew all the parody character references but as of this writing, the Moepedia wiki wasn't updated for episode 44 other than the three items I added. ^_^;;;

Regarding the filler fanservice at the end, I'm sure Hina-chan fans are going to be miffed since she didn't a shot this week. I expect that shortly after this episode aired, Japanese otaku with photoshopping skills were busy making the pan-and-scan shots into a single large image, with certain very naughty otaku removing the clothing from the girls for posting on naughty Japanese blogs. ^_^;;; While I'm not a fan of fanservice, I did like seeing Isumi out of the kimono and into a nice summer outfit (which for her is pretty risqué but for everyone else, is just normal summer attire of shorts and a shirt).

References! (Note: the site doesn't get 100% of the references, but they do get a very high percentage.)

Minami-ke Okawari 04

みなみけ～おかわり～ Ep. 04

SPOILER Summary: When Haruka goes to take out the trash, she sees Fuyuki-kun, the new neighbor kid, and learns from the gossiping "Black-san" women about how hard he works on the neighborhood trash pickup on the weekends and they ask him to help them again the following weekend. Its a school morning and Chiaki and Kana don't get up when their alarm goes off, thus forcing Haruka to have to get stern with them. However, seeing the condition of their room and the attitude they appear to have about cleaning it up, combined with how hard Fuyuki works, Haruka informs her younger sisters that they will now be participating in the neighborhood cleanup that weekend, much to their chagrin.

At school, Chiaki envies the hamster and sees a teacher request Fuyuki-kun to do some extra work, which he meekly accepts. Chiaki enlists the help of Uchida and Yoshino for the weekend garbage pickup. Elsewhere, Kana invites Fujioka for the following morning, which he happily accepts, not realizing what's in store for him. Kana does the same for Keiko. At the high school, Hosaka-senpai has learned about this and decided to participate as well. Indeed, they all show up as well as Makoto (as Mako-chan), Touma, and Maki. Hosaka also showed up.

Garbage pickup begins with Kana acting dumb. Some Black-san adults act dumb as well, asking Fuyuki-kun if a plastic bottle is burnable trash. Indeed, these black-faced anonymous adults seem helpless and need Fuyuki-kun's help. After a while, Kana's tired of picking up trash and decides to lay on a park bench. Chiaki comes over and tries to get Kana back to work. Haruka also comes over, and hearing Kana say she doesn't want to do this, Haruka gets angry and threatens her and Chiaki with no dinner if they doesn't get busy.

Kana gathers a lot of trash and figures she's owed a crab dinner. However, Fuyuki-kun has gathered more trash, leading Kana to rant about this before Haruka shuts her up. Since Kana is Fuyuki-kun's senpai, she should be ashamed to be outdone by him. She praises Fuyuki-kun, who's embarrassed and says he did nothing, leading Chiaki to suggest that he should be happy, though he doesn't appear that way. Kana decides that they have to beat Fuyuki and so gathers her and Chiaki's friends to accomplish this task. They head to the river to clean and Fuyuki is there as well. An adult is in the river and apparently is so helpless, they need Fuyuki-kun's help to remove a tricycle. So he meekly goes off to help.

Meanwhile, Kana has found an old refrigerator which she figures if they can get it back to the trash pile, will have them win for sure. However, the consensus is that the fridge is too heavy. Kana doesn't want to give up, and so decides to try to open it. As she struggles to get it open, everyone speculates what might be in it, including a giant load of cash. Chiaki suggest that maybe a body is in it, which Kana isn't pleased to hear. Soon, everyone is dreaming of spending found cash money but when Kana finally gets the door opened, the fridge is filled with medium-sized rocks. In frustration, she and some of the others throw some of the rocks into the river as it begins to snow. Haruka, who'd been concerned about them, finds them throwing rocks instead of working and won't hear any excuses. Chiaki and Kana get no dinner.

As they pile the last of the trash bags onto the pile, Chiaki sees Fuyuki putting garbage into a bag that had come open. After tossing her bag on the pile, she walks away, but stops long enough to tell him that he should just plainly refuse when he doesn't want to do something. The following morning, Haruka gets up and finds Chiaki and Kana already at the table, desperate for food.

Thoughts: I learned that the Japanese are apparently very filthy people, pouring tons of garbage everywhere. Yet at the same time, Japanese people volunteer to clean up the filth they have made to look good. So, if I understood this right, you secretly pollute, then clean up the pollution to look good for your neighbors. Otherwise, how could they gather a mountain of trash like that if they weren't secretly throwing it everyone to start with.

I can't say I was impressed with this episode. It was a complete waste as far as I'm concerned. Fuyuki-kun's character adds an underlying seriousness that does not become Minami-ke; it makes it feel wrong. After two episodes with him, I'm thinking he'll be some abused kid or something, who's desperate for love an attention.

Oh, and I'm tired of all the Black-san characters. Sheeze.

Ultimately, after four episodes, Minami-ke Okawari is a sad, pathetic excuse of an anime that took everything good about Minami-ke and has made it into a grotesque imitation. I'll keep watching, but I don't have any high hopes.

Keroro Gunsou 31

ケロロ軍曹 Episode 31

SPOILER Summary: Keroro is waiting anxiously for a package to be delivered. It arrives from a space ship and it is an anti-gravity motorcycle, which Kururu identifies as the KRR-SP. Giroro demands to know if Keroro spent their invasion funds on such contraption, but Keroro denies this, saying he used his personal funds. Further, he got this limited edition space bike for which 100 were made for a steal of ¥5000 rather than the normal ¥5,000,000 off of the Space Internet. Everyone suspects he's been had, and indeed the number on the bike says "130," which Fuyuki points out that only 100 had been made. Keroro refuses to listen though.

Keroro plans to make a jaunt out but is forbidden by Natsumi. So, he takes off anyway. He flies around, enjoying the freedom of space biking when he sees an unmanned vegetable stand with a place to put money. So he buys a yam to appease Natsumi when he returns and takes off again. It is evening and Natsumi is preparing dinner. They get a call from Keroro, who's bike has broken down and he's alone and stranded in the mountains. Before they can learn where he is, the line is disconnected for lack of funds. Keroro only has ¥1 on him, meaning he can't call again. He checks the bus schedule and finds that only three buses run to this stop, meaning he's got a long wait. However, the schedule is dated 1979, meaning buses no longer come to this mountain stop.

Natsumi and Fuyuki try to enlist the others to help look for him, but none of his team are that concerned about him. Meanwhile, Keroro sees a light in the sky and ID's it as a saucer (bike). Its rider comes down to check on Keroro. However, because the rider is a Mojaran, a race who doesn't get along with Keron people. As such, even though he'd like to help a fellow rider, he can't. Instead, he "accidentally" drops a still-warm canned coffee for Keroro to consume. Keroro does so and resists the urge to eat the raw yam. Realizing the narrator is there, Keroro and the narrator have a conversation to kill time.

Down at the Keron base, Kururu provides Natsumi with an energy-wing device and a scanning device that hovers over her head so that she can go search for Keroro. Keroro tries various means to make it back into the city by catching rides on various vehicles and transports which gets him sent to a dump and ultimately onto a freighter. Meanwhile, Natsumi is on his trail, having found the old mountain bus stop as Keroro finds himself trapped in the cargo container. Using the bike, he manages to break free, but finds himself in the ocean. He activates the air bags on the bike and can now float. Natsumi finds him and brings him and the bike home, happy he's OK and also happy with the yam gift.

Thoughts: I seem to remember the core of this story from the manga, but man was this stretched to fill time. Seriously, when you have to bring the narrator in to converse with Keroro about nothing, you are really desperate to fill time. It was an OK episode, but mostly forgettable.

Hayate no Gotoku! 43

Hayate the Combat Butler Ep. 43
ハヤテのごとく！Episode 43

SPOILER Summary: Hayate, Nagi, Maria, and Klaus arrive at Sakuya's cruise ship, which is a life-size replica of the Titanic. Nagi decided to go on this trip because she'd been having trouble with her manga and during the course of writing it, decided that being indifferent to Hayate might improve things from a boyfriend-girlfriend standpoint. While Maria and Nagi aren't impressed with this ship, Hayate sure is. Nagi continues her aloof attitude and enlists Sakuya's help. While Hayate is very impressed with the ship, he does catch Nagi's attitude and wonders what he could have done to make Nagi upset.

During the cruise, Nagi and Sakuya talk about the ship, and references are made to the problem of sinking. Sakuya scoffs at the notion, saying that only a terrorist attack would sink the ship. On cue, terrorist attack the ship. However, they are soon overcome by Klaus as well as Sakuya's and Isumi's chief butlers (Isumi being currently lost in the bowels of the ship). As Hayate wanders the corridors of the ship, one of the terrorists sets of the bombs which sends Hayate down to the bowels of the ship, severely injured and near where a torrent of water is pouring in. After the announcer, with an image of Nabeshin in the view, gives some facts about survival in cold water, Isumi shows up on crate in the water. Hayate decides to save her, only to have two sharks (apparently from Jaws) attack.

Meanwhile, Klaus reports that only Hayate and Isumi are missing as Nabeshin directs the evacuation of the ship. Nagi decides to save Hayate and so heads down. She finds Hayate in the mouth of one of the sharks fighting to keep the mouth open. She decides to save him which is when the other shark goes to attack. Isumi is just about to use her fuda on one of the sharks but Hayate finds one last burst of strength and defeats both sharks before sinking beneath the waters. He awakens in a luxury yatch with Klaus not please with Hayate haven given up. Nagi tries to get a word in, but the "lovey" backgrounds for both of them gives her great cause for concern.

Thoughts: 'Twas another fun episode with quite a few American references, including one for MacGyver according to the wiki reference page (that one would have gone right over my head).

What was up with Sakuya's outfit and the chain? Yikes.
References! (Note: the site doesn't always get 100% of the references, but they do get a very high percentage.)

Sasami: Mahou Shoujo Club 2 Licensed

On the AoD forum, FUNiRepBlue had this announcement regarding Sasami: Mahou Shoujo Club (Sasami: Magic Girl Club).

I don't have any info on the dub yet but I did want to jump in and let you guys know we do have the first and second season set. The first season is 13 episodes that we will release in one full set. The second season also has 13 episodes that will be released in one set as well. Hope that helps!

It sure does help, thanks FUNiRepBlue!

I'd been afraid that FUNimation would only license the first series with its 13 episodes which apparently doesn't resolve anything (I haven't watched the series so I don't know how it goes). Then, I'd be in a lurch when it comes to the rest of the story. But this way, I'm assured to get it all AND since they are being released in sets, that's a big win as far as I'm concerned.

Update: English dub cast announced here.

Update: My review of the 1st series from FUNimation here.

Kagetora Manga Volume 8

カゲトラ Volume 8
Kagetora Volume 8

SPOILER Summary: Kagetora's brother Taka comes to visit and tells Yuki that she has three days to land a hit on him or her grandmother will come to give her more training. Yuki doesn't want that, so she and Kagetora train so that Yuki can make her hit, even if accidental. The next story has Taka still there, so Yuki invites him and Kagetora to a theme park. Kagetora is frustrated that Taka is always sitting next to Yuki for the ride, but in the end, Taka sets up Kagetora and Yuki for a romantic ferris wheel ride.

In the third story, Yuki notices she's gained some weight and wants to work on losing some weight, only to discover she's grown a bit. The forth story has Yuki work on her training as Kagetora reflects on how she doesn't make a great deal of progress. Despite this, when Yuki gets drunk again, her skills in that state are even better than the first time she got drunk and spared against Kagetora, showing the training is sinking in at some level.

The fifth story has Yuki get asked out by a male acquaintances from junior high and goes to a theme park with him. Kagetora follows and learns this guy is confessing to Yuki, so he leaves. Yuki returns and talks with Kosuke, who lets out that Kagetora had followed her. Since he's nearby, she tells Kosuke she'd turned down the guy but won't say why, but then calls out to Kagetora to thank him for being her oyakume ninja.

The sixth story has Yuki and Kagetora going skiing where Yuki is worn out. Late in the night, she goes to bathe to discover Kagetora there and has him work on her sore muscles, which eventually leads him to accidentally see her naked, which she doesn't mind since its him. The final story has all these girls giving Kagetora chocolate to Yuki's frustration, forcing Yuki to try to find a time to give Kagetora her own special chocolate.

Thoughts: More light-hearted romantic comedy stuff from Segami-sensei. It did pick up with the last vestiges of the more serious story dealing with Nao (though she's not in this or even mentioned), but for the most part just dealt with Yuki and Kagetora's relationship. The monkey, Kosuke, didn't appear as much this time. Segami-sensei even addresses that with one of the 4-koma comics at the end of the manga.

Overall, while there is nothing that special or great about Kagetora. Despite this, I rather enjoy this for what it is -- a light, romantic comedy.

Shakugan no Shana-tan Begins

灼眼のシャナたんびぎんず

Story 1: Shana-tan is gobbling melon pan and riding on Yuuji's head. He recalls the battle at Seirei-den and asks what she told him. She claims to forget but gets upset when he remembers her having called his name back then. Thus, she starts telling him to shut up (chibi-style) while slamming him on the head with melon pan and calling him "baka." Yoshida observes this and laughs and Ike-kun observes her and laughs.

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Story 2: Yuuji is having déjà vu and tries to make it to Sato's house, only to end up at a wide variety of unexpected, well-known Japanese places and landmarks including a naughty "Soap Land."

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Story 3: Yoshida makes a bento for Yuuji. Shana-tan jumps into it to give Yuuji her bento, which when opened, sends tons of melon pan flying.

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Story 4: Konoe comes to school and she and Shana-tan "oooh" at each other until Shana-tan gives an "AH!"

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Story 5: Margery makes an entry into her "Doki Doki Dairy" in a cute way.


Thoughts: Mildly amusing. These haven't been as good to me lately.

Because I care, here's some title captures.

Shakugan no Shana Second 18

灼眼のシャナ II Episode 18

SPOILER Summary: The Bal Masqué Tomogara Zarovee and his "copies" (for lack of a better term) is on a cell phone to a "Bifrons-dono," and complaining about how though part of his mission is reconnaissance, constantly having to regroup as the deadline draws near can only increase the chances of something going wrong. However, the signal is terrible and Bifrons appears before him, having turned off his cell phone to communicate in person, reminding Zarovee that while his presence may be small, Bifrons isn't. Zarovee reminds Bifrons of their delicate and important mission to remove the Mystes thats part of "Taimei Shihen" and get rid of those in the way. Bifrons laughs and says he'll massacre everyone responsibly, reminding Zarovee of why he hates "battle freak Wanderers."

Within a Fuzetsu, Margery Daw is training Yuuji to be a spell caster like herself, since it is agreed that he has the power to do so. Margery agrees because doing so can also provide her more information on the Silver. She shows him how to create a small fireball and then has him hit one of her bookmarks as a target practice, which he does, his flame being silver still. Wilhelmina, Tiamat, Shana, and Alastor find Yuuji's focus and drive to be a good thing, showing he's serious about the task ahead of them. When Margery has Yuuji work on shooting down multiple targets, she comes over and disagrees with their assessment of his motives, calling it obsession. Indeed, when he demands more training after she called it a night, she calls off the following day's training as well, stating he needs to cool off. Before leaving, she extracts a bookmark, which turns into the giant vampire sword Blutsauger and tells him that he can carry it if he can turn it into a bookmark. He does so.

As he walks home, he's joined by Shana, who wants to walk with him and she claims to want to pick up some melon pan. Yuuji seems distant and when Shana inquires of it, he tells her that he'd wanted to remain as SAKAI Yuuji, but can no longer do so based on the events of the school festival. So to keep up with Shana, he has to become stronger, something she'd previously said to him. With that, the two part company.

Yuuji returns home to find his mother napping at the table and when she tries to get up, she collapses, apparently ill. Yuuji doesn't come to school the next day, and when Shana and Yoshida hear of his mother's illness, Shana immediately heads for Yuuji's house after school. Yoshida wants to make food for both Yuuji and his mother, but doesn't want to intrude. Ike-kun, despite his feelings for Yoshida, tells her to do it, so she does. Shana rushes to see Chigusa, who's in bed. Chigusa tells Shana that her visit makes her happy and Shana is welcome to come back the following day, which Shana gladly agrees to, saying she'll bring Wilhelmina, who's apparently great at medicine. Chigusa doesn't want to bother Wilhelmina with that.

A little later, Yuuji and Shana walk, and Yuuji speculates on what would happen to his mother when he disappears. Shana comes home and tells Wilhelmina about Chigusa, and because Chigusa has been such a great help to Wilhelmina, she immediately starts making a get well gift for Chigusa. Shana reflects on her conversation with Yuuji and how some of the things he said were both correct and wrong. Meanwhile, Yoshida brings a bento over for Yuuji and Chigusa, having considered Pheles' Hougu again, only this time without the normal fear and trepidation. After she delivers the bento, she tells Yuuji she'll do it again tomorrow.

The following day is a Sunday, and so Yuuji is taking care of his mother still. He's been thinking about things and decides he needs to set things straight with Yoshida, knowing her feelings for him. Elsewhere, Shana has Wilhelmina's gift and is going to deliver it to Chigusa. Wilhelmina has to get a package from Outlaw first but she will come to see Chigusa as well. Yoshida has another bento and brings it over. However, Yuuji refuses to accept it on the basis that he's not human and she is, so he will be leaving with Shana to continue the work. Shana, who's just outside the wall of Yuuji's property, hears this and more. Yuuji continues, and apologizes to Yoshida, who's offended that he would apologize for her being in love with him rather than just turn her down straight. She rushes off upset and leaves the bento. He gives chase, but then discovers Shana, who's angry about what she just heard. She tells him off, telling him she doesn't want to be with him and leaves without delivering the package.

Yuuji is confused by this turn of events and goes for a walk, where he's observed by one of the Zarovee. Yuuji thinks that he has everything understood about who he is and can't understand why Shana thinks that the things he's been saying are lies to cover the real truth. Meanwhile, Shana runs into Wilhelmina and doesn't have an answer when Wilhelmina asks why she didn't deliver the package. Elsewhere, Yoshida walks and wonders what she should do now that she said what she said.

Back with Yuuji, Zarovee and his "brothers" surround Yuuji, who realizes he's a Tomogara but wonders why he didn't sense them (him?).

Thoughts: Well, we appear to be having the re-separation of Yuuji from Shana and Yoshida. I wonder why only Margery Daw picked up that Yuuji's actions in the training were obsession rather than a positive desire to improve. Then, after being warned about how Bal Masqué is still after the Reiji Maigo, Yuuji still wanders off and gets himself captured by a Tomogara who's working for them. Granted there's that whole teen angst thing to deal with combined with immaturity and whatever forces Zarovee is bringing to bear on the situation. It seems that his mission isn't to get the Reiji Maigo, but rather extract Johan out of it. But what is "Taimei Shihen?" The Silver's name?

Now that I think of it, I wonder of Yuuji's mother's illness is part of Zarovee's doing.

Tanaka and Oga got a cameo. Sato did as well, with Tanaka not even saying anything when Sato made a casual greeting as he passed him in the classroom. I wonder if the writers will pick that thread up again since they are tossing it out there as something to potentially be resolved.

Gakuen Alice Manga Volume 1

Gakuen Alice Volume 1
学園アリス Volume 1

SPOILER Summary: SAKURA Mikan has learned that her best friend IMAI Hotaru is leaving their small Japanese town for Tokyo to attend the prestigious Gakuen Alice (Alice Academy). She's not happy to learn this information just before Hotaru leaves. However, Hotaru promises to write and is off. The next few months leave Mikan depressed because she's only received one letter from Hotaru. However, when Hotaru's mother comes with a donation for the school, Mikan decides to set out for Tokyo to see her friend and to get into Gakuen Alice. As such, she leaves a note for her grandfather, whom she lives with, and takes all the cash in the house and runs away.

Mikan makes it to the front of the academy, where she's beset upon by two con artist, looking for marks who are desperate to get into Gakuen Alice. Narumi-sensei, a teacher at the academy, sees this and uses his "gift" to send the two packing willingly. He tries to use the same thing on Mikan, but it doesn't work and she thinks he's gay. He tries again to use his ability to make her comply with his wishes, but again, she's not affected. As such, he decides to tell her that she can attend Gakuen Alice, at least on a temporary basis, and explains that it isn't a school for geniuses but those with special God-given gifts known as "Alice" and deals with a troublesome student named Natsume.

Mikan is happy to be accepted to the same school as Hotaru and after meeting with Misaki-sensei, where she learns more about the school and Alice's, she has to deal with Natsume, who tries to use his fire Alice on her, but it fails. His best friend Ruka enters and before the teachers return, Natsume tries to get Mikan to say what her Alice is. Mikan doesn't know and when the teachers re-enter the room, Ruka and Natsume escape, having stolen Mikan's polkadot panties. She flees to the teachers and Narumi-sensei comforts her, and gives her a new uniform. However, she'll have to pass the entrance exam and win over her classmates within one week. With that, he summons two kids from her new class, Iinchou (the class president) and Hotaru.

At first, Hotaru seems distant, but does come to Mikan's aid when needed, the class being pretty chaotic. In the end, Natsume decides that Mikan will have to prove she has an Alice and to do this, they must traverse the Northern Woods, where the elementary students are forbidden to go. If she can do this and return, he'll accept her. Iinchou and Hotaru are ultimately chosen as her companions and their first obstacle is a teddy bear, which beats Mikan severely. However, Hotaru defeats it with a bucket of water.

Mikan learns that Iinchou's Alice is hallucinations while Hotaru's is invention, and they discuss Natsume some as well as his friend Ruka. When they encounter a giant chick looking for food, Iinchou uses his Alice to summon Ruka, who's Alice is an affinity with animals, by making him think animals in the Northern Woods are in trouble. The trio capture Ruka, and indeed, his ability saves them. Natsume learns that they have Ruka and he enters the woods. Because he's so powerful, he uses his fire Alice to trap Iinchou and Hotaru, demanding Mikan reveal her Alice to him.

At a moment when he's distracted as Ruka goes to save an animal, Mikan attacks him for what he's done, and somehow causes his Alice power to fail, freeing Iinchou and Hotaru. Narumi-sensei arrives and uses his pheromone Alice to put Natsume to sleep. He then tells Mikan that she has a very powerful and special Alice, one that nullifies other people's Alice. As such, she's passed the entrance exam and is now an official member of the school.

Thoughts: I've enjoyed the few shoujo manga titles I've read -- Cardcaptor Sakura (mahou shoujo), Kare Kano (for the most part), Ultra Maniac (mahou shoujo), and of course Fruits Basket. Still, its not like I was going out and looking for some shoujo manga to read. Instead, I was just keeping my eyes open for any new titles that might look interesting. The cover of Gakuen Alice, with Mikan-chan on the cover, just appealed to me somehow. After checking a few pages from the TokyoPop site, I thought I'd check out the first volume. I'm glad I did.

For those wondering, TokyoPop mostly uses the Japanese honorifics. As most of you know, I appreciate this a great deal. Still, the adaptation shows TokyoPop's continued efforts to be "hip." As such, using the honorifics is likely a result of that, since it appears that more and more kids into anime are into the honorifics. That's fine with me. However, what makes me say this is the "hip" adaptation. It wreaks of American slang at times, which comes off to me as an attempt to show the kids how cool this manga is. It also makes me question the accuracy of the book. Accuracy can be done while retaining readability, but I can't shake the feeling that accuracy at times was tossed in favor of "cool."

And yet, for whatever reason, TokyoPop didn't translate the Japanese term "gakuen," which means "academy." I would have thought for sure they would have named this "Alice Academy" if nothing else. Strange they did not, and I confess, I'm glad they didn't.

As to the story, I liked what I saw and read. Higuchi-sensei did a good job making Mikan-chan very likable. I liked the story, though after I finished reading, I couldn't help but think of Asuna from Negima!. ^_^; No, Higuchi-sensei isn't copying Akamatsu-sensei, but Mikan-chan is similar to Asuna in some regards.

Higuchi-sensei has a column in each chapter, which is enjoyable to read.

I've placed this on my list of manga to follow and we'll see how things go.

FUNimation to Get Some Geneon?

Well, FUNimation appears to be going back into the license-rescue business, having previously done so for Slayers, Love Hina, and One Piece. Of those license rescues, Slayers was just some minor improvements to CPM's release, Love Hina appears to be something similar over Bandai's release, and One Piece is getting the good stuff (all new dubs for the original episodes, quality subtitles). With Geneon's apparnet exit and FUNimation stating that they are in the initial stages of negotiation to acquire at least some of Geneon's library, what can we fans expect to get?

Clearly, fans like me are hoping for some of Geneon's hot properties to be brought back. For the canon Tenchi series, I'm hoping that they'll let Tomato re-translate the thing from scratch for the subtitles. However, I'm afraid that's going to simply be a pipe dream (though I will lobby for it).

From what I can tell, Geneon is likely to remain in business as a licensor but will have others distribute for them. Thus, if FUNimation says, "We got Tenchi," they'd be allowed to repackage it and sell it (including digitally most likely), to say nothing of having it on the FUNimation Channel. We canon Tenchi fans would have to continue to put up with Geneon's mistake-filled subtitles because under a distribution deal, the licensing company does the dubs and subtitles while the distribution company does the marketing and selling.

So, FUNimation will benefit financially from having more titles for the FUNimation Channel and will earn some revenue off other titles, but those looking to buy titles with the FUNimation logo on them will have to be aware of what exactly FUNimation licensed and what exactly they are simply distributing.

Personally, I wish that FUNimation could just get titles free and clear. Based on how they ended up doing the three Slayers TV series, its likely that all they'll do is retain the original dubbed and subbed materials with maybe the occasional fix here or there (in the case of Slayers, previews were put back in on the Japanese audio side, the Japanese karaoke was left unblocked, and black blocks to remove the Japanese title screens were removed, and the video was cleaned a bit). That said, if they did have a title free and clear, they could at least allow their in-house translators to bring the subtitles up to FUNimation standards, and those can be done without scripts. In my mind, that would increase their double-dip sales, which should pay for the cost of the re-translation of the subtitles.

We'll see what happens though. While FUNimation is clearly the big dog in the R1 market, I've no doubt that Viz or Media Blasters (or maybe even someone else) would also be interested in doing distribution of some of Geneon's library. So while FUNimation may indeed announce in the next few weeks/months that they have some Geneon titles (in whatever form), it wouldn't surprise me if other companies do as well.

References:

• http://www.icv2.com/articles/home/12043.html
• http://news.toonzone.net/article.php?ID=21498
  

Hayate no Gotoku! 42

Hayate the Combat Butler Ep. 42
ハヤテのごとく！Episode 42

SPOILER Summary: In a flashback, we learn that Hayate's parents named him "Hayate" so that when he got older, he could be strong and elude debt collectors. Flash to the present where Klaus has purchased an expensive painting. However, Hayate comes in and after giving it a look-over, declares it a fake. Naturally Klaus is offended by this, but when a man with an elderly scholar come in and confirm this, they take the fake painting and Klaus is left with one option -- run away. Nagi wonders how Hayate got such useless knowledge, and he says that his father ran a bait-and-switch art shop where they'd show real art but when the customer made the purchase, the customer would be given a fake. That work was done by Hayate, and his father taught him how to distinguish fakes from original works or art.

As Hayate goes about his chores, Nagi decides that someone so perfect has to have a flaw, because that's how it is in anime and manga. She consults volume 6 of the Hayate no Gotoku manga to see if there is anything to be learned about his weaknesses. So with Maria at her side, Nagi sets out to find Hayate's weaknesses. It is then that we are reminded of Maria's weakness concerning cockroaches. Nagi has the TBS anchor bring out a table and Maria chooses a canister from which they'll test Hayate for weakness. However, the canaster held a frog, with the "Ke" Katakana on a hat, looking very much like Keroro's hat from Keroro Gunsou. Thus, we learn another of Nagi's weaknesses -- frogs.

Maria and Nagi are in the ceiling of Hayate's room and as they peak in, Nagi hears Hayate say that he's overcome his math weakness. They proceed to spy on him in the kitchen, but rather than find a weakness of Hayate's, he reveals that he knows a great deal of Nagi's weakness concerning sardines, carrots, and green peppers. Seeing herself exposed in his eyes, Nagi whacks him on the head with a large wooden mallet, extremely frustrated by his knowledge and her lack of it. Nagi dresses up as a ghost/specter to try to get Hayate's weakness that night, scaring him if he's afraid of such things. However, when Maria closes the curtains and turns to reveal she has no face (due to having it cleverly masked), we see yet another Nagi weakness.

Sakuya pops in out of nowhere and is game to help find Hayte's weakness. However, what she describes is more akin to War of the Worlds and the alien's weakness there over germs. Isumi also appears and is also willing to assist. Her suggestion is to ask Hayate in person. So off they go to find Hayate. When they do, Isumi asks him, and he says his weakness is a cup of tea. The announcer says that for those who don't get it, listen to a comedy titled "Manju Kowai" (まんじゅこわい) -- "Afraid of Manju." This causes Sakuya to take a flying attack at Hayate with her harisen. She then turns to Isumi and asks what the mighty "ghost sweeper" (actual term used) was afraid of. Isumi says caterpillars, but her description and why it makes her afraid makes it clear she's referring to Mothra.

As Maria and Hayate clear the dishes from lunch, Hayate notices that Nagi had carefully picked away the carrots and peppers, despite their tiny bit sizes. Nagi is pleased with herself and still determined to learn Hayate's weakness. However, when she learns that he wishes to be excused so that he can advance in grade with Nagi, she has second thoughts about proceeding and tells Sakuya and Isumi to not bother Hayate. Maria brings him a copy of last year's math test, and he's dismayed to discover its in German. Wataru-kun enters as well, having the same copy, and he's frustrated about it being that hard. Nagi is surprised neither of them know German when Isumi knows four languages, Maria knows 13, and Nagi knows 8. While Wataru knows English and could take the math test in English, Hayate isn't so good on it.

Sakuya is thankful that she attended a normal school, and she escorts Isumi out, telling her that if she stays, Wataru won't be able to concentrate. Isumi is puzzled by this but leaves. Nagi goes to tutor Wataru while Maria goes to tutor Hayate. Maria explains that the only way they could get Nagi to attend school after she skipped grades was to have her friends do the same. Thus, that's why Wataru and the others are in the same advanced grade as Nagi. Meanwhile, Sakuya and Isumi are on the grounds relaxing. As Isumi enjoys her tea, Sakuya asks about school. With Nagi skipping a lot, she figures that Isumi spends time with Wataru. However, learning she doesn't, Sakuya now knows where things stand between Isumi and Wataru.

As Hayate and Maria have their tutoring session, Hayate wonders if it is OK for Wataru and Nagi to be left alone. Maria says they'll be fine and reminds him that Hayate's alone with her. That's enough to get the two of them to have a "nice timing" check on Wataru and Nagi by delivering coffee. They find Wataru holding Nagi's wrist, she having teased him previously, and demands to know what's going on. Naturally, Nagi thinks Hayate is jealous and starts yammering an excuse. Wataru loudly proclaims that he likes Isumi, who just happened to pop into the room. She's not sure what to make of this, but Wataru verbally retreats, saying it was a joke. That leads Sakuya to pop in and whack him good with the harisen. Hayate leaves to study with Maria, which sets off Nagi's jealous rage, and she chases him through the mansion. Maria notes that Hayate's true weakness is not understanding women.

Thoughts: A pretty enjoyable episode, with the first half packed full of references. I was glad to see Isumi get a decent episode. Sakuya again had a good episode.

References! (Note: the site doesn't get 100% of the references, but they do get a very high percentage.)

Clannad 18

クラナド Episode 18

SPOILER Summary: Although he's been suspended for fighting, Tomoyo continues to stop by Okazaki's residence to wake him up. Because she feels responsible for his suspension, she's also cooking him breakfast, something he tells her she doesn't have to do. Okazaki's father comes in and Tomoyo invites him to breakfast as well. He accepts, however, Okazaki leaves and goes to Sunohara's place. He wakes his friend up, after placing some boxers with hearts on them on his head, by telling Sunohara that a girl is there to confess to him. Naturally, Sunohara is eager to meet said girl and races out of the room, only to run into the Rugby Club, who then proceed to give him a beating for being a pervert and wearing heart-filled boxers on his head. Sunohara isn't happy with Okazaki's prank, but lets him hide out in his room just the same.

At school, the Theater Club members Kyou, Ryou, Kotomi-chan, and Sunohara sit and ponder the situation with Okazaki suspended and Nagisa still ill. Ryou and Kyou decide to pay Okazaki a visit at Sunohara's room. They go through a walk through town and end up at a game arcade. At the "Holoscope" game, the three are behind the privacy curtain and Kyou gets Ryou and Okazaki to get their love fortune told, which requires them to have their hands on the paddle-ball together after they've entered their names. The screen displays "tomodachi" -- which means "friend." Kyou is angry by this, causing Okazaki to be knocked out of his seat and out of the booth. As Kyou rants, the game prints out a complete reading.

The trio walk home after Kyou has read the paper rants some more, blaming Okazaki for the results of the fortune. As they walk and Ryou re-reads the paper, Kyou decides to let them be alone together, and comes up with an excuse to leave them. Ryou and Okazaki discuss fortunes and how Ryou, who attempts to do fortunes, is often wrong. However, she's OK with that because it means there are other choices out there and other roads to take instead of just the one. After seeing her home, Okazaki wanders around town, pondering her words.

That Sunday, Tomoyo comes by again to cook Okazaki breakfast. Okazaki asks where his father is, but apparently he just left. He asks about the elections, but Tomoyo brushes it off with a simple "things are going fine" answer. The doorbell rings and Kyou and Ryou are there, along with Botan, with a large bento for him to eat. Kyou is not happy to discover Tomoyo is there, but before she can go off, Kotomi-chan arrives with food as well. There is way to much food on the table and it is all for Okazaki to eat. Naturally, the one he chooses to eat is the same as saying, "this is the girl I choose." Tomoyo and Kyou get into a heated discussion over the matter. Okazaki looks to Ryou for help, but in an unusually forceful moment for her, she tells Okazaki that she wants him to eat her food as well. Okazaki turns to Kotomi-chan for assistance, but she too wants Okazaki to eat her food that she'd been working on since the night before. Just when Okazaki thinks he can't take any more of this, Fuko-chan arrives with a pile of food. She says she understands the other girls feelings, but that Okazaki should eat her food. And just what did Fuko-chan bring? Why starfish baumkuchen, starfish cakes and cupcakes, and starfish cream puffs. The girls insist he eat their dishes and Botan sweats it out, apparently glad not to be Okazaki. Fuko-chan insists he pick the best choice, which is her starfish baumkuchen.

Monday, Okazaki returns to school, not feeling well from having eaten so much. Sunohara wonders if he has time to waste since things aren't going well for Tomoyo and the election. People are talking about her and her election poster has been graffitied with various remarks about her being a delinquent, violent, and more. So, Okazaki sets up a match between her and the male Baseball Club where all she has to do is get three outs against them (Okazaki in the field and Sunohara catching). After making some wild pitches, she blames Sunohara on her troubles. Okazaki suggests she throw the ball at his face. She does, resulting in Sunohara getting plastered repeatedly and her getting her three outs.

Okazaki continues to do this, setting up matches that pit her against the Rugby Club, the Karate Club, the Gymnastics Club, the Swim Club, and the kendo Club. Because of this, Tomoyo's reputation at school goes up and the 1st-year girls even come to hear on their senpai. Tomoyo thanks him for his hard work. She explains her reasons for transferring to this school and becoming Student Council president was to protect some cherry trees in the area. He's surprised by this. She asks him what it takes to keep a person from going wild. He says that maybe having a talent would keep one from going out of control. She thinks that's a good answer but wonders what about if one doesn't have a talent. He answers that maybe a good relationship. That's an answer she also finds acceptable.

For her, the answer was family. Okazaki rejects that idea, but she continues, saying family can be a group of friends as well. She used to be a wild child as a reaction to the bad family life she had where her parents didn't get along. So, she took out her rage on others. When her parents decided to get a divorce and were arguing over who gets the kids, her little brother Takafumi, decided he didn't want them getting divorced. As such, he threatened to kill himself and indeed, in front of the three of them, he did jump from a bridge. He survived the attempt, but the result was that the family came together. After Takafumi was well enough to go out in a wheelchair, they walked through the area with the cherry trees that were then in bloom. Takafumi wanted the family to come by every year and so Tomoyo is determined not to let those trees be destroyed. As president, she can do something to keep the trees from being cut down.

The next day, Nagisa returns to school and meets with the Theater Club. Everyone's happy to see her. She apologizes to Okazaki since he got suspended while helping Tomoyo since she feels responsible, seeing as how Tomoyo being president gets them their club. Okazaki tells Nagisa to help with Tomoyo's upcoming tennis match, where she has to face a good member of the Tennis Club. A huge crowd has gathered and as Kyou, Ryou, and Kotomi-chan sit together, the see Nagisa, Sunohara, and Okazaki. Seeing how close Nagisa and Okazaki are, Kyou is determined to get over there, but Ryou stops her. During one of the breaks, Nagisa re-introduces herself to Tomoyo, and realizing she's the one who wants the Theater Club restarted, understands the situation with Nagisa and Okazaki.

Tomoyo continues her match and Kyou and Ryou look a little depressed as they observe how Nagisa and Okazaki are together. When a ball comes and hits Nagisa, causing her a welt on her leg, the guy who accidentally hit her rushes over to get her to the health center. Okazaki instinctively blocks him from touching Nagisa. Realizing what he's done, he calmly tells the guy he'll take her to the health center and escorts Nagisa away. Ryou and Kyou see this and realize that they have no chance with Okazaki. As such, both end up crying and hold each other. In the end, Tomoyo wins the election.

Thoughts: Ah, the old, "Choose my bento" comedy routine. Having Fuko-chan appear in that situation did work for me and made it quite humorous.

Ryou, Kyou, Kotomi-chan, and Tomoyo -- you're all OUT! Well, lets face it, it was always going to be Nagisa and Okazaki, though officially neither have confessed to each other. Everything he does any more is for Nagisa, including getting Tomoyo elected to Student Council President. That's love. Still, I do feel sorry for Ryou. I was surprised to see how emotional Kyou had become, but then again had we not had the episode last week with her trapped alone with Okazaki, the scene wouldn't have been as impactful. Kotomi-chan seemed OK and Tomoyo finally understood. I would guess that means she's no longer going to be coming by his home to wake him up.

Based on the previews, the girls are still together for the Theater Club. I know people aren't happy that this episode seems to wrap up the Tomoyo, Ryou, and Kyou stories. In the game, Ryou was only a minor character, or so I'm told. Still, I hope we continue to see Ryou and Kyou until the end. I'm hoping that Tomoyo still shows up as well. I liked her a lot and clearly her story about family gives Okazaki something to consider.

On a different note, I'm going to try to replace previous images from the series with widescreen ones. I've no idea why the Japanese decided to play this in pan-and-scan 4:3 first before rebroadcasting it weeks later in widescreen.

Dirty Pair 04

ダーティペア Episode 04

SPOILER Summary: Yuri comes home as people in her complex complain about the latest destruction Dirty Pair has caused. Kei is watching female wresting and the tag-team group Elegance (Elagants?) while doing some repair work in their apartment. They get summoned for a case where a pink cat named Guillaume de Malatesta XIII has gone missing. The scientist in charge of the project says the cat has been given an agent to make it stronger. Said agent could make humans strong enough to destroy buildings. The cat is thought not to be kidnapped since it has been spotted alone and has raided several cake shops for cheesecake. The scientist's sister comes by, who happens to be Ren-san, one of the female wrestlers Kei was watching earlier.

The computer gives Kei and Yuri the likely next two cake shops to be hit. So they got to said shops where Kei indulges herself. She notices a basket where a cat peeks out to get some food. Its not the right cat, but then a pink cat emerges and steals some cheesecake before making an escape in close pursuit by Kei on a bike, who's also pursued by some gangster types. Kei reports to Yuri, who jumps on her bike with Mughi. The chase goes through a wedding where the cat leaps into the back of the convertible with the newlyweds and ultimately ends up at a nice hotel. Kei bursts in on the couple where the new bride thinks that Kei's there for her man. The cat gets away and when Yuri busts in a little later, the bride has had enough and says she's leaving her husband.

The chase continues and Yuri and Kei hook up. Yuri asks if Kei knows about the limo pursuing her, which she does, but she feels they are after the cat. They end up at the Hair Bank, where they get shown down to the vaults, where they see the cat go down to. They try to get the vault open that has the cat in it, but the employees aren't allowed and further have no idea about 3WA or "Lovely Angels." So they do it the hard way by pulling their weapons. They get the cat as the employees alert the police. However, the gangsters have rigged an underground train to crash into the vault. They want the cat very badly. However, Kei and Yuri give them a beating and they try to flee, only to run into an overwhelming number of cops. They come up behind the thugs, but seeing the cops, they pretend to be victims of the thugs and are let out until the employees ID them, forcing the two to steal a cop car to chase the cat again.

The chase has the cops and now the Elegance team joins the chase for the cat. It ends when the road ends with many cars going onto a section of bridge that is being held by a helicopter-like craft to be added to the road. Yuri and Kei run around chasing the cat while the cops go back and forth in their cars trying to stabilize the section. Once they get the cat, they then have to fight both members of Elegance. In the end, they get the cat and make an escape to return to the scientist. However, he points out that the pink cat they brought to him is male and Malatesta is a female cat. Elsewhere, Mughi has a small pink cat with stolen cheesecake on the beach.

Thoughts: Tedious. Seriously, 3WA is a big cop-like organization. Flashing ID should have made things OK for the bank, but even more so for the cops. I guess having everyone chase DP was supposed to be funny, but it wasn't. Having the Elegance members named "Ran-san" and "Jelly-san," well...^_^;;; Finding out the girls code-names of 234K & 234Y was about the only thing interesting. Oh well.

Minami-ke Okawari 03

みなみけ～おかわり～ Ep. 03

SPOILER Summary: It is a cold morning as the Minami girls head to school, Kana jealous that Haruka gets to come home at noon. They notice the moving truck and that they'll have a new neighbor. At school, Chiaki, Makoto, Uchida, and Yoshino are commenting on the amount of homework they have and it is decided to do their homework at Chiaki's place. At Haruka's school, Maki and Atsuko see Haruka off where Maki takes a bizarre way of suggesting Haruka make nabe. Hosaka overhears this and thinks that only a nabe pot stands between him and Haruka. Haruka goes home and as she does laundry, Kana is depressed at how unfair life is since Haruka gets to be at home and she's stuck at school.

Haruka introduces herself to the new neighbor while back at Chiaki's school, Touma is preparing to leave. She ignores being called, so Chiaki has to resort to plan B and flings a filled cloth bag at her. Touma looks to find Chiaki, Makoto, Uchida, and Shuuichi there. Touma is invited to do her homework with them. Further, she's told to bring her pajamas as they'll be spending the night. As they walk home, Touma informs them that they have a transfer student coming to the school. However, when she can't answer Chiaki's question about whether the student is a boy or a girl, she gets put down for it.

At home, the Minami sisters eat zenzai (shiruko) for a snack. Chiaki asks about inviting her friends over to spend the night and do homework. Kana decides this should be a pajama festival and Haruka is surprised that this event is supposed to be that night, but she agrees to allow Chiaki to have it and Kana wants to make this a great festival. In their room (where the divider is currently open), Chiaki is on the computer and as Kana reads manga, they talk about the new neighbors. Uchida and Shuuichi arrive with Makoto, who's dressed as Mako-chan. This surprises the girls, so Kana has to tell Makoto that there's a time for being Mako-chan and this isn't it. He changes back into his normal self and re-arrives with Fujioka and Haruka, who'd gone to get food. Apparently, Chiaki invited Fujioka to distract Kana.

Chiaki has Uchida and Shuuichi change into PJ's when Touma arrives. Chiaki changes and Kana tries to get Touma out of her regular clothing immediately. Chiaki attacks Kana to stop that. Haruka prepares for nabe, and they all gather around the table to cook the nabe. Kana tries to direct what ingredients to put in, but Chiaki ignores her. As they eat, the doorbell rings and it is the son of their next-door neighbors, Fuyuki. He brings a present, which Kana speculates about. Haruka invites him in, but he refuses as Chiaki and Kana fight. After eating, Chiaki and friends go to take a bath while Kana lays on her back under kotatsu with her belly exposed. Haruka tells her not to do that, especially in light of Fujioka being there. Kana doesn't listen.

As Chiaki, Touma, Uchida, and Shuuichi continue to bathe, Fujioka and Makoto wash the dishes. Fujioka notes that Makoto looks a lot like Mako-chan. Meanwhile, Kana and Haruka discuss the bath and Haruka reveals she wishes they had a bigger tub. This conversation leads Kana to decide to show her hospitality by serving milk to Chiaki and the girls. She enters, but gets thrown out for making perverted-like statements. So she sets up "shop" at the little table with the phone and Uchida emerges first. She gladly accepts a glass of milk. Chiaki is next, but her reaction is to start pulling Kana's pigtails. Touma and Shuuichi emerge with Touma wanting some fruit milk, causing Chiaki to tell her to go to bed.

Fujioka leaves and the girls gather in Chiaki's room. They start to talk romance when Kana comes in and takes over. She says the "adults" have to talk and pulls the divider shut, leaving Chiaki alone on her side of the partition because she's the only one without even budding breasts. Chiaki gets irritated, citing Touma as a boy (because she'd previously declared Touma as her little brother). Kana decides to pull off Touma's shirt to show that Touma's more of a girl than Chiaki, which results in Kana taking the teddy bear Fujioka to the face. The following morning, the girls, Kana, and Haruka gather at the kotatsu where Makoto is still sleeping. They talk about the fun they had and Haruka asks them if they did their homework. Silence.

Thoughts: I'm not all that impressed with this sequel to Minami-ke. Its not nearly as funny and to compensate for that loss, we get fanservice. Its sad, really. I know a lot of people get off on I wish I knew why they changed production companies like this. The first one had it right, in my opinion. That doesn't mean that Okawari is horrible, but it is a serious step down from its parent.

Gunslinger Girl -Il Teatrino- 03

ガンスリンガー・ガール -イル・テアトレーノ- Ep. 03

SPOILER Summary: Triela gets ready for her mission in her room while Hilshire gets briefed on their mission, having already learned of it from his boss at Section II. One of the members from the Public Safety Division, Cohen, was in the town of Montalcino looking for an assassin working for Padania (Five Republics Faction) named Pinocchio. Jeremiah, one of men in the room, says that he can take the job if Hilshire wants to punt, but Hilshire says that Triela can do it. With that, Hilshire and Triela are off to Montalcino.

Once they arrive in this small town, Triela is afraid they'll stand out, but Hilshire isn't worried and compliments her on her suit. He takes her to a nice cafe where they have lunch with wine. Over lunch, Hilshire gives Triela more details of their mission and she asks why they are even there searching for someone. He's not sure why they were picked to look for a missing agent from another division, but Hilshire is aware that this could be a trap set by another agency to bring down Section II. However, he's not worried about it because of his ally, meaning Triela.

They head to the hotel where Cohen was supposedly staying and Hilshire finds the name Nicholas Cambio, which is Cohen's real name. A bribe to the clerk gets them the key to Cohen's room, which is empty. Hilshire finds the imprint on a notepad of what might be a phone number or address, so he leaves Triela to pick the lock of Cohen's suitcase while he tracks it down. She does and among his clothing, she finds the book "Pinocchio," where she sits to read the summary and then tosses it aside as a stupid book.

Outside, young Aurora carries a basket of food and comes to the place where Pino (Pinocchio) lives. She's hesitant, based on Pino's last conversation with her and thus Triela finds her. Triela says she's looking for a Massimo, though Aurora's use of the name "Pino" sets a flag. Aurora tells Triela that Massimo rarely is there and that Pino lives there now. Triela manages to plant a bug in the food that Aurora bought before taking off. Triela returns to the room where Hilshire has set up a listening post and she gets ready for action.

Meanwhile, Aurora enters the residence, which seems empty. She comes to a living room where she sees evidence of people being there. She sets the food down and uncovers an automatic pistol, which she picks up. Franca discovers Aurora and thinks this might be the little girl assassins they've heard about. She orders the frightened Aurora to put the gun down, which she doesn't do due to fear. Franco disarms the girl and Pinocchio comes in and ID's her as a neighbor girl. Hilshire and Triela hear this and when the little girl starts begging for help from Pino, which isn't coming, Hilshire sends Triela to rescue the girl.

Pinocchio says he's going to kill Aurora now that she's seen what's going on there. However, Franca won't hear of it, reminding him of her policy on killing. Pinocchio doesn't put his knife down, so Franco pulls a gun on him to enforce Franca's will. Triela, with her shotgun, orders the group to drop their weapons. However, Franco and Pinocchio quickly split while Franca takes the bound Aurora to escape. A gun battle ensues and Pinocchio races up the stairs to the 2nd level where Triela is. Franco escapes and Pinocchio uses his knife to disarm Triela. They fight hand to hand and Triela scores his pendant. She tries to get the drop on him with her hand gun, but again, she's disarmed and ultimately knocked out. Pinocchio goes to shoot her, but remembers the little girl from his first mission and suddenly he can't shoot, so he leaves.

Hilshire catches the fleeing Franca with Aurora. Hilshire ID's himself as the police and Franca lets Aurora go, who quickly flees behind Hilshire (who's behind Franca). She holds her gun out as instructed, but as he goes to take it, she lets it go and chops him in the arm, and thus escapes. He shoots, then gives chase. However, Franca soon comes into contact with Franco and Hilshire's outgunned. They make it to the convertible where they are joined by Pinocchio and they leave town.

Meanwhile, Hilshire comes upon the unconscious Triela. When she comes round, he informs her that the villains got away, but they saved Aurora and they are still alive. Triela is upset at having been defeated in combat. Hilshire tries to console her, but she won't be comforted, especially after seeing he's been injured. She cries, wondering what the purpose of it all was if she was going to be beaten despite having a cybernetic body. Elsewhere, Franca, Franco, and Pinocchio plan where they should go to.

Thoughts: Gah. I felt so bad for Aurora. Poor girl. At least she didn't die like I feared she would. That's the kind of stuff that makes this series so hard for me to watch. I was glad that Hilshire sent Triela to save Aurora though even though it nearly cost Triela her life. I was surprised that Triela got beaten, but that too puts a human face on these government assassins. I guess Pinocchio will pay for his not killing Triela by dying next week (or whenever his arc ends).

Ah! My Goddess Ch. 228 *SPOILERS*

ああっ女神さまっVolume 36 Chapter 228

Summary: Having cleaned up the joint, Megumi still isn't feeling well and knows they haven't solved anything. So she decides to get some fresh air. At the entryway, she finds that the only pair of shoes that are a different size are hers. However, if that's the case, then where are the other three girl's shoes? Keiichi joins her and puts on a pair of shoes that fits him and she asks him about the other women not having shoes. She also remembers the strange wind and wonders if those women aren't human. Belldandy, holding a glass of water, hears this and wonders if it is odd not having shoes or not being human.

Megumi goes for a walk on the grounds and wonders why when she looks at "that" person, she feels at ease, why she sneezed when she looked at the sun. Welsper the cat comes home and sees Banpei-kun offline and Sigel reporting memory errors. He wonders why they are in that condition. He continues in and sees Urd and Skuld and realizes from their conversation that they've lost their memories. Keiichi sees the cat talk and starts throwing stuff at it. Urd and Skuld join in but Welsper stops them by telling them he knows who they are. He feeds them some lies and states that Urd and K1 are lovers, Skuld is his servant, and K1 is his fiancee.

Welsper has a reluctant Skuld give him a shoulder massage and wants Belldandy to address him as "beloved" (translated term). However, this is something she can't do.

Thoughts: We hadn't seen Welsper in a long time. Ditto Banpei-kun and Sigel, though they only got cameos. I'd like it if Megumi knows who the megami are when this story is over but somehow, I expect everything to be back to normal when all is said and done.

Honey and Clover (Live Action) 03

ハチミツとクローバー (Live Action Dorama) Ep. 03

SPOILER Summary: Takemoto is suffering in the heat of his room and seeing Hagu-chan's ring, he remembers how Morita kissed her on the beach. However, when she calls from a pay phone and invites him to have soba with her, he's revived again. He races over to Hanamoto-sensei's place to find Ayumi (Yamada) there as well as Hagu-chan. Morita and Mayama also show up but because Hagu-chan didn't expect five people (Morita apparently being the unexpected guest due to Hagu-chan trying to avoid him) , there's not enough for everyone. However, she offers to share hers with Takemoto, which he happily accepts. During the meal, Morita lets it out that he kissed Hagu-chan, which Takemoto tries to keep him from doing. That lets Morita know that Takemoto's interested in Hagu-chan as she flees.

After Morita deals with Teramobori-san on his latest piece, Miwako from Fujiwara Design comes by the dorm and accidentally steps on Takemoto's hand after he looks out his door from the floor. She knows him somehow and Takemoto discovers the color flier stating he loves Hagu-chan, thus how Miwako knew Takemoto when she saw him. She tells him he needs pink curtains in his room to improve his love life before proceeding to Mayama's room. Mayama won't let her in, choosing to meet with her in the common room. He asks Takemoto to make tea, which they don't have. However, when Takemoto returns to his room, he notices that a package from his mother contained both tea and pink curtains.

As they all sit, Morita comes in and starts hitting on Miwako, who puts him in his place. She makes a job offer to Mayama, who politely rejects it. After she leaves, Takemoto can't believe that he turned down a position at Fujiwara Design, since they are a hot, small company to work for. Mayama doesn't want to talk about it. Takemoto gets a call from Hagu-chan, so he flees to his room to talk with her. However, after he starts to ask her to watch the fireworks at the summer festival with him, Hanamoto-sensei is on the line, asking Takemoto to do a job for him for which he'll be paid. Meanwhile, Miwako tells her co-workers that she failed to recruit Mayama.

At the Yamada residence, Ayumi cares for a plant where the stem of one is broken, but hadn't died yet. Her father states she should break it off, but she doesn't want to do that, feeling bad for the plant. Her father says that if she doesn't get rid of the bad part, there won't be new growth. As such, the next day, Ayumi sees Mayama making a half-hearted effort at looking for job postings. They talk briefly before she lets him know that she's decided to give up chasing what she can't have. As such, she won't chase Mayama forever and she walks off with Mayama watching her leave.

The job Hanamoto-sensei has for Takemoto is taking several chairs to Rika-san's house. After loading the small, flatbed truck, they take off. Takemoto sees Hagu-chan and Morita together, Morita having gathered Hagu-chan to go get supplies, and begs Hanamoto-sensei to stop, which doesn't happen. Morita and Hagu-chan are in the art store and Hagu-chan doesn't feel comfortable with Morita. Afterward, they stop at a tacoyaki stand where only Morita eats after Hagu-chan paid for it. He starts making loud negative comments about the food, leading the stand owner to come out and confront him. When the man returns to his stand, Morita tells Hagu-chan that the man will now make good tacoyaki. However, she's only interested in fleeing, which she does.

Takemoto is working hard on bringing the chairs up to Rika-san's place and getting them cleaned up. After he finishes, he overhears a conversation between Rika-san and Hanamoto-sensei regarding Mayama. Meanwhile, Hagu-chan comes to the school campus to find Ayumi swinging
an aluminum baseball bat. Hagu-chan soon picks one up to swing as well since Ayumi says it makes her feel better. Shouda-sensei (?) shows up for some swings as well since his wife is away. Takemoto comes home to find Morita wanting to borrow ¥1000 from Mayama. When Takemoto reveals he was at Rika-san's place for work, things get chaotic and in the end, Mayama is begging Takemoto for ¥5000.

Lohmeyer-senpai arrives with a large number of watermelons, which makes the three stop their chaos. Its time for the Japanese summer game "suikawari," where the object it to be blindfolded, find and smash a watermelon with a large stick. Takemoto's room gets chosen for this fun, much to his dismay. Lohmeyer-senpai says that suikawari is practice for love, to naturally Takemoto is interested. As Morita and Mayama direct Takemoto to a watermelon, he stops himself from smashing the object in front of him, thinking that he's being tricked. Sure enough, it was his small boombox. Takemoto moves on and takes a swing, only to be stopped by Lohmeyer-senpai. He has words of wisdom for Takemoto, who's removed his blindfold, and with his words, he seems to glow. As such, Morita gets blindfolded, then proceeds to smash every watermelon in the room.

Hagu-chan has gone to the Yamada residence where Ayumi's father and fellow district comrades are drinking and eating yakiniku. When he learns of Hagu-chan's trip with Morita and her feelings about it, she says that what she's feeling is love, which Ayumi can't believe. To back his story up, he recounts first dating his wife and the negative feelings he had then. This makes Hagu-chan start thinking about things differently. Back at the dorm, Morita tells the annoyed Takemoto that he set things up for him and Hagu-chan to see the fireworks together (Morita having invited Hagu-chan previously) at the place where he's working on his next art piece.

The following day, Mayama confronts Hanamoto-sensei about him taking Takemoto to Rika-san's place instead of him. Hanamoto-sensei tells Mayama that he can't support Rika-san by just being with her all the time, and recounts the accident she had that led to her husband Harada to have to catch a later flight for a business trip in which the plane crashed and he died. Hearing this, he ultimately decides to pay a visit to Fujiwara Design, where he asks for a job. Nomiya isn't interested in letting him into the team, but Miwako overrides him. However, she warns Mayama that if his work isn't up to par, she'll fire him.

Takemoto goes to buy a male yukata for the forthcoming summer festival. However, at the festival, he finds that Shouda-sensei (?) has the same yukata as him, and gives him the "OK" sign about it before passing a corn dog to Takemoto. Hagu-chan and Ayumi are also in yukata as they start to watch fireworks from the Yamada residence. They go to get tacoyaki from one of the festival vendors, which happens to be Lohmeyer-senpai. He tells them to serve the tacoyaki warm as cold tacoyaki will cool a relationship down. Hagu-chan thinks to Morita's attempting to get better tacoyaki with her and so she leaves Ayumi to go to where he is. Takemoto also leaves his spot for watching fireworks to go to where Morita said Hagu-chan would be. Hagu-chan gets there and Morita has Takemoto come out before leaving. Takemoto starts to talk with her, but she's watching Morita leave. Realizing his words would not reach her, he shuts up to deal with the pain in his heart.

Thoughts: I love this dorama. I never thought a Japanese dorama could entertain me so, but this has. Yeah, it is somewhat different than the anime or manga (I do wish that Rika-san's injury would have been the same), but the heart is still the same and that's key to me in this case.

I understand that this TV series is only going to be 11 episodes in length. I guess that would account for the fact that it was early spring in episode 2, summer in episode 3, and looks to be winter in episode 4. Man, blowing through this so quickly seems like it could go to fast, but as I reflect on the three episodes to date, I think it will be fine.

As to this episode specifically, I never liked Hagu-chan being interested in Morita in the anime. I always wanted her and Takemoto to hook up in the anime. Naturally, knowing how things went there, it sucks seeing something similar here. As such, it sucks to be Takemoto. "No Hagu-chan for you!"

Eva and Chachazero

This is an image from chapter 203 of Negima! Is this cool or what? I'd love to see a color wallpaper of the two (excluding the text and the Negi group in the background). ^_^ I love the look on Chachazero's face. Then again as I look, it appears her left arm has been severed. Yikes. Good thing she's a doll, eh?

Shakugan no Shana Second 17

灼眼のシャナ II Episode 17

SPOILER Summary: Sydonay and a group of monsters of some kind observe a ship, which is an Outlaw installation. Sydonay summons his giant spear Hougu, Shintetu Nyoi, and attacks the ship, destroying it, and apparently taking out the Flame Haze Drell Kubelik in the process, who ran this Outlaw facility.

At school, Oga-chan notices differences in some of her friends as she observes Yoshida, Shana, and Yuuji at the front gate of the school as they go home. Ogata mentions this to Ike, who observes that there are changes, but that it seems that one change has her and Tanaka getting closer. He suggests that she invite him to her volleyball match on Friday. Tanaka is at his shoe locker and Sato meets him there. However, Tanaka ends up making a hasty exit. Sato returns home to find Wilhelmina and Margery discussing the lack of new information on the Silver as well as the strange reports coming from Outlaw. Margery senses him outside the door and tells him to come in. He starts to tell her about Tanaka, but Margery assures him that Tanaka will come to an answer eventually and that Sato should just leave him alone for now. He starts to ask about Outlaw, then changes his mind

That night, Yoshida considers to ponder her choice as she looks at the Hougu "Giralda" that Pheles gave her. Meanwhile, Yuuji and Shana are practicing with wooden swords to further train Yuuji to fight. Yuuji wants the level of training increased, which Alastor is not sure about. However, after to listening to Yuuji's reasons, Alastor agrees and so Shana steps up the training level. The following day, Sato summons Shana to the roof, who's not interested in having a conversation with him up there. That changes when he says he doesn't want Yuuji to know and he asks her about Outlaw.

Meanwhile, Oga-chan "forgets" her lunch since Tanaka has been forgetting his lately and the two go to the cafeteria to eat. Oga-chan feels he's been avoiding the group and Tanaka has a flash memory of Oga-chan's mangled body. She starts to invite him to her match as he's spaced out, but he cuts her off, saying he'll take her anywhere she wants to go Friday. She's not happy with how Tanaka is acting and how he's changed and so she ends up not inviting him to the match. Tanaka meets with Sato outside a continence store and Sato tells him about Outlaw, which is an organization to support Flame Haze, where humans also work. As such, he wants to join Outlaw since as a human, he can't fight. Tanaka is happy for him and leaves. Sato is angry and asks how long Tanaka is going to be a coward.

At school, Ogata is spacing out thinking about Tanaka during practice. Elsewhere, Yuuji and Shana are helping Wilhelmina sort through the Outlaw reports. Wilhelmina warns Yuuji that since Sabrac was the one who placed an insignia on the Reiji Maigo, it is very possible that he will at some point come to Misaki City. However, since there are no reports of him anywhere, she feels he's in hiding and plotting his next move. She reveals that Sabrac almost killed her, but Pheles and Johan came to her rescue. As such, the three traveled together for years as Sabrac pursued them, it taking all three of them to keep him at bay. Sabrac took advantage of a moment when Wilhelmina was away to attack Johan and Pheles as Johan was almost completed work on creating a spell that would take care of Sabrac (or at least counter him). That was when Pheles placed Johan within the Reiji Maigo.

Sato comes home and informs Margery Daw that he wants to join outlaw. Margery passes information she'd just received from Wilhelmina. Drell Kubelik's Outlaw facility had been destroyed with everyone dying and numerous other Outlaw establishments had also come under attack recently. This is why the reports from Outlaw had been such a mess of late. Considering this change of events, Marchosias wonders how Sato feels about joining Outlaw now.

Back at school, Tanaka gets ready to go home and Ike meets him. Ike wonders why he's not at the volleyball match and if Ogata invited him. At the match, Ogata is still thinking about Tanaka. However, when she sees him in the crowd, her depression leaves her and she's able to play up to form. That night after the match, Tanaka summons Sato to the continence store. Sato invites him to the house, but Tanaka refuses, saying he can't face Margery. He hands over the Hougu bookmark Margery had given him, telling Sato to relay a message to Margery apologizing for being a coward. He'd planned to be with Sato working with "Ane-san" but can no longer do so. Sato is fine with this, telling him he's not a coward for choosing his own path and that Sato's own path won't be as easy as he'd first thought. The friends part company at that point.

Meanwhile, Yuuji and Shana's stepped up training has Yuuji not living up to expectations. Alastor feels it was a mistake to increase the training level, but Yuuji asks to keep going. He actually manages to sense which of Shana's strikes are feints and which is the real one with "killing intent" and knocks Shana's wooden sword out of her hands. Both are a bit surprised by this, however, in the brief moment that he's realizing that fact, Shana teaches him a lesson on spacing out by throwing a kick his way that knocks him down. Alastor is pleased with Yuuji's sensing Shana's true attack and calls it a night, but Yuuji insists the training continue now that he's just getting the hang of it.

Thoughts: Its kind of sad seeing Tanaka and Sato take different paths and thus will no longer be working together with Margery Daw. I would guess this means that Tanaka and Oga-chan will be relegated to cameo-type roles from here on out.

Speaking of changes, Yuuji seems obsessed with getting stronger and fighting. No problems there, but I can't help but wonder if this isn't a result of outside forces doing who knows what to him, but the forces inside him driving him.

It was nice seeing how a Tomogara like Pheles and a Flame Haze like Wilhelmina became friends. With Sabrac being so powerful that it took a powerful Mystes, Flame Haze, and Tomogara to hold him off makes me wonder if the Silver and Sabrac are the same again. Gah. This show can be tough to keep on top of with everything that is going on.

Interesting that Bal Masqué, specifically Sydonay, are taking out the Outlaw infrastructure that supports the Flame Haze. I would guess that based on whatever is in the silver armor combined with a Flame Haze force that is now disorganized, Bal Masqué is nearly ready to make its move and maybe wipe out most of the Flame Haze. But that's just a guess on my part.

Sgt. Frog Manga Volume 14

Sgt. Frog Volume 14 (Keroro Gunsou)

Summary: The first story deals with Kululu deciding that things are just to easy for the platoon at the Hinata residence and so causes the troops all sorts of problem, including having them battle Natsumi, Fuyuki, Momoka, & Koyuki one-on-one. The second story has Keroro find an old kiddie blow-up pool for them to have fun in, though in miniature size. Meanwhile Natsumi and Koyuki find the public pool theme park too crowded and decide to use the kiddie pool, not realizing the others are already in it due to their tiny size.

The third story has Fuyuki and Keroro investigate a Kappa Pond and discover another group of kids interested in paranormal activities. The fourth story has Fuyuki and Natsumi discover an alien exercise class on Earth. The fifth story has Momoka become a ghost to be with Fuyuki all the time and befriend Hinata ghost Omiyo-san. However, she learns that being a ghost has serious drawbacks. The sixth story has Giroro's older brother Garuru return with a package from their father. Package contains a mutant yam which the two battle until Natsumi comes into the fray to save the day.

The final story has Moa go bipolar (for lack of a better term) as she starts to lose control over herself and her mission to destroy the Earth. When she goes into stasis to protect her adopted family, things aren't the same without her. As such, Kululu comes up with a solution that will allow her to come out of stasis and destroy a planet in the process.

Thoughts: While I don't care for fanservice, I still wish that TokyoPop had made the pinup image at the front IN COLOR AND AS A PINUP! Seriously, how difficult would that have been? Not very. I understand color pages add to the cost, but you could have advertised "Color Pinup Inside" to try to pick up a few cheap sales from those who do like fanservice. But what do I know?

Manga-wise, for fun I went back and looked back at volume 1. Man, Yoshizaki-sensei has certainly come a long way in his art and character design work.

For this specific volume, I'm glad that Omiyo, the ghost, finally got some face time. That was nice and sweet. It would be nice if Yoshizaki-sensei could find a way to get her into more stories as Akamatsu-sensei did for his ghost in Negima!.

TokyoPop continues its standard "half" use of honorifics, but its something that I don't bark about. I would like to see "Fuyuki-dono" and "Natsumi-dono" ("-dono" does get used at times for other characters) but well I'm not going to complain. At least honorifics are used.

Overall, another fun volume.

Clannad 17

クラナド Episode 17

SPOILER Summary: Because of the basketball game, the Choir Club decides to share Koumura-sensei with the Theater Club. However, the Student Council rejects this proposal out of hand. Kyou is irritated with the bureaucracy but suddenly Nagisa collapses and is caught by Okazaki. They take her home, where Akio-san thanks Okazaki for again saving his daughters life. As Kotomi, Ryou, and Kyou walk home with Okazaki, he reflects on what Nagisa's father said, feeling that he's done nothing at all. Since Nagisa will be out for some time, their attempts to get the Theater Club going will have to be suspended.

The next morning, Okazaki is awakened and finds Tomoyo is the one who did it. He's surprised at her being there, saying it is rude to just enter someone's home. However, she assures him she didn't just enter as his father let her in. She drags him to school to ensure he's there on time. However, Okazaki tells her he's not the only one with a tardiness problem. As such, next stop is Sunohara's dorm room. He too is shocked by their arrival. Tomoyo spots a magazine sticking out from his bed and pulls it out to Sunohara's horror. Its porn and she says its expected since he's a guy, though he's not happy at it being discovered. She leaves them at their classroom where both guys look exhausted and Sunohara comments on how only five-minutes before, he'd been in bed.

Having been tagged by Kyou to meet her for lunch, Okazaki does so. Kyou, Ryou, and Botan are there and Ryou informs Okazaki that Kyou made the bento. Kyou pushes Okazaki over to Ryou, where he brushes against her and causes her to "steam" and get flushed. As they eat, Kyou wonders what Okazaki is going to do once he graduates. Kyou plans to be a kindergarten teacher and Ryou wants to be a nurse. After lunch, Kyou tells Okazaki that Ryou will make tomorrows bento before he leaves them in the hall. Kyou tells Ryou to follow him into the classroom. Ryou wonders if it is OK for her to do this since Nagisa is gone. Kyou reminds her little sister that Okazaki isn't dating anyone, including Nagisa and that if Ryou doesn't get in gear, Tomoyo will make a move on him.

After school, Sunohara asks Okazaki about his possibly dating Nagisa, which Okazaki assures him he's not and that he has no plans to get a girlfriend. Tomoyo arrives and wonders why he doesn't want a girlfriend. He tells her it is because he's a delinquent to say nothing of his worthless father. She didn't think his father that bad though. She asks him to go home together and Sunohara jumps in, telling her that asking Okazaki is asking him. So all three are going home together (to Kyou's annoyance when she sees it) and Sunohara gets them to come with him as he runs some errands. He goes through an area of town that makes Tomoyo uncomfortable. When the teenaged thugs in the area see her, they run off in fear. Realizing what Sunohara is doing, he brings it to a stop and provides him cover by stopping in a cafe, supposedly at his request. Since Sunohara is now paying the tab, Tomoyo tells him he can consider her his friend from today forward.

When they complete their journey and part company with Sunohara, Tomoyo thanks Okazaki for his part when dealing with the thugs. She finds it fun being with them, especially Okazaki. The following morning, she again wakes Okazaki up. Again, Okazaki gets them to come by Sunohara's room to "share the love." Sunohara is not happy about this as Tomoyo has just woken up a senpai. She tells him she didn't know he cared about the senpai-kouhai hierarchy common in Japanese schools. Sunohara takes a different tact, and starts commenting on Tomoyo's body, even calling her "neechan" to stress his leering. She tells him that if he's interested in her body, she'll let him touch her if he begs for it. He begs, so she takes his hand, reminding him that the hand is also part of the body. Sunohara leaps at her, but takes a kick-beating instead.

At lunch, Kyou, Ryou, Botan, and Okazaki are ready to eat Ryou's lunch. Botan sneaks some omelet, but then keels over after eating some. Afterward, Ryou aplologizes for the bad food and Okazaki tells her the spring rolls were good which makes her happy. Botan comes back to life and so Kyou takes the opportunity to exit stage right, leaving the flushed Ryou and Okazaki, who knows what Kyou is up to, alone. Okazaki heads to the Theater Club room where he sits alone. His thoughts go to Nagisa and all the times they've shared since he met her. He then finds himself writing her name on the chalk board.

Feeling depressed, he decides to pay Miyazawa a visit and share a cup of coffee. She suggest making a charm and has him stand two ¥10 coins on top of each other, which seems impossible but he does it. She then has him chant "Ritafuni Kousoku Iita" three times. He does so and is told this spell will get him locked into a gym equipment storage room with a girl. She tells him to imagine someone. He immediately thinks of Nagisa, but remembers she's out. In the end, he settles on Kyou due to her personality. However, he doesn't believe this will work. Miyazawa tells him that to break the spell, he'll need to say "Curses are nothing to me" three times after stripping to his waist. He doesn't want to continue this line of conversation and so they talk about the Student Council where Okazaki is reminded of the forthcoming elections. If Tomoyo is elected president, the Theater Club will finally be officially launched.

His thoughts are interrupted by Kyou, in her gym clothing, who's dropped some balls and asks him to help her. They carry them into the gym storage shed when Mitsui-san notices the door to said shed is open and so she closes and naturally locks Kyou and Okazaki in. Remembering the spell, Okazaki begs for forgiveness. However, Kyou thinks that he staged this so that he could be alone with her. She backs away from him and conveniently falls back onto some bed-sized, thick pads. Laying there, she thinks that Okazaki wants to have sex with her and she contemplates it, since he's a boy and naturally would be interested in such a thing. But she also has to consider Ryou's feelings.

Okazaki tries to get her to understand about the spell and she's not buying it. He didn't believe it either but here they are. She asks why he chose her and he tells her he thought she would be the best one to be locked in the shed with. This touches her and she asks him if he knows why she's been pushing him and Ryou together, which he does. After a long pause, she asks if what she's doing with Ryou is bothering him, which it isn't. Her mood is such that it appears she might want him to go all the way. Okazaki remembers how to break the spell and starts disrobing. Kyou thinks it is because he's going to make love to her for sure. She stammers a bit and he asks her to turn around for a moment, which she does. Getting his shirt off, he recites the phrase to dispel the charm and sure enough the door opens and a female classmate looks to see Kyou standing alone, Okazaki having hidden behind a shelving unit.

Afterward, Kyou and Okazaki meet up on the school grounds. Okazaki is glad they were able to get out. Kyou apologizes for her unusual behavior, saying she was worried about what would become of them. She asks him to forget everything she said there and is called away on school business. Tomoyo arrives to walk home with Okazaki. However, when they get to the gate, a large group of teenaged thugs from earlier are waiting. Tomoyo isn't happy about this, but is planning to kick all their butts. Okazaki can't let this happen since he wants her to become president of the Student Council for Nagisa's sake and a fight could ruin that for her. Fuko-chan arrives to stop the fight, but no one goes for her starfish ploy, so she leaves. Sunohara arrives to help with the fight, but Tomoyo doesn't want the help. He's insistent, so she kicks him aside and launches into the thugs. Some teachers come running to the gate and the thugs, who were beginning to take a beating, flee. The teachers demand answers and Tomoyo is about to explain her role in this when Okazaki takes the rap for her. As such, he's now threatened with expulsion based on his other delinquent acts.

Thoughts: Well, I guess they had to move Nagisa aside if they wanted to try to advance any sort of romance between Ryou and Okazaki, to say nothing or Tomoyo and Okazaki. I liked that (1) Okazaki goes to the Theater Club room alone, (2) he thinks only of Nagisa when there, and (3) when offered a charm to be trapped in a storage shed with a girl, Nagisa is the first girl he thinks of. I think it is pretty safe to say that in the end, he'll end up with Nagisa, assuming she doesn't die of course. Egad, can you imagine what a tear-jerker that would be? Still, it was funny to have him trapped with Kyou.

Fuko-chan came back again. I like Fuko-chan but she wasn't funny this time, which was unfortunate. I gather that Fuko-chan does something similar in the game where she just pops in from time-to-time.

What was funny was the food joke. Since Kyou's lunch was good, I figured that Ryou's lunch would be awful. So having the piglet Botan steal food and keel over was funny to me since I hadn't seen the food joke done quite that way before.

Clannad 16

クラナド Episode 16

SPOILER Summary: Okazaki and Nagisa take Mei-chan to her oniichan's dorm room, where they find a mess. So, Mei-chan quickly cleans the place up and even does her brother's laundry. She's a bit dismayed and shocked to hear that her brother is apparently in love with Okazaki, but decides to accept it. Sunohara comes home and sees Okazaki and Nagisa in his room and thinks they are making it their love nest. When he finds out Mei is there, the jig is up for Okazaki, who has to confess to his little tales. Nagisa thinks this is mean of him to pull such a trick. Since this is a male dorm, Misae-san can't allow Mei to stay there, so Nagisa volunteers to have Mei stay with her family. Sunohara uses very proper, formal, and polite Japanese etiquette to turn his sister over to Nagisa, which surprised Okazaki.

At Nagisa's home/bakery, Sanae-san greets them and Mai thinks she's very pretty and is surprised to learn she is Nagisa's mother. Akio-san arrives from the back and Nagisa formally asks for a favor. Akio-san asks if she wants to know about the weird scar on her butt, even offering to confirm it for her. Nagisa is not amused at such an "ecchi" idea and states that her mom can look. Sanae-san assures Nagisa she has no scar, meaning Akio-san has lied. However, looking at Mei, Nagisa remembers her purpose and asks if Mei can stay. Sanae-san formally introduces herself and her husband and Akio-san is won over when Mei-chan thinks he's cool. At dinner, Mei learns of the basketball game being organized by Sunohara.

The following day on the way to school, Okazaki finds Tomoyo standing and gazing at some trees. He tells her that the future Student Council President shouldn't be late to school and that his excuse is that he's a delinquent. Tomoyo won't hear of this and grabs him to make it to school in a running dash. In class, Sunohara and Okazaki talk about the forthcoming basketball game and during a break, they enlist Kyou's help. She effectively takes over their three-man team and forces Sunohara to go get her a beverage, which Okazaki adds his order to. After he leaves, Kyou tells Okazaki there's a price to be paid from him as well in that he's to wait for her in the classroom at lunch.

At lunch as Nagisa and Kotomi-chan have lunch in the Theater Club room, Okazaki waits and eats pan with Sunohara. Tomoyo enters to talk with Okazaki, wanting him to quit being tardy. Sunohara is not happy with her being there and when he makes a move, she instinctively reacts and he gets a small sausage link up the nose. Since Tomoyo is an kouhai (and not addressing Okazaki with the "san" or "senpai" honorific), her presence in the classroom is not welcome by the other 3rd-year students. She starts to tell them her purpose for being there when an irritated Kyou enters the room, demanding to know why Tomoyo is there. Tomoyo says there's no rule about her having lunch in this classroom and then wonders if Kyou has a thing for Okazaki. This causes Kyou to be flustered and deny it. Tomoyo asks if Okazaki is dating anyone, which he denies. As such, Tomoyo feels that no girl should feel annoyed at seeing her with Okazaki. Kyou is seriously irritated and Okazaki is surprised that Kyou expected him to eat lunch with her and she drags him out of the classroom. Sunohara asks if Tomoyo has feelings for Okazaki. She says she doesn't, but then maybe what she's feeling for him is interest.

In the cafeteria, Ryou and Kyou are on one side with Okazaki on the other. Kyou feels that he needed to eat lunch with them since he's always eating lunch with Nagisa and Kotomi. Kyou picks up on what Tomoyo revealed in that Okazaki isn't dating anyone at present, including Nagisa. He demands to know what she means, but she plays dumb about it. When he looks at Ryou, she gets flusters and looks away. Okazaki apparently gets that Ryou likes him and that Kyou is trying to set him up with her younger sister. After trying and failing some practice on the basketball court, Okazaki goes to see Sunohara in his room. Sunohara is happy when Mei comes by to visit (Okazaki suspecting that Sunohara had been lonely) but she's there to pick Okazaki up for dinner at the Furukawa residence.

The day of the game between the Theater Club and the Basketball Club, Kyou is seriously pissed because of the insults the Basketball Club had tossed her way. She asks if it is against the rules to smash the ball in the face of the opponent, which it is. Because of the aura she's giving off, Kotomi-chan remarks on how intimidating she can be and Sunohara and Okazaki are afraid of what she'll do to them if they lose. Nagisa comes to wish Okazaki well as many people from the school, including the Choir Club and Mei-chan, come to watch. Its a 20-minute 3-on-3 match with no timeouts and the Basketball Club is putting its 1st-year players up against the Theater Club.

The match starts and their teamwork along with Kyou's 3-point shots has the Theater Club quickly in the lead. The veterans of the Basketball Club tell the 1st-years to take the Theater Club seriously. Okazaki knows that eventually, the veterans will enter the game if their club is losing and so they need to make sure to have a wide enough lead to prevent themselves from losing when that happens. Because of Kyou's shooting ability, some underclass females have a large banner and cheer "Kyou-sama," which Kyou with both pride and embarrassment tells the inquiring Okazaki that she has a strange popularity among the girls.

The veterans have been observing the game and see that Okazaki can't shoot and that leaves only two. They replace the 1st-year students and sure enough, start wiping the floor with the Theater Club, quickly taking down their 11-point lead and soon getting ahead by one. With 20-seconds left, Okazaki has the ball and tries to shoot but runs into a player from the Basketball Club. As he falls, he wonders why he's doing this at all and has flashes of memories to previous events. He hears Nagisa scream at him to shoot and that makes him do so, which eventually makes it through the net after hitting the rim. They've won to everyones amazement, but start to scatter when the sponsor for the Basketball Club, Oogami-sensei, comes into the gym demanding to know what's going on. Before he leaves, the captain of the Basketball Club tells Okazaki that he probably can still play, but Okazaki turns down the chance because of his arm.

Afterward, Sunohara, Okazaki, and Nagisa see Mei-chan off, who promises to come back again. Sunohara can't believe how quick the visit from his sister was. He wonders if the Choir Club will now give up Koumura-sensei now. Nagisa says they should be off since Kyou and the others are throwing a party for the win. Sunohara is excited until he learns that the party is going to be in his room.

Thoughts: This was a fun episode, even if the basketball story was completely predictable. Looks like Okazaki now knows Ryou feels about him romantically. Tomoyo also wondering if her feelings for Okazaki are "interest" is also fun considering it lead to the conflict with Kyou. Okazaki's pulling jokes are always amusing to me. It is ironic that when Akio-san does something similar, Okazaki isn't amused. Speaking of which, it was nice seeing Nagisa's parents again.

I think I've said this before, but I'm really glad this series isn't forgetting the previous girls like Kanon did. Even though Kotomi-chan only got some brief cameos, she was there and that's how it should be.

Negima! Vol 22 (Ch 197) *SPOILERS*

魔法先生 ネギま！Volume 22 Chapter 197

Summary: Makie is riding a large lizard named Tama and she stops in front of a restaurant with a load of groceries. She's met by Yuuna who helps her bring in the supplies. Inside, the regulars greet them cheerfully, some making jokes about their breast size. Since the two started working there, business has improved. The cat lady owner talks with "Johnny-san" about the girls trying to earn enough money to return home. He's surprised when he learns they are "veteres" -- people from the old world. He's never known someone from there and even asks Yuuna for her autograph (he was the one who saved Yuuna). She's surprised that people like her are so rare but Johnny wonders if she and Makie will be able to return home considering the destroyed gate to the old world. It could take years to fix said gate but most folks in Mundus Magicus don't care much about whether it gets fixed or not.

Yuuna goes to tell Makie who stops her by pointing to a "TV" (for lack of a better term) where they see "Nagi" from the tournament, who specifically tells them that their teacher is with him as well as the others from the Athletic Club. He says that they should meet in a month's time at the opening of the Ostia Tournament. They are very happy by what they hear and the patrons chatter of their favorite servers being mentioned on the TV. Makie wonders if the others are OK as well and Yuuna gets the lunch crowd fired up about their earning money for traveling fees. Meanwhile, Johnny assures Makie that he has a map to the place "Nagi" mentioned.

Back at the tournament, Negi tweaks the guy who'd abused Akira and the others about whom he bet on. The man warns Negi not to get cocky since their are fighters even more powerful. Negi meets with Asakura, Kotaro, Sayo, Chisame, and Chachamaru, with Kotaro using a fuda to keep them from being eavesdropped. They discuss his broadcast and whether Makie and Yuuna might have seen it. In addition, it seems that all bridges to Earth are destroyed and at best, it would take 2-3 years to repair them all. Ostia is the old capital of the Magic World until the war 20-years ago. Apparently, it has an unused, inactive gate that wasn't destroyed by Fate's group. So, their path leads to Ostia no matter what and they have a month to go.

Since the national tournament celebrating the end of the war is at Ostia, it will be crowded and should be perfect for them as wanted criminals to show up. Sayo pops out of her doll form to say that they can repay the debts, meet everyone, and return home all at once. So, Kotaro and Negi will continue to fight while the others work on tracking down the other members of Ala Alba.

Negi wanders the town and reflects on things. Negi figures that he will surely meet Fate again and he wonders about their plan and if they'll leave the final gate untouched. He knows he can't currently beat Fate and wonder how he could beat him. At the match, he talks with Kotaro about what he could be lacking. Kotaro says finishing strikes is what he needs. As they discuss it, they are ignoring their opponents who decide to attack. Their opponents lose immediately when Negi and Kotaro send them flying. However, Nagi knows he must get stronger.

In the crowd, a man who looks a lot like the "Big Sword Dude" from Nagi's Ala Ruba squad observes and likes what he sees in Negi.

Thoughts: Now we see what Negi's plan was. It was good seeing Makie and Yuuna, who are doing the same thing as Akira, Natsumi, and Ako, only they are getting paid rather than be slaves. So it looks like in one month story time, everyone should be gathered together again. As to the BSD, I figure he was the one that they were to meet at the gate port. It is possible that he was the one who warned Asuna about the above attack. Some have speculated that it is Kotaro since he uses "neechan" often. However, my problem with that is that Kotaro hasn't shown he's a telepath.

Honey and Clover (Live Action) 02

ハチミツとクローバー (Live Action Dorama) Ep. 02

SPOILER Summary: Takemoto is at one of the school's bulletin boards where the poster announcing the local shopping district's lottery is displayed. He has his tickets and is hoping to not win the grand prize nor the first place prize, but rather the 2nd place prize which is a new TV. Morita and Mayama arrive and they have something for Takemoto to do. They dress him in full medieval armor and place him in the room where the women's art class for painting a nude is being held. Takemoto can't see anything and his movements are spotted by Hagu-chan. Takemoto thinks he's busted but she doesn't give him up. Morita and Mayama are spying on Takemoto and amazed that he's survived 30-minutes. So they set off the the fire alarm and Takemoto is not only busted, but punished by Shouda-sensei for being so "hentai."

Morita teaches Hagu-chan about "Comenich," where supposedly people of Tokyo make a pose from Romanian gymnast Nadia Comenich. When they head to Hanamoto-sensei's place at school, Takemoto discovers that Morita has already taken his lottery tickets and won some tiny prizes such as little packets of tissue. Hanamoto-sensei comes in, having learned about Takemoto's perverted ways. Hagu-chan arrives with a bunch of color printouts that proclaim Takemoto to be a giant perv. Takemoto has had enough and is going to leave, but before he can do so, Hanamoto-sensei asks him to escort Hagu-chan to the home center.

The two walk through the shopping district where Yamada's father is there with a message for Morita. Apparently Morita had forged lottery tickets the year before but this time, the shop owners are ready for him with tickets that can't be forged. Indeed, Morita is currently working on forging lottery tickets and asks Yamada not to tell her father. Naturally she says she'll tell, so he threatens to reveal her yearly New Year's wish for love and for Mayama. She destroys his work but Morita is ultimately able to make a forged ticket. However, Yamada reveals the flaw in his forged ticket. He doesn't have the stamp she put on the back of the ticket, so naturally he has to make one. They scuffle over the stamp and in the process, knock over one of Hanamoto-sensei's pictures, which has Rika-san, himself, and another man in it.

At the store, Takemoto and Hagu-chan are looking for a pickle stone after Takemoto mistakenly though was looking at stones for carving. He finds out that the store doesn't have any pickle stones. A young boy in the store starts crying for his mama, so Hagu-chan goes to comfort him, using the Comenich pose Morita taught here. Takemoto is horrified by what she's doing, but she smiles sweetly at his telling her Morita lied to her. She points out that the pose has "magic" because indeed it caused the boy to stop crying.

Back at Hanamoto-sensei's place, Yamada is ranting about the 30-year old Rika-san and Mayama's obvious crush on her. For his part, Mayama is finishing his final day working for Rika-san. He asks to say, stating he'd even work for free but she won't hear of it. She sends him on his final delivery task to Fujiwara Design. He gives up his office key and is off. He makes the delivery and is asked to take something back to Rika-san. He states that he cannot do so because he no longer works for Rika-san. The lady offers him a job, but a man there, NOMIYA Takumi, protests. He feels that Mayama's only interest in architecture is pining for Rika-san.

Meanwhile, Takemoto and Hagu-chan are returning from the store. Takemoto talks of a bakery with an excellent cream cake, but when they get to the store, the cake is sold out. They head to an arcade to play some games where Hagu-chan reveals she's never been to the ocean. As they start to leave, Takemoto notices that Hagu-chan is eying a gemstone in a grabber game. So he offers to win it for her. However, he is unable to win that gem but wins a large blue one. She's happy to receive that from him.

Mayama has had a stamp created that says "Mayama no Aho" (Mayama is an idiot) which he stamps on various things for Yamada. Takemoto and Hagu-chan enter and see Yamada is depressed. Morita says it is because of her father and then proceeds to eat the food that Hagu-chan purchases for Hanamoto-sense ("Shu-chan" to her). He tells her that if you space out in Tokyo, your food gets taken. Later, Yamada and Hagu-chan talk of painting as Hanamoto goes over to Rika-san's place with a bottle of wine for her deceased husband's birthday.

Back at their dorm, Takemoto goes through a box of stuff and finds a large pickle stone. Morita comes in to inform him that Lohmeyer-senpai is back. They, along with Mayama, talk of how he won the grand prize in the lottery the year before, which was a trip to Hawaii. They ask Lohmeyer-senpai his secret. He doesn't have one, but he states that just turning the lottery wheel gives him pleasure. Thus having your desire on winning the prize must be the thing that kills winning the prize.

The following day, Morita has his forged ticket(s) for the final day of prizes. Yamada's father (whom I'll now call "Yamada-san") informs Morita that his ticket is under investigation. A group of old men look at it and reject it. Morita demands to know why and learns that Yamada tricked him with the stamp on the back of the ticket she had. Meanwhile, Takemoto goes to give the pickle stone to Hagu-chan, only to discover that Hanamoto-sensei beat him to it. Yamada learns that Mayama no longer works for Rika-san and goes to find him. He's lying on an outdoor bench all depressed and Yamada tells him that he needs to get over her. He tells her that she needs to stop caring for him.

Takemoto runs into Teramobori-san, who's looking for Morita. Because he's purchased some stuff from the shopping district, he has a lot of lottery tickets and asks Takemoto to take them from him because he doesn't want them. Takemoto does, but finds his dreams of a TV short-lived when Morita takes them from him. Morita then goes to see Yamada, who's crying after her encounter with Mayama. She doesn't want to face Mayama again, but Morita manages to get her and the rest of the group together just the same. They head for the shopping district to use their pile of lottery tickets and discover Lohmeyer-senpai has won the grand prize of a car. Morita wastes all their chances but the final one, which Hagu-chan takes and wins the 5th-place prize of a gold-colored inflatable tube, flippers, and air mask. Morita isn't happy about his prize, but Takemoto remembers his conversation with Hagu-chan and thus suggests they go to the ocean.

They borrow Lohmeyer-senpai's new car and at Morita's insistence, the leave it decorated with the prize stuff on it. Morita shoves Yamada up front next to the driving Mayama. Yamada forces him to take a window seat with Takemoto in the middle and Hagu-chan on the end. Takemoto notices the ring Hagu-chan is wearing is the ring (or gem) that he won for her, which makes him happy. They spend the afternoon at the beach and Yamada gets drunk. In the evening, they are ready to leave, but Hagu-chan has lost her ring and is saddened by that.

Mayama tries to get the drunk Yamada to get up, but she only wants to sleep. She calls him "aho" (idiot) over and over again. He gets her to get on his back so he can carry her. Crying, she tells him she loves him over and over again. He simply acknowledges her statements as he carries her to the car. Meanwhile, Takemoto makes a frantic search for the ring, but Morita comes up with an artistic solution to the problem using a bottle, the moonlight, and a cap. As such, it appears she has a ring on and so Morita takes advantage of her "spacing out" and kisses her just as Takemoto finds the ring and starts to return it to her, who witnesses the kiss.

Thoughts: It has been a long time since I've seen the anime, but I do remember certain scenes and stuff. So the trip to the ocean was fun, but the scene with Mayama carrying the drunk Yamada on his back was very memorable to me from the anime. The live-action version played it very well I thought. Morita kissing Hagu-chan on the beach was different but yet had the same impact.

I like how the end credits are done. In effect, we get an extra scene showing an "unscripted" moment where the actors, mostly in character, are shown doing something together. This time it was one of those restaurants where you cook the food at your table and they are cutting up and stuff while there.

Based on the two episodes I've seen, I really like this about as much as I liked the anime. There are moments of good humor (even if it isn't gut-busting humor). The angst and the unrequited love stuff is there. Takemoto and Morita being interested in Hagu-chan (and vice-versa) is there. So thanks again to JSM for reminding me of this series. ^_^

Shakugan no Shana Second 16

灼眼のシャナ II Episode 16

SPOILER Summary: As cleanup after the school festival continues, the costumes worn by Shana, Konoe-san, and the others are looked at again and talked about. However, no one, save those who have been dealing with the Flame Haze, can remember the wearer of Konoe's costume. Shana explains it is because Konoe's existence has been removed. This seems to effect Yoshida and Yuuji the most, with Yuuji recalling the events with the Silver and with Johan.

At Seireiden, Hecate returns the bracelet used by Konoe to Bel Peol, who then returns it to her chain link. Bel Peol asks about their mission and Fecor reports they were unable to translocate the Reiji Maigo. Bel Peol is not concerned about that and indeed Dantalion is happy about this as he can gather more information. Hecate activates a blue flame and the silver armor ignites in (silver?) flame. The two flames reach out to each other in a line, then Hecate appears to send all of the engery into the armor. What appear to be multiple eyes emerge through the open face plate and the armor moves some. This meets with Bel Peol's approval.

Back at school, Yuuji is spacing out as he works with Yoshida, Shana, and Tanaka to clean up. Sato comes by, telling them of a meeting called for by Margery Daw, who wants to examine Yuuji further. Yoshida looks depressed and Sato says she doesn't have to go if she doesn't want to. However, she recalls her talk with Pheles and the Hougu she received and is determined to come, which meets with Shana's approval. Yoshida walks off and remembers what Pheles said to her. The Hougu will summon Pheles, but at the cost of the summoner's life. Pheles wants to be summoned should something happen to the Mystes, Yuuji.

At the meeting, everyone but Tanaka attends, who comes to the house, but then walks away. Margery does her scan of Yuuji and Marchosias comments on how the Bal Masqué managed to put one over on three Flame Haze. Alastor remarks on how they'd been suspicious of Konoe and yet still made the blunder. Sato wonders about it all, especially since Konoe had been a part of their group of friends. Margery finishes her scans and says there is another seal on the Reiji Maigo on top of the Keeper spell. That seal is a transmitter of sorts. Pheles' attempt to summon Johan summoned the Silver which was not what Bal Masqué wanted. However, after the Silver was resealed back within the Reiji Maigo, Johan was able to appear using the power and spell from Margery.

The Bal Masqué are still after the Reiji Maigo, so Wilhelmina will continue to research, Shana will continue to protect Yuuji, and Margery will do her thing. Margery comments on how things are focused in Misaki City, which Alastor agrees with. In addition to the Flame Haze, there are all the powerful Tomogara who seem to be drawn to this city. Alastor figures that the city may be such that it just draws in tragedy and the like.

The following day, Shana and Yoshida are outside Yuuji's home where Yuuji's father is about to leave. They say their goodbyes and Yuuji's mother and father leave. Yuuji and Shana take their leave of Yoshida as Yuuji has some things to discuss with Shana and Wilhelmina. Yoshida walks home and ponders her position, wanting to be where Yuuji and Shana are. She looks at the Hougu given her by Pheles and recalls more of their conversation. Pheles tells her that if she truly wants to be here in their world, she'll use the Hougu as only the strong can be there. Yoshida is snapped out of it by Ogata and the two walk together. They come to the place where Konoe had helped the bird and Yoshida asks if Ogata really doesn't remember Konoe. Ogata doesn't know what she's talking about, proving that she can't remember who Konoe is, so Yoshida drops the subject.

Wilhelmina provides a ton of materials that she wants Yuuji to sort through for their relevance. He and Shana work on this as Wilhelmina types up a report. Yuuji asks Shana for the vampire sword Blutsauger, the one that the Tomogara Aizenji had used in the first series. Yuuji's reasoning is that he wants to be able to do something and have the strength to do it. Shana asks Alastor, who agrees that this might be a wise course of action. Wilhelmina tries to figure out the ulterior motive for Hecate's visit since she wouldn't do it just to put a seal on the Reiji Maigo.

Meanwhile Hecate does her thing up in Seireiden and the silver armor comes to life and Bel Peol turns matters over to Dantalion.

Margery Daw and Marchosias talk about the research that will need to be done to obtain the true identity of the Silver, to say nothing of removing the seals and killing the Silver. However, Margery has no plans of leaving the area now that she's found her nemesis.

Yoshida continues to walk and reflect on things, knowing she needs power to be able to stand where Shana and Yuuji are. However, to use the Hougu, she'd disappear while Yuuji and Shana remain. She doesn't want to die or the like and so takes off the Hougu. She's going to toss it off the bridge when a Fuzetsu appears. She moves through it and sees that Yuuji is training with Shana on using the giant sword. She thinks back to Pheles' words about if Yoshida truly wants to be here, she'll use the Hougu.

Back outside Seireiden, Hecate stands on a balcony and silently looks out. A bird flies around her and she doesn't seem to notice until it lands on her hands. When the bird flies away, she has a reaction to that.

Thoughts: The new OP theme doesn't do much for me. I liked the harder rock tune from the first part of the series.

Story-wise, the cross that Yoshida had is a Hougu that will summon Pheles. It appears that while it will kill Yoshida, it will also make her stronger. Considering that Johan died in order to become a Mystes to be with Pheles, I'm guessing the same would happen with Yoshida, or rather something similar.

It was interesting that Hecate reacted the way she did to the bird. We were reminded of how Konoe interacted with birds and it would be neat if Hecate were able to draw upon the memories and experiences of Konoe to make better choices.

Some Japanese Apartments for Rent

We've all seen Japanese apartments and homes in anime and manga. I'm sure many of us have heard of how expensive it is to live in the Tokyo area. I'm not sure how many of us know just how expensive it can be, considering the size of the places for rent.

Thus, I bring you COVO, which is a site I stumbled upon via a Google ad on my friend Lepidus's site (how a Japanese ad appeared on his very non-Japanese site, I have no clue). A few things you'll have to remember as you cruise this site.

1. The yen/dollar conversion rate is roughly ¥100 to the dollar (it was ¥107 when I actually posted this). So when you see those 500,000 (what I believe are per month) prices PLUS service costs (extra), its not a mistake and it is really going to cost someone in Japan over $5000/month to rent this place.
   
2. Japanese are very metric, so if you see floor plans with "8800," (or whatever), thats millimeters. There are 1000 millimeters in a meter and ~3.28 feet per meter. When they mark out stuff in actual meters, you'll know it. I think the biggest place I saw on the site was a little over 300 square feet when the conversions were done. ^_^;
3. The "Premium"ones are newer places (for the most part) and considered luxury places. The regular residence ones may not be considered luxury, but are nice places for Tokyo.
4. If you don't see a "bedroom" in the floor plans but do see "LD," that's your living/dining, and bedroom. ^_^;
5. When checking out the different models, you'll notice "レイアウト" with a square Kanji next to it (third link-button from the left at the bottom of the page). That will give you the floor plans ("レイアウト" is how the Japanese phonetically spells out "layout").
6. "SHOP・SOHO" (under "Shop/Office") is for people who have a store on the ground floor and a residence above it.

It is very fascinating seeing these places. It makes me appreciate the fact that in the U.S., we can have nice, big places to live in, even in an expensive place, and still be WAY, WAY cheaper than it costs in Tokyo.

Clannad 15

クラナド Episode 15

SPOILER Summary: In the field were lots of firefly-like lights are, the mysterious girl and junk robot commune. Apparently the robot can remember a life before (or outside) of this world and they briefly discuss it.

An excited Sunohara decides to join the Theater Club to help Nagisa and rushes to the classroom to make his announcement. Unfortunately for him, Ryou, Kyou, and Kotomi-chan are already there making the same announcement. Thus, Nagisa will have enough members to be officially have the Theater Club recognized, providing they get a sponsor. They approach Koumura-sensei, who hadn't been sponsoring any club and who had previously sponsored the old Theater Club, but he'd just been approached by Nishina-san, the girl who lent Kotomi-chan the violin. She's starting a Choir Club and came to Koumura-sensei first. So, the group heads over to talk to the girls in Choir Club with Nishina and Nagisa having a private talk. Afterwards, the group walks home and Kyou wants to know if Nagisa plans to back down or not.

That evening, Okazaki is in Sunohara's room (Sunohara having knocked himself out earlier when he was beaten to making his announcement to Nagisa) when Misae-san comes by and asks if he can take a call for Sunohara from his little sister. Okazaki decides to have a bit of fun but finds that Sunohara's sister is pretty normal seeming. Before he can confess that he's really not her "oniichan," she's announced that she's coming over for a visit and has to hang up the phone.

At school the next day, Sunohara is annoyed at having been locked in the school as he walks with Okazaki. They find a depressed-looking Nagisa and Sunohara decides to take the piece of paper she has, thinking its a love letter. Instead, it is a threat, telling her to back off her plans for the Theater Club. Sunohara won't stand for this and says he'll get to the bottom of this as Nagisa refuses to believe it is a member of the Choir Club. True to his word, that afternoon he has the case solved and the culprit is Sugisaka, who's a member of the Choir Club. He even has her come by and she confesses to the letter and to being solely responsible for it. She's not happy with Nagisa and when the two talk, she tells a sad story of Nishina being a gifted violin player who can no longer play due to an accident. As such, Sugisaka wants this Choir Club of Nishina's to succeed and begs Nagisa to abandoned her attempts at the Theater Club since Koumura-sensei can only sponsor one club.

Sunohara has heard enough. He angrily confronts Nishina, saying how it is not right to use an emotional argument about a handicap to try to get her way. He tells Nagisa to ignore that, but she can't, saying she'll back down on the Theater Club creation. Sunohara angrily storms away and Okazaki explains that like himself, Sunohara had been active in sports, especially soccer. Like Okazaki, he too had been injured and could no longer play. As such, he doesn't take to the handicap argument when people try to gain sympathy. Okazaki wonders if abandoning the Theater Club is the best choice. Nagisa tells him that even though she failed at re-establishing the Theater Club, she discovered more important things. She was able to become close to Okazaki and the others and she feels that because of Okazaki, she was able to come this far. He assures her he did nothing, commenting on how strong she'd become since they first met. She tells him her strength came from him. She gets emotional and turns from him, starting to cry. Realizing this, Okazaki gets up and puts his arms on her to comfort her. However, their tender moment is interrupted when an annoyed Kyou rushes in to confront Okazaki on the Theater Club not being created.

Back in the school, Okazaki and Sunohara walk and discuss the situation. Sunohara is still angry about it and wants to go off somewhere to goof off. Since Okazaki is broke, he takes them to the Reference Room, where student MIYAZAWA Yukine is in charge. Miyazawa serves them coffee and offers to give Sunohara a fortune reading. She tells him his lucky color is orange and his lucky word is "basketball." He's considerate to his friends and by showing he cares, others will be touched. This will be done as he challenges what others find impossible. He carefully listens, then suddenly has an idea and rushed off.

Out in the hall, Okazaki finds Tomoyo being cornered by the male and female captains of the Judo Club. They desperately want her to join, but she doesn't want to. She asks for help from Okazaki, who gives it. At that moment, Fuko-chan arrives to give assistance as well since Tomoyo came to her sister's wedding. However, because the two judo members did as well, Fuko-chan can do nothing and exits, stage-right. Okazaki asks the two to back off and they do, allowing him to take Tomoyo by the hand and lead her away. As they walk, she's impressed that he stood up to them. She tells him of the hard work she's putting in to being the Student Council President.

The following day, Okazaki and Nagisa walk to school where she asks about Sunohara. He's there waiting with a basketball. Apparently, his plan to save the Theater Club is to challenge the Basketball Club to a match. Then when they win, he'll show the Choir Club members that handicaps aren't to be used they way Nishina used them. Thus, he will touch them and things will work out as Miyazawa seemed to have stated. Okazaki wants no part in this and all day long, he's pursued by Sunohara. He is trying to get away from Sunohara and when he comes upon Nagisa, he gets her to run with him as well. He explains to her that Sunohara is in love with him and won't take no for an answer which is why he's running from his friend. She's shocked by this but believes him and when Sunohara arrives, she tries to get him to back off by saying she's Okazaki's girlfriend. The conversation that follows makes it seem like Sunohara was indeed in love with Okazaki and he runs off in tears (in reality, his tears are for losing Nagisa). Nagisa apologizes to Okazaki for lying and he tells her its OK, that her words made him feel happy. However, their moment is again interrupted when young girl comes up asking if that was Sunohara Youhei that ran down the street. She identifies herself as his little sister, Sunohara Mei.

Thoughts: Fuko-chan returns for a mildly amusing cameo, but I still like to see her. I like how Okazaki and Nagisa are getting closer. I liked how Sunohara got a tad of development. Okazaki's telling Nagisa that Sunohara is in love with him was just funny, more so afterward when Sunohara caught up to them. On the weird front is the girl with the robot on the world with all the firefly-like lights. I'm guessing that will somehow tie in with Kotomi-chan's parent's work.

Honey and Clover (Live Action) 01

ハチミツとクローバー (Live Action Dorama) Ep. 01

SPOILER Summary: Its spring and 3rd-year college student TAKEMOTO Yuuta is wandering on the campus grounds as students are busy with the various club activities to start the new school year. He sees a beautiful girl, who looks at him and smiles. However, before anything can happen, Takemoto finds himself whisked away on a cart, pulled by MAYAMA Takumi and also carrying MORITA Shinobu. This causes Takemoto to lose a button, which the girl picks up. Morita and Mayama have a plan to get some legendary Sangaku Curry. However, since the Sangaku Club will only serve said curry to 1st-year students, they've enlisted Takemoto to get in line since he looks like a 1st-year student. He works his way up to the front (reluctantly) but gets accepted by the club members as being a 1st-year student. However, when he gets to the place where the Indian students are, they someone figure him out as 3rd-year student just by looking at him. Game over.

A man with a cigarette in his mouth rides his bike through the school grounds before coming to a stop to admire the falling sakura. Unfortunately, the cart that Mayama had rolls down hill into his bike and breaks it. Meanwhile, Mayama, Takemoto, and Morita go for Plan B, where they pretend to be members of the Sangaku Club there to relieve their fellow members who are working on preparing the curry. Having pots of the stuff for themselves, they lack only a plate, which Morita provides via a ceramic bowl. It is here that a female student, YAMADA Ayumi, enters and is not happy that the ceramic bowl she made is being used for eating curry. She throws a flying kick at Morita, but he and Mayama duck it so that Takemoto catches the blow. Then, she hollers down to the club members below about how their curry is being stolen, forcing the guys to flee.

The four gather in a large room (residence) belonging to the cigarette man, HANAMOTO Shuuji-sensei. Because the other guys had carefully forged Takemoto's name to the cart, Takemoto gets the punishment for destroying Sensei's bike. A noise from an adjoining room causes everyone to enter where Takemoto sees the girl from earlier. She's HANAMOTO Hagumi, the daughter of Hanamoto-sensei's cousin. She doesn't say much and returns Takemoto's button to him. The others introduce themselves (save for Takemoto, who's denied by Hanamoto-sensei), with Morita not happy to learn that she got to eat the legendary curry. Hanamoto-sensei has Takemoto clean up the mess Hagumi made as his final punishment.

The guys discusses Morita's seven years of college and how he always wins the yearly school art exhibit with its prize of Koshinhikari rice. Elsewhere, Yamada and Hagumi are cleaning her clothes when another teacher enters with her ceramic bowl. She thinks he's going to be angry because it is stained with curry, but he finds the coloring to be perfect and feels this was just what she needs to possibly win the exhibit. Later, she, Morita, and Mayama are in the cafeteria where she eats and they watch hungrily. They talk about various things, including a book Mayama has been looking for to complete his thesis work as well as his working in architecture.

Knowing Mayama wants this book, Yamada makes it her quest to find it for him and win favor. So she begins her research that evening. Back at the "dorm" of Takemoto, Morita, and Mayama, a very hungry Takemoto gets a package from home. He's hoping for food, but instead gets a number of other things like a wooden rice spoon and udon sauce. Morita and Mayama excitedly get him to come to their room where they have some food there for him. Takemoto digs in, only to discover it is elaborately painted erasers and not food.

Back at school, Hanamoto-sensei is showing Hagumi around. She sees a sculpture by Morita and is inspired enough to start painting her own entry for the exhibit. Meanwhile, the three hungry guys are paid a visit by Lohmeyer-senpai, who has the gift of ham with him and lots of it. Thus the starving students eat as Lohmeyer-senpai waxes eloquently about 2-character names such as "ha-mu," "sa-ke," "ni-ku" (meat), and so forth. The three gush over his poetic nature and the ham he provided. After eating to their fill, Mayama and Takemoto talk about Hagumi with Mayama figuring out that Takemoto likes her.

Yamada comes home to where her father is waiting outside the store he runs, drinking sake. He's not happy about her coming home late and wonders if she has a man. She assures him that if she did have a man, she wouldn't come back. The following day, she finds the old book that Mayama was looking for. Elsewhere, "Morita-sensei" is being asked by the flamboiant Teramobori-san to sign a contract with them as Mayama and Takemoto watch. Morita sells one of his sculptures to the man for a lot of money. The three then run into Yamada, who has the book for Mayama, on the condition that he treat her to Italian. He agrees but then gets a phone call from his female boss and cancels the date with Mayama. He then runs out into the rain to go to his job.

Morita and Takemoto discuss this as they head to find out who won they exhibit. They find that Hagumi's giant abstract painting won. Takemoto is touched by it as is Morita, who races off to find Hagumi, closely followed by Takemoto. When Morita finds Hagumi, he embraces her and tells her how much he was moved, which makes Takemoto feel uncomfortable. Hanamoto-sensei has to break it up and Hagumi speaks for the first time, saying that she liked Morita's sculpture.

While Hanamoto-sensei and Takemoto discuss Hagumi's work, Morita then pays a visit to the depressed Yamada in the pottery lab. Yamada has a riddle for Morita concerning a broken-hearted girl, referring to herself and Mayama. Mayama is with his boss Rika-san at Fujiwara Design company having completed their work. The folks there noticed how much he doted on her, but as one lady (Miwako I'm guessing) also noted that this would be an unrequited love on the part of Mayama. As Mayama and Rika-san walk, she informs him that she's going to have to let him go as a working the following week but that she'll try to get him to better places than hers.

Morita works on a piece of clay and when he's finished, it looks like a pile of crap, which he names "Mayama no Unko" -- Mayama's Sh*t. She throws it out the window. He decides that the heroine needs food and calls Takemoto, who in turn calls the depressed Mayama. Takemoto takes off and as he crosses the school grounds, he runs into Hagumi-chan working on new pieces. She seems happy to see him and they talk about her art. The two of them make their way to the ceramics lab where they also meet Mayama, who's got some food-stuff. Morita opens the kiln to reveal his masterpieces -- several homemade pizzas. They take them and the drinks outside to eat, where Hagumi reveals this is the first pizza she's eaten. Morita says that eating pizza with them means they are all friends. As Takemoto observes, he doesn't seem that happy with how well Morita and Hagumi seem to be getting along.

Thoughts: First, thanks to JSM for reminding me this was airing. I'd completely forgotten about it. ^_^;;;

Actor-wise, everyone got into their roles well. While Yamada's "kick your arse" stuff is there, Mayama doesn't get the beating, nor does Morita; Takemoto has to take it for being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Its supposed to be funny, but I didn't laugh. Don't get me wrong; there is humor in this episode just not with the slapstick stuff. Mayama isn't the stalker he was in the live-action movie, which is a big plus.

Still, while I've never read the original manga for this, based on the anime and the live-action movie, this dorama (drama) works for me as someone who enjoyed those other two works. It does prove that the Japanese can do a good live-action title when they want (unlike the You're Under Arrest and Negima! live-action titles, which were b-a-d).

Now, will people who've not read the manga or anime get into this? I don't know. This is a josei-based title that moves slowly, has some angst (but humor as well), and that's not going to be for everyone. However, for someone who liked the original manga or anime, I think they'll like this (though I don't know how closely they are following the manga story).

Negima! Vol 22 (Ch 196) *SPOILERS*

魔法先生 ネギま！Volume 22 Chapter 196

Summary: Kotaro and Negi, still in teen form, enter the arena for their first prize fight. The crowd is huge and their opponents are the Tiger Beast-man Ray Blaze and the tiny Forrest Fairy Lim Dies. As they size up their opponents, they are observed from the restaurant upper deck by Akira and Natsumi. Kotaro jumps up front to take on Ray while Negi hangs back as support. Ray drops some seeds which Lim causes to sprout and bind Kotaro for Ray to punch him. Negi fires a slew of Arrows of Light at Ray. He leaps out of the way and is able to create a barrier of sorts to defend against the attack. Lim, despite being tiny, casts an incredibly powerful offensive spell which appears to take out both Negi and Kotaro. As they start to celebrate, Negi and Kotaro are there unharmed and are on either side of Ray. They acknowledge they underestimated Lim's incredible power. Kotaro and Negi then double-hit Ray with power punches and knock him out.

As winners Kotaro and Negi leave, Natsumi ponders the situation she's in as she and Akira are told to get back to work. Everything seems like a dream to her, right down to Negi and Kotaro fighting for her, Akira's, and Ako's freedom from slavery.

Meanwhile, Negi and Kotaro are caught by a female humanoid who wants a post-fight interview that often happen in sporting events. Kotaro calls himself Kojirou and when Negi is asked for his name, he looks at the crowd and loudly announces that he is Nagi Springfield. This causes a great commotion and shock in the crowd. Kotaro is not happy by this and the interviewer wants to know if he is the Thousand Master, especially since he looks like the infamous mage. Negi denies being the real Nagi, saying it is a coincidence resemblance.

Kotaro is still not happy but Negi quietly explains his purpose. Negi figures that using the name will help them win the million drachma, it will allow them to meet up with the others (especially Makie's group), and it will given them time to train. Using the name will certainly cause a lot of conversation. As Akira and Natsumi wonder why the crowd reacted as they did to the name, Negi announces to the crowd that while he is not related to the real Nagi, he'll show them a battle that would not shame the name of Nagi Springfield.

Thoughts: Negi and Kotaro kicking bottom was to be expected. I liked Lim and hope that somehow Akamatsu-sensei can bring her (and Ray) back, fighting with Negi. As to the start of another tournament, I know a lot of people have complained about that, but the last tournament provided us with some neat information. I expect nothing less, no matter how long this tournament goes.

As to Negi's calling himself Nagi, that's most interesting to me. The strategy is a dangerous one, but it will be interesting how "Nagi" deals with things.

Minami-ke Okawari 02

みなみけ～おかわり～ Ep. 02

SPOILER Summary: Its time for breakfast and Kana is running behind schedule, but wants more rice just the same. This doesn't make Chiaki or Haruka very happy, but she gets her seconds. At school, Haruka meets up with Maki and Atsuko where they talk about their winter vacation. In class, the home room teacher wants them to pick a new inchou (class room leader) and Haruka is now the lead candidate even though she doesn't want to be. It is here that Atsuko recalls the Legend of Banchou and tells it to Maki, much to Haruka's chagrin.

At Chiaki's school, Chiaki, Makoto, Uchida, and Shuuichi discover they have a hamster in an Amazon.co.jp (parody) box. When Uchida tries to feed it a pencil (because her mother implied such when trying to get Uchida to stop chewing on pencils), Chiaki decides to take charge, telling them the proper care of animals as she thinks of Kana. She orders Uchida and Makoto out to get supplies, and they do so because the princess ordered it. Shuuichi avoids eye contact with Chiaki to keep from receiving orders. Fortunately for her, Touma makes the mistake of entering the classroom and takes the order instead, being reminded of who the princess is. As such, she finds herself officially in charge of the hamster from her teacher.

At home, Chiaki relays the news of her new job. Kana is surprised she'd take it and wonders if she can handle it. Chiaki says she has some experience dealing with animals and stares at Kana for a bit. Kana wonders about teaching tricks and things as Chiaki thinks she has found a way to get out of eating vegetables by telling Haruka that hamsters love carrots and spinach. However, it just means that there will be more of said vegetables now.

That night as Chiaki brushes her teeth and Kana gets ready for a bath, they hear Haruka on the phone with a suspicious call. The following day at school, Kana is frustrated, wondering how she can consume a large breakfast in three minutes. Two girls, Yuu (the former "Banchou") and Hiroko enter Kana's classroom having heard about the return of the Legendary Banchou and ask Kana about it. She remembers the phone call of Haruka's and assumes it is regarding being a banchou again. Hiroko thinks of how Haruka can be the Great Banchou and lead an army from various schools. Kana is excited about this and gets on board with this effort.

Up on the roof, Kana, Yuu, Hiroko, and Keiko are waiting as Fujioka comes up after having been summoned by Kana. Kana tells him, whom she has declared is the current banchou of their school, that he'll be Haruka's right-hand banchou, much to his confusion. After school, Kana has him outside the school and wants him to break all the glass as Haruka was rumored to have done. Kana gets corrected about this, saying Haruka cleaned all the glass, so Kana makes Fujioka start cleaning glass. Kana's frustrated at the efforts of Fujioka and it is suggested that she become banchou since she is the sister of Haruka.

At Haruka's school, Hayami-senpai is begging Banchou to join the Volleyball Club. Haruka protests this as Hosaka-senpai watches with Maki. He decides he wants to serve the banchou with body, soul, and sweat, and much to Maki's disgust, he begins to strip. At the Minami residence, Chiaki and Kana are playing the Japanese version of "Battleship" called "Submarine." As they play, Kana thinks Chiaki should become a banchou to support Haruka. Chiaki isn't convinced about Haruka being a banchou, but she gets convinced when she and Kana spy on her and see how she slices up some vegetables.

At school, Kana consults with Keiko on growing her army. Keiko suggest strong people, to be determined by an arm-wrestling contest. Kana is down with that and in an empty classroom, a group of students meet to hear this. Yuu is happy about this, but Kana tells her she won't be participating in the contest since she's already in the army. An anonymous girl asks about a prize for winning the contest, and Kana suggest the winner gets Fujioka, to do what they want with him. This gets Riko into very serious mode, demanding people take her on.

Meanwhile, Chiaki looks over her classroom and the people in her circle and decides none of them are acceptable to be the underlings in a banchou's army. So she "remote apologizes" to Haruka-neesama for not being able to support her (she makes the apology, but not to Haruka in person). Elsewhere, Haruka turns down the inchou position. She comes home and Kana is going on about the Great Banchou. Haruka sets the record straight and Chiaki punches Kana as punishment. So the next day at school, Keiko asks about the banchou army and Kana tells her they are off that. Fujioka is declared "Banchou" again by Kana and her chief concern returns to how she can eat breakfast in three minutes.

Thoughts: OK, the black faces of background characters is annoying. Its more annoying when they have a speaking role. Also, the traditional episode format just doesn't work that will for this series. And the character designs makes Chiaki much less cool to me. I don't like Haruka's new classroom either.

For this specific episode, I only got one laugh, and that was when Chiaki was talking about caring for an animal while thinking of Kana. Otherwise, the episode was OK (my complaints not withstanding) but two episodes in, I'm really disappointed at how this series has fallen.

Dirty Pair 03

ダーティペア Episode 03

SPOILER Summary: Kei is pissed that her and Yuri's vacation has been scrapped so they can be sent to the gambling planet Vega to retrieve a stolen legendary poker chip from the head of the King Syndicate, Carello Carpenti Heir de King. They are dressed the part of rich women and enter the casino, though their transport is somewhat lacking due to needing space to carry Mughi. They soon run into Sydney, who is in the syndicate. After asking about King, Kei bets him dinner that they will soon be accepted and known by King. They find King at a high stakes table playing Blackjack. Yuri is seated and places a 30,000 credit wager on a hand against King. Kei is excited about wining 60,000 credits but is not happy when Yuri loses. However, when the girls get an invite to King's mansion, Kei sees the light.

Sydney takes them by limo to the mansion, crashing through hedges in a maze to get to the mansion as there are many security traps. Mughi and Namo, who'd been following in the "van" find the vehicle destroyed and they have to make their way on foot. Sydney shows Kei and Yuri to a room where he gives them a quick pat-down for weapons. He sees Kei's unusual necklace but allows her to keep it. Meanwhile, King discovers the true identities of Kei and Yuri and so has entertainment planned for his rich guest. He has a giant come into the room to work on the pair, but using their wits and missed devices, they overcome him and knock out the surveillance cameras.

Kei and Yuri run into Sydney, whom they knew was helping them since he allowed their hidden gear to get through. Mughi and Namo get inside and take control of the security systems, but Sydney says that the security around the chip is on an independent system. Kei goes to take care of that while Yuri positions herself to get the chip. However, this causes a self-destruction device to be activated and Yuri finds that she has to try to get the chip when there are many others in the room looking for it. She gets it and runs into the old woman tarot card reader who advices King before getting out.

Kei and Yuri meet up as the mansion explodes. They discover the chip they have is a fake. However, they go to the spaceport where Kei waits for Sydney to arrive, which he does, looking much different. Shows up behind him with a gun and retrieves the real chip. Sydney had staged everything so he could get the chip and not return it to the museum. In addition to being Sydney, he was the old lady as well. He asks for one more chance with the chip to make a heads-or-tails bet with Kei. She agrees and as he palms the chip, he flips a fake. Losing the toss, he hands them the fake and leaves. However, on the space ship, he discovers he has the fake and Kei still has the real one.

Thoughts: I watched this thing and it seemed a mostly pointless adventure, mainly due to the poor setup. It wasn't until the end that I realized that the reason Dirty Pair had gone on this mission was to return the chip to a museum. Oh well.

Keroro Gunsou 30

ケロロ軍曹 Episode 30

SPOILER Summary: Tamama is training as Momoka and her butler Paul watch. A pod comes down hard on their property and within is Tamama's kouhai (underclassman, the opposite of "senpai") Taruru arrives. Seeing Paul and Momoka, he recognizes them from Tamama's descriptions of a "cold-hearted cyborg" and "evil beast woman. Naturally, Paul and Momoka are offended. It's off to the Hinata residence where Taruru continues the insults to the faces of all he meets, based on what he'd been told by Tamama, to include the members of the platoon. When it comes time to meet Sgt. Keroro, Tamama is afraid that he'll be found out by Taruru. However, they find Keroro seated at a bar with a wig, acting cold and aloof and refusing to sign an autograph for Taruru, who thinks that's very cool. After they leave, Keroro returns to normal, where it seems he was doing some play-acting with Moa. Meanwhile, after seeing Taruru off, all of the human and alien insulted parties are there to get back at Tamama.

Next, Momoka has her people calculate her compatibility with Fuyuki-kun. The results aren't good, so she's off to train to be more adult-like physically. Tamama discovers this and she makes him swear secrecy. Naturally, he tells Keroro, who decides he has a new plan to take over Pekopon (Earth). This involves selling Momoka a product to give her what she wants. After Keroro takes her through a list of products, including a spoon that turns her into a giant, she settles on a snack containing the DNA of Fuyuki's mother Aki, who is very adult-like, especially in the chest area. The following day, the newly improved Momoka sees Fuyuki, but sadly, he thinks it is his mother in cosplay with dyed hair. Considering Paul also tried this food and has been modified, both now hope that the results aren't permanent. Meanwhile, Keroro takes all the money they earned and buys a ton of Gundam models.

Thoughts: It has been a long while since I last watched an episode of this series. It had started off strong and given me a lot of good laughs before kinda fading for me. But, since I need to work through more episodes, I figured I'd do one now. I seem to remember both stories, so I'm guessing they were adapted manga stories. Both were enjoyable, but no real laughs though.