"Negima!?" is NOT "Season 2"

With the announcement that the first part of Negima!? will finally be released on DVD this December, FUNimation has officially stepped up its campaign to call Negima!? a second season of Negima!. It is not and I'm left to wonder why FUNimation is trying to call it so.

Negima! was an attempt by Xebec to make an anime adaptation of the Mahou Sensei Negima! manga. Xebec made a lot of mistakes, so much so that they were forced to redo some scenes of the anime and I'm told an entire episode (their fixes is what FUNimation then licensed). Further, Xebec did a rather poor job of adapting the anime. While their efforts were OK through the Eva arc, Xebec then did everything they could to avoid going into the Kyoto arc, ultimately compressing the entire 3-volume arc into two episodes. Maybe Xebec knew they were out of the game but they then decided to wrap the series with their own story regarding Asuna. The series is ultimately a poor one for most fans of the manga.

With Xebec out of the picture, SHAFT was given the Negima franchise. Their first act was to create their own character designs rather than try to match Akamatsu-sensei's designs (which is what Xebec had done). SHAFT then produced two OVA episodes -- the Haru (Spring) OVA which was basically an adaptation of a manga story and a Natsu (Summer) OVA, which was their own story.

After this, SHAFT lauched Negima!?, where they took the characters from the manga but created an "alternate retelling" of the story. So while the characters may have similar abilities to their manga counterparts and their relationships may be similar, after that, there's nothing in common between the two series. Negima!? has nothing to do with the Negima! anime as far as continuing a story.

Despite this, FUNimation has decided that Negima!? is "season 2" of Negima! That begs the question, "Why?" That would be like calling Tenchi in Tokyo the second season of Tenchi Universe (which is the first Tenchi TV series, itself a non-canon spawn of the Tenchi Muyo! Ryo-ohki OVA series) when the titles have nothing to do with each other beyond having the same characters.

One possibility is that some people at FUNimation have no clear understanding of what they have and merely assume that it is a second season of Negima! However, that would suggest that whomever is the Negima! brand manager isn't up to speed on their product and that's not a good thing.

A second possibility is that since U.S. fans toss the word "season" around for sequel series (unless the first series is very long like Naruto, in which case said fans have no choice but to use the correct term "series" to describe the sequel), FUNimation figures it will be just easier to use "2nd season" and moves on. Unfortunately, this will only cause confusion from the casual fans who don't read anime blogs, ANN, or BBS's to learn about anime titles.

The third possibility is that FUNimation is deliberately making a marketing choice to attempt to mislead people into thinking that Negima!? just continues the Negima! story. While I've not seen all of Negima!?, I can say that it is a very hit-or-miss series. As such, FUNimation may be concerned that sales won't be as good if people hear Negima!? is an alternate retelling rather than a continuation.

Whatever the reason behind it, I wish FUNimation would just called Negima!? what it is rather than officially market it as a second season of Negima! A second season, it is not. It is its own series.

Macross Frontier -- Final Thoughts

*SPOILERS* to follow. ^_^

マクロスF

Having watched the old school Macross, I was keen on seeing the series marking the 25th anniversary of the franchise -- Macross Frontier. While this latest Macross series has many homages to the Macross titles that have come before, is very pretty to look out, and very nice to listen to (music-wise), the story is sadly only average.

Things started off well enough with the first episode clearly being a tribute to the original Macross. Character-wise, Alto took the role of Hikaru. Ranka took the role of the nicer aspects of Linn Minmei. Sheryl took the role of the not as nice aspects of Linn Minmei (the pop idol). Ozama took the role of Focker (without the womanizing) and Cathy took the role of Misa (only without an interest in the male lead). Both Macross and Macross Frontier had "bridge bunnies" to help with the story but not play a major role in it. Naturally, both series deal with how song affects their enemy.

While one does not have to have seen any previous Macross title, I'm going to guess that one's enjoyment of Macross Frontier will be enhanced if one knows the different moments when the show gives tribute (or whatever you want to call it) to the Macross titles which have come before. Indeed, episode 10's clear nod to Macross Zero made me seek out and watch that 5-episode OVA in order to better appreciate the episode. That was a good thing because one of the characters from Macross Zero is mentioned a few times as part of the plot. Other references are just made to be made, such as Bobby name-dropping "Basara-sama" a couple of times, he being the hippie lead character of the Macross 7 TV series.

Though I have no problem with the references and tributes to previous Macross works, at times the writers used it to their advantage but more often than not, it became a hindrance. For example, in episode 12, Sheryl, Grace, and Alto head to the Zentradi 33rd Marine Corps base on Gallia 4. The Zentradi military leaders were clearly designed to look like the main Zentradi antagonist leaders from Macross. Then you have Ranka brought in Macross 7 style on a fighter equipped with special speakers to tame the wild, rebel Zentradi who are fighting the cultured Zentradi. The episode ends with what looks to be SDF-1 Macross after it finally returns to Earth. So far, nothing stands out as a problem here.

However in episode 13, things began to go south for me. After the rebels were tamed by Ranka's music, we discover that the discovered "mecha ship" isn't SDF-1 Macross, but SDF-4 Global. Here, the writers appear to do some retconning (because everything I've read online states that after SDF-1 Macross, SDF-2 Megaroad-01 was designed not to transform because transforming such a ship made no sense) since there were supposedly only two Macross class ships. Now there are four and why? Just to have a tribute and a tease.

Further, the whole story with the Zentradi on the planet served no purpose. Amazingly we (through Alto and Ranka) discover that SDF-4 Global is on Gallia 4. We discover a rather nasty colony of Vajra, to include some rather large Vajra "battleships" (for lack of a better term). So I'm left to think, "how could the Zentradi not know about all this at their base's back door?" It seemed like the rebel Zentradi leader was in with Grace and Leon's little plot, but then Grace destroys the planet for some reason that still isn't clear to me, other than to "kill" her and reveal that she is in fact a cyborg. In the end, these were two episodes that were a tribute but served little purpose beyond that.

Speaking of the Zentradi, the SMS founder Richard Bilrer also appeared to be in on Leon and Grace's little conspiracy. Yet in the end, it seems like he may not have been that involved at all as we are left with the imagery of him gazing at a picture of Linn Minmei in his ring (designed like a locket). Nothing about it or his desire to use fold crystal really seemed to have a point but was presented as if it were a meaningful item.

What else did I consider pointless? Alto's Kabuki history. There was an attempt to create drama by having Alto estranged from his family so that his decision to be a pilot can be questioned. Despite this, I couldn't buy the drama, mainly because if Alto disliked being in Kabuki plays so much (where he played the part of females), then why'd he keep his feminine hair style? Nothing about his family felt real to me and the character of Alto is just a stock, male lead who has great skills to get the job done, has women interested in him, is very nice and so won't choose a single woman, etc. This type of character has been around for ages and there was nothing about him that made me care about him at all.

There were other elements of the story that I thought were pointless, but you get the idea I think. Sadly, the tributes, pointless sub-plots that go nowhere, cliched story elements (Grace and Leon wanting to rule the galaxy for example) and too many stock characters make for a story that ends up only average and nothing more. Trying to insert drama or even a forced love-triangle doesn't help. Don't get me wrong, I saw why Sheryl would be interested in Alto and I saw why Ranka would be interested in Alto but initially, the love-triangle aspects came off as very forced. Alto always seemed less interested in the girls as potential lovers than he was interested in just hanging out (when he felt like it of course). One might almost think that Alto was gay except he showed no interest in men either.

Still, not everything was merely average. The visuals on the anime look very nice. The battle scenes are great to watch thanks to some very good CGI work. The various settings are also well done I thought and most of the time, the animation is pretty good. The music of Ranka and Sheryl is pretty good but it didn't quite hit the threshold for me to want to import the CD. That's just me though.

I would have enjoyed seeing more of the Zentradi and more Nene. Klan is one of my favorite characters and I enjoyed the moments were we were able to see glimpses of how the Zentradi are now. I'd hoped that with episode 13 the Zentradi would play a larger role in the main plot but alas, that was not to be. I would have also liked to have seen the crew of the Macross Quarter actually be pirates instead of their only act of piracy be the stealing of the ship, after which they go out and find all sorts of clues that have been floating around in space for lo these many years. The crew of the Macross Quarter I actually liked (including Cathy).

Based on the hits my blog postings for the series went, I know that there are a lot of people who appear to really have enjoyed Macross Frontier. While I felt the show got off to a good start, after episode 14, I began to grow weary of the series (though I was never bored with it) to the point that by the time episode 25 was done, I felt relief that I wouldn't have to watch another episode of Macross Frontier. That doesn't make the series bad, but it doesn't make it good either and that's the problem. It is just an average anime wrapped in a pretty package.

Space Battleship Yamato 23

Uchuu Senkan Yamato Episode 23
宇宙戦艦ヤマト Ep. 23 (TV, Anime)

SPOILER Summary/Synopsis: A fully repaired Yamato has reached the Magellanic Cloud and receives a communication from Starsha. She tells them to come to the 8th planet of the star system. The crew gets a big lift in moral from this; Susumu and Yuki even pose for a picture together. However, the beacon signal to the planet is lost and Daisuke realizes that there are two planets in the 8th orbital slot, meaning they are twin planets, but then one of the planets disappears from their screen. An incoming missile attack from the remaining planet causes Yamato some minor damage, but the cloud of debris around the ship causes all kinds of navigational problems. Retrieving some of the debris reveals that the attackers are from Gamilus, thus it is very possible that they've come to Gamilus instead of Iscandar.

Meanwhile on Iscandar, Starsha contacts Desler to demand to know why he's blocking her communications to Yamato. She tells him that she's going to give them the equipment to clean Earth and he tells her he's going to destroy Yamato. Since both Iscandar and Gamilus are dying planets, the Gamilus people have decided not to accept their fate as the people of Iscandar apparently have. Starsha manages to make contact with Yamato again. She tells them that she cannot help them and that they'll have to defeat Gamilus a final time.

On Gamilus, Supreme Leader Desler rallies his troops, explaining the ultimate trap for Yamato. He then sets things in motion. Large magnetic beam emitters from Gamilus zero in on the metallic debris could around Yamato and draw it to the planet's surface. By the time the beams cut off, Yamato's inertia carries it through one of the giant holes in the surface of the planet to the subterranean part of Gamilus, where an acid sea and plenty of acid rain are (unbeknownst to the crew). They are relaxing in this sea when Analyzer discovers the danger. They launch but lose the 3rd bridge of the ship due to corrosion. A massive rain of bombs begins to fall to end Yamato once and for all.

Thoughts/Review: I could understand Starsha's making the humans come to her planet to retrieve the technology to clean their planet; she's making them prove their worth. However, she could have told them in her communique once they reached her star system, "Oh by the way. There are two planets in the 8th planet orbit and one of them is Gamilus so be careful." But did she do this? Oh no. That would apparently be too much information and we can't have that. Too much information is bad, as the wiki-gods on Wikipedia know.

As I expected, Yamato was magically repaired and fully functional by the time they reached the Magellanic Cloud. I guess that Gamilus didn't harrass them from their last battle until they reached the end of the line, allowing for these magical repairs.

The other storyline is of Captain Okita's illness, which pretty much had him out the who episode. Susumu still isn't a good captain but since Yuki can't be captain, I guess "Captain Kodai" will have to do.

Well, there are three more episodes. I figure the final confrontation with Gamilus will be the next episode, Iscandar will be after that, and then the triumphant return to Earth to wrap things up. We'll see if I'm right.

Macross Frontier 25 (finale)

マクロスF Episode 25 (end)
Macross F Ep. 25 (final)
Macross Frontier Anime

SPOILER Summary/Synopsis: Macross Quarter arrives to save what's left of the Macross Frontier fleet with Captain Wilder (backed by Cathy) accusing Leon of assassinating the former president and stating that Grace had fooled them all. Leon is arrested as Alto is revealed to be alive and reports that the giant image of Ranka is not in fact Ranka. With that, Macross Quarter fires on the image, destroying it and revealing that Battle Frontier, the main warship from Galaxy Frontier, was not destroyed in the Vajra attack. Grace, joining her comrades (whomever they are), remark on the facade being revealed but it is no matter as they prepare to activate their new network.

Alto pleased with Sheryl to sing to wake Ranka up as Ranka wants to be saved. Using Sheryl's earring and combining with Sheryl's song, Alto does make contact with Ranka, causing the harmonica she wears to break. Grace activates the Vajra network, revealing that the Vajra predate the Protoculture and are a super-dimensional life form. Grace wants the universe to bow to her and with the Vajra at her command, she orders them to attack everywhere, including the Macross 11 fleet and Macross City on Earth.

With the Vajra united as never before, the Macross Frontier fleet loses a large number of ships. Ranka begins to sing a different song and Brera, who'd been injured and now is free from Grace's control, encourages her to continue doing so. This causes the Vajra to stop their attacks. Ranka reaches out with her mind to Sheryl and the two begin singing, causing their own fold waves to counter Grace's fold wave network. Alto is able to get inside the Battle Frontier through a breach in the hull and rescue Ranka in his fighter. Once outside the mecha-ship, they are joined by Ai-kun, which makes Ranka very happy.

Grace attempts to have Island 1 destroyed but thanks to Ranka's song, the Vajra form a protective wall against Grace's attack. Grace only now begins to understand the true power of Ranka's song and she tells the humans that her form is the next stage of human evolution, thus they shouldn't be fighting her. Klan passes Micheal's mecha sniper rifle to Alto so that he can take the killing shot at Grace after the Vajra open a hole in her defense shield. He does and she's destroyed as is the queen Vajra she's connected to. The surviving Macross Frontier ships land on the planet (including Island 1) and look at their new home. As Alto soars the skies in his jet pack, Ranka and Sheryl promise each other they won't lose in song or love.

Thoughts/Review: {singing}

So this series's finally done
And the battle's truly won
How I managed to make it through
Until the very end
So you know I won't pretend
That I thought this was a great series

Not that it was any great prediction or anything, but I was right about Sheryl and Ranka being the ultimate resolution to the series. Since Alto says both girls are his wings (and since he obviously didn't die in the previous episode), that's the ultimate resolution to the love-triangle and something Sheryl and Ranka cannot resolve. They can tell each other they won't lose to the other, but let's face it -- they will be co-wives to Alto and there's nothing you can do about it!

Klan can get micro in a hurry, can't she? One moment she's in her normal, Zentradi form and she's rescued in her damaged fighter. The next thing you know, she's in micron-form, in Micheal's old fighter and using his sniper gun. Well, at least she and Nene survived. I would not have been happy if Klan had died. She was one of the few characters I cared about for some reason.

While on the topic of Zentradi, I remember reading somewhere that it was possible for Richard Bilrer to be old enough to have remembered Linn Minmei. I guess that is true since his locket had a picture of Minmei. However, his whole connection to Grace and Leon's plot eludes me a bit. Maybe re-watching the series would make that clearer to me, but frankly, that is not going to happen.

Visually, the episode lived up to the previous episodes when it came to looking pretty. The battle scenes are well done and it made me think back to the original Macross. How times have changed, huh?

I don't remember "pinpoint barriers" being discussed before this episode but they were a big part of the original series. Seeing Macross City was a nice final tribute. I'm not sure what Macross 11 is from though. I did some looking and it seems that the original plan for Macross F was that the fleet would not be called "Macross Frontier" but "Macross 11." If that's true, then this is a nod by the production team to that original idea, which is pretty nice.

There was the Macross Zero reference here with the Vajra being the original "birdmen" as it were which the Protoculture then imitated. Whatever.

Ultimately, I struggle trying to put together some thoughts about this episode but the only thing that goes through my head over and over is, "I'm so glad this is over." Don't get me wrong, this wasn't a bad anime; it was merely average when it came to story but it was very pretty to look at (and the music was pretty good).

Hayate the Combat Butler Manga Volume 6

Hayate The Combat Butler, Volume 6
ハヤテのごとく！Manga Volume 6
Hayate no Gotoku Manga Volume 6

SPOILER Summary/Synopsis: Hayate is teamed up with Nagi for the race and Miki gets paired up with Hina (since Risa and Izumi completed another event and don't have to do this one). Also in the race is Katsura-sensei along with Kaoru-sensei as Katsura-sensei wants the prize money very badly. The race starts and Nagi is quickly spent so Hayate has to carry her. However, the butler Himuro (with Taiga) is determined to stop them. This causes Maria and Saki to arrive in partial disguise to give Hayate a window of escape. Nagi regrets not getting these superhero's autograph as Maria summons Klaus to deal with Himuro. A briefcase full of money defeats Himuro.

Next, Hayate encounters Nonohara and his master Azumamiya, but makes his escape when has to punish Azumamiya. Next to deal with is Hina and Miki. Hayate has Nagi run on to the finish line as he tricks Hina onto a rope suspension bridge. However, Nagi is just beaten by Katsura-sensei and Klaus says Hayate is fired. Nagi says that if Hayate goes, Klaus goes too since he allowed terrorist on the cruise ship. Since Maria takes Nagi's side, Klaus has no choice but give Hayate another chance, should he pass the Tiger's Pit for Butlers.

Hayate takes a train to the Tiger's Pit for Butlers and finds himself on the same bench as a young, Catholic nun. Hayate is verbally assaulted by an angry, unemployed man who then starts to attack Hayate with a knife. Before he can do anything, the Sister physically takes care of the problem. The Sister thinks there is a teacup reward for helping someone on a train, but the legend is only if one helps a girl on the train. The Sister is depressed, so Hayate gives her a candy bar instead and receives a blessing. Hayate walks to where the Tiger's Pit for Butlers is and discovers it is a church, with the young Sister (named Fortesia) there.

Meanwhile, Ayumu is at Wataru's video store discussing the upcoming Valentine's Day and decides to pay Nagi a visit. After learning Hayate isn't there, Ayumu and Nagi's conversation about Hayate and women has Nagi a bit worried, though she says that Hayate won't be attracted to anyone but her. Maria asks about men being attracted to Hayate, which Nagi says is completely out of the question.

Back at the church, Sister Fortesia has some harsh truths for Hayate. That evening, Nagi gives him a quick call and the following day, Hayate and Sister Fortesia head out for butler training. She takes him to the Nishizawa apartment, but the family is freaked by Sister Fortesia's forcefulness. When Ayumu shows up, she hears the situation and sees an opportunity. So, Hayate becomes the Nishizawa family butler, even calling Ayumu "ojousama." This is great for Ayumu, though her parents and little brother. Ayumu decides to skip school with a headache as Nagi learns that Hayate is at her "friend's" house. Ayumu gets into bed and is dreaming of a kiss from Hayate only to discover Tama giving her one. Sister Fortesia comes in, finds a tiger and gets into a fight. Ayumu passes out and the place is trashed, though Nagi paid for the damages.

Back at the church, Sister Fortesia tells Hayate that he's to advance to the final stage -- the Butler's Quest. Nagi is excited at the RPG aspects of this and joins Hayate's party. Katsura-sensei arrives and also joins, describing herself as "Deedlit." Hayate decides to consult with Hina, but some teasing causes him to seek Saki out instead, which leads to Wataru joining his party. The foursome head to the dungeon while Isumi is consulting with an elderly Sister named Fortesia about exorcising the evil spirits at the church.

Hina comes to the church, frustrated that Hayate didn't just come out and ask for her help in the dungeon. Isumi arrives and tries to get Hina to leave due to the danger, but of course Hina won't stand for that. Meanwhile down in the dungeon, the party has encountered an evil spirit and in the panic, Nagi sets of a trap that launches a spear which grazes Hayate. Young Sister Fortesia heads down to see why they are screaming so loudly and quickly finds out passing out as Katsura-sensei is in a battle with a Mimic.

The ghost of the priest of built the dungeon, Linn Regiostar, appears in physical form. He reveals that Hayate has been poisoned so Nagi is off to find the antidote with Wataru. Linn and Hayate are attacked by a hoard of evil spirits (youkai?) when Isumi and Hina show up to save them (Hina having been given the powerful wooden sword Masamune). Isumi is able to slow down the poison in Hayate and restore him somewhat. She asks that he not tell Nagi about her powers.

Once the group gets back together with explanations on how things are as they are, young Sister Fortesia arrives to show them the final obstacle, where they have to retrieve the medal out of a temple in the dungeon. Linn asks why the woman calls herself Sister Fortesia when the real Sister Fortesia is 60-years old. The woman is actually Sonia, the mastermind behind the terrorist attack on Sakuya's ship. Her father was a member of the Greek mafia and had been tasked with assassinating Nagi on Greece, but was defeated by a boy (Hayate, who traveled back in time). So she's out for revenge, but Hina puts a stop to that. Katsura-sensei shows up possessed by the main evil spirit, but is stopped by Isumi. Hayate, who's had enough, ends up destroying the entire church to save Nagi.

Thoughts/Review: I really didn't mean to get so wordy in the summary, but now that I've written it, I may as well leave it. ^_^; Still, I have to say that I rather enjoyed this all-new story, which is the biggest story arc of the manga yet. There were tons of references (some I got, some I didn't) but I think the one that surprised me most was the Lord British one (Lord British is a character in the Ultima series of games going back to the 80's, and the alias of the game creator Richard Garriott). I hadn't realized that the Ultima games had been that well known in Japan (I double checked and Viz did not make that up as "Lord British" is in the Japanese version).

Basically, the whole RPG parody was a lot of fun. With the Deedlit name-drop, I'm glad I've seen the Record of Lodoss War OVA and TV series. I liked how Hata-sensei tied in Sister Sonia to the Golden Week extra chapter he did where Hayate was sent back in time and saved a younger Nagi from the Greek mafia. It appears that she will continue to be in the manga story (she was not in the anime that I recall) as the story ended with her leaning on Wataru, suggesting a possible interest there.

By introducing Ayumu's family in this volume, she becomes a much more rounded character to me rather than the sometimes comic relief character of the anime adaptation. It is a shame that the anime production team dropped her family, but I guess having her show up in nearly every episode eating something was more important than making her a better character.

The standard gripe about the lack of translator notes remains. This volume was in desperate need of translator notes because there are references that I had no clue about. That's really frustrating.

Miki, Izumi, and Risa get the character profiles for this volume. That reminds me, in the anime, the friendship aspects between Miki and Hina are lost as Miki is always shown with Izumi and Risa. While those three are clearly friends, this volume shows that Miki and Hina have been friends since childhood. I liked that little touch.

Back to the profiles, I found it interesting that Hata-sensei didn't want to feature a character who's rarely seen and barely has any dialog. She had quite a bit in the anime if I recall correctly, mainly because she was always with Miki and Izumi. Up to this point, Risa has barely been seen and I wonder if she'll have a greater number of appearances as the manga progresses.

So a good manga with a frustrating lack of translator notes for all those references.

Negima! Chapter 228 SPOILER Images

Negima! 228 SPOILER Images
魔法先生 ネギま！Chapter 228 (Images)

What you see are the original-sized, sneak-peek images for Mahou Sensei Negima! chapter 228 as posted on short-lived Japanese pages (click pics to make bigger, y'all). I had a little time, so I performed a bit of cleanup on the images to make them better. Also, you'll note that there are some sideways 2-page snags in the first image and some of those are turned properly (and thus a tiny bit bigger) in the second.

As always, thanks to the anon Japanese source and Hata. ^_^

Update: Synopsis and chapter review here.

Space Battleship Yamato 22

Uchuu Senkan Yamato Episode 22
宇宙戦艦ヤマト Ep. 22 (TV, Anime)

SPOILER Summary/Synopsis: As Yamato enters the battle site, General Domel has Carrier One launch all of its fighters. Yamato's fighters detect the enemy fighters and engage, pursuing them away from the battleship. Domel then has Carrier Two launch all of its fighter-bomber craft (likened to dive bombers). They position themselves behind Domel's command ship where the Instantaneous Material Transporter activates, sending waves of bombers to Yamato. Yamato is taken completely by surprise and as a result suffers a great deal of damage. Susumu and the Black Tiger squadron are recalled to the ship, Susumu angry that they'd been tricked into leaving the Yamato without air cover.

Susumu's fighters chase off the fighter-bombers, destroying several in the process but again they leave Yamato's perimeter. As such, Domel orders the torpedo bombers from Carrier Three to launch. They take up position behind Domel's command ship and again, the Instantaneous Material Transporter sends them right to Yamato, where they fire their torpedoes into the already damaged battleship. Again, the frantic recall is sounded as Yamato's main turrents and anti-aircraft guns are being taken out of commission. A frustrated Susumu returns with the Black Tigers to chase off and destroy many of the torpedo bombers.

Because the Black Tigers are low on fuel and ordinance, they are forced to return to the hanger. Domel has Battle Carrier launch its heavy bomber, which contains the giant screw missile. As soon as all the fighters are in, the bomber is transported to Yamato, where it fires its screw missile. The missile doesn't go off on impact as it hits the opening for the Wave Motion Gun. Instead, it stars slowly drilling its way in. Sanada and Analyzer enter the missile to attempt to get it to go in reverse before it explodes.

The heavy bomber returns to Battle Carrier and since they have 15-minutes until the drill missile explodes, he has his fleet move to Yamato's position. Sanada and Analyzer continue to work on the drill missile while repair crews attempt to restore Yamato's radar. However, the repair crews are killed when Battle Carrier turns its flight deck into a gun platform and opens fire on Yamato. Yamato is in bad shape from the pounding it continues to take and with 30-seconds until the drill missile explodes, Domel tells Gale he praises Yamato for fighting so well.

Inside the drill missile, Sanada and Analyzer have managed to rewire it so that it now is backing out of the Yamato at a fast pace. Before the enemy fleet can react, it hits Battle Carrier and exposes, sending it out of control into one of the other carriers which also explodes. Because of the formation the Gamilus fleet was in, those explosions catch the final two carriers, ultimately destroying them as well. This sudden turn of events shocks Domel and Gale, who's command ship barely escapes destruction. Domel orders the command ship to attack Yamato. They drop a few bombs (looking like depth charges) but in the end, Domel sees that he will have to attach his small ship to Yamato and detonate, thereby hopefully destroying it.

Yamato cannot escape from Domel's ship, which attaches itself to the bottom of Yamato. Domel makes communication with Yamato. Domel gives his praise to Captain Okita. Okita says that he doesn't want any more casualties on either side, who've fought so hard for their home planets. As such, he asks to be allowed to continue to Iscandar. Domel says that he cannot allow this even if it means his death. He gives a verbal salute to Gamilus and to Earth before starting his ship's auto-destruct sequence. Okita has the lower decks evacuated as Domel's ship explodes. While the explosion causes even more damage to Yamato, the ship is still functioning.

The crew dons space suits and has a funeral on the deck of Yamato for all of the crew who died in the recent fight before limping on to Iscandar.

Thoughts/Review: With so much action, it isn't surprising that this episode decided to skip the normal lengthy recap as well as the normal OP and play the OP music with new animation at the end of the episode.

When I consider that this episode was done in 1975, I have to say that the level of animation is very impressive. It is clear that the animators were trying to give the Battle of Rainbow Star Cluster a World War II feel. Once I understood what the production team were trying to accomplish here (and being a WWII buff, that was clear for me to see), that aided in my giving a pass to space dive bombers. Lets face it, dive bombers in space are completely worthless as are the depth charge bombs of Domel's command ship. However, that didn't matter to me simply because I was into the episode. When an episode can bring you in like that, one can overlook certain flaws and moments of unbelievability -- the suspension of disbelief.

I do admit that it is a bit hard to swallow the Gamilus fleet being so easily destroyed while the Yamato took some amazing damage (including the loss of all its gun turrets and the Wave Motion Gun) and even a suicide bombing and survived. The show has shown a knack for having magical, instant repairs to any damage encountered but I hope that the next episode still shows the Yamato in very bad shape and in need of assistance.

Anyway, this is a good episode. Tons of action, great animation (especially for a 1975 TV series), and a nice tribute to the naval battles of World War II.

Slayers REVOLUTION 12

スレイヤーズREVOLUTION Ep. 12
Slayers REVOLUTION Episode 12

SPOILER Summary/Synopsis: At a fort outside of Saillune City, the troops come under attack from Zanaffar. A group of mage troops mass-cast the Fireball spell, but it fails. The miko Sylphiel attempts to defend the troops against Zanaffar's breath attack (laser beam) but nearly gets knocked out in the process. Lina and company arrive on scene, so Duclis and Zanaffar disappear. Amelia gives some orders to the troops before Lina and Gourry head to get a recharge from a food-feast. They give Sylphiel a rundown on what they are facing, which surprised her.

Meanwhile, Prince Phil has a council meeting with Amelia in attendance as Wiser briefs them on what has happened and Zanaffar's impending attack. The council has trouble accepting this news and debate ensues on what to do about it. Prince Posel Korba Taforashia (Pokota) presents his case for getting Saillrune's assistance. The man in charge of the regular army argues with the man in charge of the mage army over what to do about the Zanaffar threat. Phil breaks the table and makes a decision to evacuate the city. He apologizes to Pokota for not doing more to help Taforashia and Pokota takes a knee to Prince Phil.

Lina and company arrive to offer their services which Prince Phil accepts. As Phil helps with the evacuation of the city, Lina and company head to the armory where they grab new swords before moving to a plaza with a statue of one of the shinzoku (Ceifeed?). Wiser wonders about the possibly of Zanaffar coming up through the ground as the others look around for signs of Zanaffar. Pokota senses Duclis, who emerges from behind the statue. After a little chat between Duclis and Pokota, Zanaffar pushes up from the ground beneath the shinzoku statue.

Zelgadiss notices that Zanaffar is even bigger and gets information that Zanaffar not only eats humans, it gains their knowledge and experience. Gourry isn't about to be eaten, though Sylphiel, Amelia, Wiser, and Zelgadiss ponder what would happen if the beast ate Lina as she might make it sick. Lina isn't happy with that suggestion, though Zanaffar is intrigued. Even though Zanaffar cannot use magic, the creature would like a knowledge of magic.

Pokota attempts to attack Zanaffar with the Sword of Light but failing to even reach the beast. Lina tells Pokota to give the weapon to Gourry who would be able to use blade better. Gourry is able to get some hits on Zanaffar, who brings out his tentacles to aid in fighting Gourry off. Zelgadiss casts Astral Vine on his sword as he and Amelia attack Zanaffar, only to discover Zanaffar's hide is too tough, like thick metal armor. Gourry restarts his attack while Sylphiel asks Lina if they shouldn't be doing something to help Gourry, especially "that" spell. Lina is holding that in reserve for now due to its power consumption but for now, she's keeping an eye on Duclis.

Thoughts/Review: I liked the symbolism of Zanaffar emerging from the ground beneath the statue of one of the shinzoku in the Saillune plaza (I'd guess that would be Flare Dragon Ceifeed since Ceifeed was the opposite of Ruby Eye Shabranigdu and is supposed to be heavily worshiped in Saillune). I laughed when Wiser was freaked out about the idea that Zanaffar might come up from the ground. Too bad he was right on target with his fears, eh? Anyway, I like how Zanaffar's tentacles finally came into play.

It is great seeing Sylphiel again even if she was pretty worthless. I'm not sure why she cast a Flare Seal spell when Zanaffar attacked, which is a shield against fire-based attacks. Zanaffar attacks with laser breath and since Sylphiel is from Sairaag and thus knows the story of Zanaffar (which destroyed the city long ago), she should know its attack. However, it almost seems that Slayers REVOLUTION is playing down the Zanaffar aspect of Slayers (anime).

Prince Phil was also a nice return even if he didn't do a whole lot. I did like seeing some additional political aspects of Saillune that were shown in this episode. I liked how he just took charge to get things done.

The production team is clearly having fun bringing up old characters and as a longtime Slayers fan, I don't mind that at all.

One more episode to go. ^_^

Negima! Manga Vol 25 (Ch 227) *SPOILERS*

魔法先生 ネギま！Volume 25 Chapter 227 (manga)
Mahou Sensei Negima! Manga Chapter 227

Summary/Synopsis: Kotaro (in normal form) faces Brigitte, who tells him she knows all about him starting from when he worked with Fate in Kyoto to Graf Herrman's mission, which did not go as planned (where Kotaro fought Graf Herrman with Negi) even if successful. She then forms a new bow for her violin as Kotaro shadow-splits into into seven images to attack her. She destroys the copies and has a large vine shoot out of the ground which grabs Kotaro. Chisame is furious that Kotaro let himself be captured as Brigitte lets him know this ability is not from her artifact, but something her tribe can do.

Brigitte is crushing Kotaro with the vines when another Kotaro appears behind Brigitte, flipping her skirt to reveal her panties while Kotaro in the vines sticks out his tongue and shows her his eye (an insult). Brigitte realizes that Kotaro has made the perfect clone of himself and so destroys the one in the vine. Before she can return her attention to the real Kotaro, he's split into three and using his special technique to create a liquid surface to use as a teleportation gate, he and his clones rescue Nodoka, Chisame, and Paru. Brigitte understands that the information Fate had on Kotaro was very wrong.

Meanwhile, Asuna and Setsuna are about to go after Negi to help him in his fight with Fate when Tsukuyomi shows up to battle "Setsuna-senpai." Tsukuyomi has become rather desperate to fight (in an almost sexual way) having been forced to restrain herself for a very long time. She threatens to start slicing the people nearby if Setsuna doesn't comply. As such, Setsuna sends Asuna on to help Negi while she activates her artifact and battles Tsukuyomi, the latter getting pleasure from the fight.

Asuna, in mid-air, finds herself attacked by fire, which she cancels out but it sends her down to the ground. It is another one of Fate's female "pactio" companions and as Asuna hides in an ally to prepare for this encounter, the final girl shows up, addressing Asuna as "princess" (ohimesama).

At the river, Fate, completely unscratched, is ready to fight some more. Negi sees that Fate is protected by a massive number of magical mandalas, something that is no human technique. They have another intense but short battle in which Negi can do no damage and Fate ends up sending Negi smashing into the side of some of Fate's large rock spikes. Negi's technique fades, meaning that his ability to keep up with Fate is now gone. As he lays there, Fate asks Negi if that's all, saying he hopes Negi isn't about to disappoint him. However before he can do anything, Kotaro arrives with Nodoka, the later pointing at Fate and asking his name.

Thoughts/Review: Last time Nodoka took that pose was chapter 224. She was able to help Paru and Chisme elude Brigitte for a bit but in the end, she got hurt. As I've had time to think about it, the amazing thing is that despite being injured there (knocked out at the very least), she has the courage to have Kotaro bring her to Fate's location to challenge him (in her own way you understand). I love how Akamatsu-sensei has long set up this encounter simply by taking this ultra-shy girl, giving her the courage to do something no other girl as done (confess to Negi), give her the courage to ask Negi for a kiss during the Mahora Festival, and give her the bravery to actually kiss Negi for a non-pactio reason despite the fiasco of the first attempt. Others in Negi's battle harem have remarked on her bravery, but here, it shows the most I think. You go, girl!

Speaking of Fate, again we have the hints of him not being human or even being a true living being. As I've stated before, I really hope he turns out to be a computer construct along the lines of Spider-Zero from A.I. Love You. Maybe Nodoka finding Fate's real name will give me that (come on you "Zero!").

Heh. I loved Kotaro's way of dealing with Brigitte. Akamatsu-sensei keeps him in character because Kotaro has long stated he doesn't like fighting girls. He'll do so to an extent (as he did with Kaede in the Kyoto arc) but if he can find another way to obtain his objective without hitting the girl, then that's what he'll take. Glad to see that Kaede's taking him to train starting in the Mahora Festival arc has not gone to waste. We hadn't seen much of Kotaro's training even though we knew he was doing so, even doing some with Negi to pass one of Eva's tests.

So a really fun chapter this time. I just hope Asuna doesn't get kidnapped. I don't think I'd like the story going that way.

Space Battleship Yamato 21

Uchuu Senkan Yamato Episode 21
宇宙戦艦ヤマト Ep. 21 (TV, Anime)

SPOILER Summary/Synopsis: General Domel has returned to Gamilus where he is before the military tribunal, headed by Vice President, General Hiss. Domel attempts to shift the blame for the Balan base loss on Gale, but Gale responds that he was only being extremely loyal to Supreme Leader Desler. The other military commanders find that Domel's plan to sacrifice the Balan base was bad to begin with. With the base ultimately destroyed, the impact on other military units has been great. Thus, the tribunal reaches a unanimous verdict to execute Domel.

General Hiss takes the verdict to Supreme Leader Desler, who reads it and rejects it. Despite the fact that Domel failed to destroy the Yamato, Desler sees no value in killing the one general he feels can actually destroy Yamato. Hiss takes Desler's decision to Domel, who's relieved to be given a second chance. After all, Domel's only motivation has been to serve Desler and destroy Yamato. Hiss tells Domel that his orders are to have the Yamato destroyed before it reaches the Large Magellanic Cloud.

On Yamato, the crew is analyzing the samples gathered from the planet Balan. Susumu gets a report from Sanada. It is Sanada's theory that the people of Gamilus are trying to colonize Earth. Sanada has some materials which shows that the Gamilons were sending progress reports to Gamilus about the spread of the contamination on Earth. It is clear that the base on Balan was an important one, so now that it has been destroyed, the Yamato should expect some kind of attack as a response.

Gale presents Domel with a list of places to attack the Yamato. Domel settles on the Rainbow Star Cluster because of the large number of gas planets there and the gas cloud which would help hide the Gamilus fleet and kill Yamato's radar. Domel has a couple of surprised for Yamato. First, he has the Drill Missile which will take out Yamato's Wave Motion Gun. Then, he has the Instantaneous Material Transporter, which will allow his fighters to be sent to Yamato instantly, thus making for the perfect surprise attack. Domel orders Gale to send a challenge to Captain Okita and the crew of Yamato to meet them for a final battle at the Rainbow Star Cluster.

When the crew of Yamato receives the challenge, Susumu is excited and ready to face the Gamilus forces right away. Sanada advises against going into a head-to-head battle with the Gamilons since they don't know the area. This annoys Susumu, who asks if they should run like cowards. Daisuke also advises against accepting the challenge since they are already behind schedule and combat will only delay them more. Susumu is undeterred, wanting either lose or have the path cleared. Captain Okita decides that they will accept the challenge, which will happen in seven days.

On Gamilu, three carriers and one battle carrier arrive after being summoned by Domel to prepare for the upcoming battle while preparations are underway on Yamato as well. On the morning of the battle, Desler sends Domel's forces off. The three carries, the battle carrier, and Domel's command ship take up position at the Rainbow Star Cluster. Back on Yamato, Captain Okita musters all hands and gives them all a cup of water (looking like it is distributed in sake cups) with the promise of more (the actual sake I'm guessing) after the battle is won. With that, the crew goes to battle stations and Yamato enters the cloud at the Rainbow Star Cluster, thus entering the trap Domel has laid.

Thoughts/Review: Hiss was again referred to as "Vice President" in this episode. So I guess that he holds the position of vice president and the title of general, which makes sense. The anime goes back and forth on how he should be addressed and I guess most fans just refer to him as "General."

I liked how Domel was given a court martial for the loss of the Balan base. As military commander, the loss was his responsibility and he had to face the music.

I did not like how Susumu is so eager to get into a fight. Seriously, if you enemy sends you a challenge, you have to know it is most certainly a trap, especially with all the traps they've laid out previously. The argument that the Yamato will have to face Domel's fleet at some point or other is valid, but not at the time and place of the enemy's choosing. That's why it was disappointing to me that Captain Okita seems to have blindly agreed to the challenge. This scene also shows me why Susumu is not ready to be captain.

Yuki was pretty mute this episode. Well, war is a man's world. Maybe she can make coffee and tea for everyone. ^_~

Next episode is the actual fight between Yamato and Domel's fleet. How lucky for Yamato's crew that they are only facing five ships vs. the swarms of ships that the Pluto base had.

Keroro Gunsou 71

ケロロ軍曹 Episode 71
Sgt. Frog anime, 71
Keroro Gunsou episode 71

SPOILER Summary/Synopsis: Moa-chan discovers a dispatch from HQ stating that the platoon needs to send physical evidence of the invasion's progress. The report is due in one day but because it was neglected because it was lost under a pile of Gunpla. Keroro is in a panic at what to do. He's turned down by Paul (representing the Nishizawa family) for various reasons including the need for Keroro to do his own homework. Mutsumi can't help him either by drawing something. In a panic, he figures he'll send the Hinata home to HQ, but once reminded of the wrath of Natsumi, he changes his mind.

Giroro decides he's going to launch his own attack on Earth and get the evidence they need for the report this way. Kururu fires a tranquilizer dart into Giroro before presenting his top-secret plan to Keroro, who guardedly approves. Almost immediately around Japan, water from swimming pools begin to disappear as does all the trash, a certain amount of loose rocks, and sand. Fuyuki immediately suspects the cause behind these events, so he and Natsumi head to the Keron base, where Natsumi threatens to destroy Keroro's Gunpla's if he doesn't come out.

Keroro brings the siblings into the Keron command center for their current operation. He reveals that they are attempting to create a miniature replica of Earth for HQ. Natsumi decides not to punish Keroro on one condition -- that she be allowed to use this planetoid like a mini-resort. With the platoon, the Hinata family, Momoka, and Koyuki on the planetoid, everyone is having fun. Fuyuki looks at the ocean with Momoka and remembers the mermaid he met last summer. At the same time, the same mermaid looks up and can see the otherwise barrier-hidden planetoid.

Kururu receives an alert that the planetoid is continuing to grow despite his efforts, as if some other force is countering him. This means that the planetoid will end up destroying Earth. Things get worse when Space Policewoman Poyon arrives, charging Keroro and company with a crime for creating the planetoid. However, nothing seems able to stop the planetoid from growing out of control unto Moa-chan turns into the Lord of Terror. She then causes the planetoid to implode (Black Hellmargeddon) as everyone else escapes, resulting in the planetoid being reduced to a small meteor. Poyon does not arrest them now that the planetoid is gone and Keroro sends the meteor in as his evidence, which Keron actually accepts.

Thoughts/Review: I remember this story from the anime but I don't remember the mermaid girl or other undersea creatures (I guess they are all being called the Nonteruma) causing the replica Earth to go out of control in its creation. I need to check that out but putting that aside for now, I don't understand why the ocean beings would care that a small, replica planet was being made from trash, loose rocks, sand, and pool water. Maybe it had something to do with the spoutings in the episode about planets being alive. *_*

Still, this episode was a lot of fun, though no real laughs for me and nothing much else to comment on. Maybe I need to get to work on my Japanese homework now. ^_~

School Rumble Sangakki OVA 02 (finale)

スクールランブル三学期 (OVA) Ep. 02 / 26
School Rumble San Gakki (OAV) ep. 02 / 26

SPOILER Summary/Synopsis: Harima races his bike to the airport with Tenma in tow despite her protests. Yakumo sees the roses Harima abandoned and knows that this means that Harima put aside his feelings. She tells Eri, Akira, and Mikoto, who then arrange for Harry and Tougou to help Harima. Since Harima is being chased by the police, they run interference for him, allowing him and Tenma to escape. Arriving at Narita Airport, Tenma races to the international flight area but is dismayed when she learns she needs her passport to get a ticket to America. However, Itoko and Youko (teachers and best friends) bring her passport and luggage after Tenma and Harima have a long talk. Tenma is off to America.

At home, Yakumo is alone but soon various people she knows from school (mostly from Tenma's class) come by to visit. Harima doesn't come, instead he goes to a bar to mull things over. When a man blows smoke at him, Harima punches him and leaves. Outside the bar, a group of guys are waiting for him. The following morning at a shrine, Eri finds the beaten Harima and attends to his wounds. He says some mean things about her and how he'd never be attracted to her. This hurts Eri a great deal, leading her to slap the heck out of him and tell him that she's not what he thinks. Despite being seen with a lot of men, she's never been interested in any of them. After one final punch, the two make up.

Eri tells Mikoto that while Karasuma's condition isn't life threatening, he's lost his memory and lost some of his ability to think. As such, he's unable to return Tenma's love, but Tenma stays and helps him just the same. Sometime later, Yakumo gets a letter from Tenma which she shares with Sarah in which Tenma announces she's returning to Japan with Karasuma in an attempt to jog Karasuma's memory. So the class and other classes gather for a reunion to welcome Karasuma and Tenma back but things soon degenerate into a pie fight. Harima arrives which does trigger Karasuma's memory...a bit (he calls Harima "Hanai").

Thoughts/Review: Hmmm....well, I love School Rumble but it is sad to see how rapidly things are run through here. I'm not sure how much of this is in the now-concluded manga, but I understand much (if not most) of the materials here are from the manga. No wonder fans weren't happy with how things ended.

Anyway, I did chuckle at how Tenma came close to remembering her middle school encounter with Harima. I also chuckled at Harima's punching the smoker for some reason. I don't remember any other laugh moments though. I suppose that's to be understood since this episode is supposed to be an end to School Rumble in anime form.

I guess the episode gives closure to Eri's feelings for Harima. Unfortunately, nothing was done about Yakumo's feelings for Harima, but I guess there was only so much time to squeeze everything into.

The pie fight at the end was just nuts. I know it was a way to have every character in the manga (anime) given a cameo. Other than that, it did nothing for me.

I loved the ED sequence. The song is nice, but the trip down memory lane by showing highlights of memorable moments in the first two anime series was very enjoyable.

Ultimately, the episode is just OK. I love seeing the characters but I couldn't shake the feeling that what was written was designed to just "get it over with" as it were. So that hurts things, and that's unfortunate. I would enjoy seeing a Sangakki TV series though I kinda doubt that happens.

Space Battleship Yamato 20

Uchuu Senkan Yamato Episode 20
宇宙戦艦ヤマト Ep. 20 (TV, Anime)

SPOILER Summary/Synopsis: Yamato sends a scout ship (piloted by Susumu) and a fighter escort (with Kato piloting) to investigate the planet Balan. They note the sun in orbit of the planet as well as the strange plant life on this volcanic planet. They also come across the Gamilus base, which opens fire on them as they pass. Their flight continues, where they soon discover massive numbers of Parandodon skeletons, which makes Susumu upset. As they leave to return to Yamato, they are intercepted by a flight Gamilus fighters. Kato provides cover for the unarmed Susumu (with Analyzer) to escape. Kato takes some damage, but manages to escape as well.

Back on Yamato, Susumu wants to attack the Gamilus base. His reasoning is solely because of the Paranodon skeletons he saw. Daisuke argues that they need to press on but Captain Okita orders the attack on the base to avenge the animals. Meanwhile 500,000Km away, General Domel and Gale are in their fleet observing the Yamato approach Balan. Gale feels they should attack immediately, but Domel rejects this. He has already predicted the human response to seeing the dead Paranodons and when the Yamato goes to destroy the base, he will have the artificial sun come in behind them. The Yamato will be destroyed but so will the Gamilus base. This shocks Gale.

As expected, Yamato makes its attack run and the base fires waves of anti-ship missles. Susumu orders that the sun in orbit of Balan be monitored as Yamato begins clearing a path. Sure enough, the sun begins moving toward them (on Domel's command). While the Wave Motion Gun can destroy the sun, they don't have enough time to maneuver to bring the Wave Motion Gun to bear before the sun destroys them. Domel is ready to celebrate his victory when Supreme Leader Desler contacts him, ordering him to stop his plan as the destruction of the base is a waste. Gale had tipped Desler off to this, so Domel has no choice but follow orders. This allows Yamato to destroy the artificial sun and escape with only some damage while the Gamilus base is still destroyed from the sun's destruction.

With the battle over, some of the crew ask Susumu how he knew that the sun in orbit of Balan was an artificial one. He cited the Paranodon's small eyes and the weird planets on the surface of Balan made him suspect the sun was artificial. Captain Okita summons Susumu to his room where he reveals that his illness means he cannot fulfill the duties of captain. As such, Okita is appointing Susumu as acting captain.

Thoughts/Review: I didn't have a problem with Susumu wanting to destroy the Gamilus base on Balan, but using the Paranodons as the excuse is just nuts. You destroy the base to insure that your six is clear of potential trouble, not to avenge animals. Good thing Domel knew how stupid the crew of the Yamato would be. Too bad that Domel's previous abuse of Gale lead to Supreme Leader Desler interfering with Domel's plan, thus leading to not only the Yamato escaping, but the artificial sun's destruction and the destruction of the Gamilus base on Balan.

So, why didn't Domel just then attack with his fleet instead of sitting there like a stump on a log after his plan got flushed? Ultimately, the episode is rather anti-climactic considering Desler's order and Domel's failure to press the issue.

Yuki jobs of the episode -- tending to Captain Okita and gathering samples on the planet with Analyzer in addition to being the bridge bunny.

Wow. So the writers are actually going to continue with Captain Okita's illness storyline. Now that Susumu is acting captain, it will certainly put a somewhat different twist on things. Maybe Yuki can make her move on Susumu and become the acting captain's bird (Captain Kirk style).

One other thing that was pointed out to me. In episode 18, there's no mention of an artificial sun. Indeed, Balan receives light from the lava/volcanoes according to the explanation back then so when did this artificial sun come into being? ^_~ Likely, this is just a case of poor writing.

xxxHOLiC Manga Chapter 165

SPOILER Summary/Synopsis: After Doumeki rejects the food made the the woman Watanuki is teaching made, Watanuki prepares his own Potato Nikorogashi for Yuuko-san and Mokona. They eat with gusto, leading Watanuki to reveal his puzzlement with Doumeki's rejection of food when it was prepared the same way he always prepares it. As the food is consumed, Yuuko-san tells Watanuki that there is something else one needs besides how to take make a dish.

With the last potato gone, Mokona demands more. Watanuki agrees to do so, but only a few since he's making dinner. When he is gone, Mokona comments on how much Watanuki's food tastes like his fathers. Yuuko-san agrees, but also says that it reminds her of his more distant relative, Clow Reed.

Watanuki gives another lesson to the woman, who addresses him as "sensei." Today, he teaches her how to make pumpkin spring rolls, which turn out very well. He asks her why she wants to learn to cook so much and she tells him she is getting married, so she wants to learn proper cooking. He invites her to eat the spring rolls she's prepared, but she declines, stating that she cannot eat foods she's made herself.

Thoughts/Review: I know it has been AGES since I last did an xxxHOLiC chapter, but I decided to do them again and hopefully continue until the end of the series.

One of the frustrating things of a CLAMP manga is that they don't always make things clear. I'm guessing that the Potato Nikorogashi dish Watanuki presented to Yuuko-san and Mokona is one he created rather than one his student created. However, the way the story is presented, one could easily get the impression that he was having Yuuko-san sample his student's dish since he can't sample things himself (which is an odd thing in and of itself but whatever).

As to this chapter, the one item that is sure to please is the revelation that Watanuki is the descendant of Clow Reed. Since both Sakura and Syaoran are also descendants of his, that would seem to give a bit more weight to the theory that Sakura and Syaoran are Watanuki's parents.

It is interesting that the female student of Watanuki's has remained unnamed. The fact that she cannot eat food she has made is an odd twist. However, maybe this storyline will explain why Watanuki cannot sample foods he has made. It will also be interesting to learn why Doumeki rejects the food she makes.

Keroro Gunsou 70

ケロロ軍曹 Episode 70
Sgt. Frog anime, 70
Keroro Gunsou episode 70

SPOILER Summary/Synopsis: Keroro has the platoon working a simulation on an invasion of Earth, which he is having Kururu film for Keroro's report to HQ, which is already late. While Giroro is enthused by this training, he's suspicious that Keroro plans to use the footage to pretend they are actually invading rather than working a simulation. Keroro promises that this isn't the case. However, as they continue, Kururu brings in Natsumi, who is given a forced costume change into a superhero costume. Now known as Super Natsumi, Natsumi is annoyed with this latest scheme of Keroro's and she defeats the platoon.

Understanding that Kururu's simulation takes in all data, meaning that Natsumi could do this with Mutsumi's help, Keroro comes up with a way to defeat her -- the Numenume (Slime) Cannon. He fires but the attack is blocked by Fuyuki, who's now Super Fuyuking. Fuyuki pleads with Keroro to abandon his plans to attack Earth. Keroro accepts and comes out to embrace Fuyuki, but is attacked by Momoka, now known as Super Momokaiser. With this failure, Keroro produces the Numenume Numenume (Slimy Slimy) Canon. He fires, but Super Mama takes the hit, enjoying the slippery feeling of the slime. With this final defeat, Keroro sees his bonus and latest Gunpla fade away.

It is early in the morning and Koyuki is up making an omusubi (onigiri or "rice ball") for her planned picnic with Natsumi, where they will share bentos. Her omusubi looks like a cannon ball and appears to weigh like one too. After meeting up with Natsumi and picking out a spot to eat lunch, Koyuki is impressed with Natsumi's bento and its traditional omusubi. She's embarrassed by hers and when Natsumi has her bring it out, Koyuki claims it is a ninja weapon. She drops it and it rolls down a hill down into a deep hole. Koyuki wants to leave well enough alone but Natsumi won't hear of it.

The two of them head below ground and are soon captured by an alien race known as the Nezumin (Mouse People). They are upset that their spacecraft has been so heavily damaged by Koyuki's "weapon" and they are going to be made to work to pay off the debt to fix the craft. Back and the Keron base, Keroro is convinced to rescue Natsumi in order to get on her good side. So he and the platoon arrive and challenge the Nezumin to a sumo match. While Dororo and Tamama win, Kururu and Giroro lose. That leaves Keroro, who's sumo belt is a gravity belt. However, he turns it up too much and sinks through the sumo ring into the ground and loses.

Koyuki breaks free from her confinement and confesses that the "weapon" is actually an omusubi. The Nezumin don't believe it but Natsumi takes several bites out of this cannon-ball looking omusubi and says it is really good. With that out of the way, the Nezumin decide to forgive the debt since the damage wasn't intentional and Natsumi gives the trapped Keroro some of her omusubi as a reward for at least trying to save her.

Thoughts/Review: We get a couple of enjoyable and amusing stories this time around. I liked the obvious Superman parody elements done with Natsumi in the first story, followed by a sudo Justice League-type parody when Fuyuki, Momoka, and Aki-san were added. Even though it was predictable, I did chuckle with each failure Keroro's platoon suffered.

For the second story, the sumo parody was also amusing. I'd forgotten about Giroro's special belt with Natsumi's picture in it until this episode. I has wondered how Giroro would be beaten otherwise. ^_^ I was a bit grossed out by the thought of Natsumi eating Koyuki's omusubi after it had rolled so far away, down a deep hole in the ground, and basically destroyed the Nezumin's ship.

Still, a fun episode all-around.

Macross Frontier 24

マクロスF Episode 24
Macross F Ep. 24
Macross Frontier Anime

SPOILER Summary/Synopsis: The captive Ranka is manipulated to believe that she caused the Vajra attack on the 117th Research Fleet. Meanwhile, Macross Quarter returns to the scene of that initial Vajra attack to do some investigating. Cathy, Ozama, and the others find massive amounts of information, including the fact that Dr. Mao Nome had been working with Grace (Mao as a child having been played by Ranka in the episode 10 movie based off of Macross Zero) and Ranka's mother Ranshe Mei, who was the first person infected with the V-type virus. She unknowingly passed the virus to her offspring, which is the source of Ranka's powers. Grace was working on an implant "hyper-dimension" network, using fold quartz, to end up controlling the galaxy. Since she needed to remove those who would resist her control, she had the very adaptive Vajra do it for her. Also, the crew learn that Sheryl is the descendant of Mao and the earrings were a gift from her.

The captain of the Battle Frontier gives a speech to the fleet and troops before the battle to take over the Vajra home world. Alto goes to see Sheryl, promising to return. She kisses him and tells him not to say anything else lest she be unable to sing. She then tells him to go save Ranka-chan after giving him her other fold quartz earring. The battle starts with Sheryl doing her concert routine. This causes the Vajra to waver, allowing the Frontier forces to make gains. However, Grace and Brera manipulate Ranka into defending the Vajra home world as part of her redemption for summoning the Vajra that destroyed the 117th fleet. So Ranka sings and the fleet is mostly wiped out. Alto tries to get to Ranka but is stopped by Brera. Brera tells Alto that he's protecting the Vajra from those who would invade, ignoring the facts that the Vajra started it. He then who shoots and apparently destroys Alto's fighter. Meanwhile a vengeful looking Grace makes her way to where the Queen Vajra is.

Thoughts/Review: We should call this the "explanation episode" because that's what we finally received -- explanations. How nice that the 117th Research Fleet battle site had all that information still sitting there for the crew of Macross Quarter to obtain. Both Leon and Grace deserve to die for that kind of stupidity to allow information to sit out there for anyone to grab.

OK, Grace wants to rule the galaxy as Queen Bee Grace. Sorry, but that kind of motivation just bores me. Call it a factor of being my age I guess. There's also a revenge factor since Grace seems motivated to prove Mao and Ranka's mother wrong. What was Grace's motivation back before she became a cyborg freak though? Travel without lag? Instant communications? Some sexy Protoculture stud?

Ranka being controlled and manipulated is pretty cliched too I have to say. In my final review, too many cliched shounen moments are going to be a serious negative factor. For you younger watchers, I'm sure it is all good but after you've seen a large number of these types of stories where the innocent girl (or guy) is being manipulated into doing evil, there has to be something different about how it is done to make it overcome that "been there, done that" feeling I have.

The whole bit with Alto coming back to see Sheryl before the mission started kinda surprised me. I had thought the love-triangle thing was resolved, but this was the writers' way of saying, "we can't let that element go just yet." I'm sure they thought it would be more touching if the audience felt that there was a chance that Alto was going to choose Sheryl in the end, his "death" would have more meaning. It did not.

And speaking of Alto's supposed death, there's no way I believe that he's dead. If he is dead and he doesn't get brought back in some fashion or form, I'll give the writers big kudos for doing something unexpected, even if I didn't care if he died. Klan is the only real character I care about outside of Macross Quarter. I guess I have a tiny bit of feeling for Sheryl and Ranka, but I never have had any for Alto.

Well, only one more episode to go through. Macross 7 is on my list of anime titles to watch, but frankly, the terribleness of that first episode combined with the mere average story of Macross Frontier gives me very little motivation to come back to the world of Macross for a very long time.

Japan and the Space Elevator

A story out of Great Britain tells of the Japanese working on developing a space elevator. I know that the Japanese did not come up with the idea of a space elevator. I first became aware of the concept though Arthur C. Clarke's books (I don't remember which one I read first with the concept) but I really didn't envision what a space elevator would be like. That changed when I saw the anime Bubblegum Crisis 2040, where a space elevator was being constructed (if I remember correctly). Then I remember seeing one in the Dirty Pair: Project Eden movie. I also seem to remember a space elevator being used in Kiddy Grade. So the Japanese have really run with the concept.

I really hope the Japanese succeed here. Often, Japanese anime and manga have concepts which spark the imagination. To see the Japanese then turn that spark into reality is something that I think is a great thing. I see it in the Japanese push of robotics and A.I. Somehow, I can see the Japanese coming up with Persocoms as seen in Chobits. If anyone can get the concept of mecha to work, it will be the Japanese.

So good luck to the people who will try to make a space elevator a reality!

Space Battleship Yamato 19

Uchuu Senkan Yamato Episode 19
宇宙戦艦ヤマト Ep. 19 (TV, Anime)

SPOILER Summary/Synopsis: Chief Communications Officer Aihara is experiencing some symptoms and goes to see Sado-sensei. The doctor finds nothing physically wrong with Aihara but determines that the man is suffering from stress. He sends Aihara to see Yuki for some rest and relaxation time. In the hologram room, Yuki sets up Aihara's favorite music and starts a holographic program in which a snowy area on Earth is revealed. A cabin is soon shown and Aihara sees his elderly mother. However, because she is only a hologram, he cannot touch her and breaks down in tears about the falseness of it all.

Meanwhile, communications with Earth are somehow restored despite the great distance where Captain Okita communicates with the head of the Yamato project. After they have a polite conversation where Okita gives an ETA on Yamato's return and learns that Earth has not suffered any more meteor attacks, Okita ends the call. Aihara enters the Communication Room hysterical, saying that their mission is a fool's errand since they have no guarantee of succeeding. Further, he states that there are riots on Earth daily amongst other problems. He then collapses and has to be carried away.

The captain invites the heads of various departments to the Captain's Mess to thank them for their efforts while he's been ill. Daisuke states that what Aihara said earlier has been bothering him and he wonders if things are really hopeless. Captain Okita calmly tells Daisuke and the others that they should believe in the cause and just take one step at a time. With that, the meal carries on in silence.

That night, Aihara gets up and relieves the officer on duty in the Communications Room. He then establishes communications with Earth and his mother, whom he'd given a special transmitter to. The food riots on Earth continue and his father decided to participate but ended up in the hospital. His father comes to just long enough to see his son and say his name a few times before passing away. Susumu enters the Communications Room and realizes that Aihara's unauthorized comm traffic to Earth is the cause of his depression. When threatened with having this reported to the Captain, Aihara attacks Susumu and flees.

Aihara comes to the bridge where Daisuke is on watch. He tearfully pleads with Daisuke to turn the ship around so that they can return to Earth and die there rather than in space. Naturally, Daisuke refuses, so Aihara flees. Susumu comes to the bridge only to learn that Aihara has left. On the flight deck, the officer on watch there, Kato, sees someone there and calls it in to Susumu. However, they are unable to snare Aihara as he dons a spacesuit and flees the ship.

On Balan, General Domel is asked by an aid if he isn't taking the Yamato situation too lightly. Domel feels that he can smash Yamato when they are surprised by the base on Balan. However, to help reduce moral on the Yamato, Domel has deployed a relay probe behind Yamato which is why the ship has been able to communicate with Earth. With the hopelessness of Earth revealed, Domel figures Yamato to be easier to deal with.

Meanwhile, Aihara is having hallucinations that he can see Earth. He ends up drifting into the Gamilus communication probe and realizes that this is why Yamato could talk with Earth and that he fell into the trap. Elsewhere, Yamato has stopped and the Black Tigers are out looking for Aihara. Susumu finds him on the probe and after rescuing Aihara, he has Aihara pull the trigger to destroy the communication platform.

Thoughts/Review: There were again hints of Captain Okita not being well this episode with him being assisted into the Communications Room as well as the scene in the Captain's Mess. So maybe the writers are going to do something with that storyline.

Yuki gets to be moral officer this week and fails. Well, she be perfect at every job now can she? ^_~ She attempts to make up for it with a fanservice shot in her see-through negligee though.

The writers came up with a clever means of allowing us (and the crew of the Yamato) to get an update from Earth. Initially, I'm thinking, "What the heck is this? How can Yamato have communications with Earth in real-time?" Learning that it was done via a Gamilus communication platform gave it an element of believability.

Despite this, I didn't care for Aihara at all. I understand what the writers were trying to accomplish and they did communicate the unspoken moral issues on the ship. That didn't make me feel anything for Aihara.

I'm hoping that with the next episode, the story moves to the conflict with the Gamilon forces on Balan because things just plod along kind of slowly.

Hayate the Combat Butler Manga Volume 5

Hayate The Combat Butler, Volume 5
ハヤテのごとく！Manga Volume 5
Hayate no Gotoku Manga Volume 5

SPOILER Summary/Synopsis: The manga begins with Hayate learning about deadly techniques, starting with Nonohara's "Safety Shutter" attack during their fight at the Kendo Club's dojo. Hayate manages to win but Nagi still won't join the club.

Ayumu is at Wataru's video store and talking with Wataru on understanding a boy's feelings. After leaving the store, Ayumu remembers something she wanted to rent and returns to the store to see Hayate. She's unable to catch him but follows him to Nagi's estate. She thinks it is a yakuza place and is going to free Hayate but is found by Tama, who give chase until she's saved by Hayate. When Nagi arrives on the scene, Ayumu is forced to retreat as her backup is a hamster and Nagi's is a dragon.

Hayate continues his pursuits of a deadly technique to the annoyance of Maria. Hayate is sent to school to retrieve one of Nagi's notebooks and discovers Katsura-sensei is living at school and giving extra lessons to female students Risa, Izumi, and Miki. In the darkness, Hayate gets turned around and ends up at the abandoned old school where he's joined by Hina. They end up encountering weird things including a biology mannequin chasing Hina. Seeing Hina face these things causes Hayate to want to train with her after they leave, after which Isumi and her guards get to work on exorcising the spirits.

Nagi decides to help Hayate learn deadly special techniques and in the Sanzenin library, there is such a book. However when Nagi learns that Hayate is looking for the technique after a promise to Hina, she burns the book and runs away from home, misunderstanding the situation. She runs into Ayumu, who then challenges Nagi to karaoke. She loses as Nagi seems to have the spirit of the famous seiyuu Megumi (HAYASHIBARA) on her side.

Wataru sees that Saki is depressed and after some consultation with others, he determines it is her coming of age ceremony, which she missed. He buys a furisode for Saki as a gift but a miscommunication has Isumi come by, thinking he has a present for her. He gives her a DVD boxed set and Saki the furisode, but is stunned when he learns Saki's distress had come because of trying to choose a cell phone.

Nagi figures that having a cold attitude toward Hayate will make them closer in the end. So when they (along with Maria and Klaus) come aboard Sakuya's cruise ship, which looks like the Titanic. Hayate is confused by Nagi's sudden cold attitude. Meanwhile, terrorist board the ship and attempt to take over. They are defeated by Klaus and the other butlers/security (sans Hayate) but one of the terrorists sets off a bomb. The ship is sinking and Isumi, who'd gotten lost below, has to be saved from the incoming water by the injured Hayate as he fends off sharks. He manages to do this and be rescued by Klaus to boot.

Finally, there's a marathon race at Hakuou Gakuin. Klaus decides that in order for Hayate to keep his job, Nagi must win one of the races, but unfortunately, Hina is also in all of the races and is the favorite to win.

Thoughts/Review: Viz continues with the otaku-friendly adaptation of the manga, this time including the title "obocchama," which like "(o)bocchan" means "young master." I like that these quirky titles are being used because like using "ojousama," it adds to the flavor of the manga for me. Plus, I just enjoy getting a Japanese perspective on things, not an American twist on Japanese things.

There's no doubt that things flow much better in the manga than they did in the anime. As others have pointed out in previous volume reviews (and my episode reviews of the anime), the anime takes many things and displayed them out of order. That's really a shame because I find this flow in the manga makes the story much more fun.

Along those lines is Ayumu. I seem to remember her using Wataru's video store for rentals but not being friends with Wataru (Ayumu doesn't know that Wataru is actually engaged to Nagi and is well versed in Nagi's rich world). That was a nice touch and I hope we see more of it.

The final chapter started a story I don't remember being in the anime. I recall some competition Nagi being in with Ayumu, but not a run and certainly not anything that would cost Hayate his job if Nagi failed to win the race. Since the last chapter is the start of that story arc, I look forward to seeing where things go since it appears to be new material for me (everything else in the volume was pretty much covered by the anime).

The standard complaint about a lack of translator notes still exists. Some references were pretty easy to get but not all. Had I not been a fan of HAYASHIBARA Megumi, I wouldn't have appreciated that reference in the manga. I wonder if Hata-sensei envisioned Megumi as doing the voice of Nagi. I could see that working, though Nagi's seiyuu KUGIMIYA Rie did a great job (and is a pretty impressive seiyuu herself).

The standard extras from the Japanese tankoubon are here with the characters of Himuro, Taiga, Nonohara, and Azumamiya getting profiles.

On the whole, Viz is doing a fantastic job with their manga adaptation and all I can say is "It is about time! Please keep it up!"

Negima! Manga Vol 25 (Ch 226) *SPOILERS*

魔法先生 ネギま！Volume 25 Chapter 226 (manga)
Mahou Sensei Negima! Manga Chapter 226

Summary/Synopsis: With Fate's giant pillars about to fall and crush the crowd below, Asuna is able to destroy them all with a wave of her artifact-sword. Setsuna is very impressed and the crowds think a movie is being shot.

Meanwhile, Fate discovers that Negi's attack is not mere "doping" as Negi continues to press his attack. Negi scores a Gokuen Houzan Takutenshou blow and before Fare can recover, Negi blasts Fate into the giant pillar they are fighting on. With Fate down on the partially shattered pillar, Negi decides to finish it with the Dextra Emittam. While the energy spear breaks the pillar, Fate manages to grasp the spear and cause it to miss him. Fate realizes that Negi's improvements are the results of training, something Fate has never needed. Fate tells Negi his is a worthy opponent, leaving Negi to wonder if Fate block all of his attacks as Asuna's attack disolves the pillar they were on.

Elsewhere, the illusion of Koyomi (with Tamaki) gloats as she tells Rakan that her artifact "Mugen Houyou" has the powerful warrior trapped. He remarks on not being able to flip the skirts of illusions, leading Koyomi to say that he can joke all he wants, but they'll be back when he's starving to death. Konoka and Chamo aren't happy with Jack's apparent weakness for falling into traps and then figuring a way out of them later. Jack decides he has no choice but to use "that," so he pulls Koyomi's panties out and sniffs them. That immediately brings the illusion form of Koyomi out, demanding to have her panties returned.

As Koyomi is all flustered and shocked by Rakan's actions, Jack give's Chamo a sniff as well. Chamo is then able to determine that Koyomi and Tamaki are actually some 37.35Km west-southwest, which impressed Jack since it is more precise than his own calculations. Chamo is sure about his calculations since he is the self-described "panty god." The illusion of Koyomi demands to know what they are doing as Jack grabs Nodoka (Chamo on his shoulder) and activates a blade which he then launches and then then jumps on to surf to its final destination (naming the move on the spot as "Hiken Naminori Rakan."

Tamaki tells the shocked Koyomi that Jack is coming at Mach 3.2. He arrives and tells the two girls that with infinite space to work with, they should be hiding and observing from at least 10,000Km away. Jack explains how he was able to figure out where they were (through scent) and then uses a Higi: Muon Mekuri-Jutsu (secret technique to flip their skirts) while Chamo races to take "pretend" pictures of what he sees). Tamaki states that they should retreat a few hundred kilometers but Jack's flipping attack continues non-stop, combined with Chamo's "picture taking" keeps the girls from escaping.

They surrender (Chamo appearing to have been stabbed by Koyomi's artifact) but Tamaki states that despite this, the only way Jack will escape is to kill her. Jack isn't up for killing a pretty girl just to escape, so that leaves him one choice. He begins to roar and to Tamaki and Koyomi's amazement, the barrier keeping the illusion up begin to shatter. The roar crescendos and the barrier is broken, Jack naming the technique "Dai Jigen Yaburi." This leaves Tamaki and Koyomi just stunned.

Thoughts/Review: After reading this chapter, I REALLY would love for it to be revealed that Fate is somehow tied in with Spider-Zero from Akamatsu-sensei's first big manga, A.I. Love You (English name). There have been hints all along that Fate is not a true being but an artificial creation. Fate's remark on never having needed training would fit perfect with Spider-Zero. For those who don't know, Spider-Zero is a computer A.I. program that was given life (meaning it had a physical, artificially created body) and is the antagonist in the final volume of the manga. If Fate is a copy of the Spider-Zero program, it would make sense that he would not need training because his skills would simply be programmed into him.

Fate being a computer construct would also play into Chao's coming from a future where magic and technology are fused somehow.

While not all fanservice and ecchi content in Negima! has a purpose, I am amused at how Akamatsu-sensei takes a really ecchi moment (Jack stealing Koyomi's panties, sniffing them, etc.) and turns it into ecchi fanservice with a purpose. I hear that the Japanese heavily discussed Jack and Chamo being able to catch the girl's scent though from such a great distance. ^_^;

BTW, can anyone tell me why so many people insist on spelling Jack's last name as "Racan?" If it is his pactio card, I would remind you that the letter K is replaced by the letter C on all pactio cards. Further, in chapter 202, Akamatsu-sensei spelled Jack's name in English as "Jack Rakan." Post a comment if you have an answer.

You're Under Arrest! Full Throttle 18

Taiho Shichauzo! Full Throttle Episode 18
逮捕しちゃうぞ フルスロットル Episode 18
You're Under Arrest anime

SPOILER Summary/Synopsis: As Nakajima sits on his bike in traffic and dreams of being with Miyuki at the beach, Miyuki, Natsumi, Yoriko, and Aoi-chan have a planned reunion with Saori-chan at the beach. Saori-chan babbles on and on until they drag her away to the beach. While there, the group has fun on water craft, volleyball, and being in the sun. Yoriko asks Saori-chan if she has a boyfriend. She learns that Saori-chan has no boyfriend, so Yoriko decides to teach Saori-chan on how to pick up guys. However, they see Aoi-chan has men flocking to him. This is depressing to Yoriko since Aoi-chan is a guy in drag.

At lunch, Saori-chan brings out her laptop and talks about her work in cyber-crime at Johoku Police Station. The manager of the restaurant comes to them with a problem after learning they are cops. It seems that some illicit photos of girls on the beach are showing up on an underground pay Internet site. Miyuki, Natsumi, and Aoi-chan decide to become the bait while Saori-chan and Yoriko discover the site. They see that the new pictures include Aoi-chan and Yoriko, but they also discover the same couple of high school boys in some of the shots.

Saori-chan heads to the beach and locates the boys in a shack as they send their latest batch of pictures to the website's owner. She confronts them, but they escape. She tries to chase them, but they are on bicycles and leave her. Natsumi, Miyuki, Yoriko, and Aoi-chan come up on inline skates and give Saori-chan a pair. The five then catch the three boys, eventually catching them with Natsumi showing off her strength. That evening, the group is at the beach with sparklers where Saori-chan promises to uncover the owner of the website and bring them to justice. Meanwhile, Nakajima is desperately trying to find the beach that Miyuki went to.

Thoughts/Review: First, hurray for the return of Saori-chan. I missed her from You're Under Arrest 2 because through her character, we were able to get a fresh perspective on things that happened at Bokuto Police Station. That said, while I'm glad she returned, her character was a tad annoying, which I don't remember feeling in YUA2. I understand the hero worship of Miyuki and Natsumi since Saori-chan was introduced in You're Under Arrest, but the gushing was a bit much for me. She came off as serious about her job, but still immature. Oh well. This series has been geared to a younger audience in my opinion with the occasional bone tossed to the YUA otaku.

This episode did remind me at times of episode 21 of You're Under Arrest Specials. The final episode of that series (and the only full-length episode, which was then licensed by AnimEigo while the shorts went to ADV) was a beach episode as well. They had a little traffic jam moment, Miyuki on a personal water craft (ie: Jet Ski), and of course everyone in swimsuits.

I did laugh at how Aoi-chan attracted all the men, much to the chagrin of Yoriko. That does have to be pretty insulting to see a man in drag attract more men than a real woman.

Beyond that, the episode just came off as kind of childish, which has been a staple of the entire series (sadly). That doesn't mean I needed more fanservice, but things were written and presented in a juvenile way. Seriously, how do four female and one faux female police persons in inline skates catch three high school boys on bicycles? I can promise you that when I was in high school there would be no way anyone on any kind of skate could catch me, period.

I'm not sure when I'll get to see the next episode. That's the problem with being dependent on an external source to watch these things.

MORE Negima! Chapter 227 SPOILER Images

Another anonymous Japanese person with a camera provides some more spoiler images from Negima! chapter 227. (click pic to make bigger, y'all). Well, what can I say?

The previous spoiler images are here. Hopefully, I'll have the previous chapter review up later tonight or tomorrow.

My review of chapter 227.

Negima! Chapter 227 SPOILER Images

What you see are the original-sized, sneak-peek images for Mahou Sensei Negima! chapter 227 as posted on a short-lived Japanese page (click pic to make bigger, y'all).

As always, thanks to the anon Japanese source and Hata

UPDATE: A second batch of spoiler images here.

(Yeah, I know -- the spoilers for 227 are out before my summary/review of the last chapter is up. Sometimes, that's just how it works. ^_^;)

My review of chapter 227.

Keroro Gunsou 69

ケロロ軍曹 Episode 69
Sgt. Frog anime, 69
Keroro Gunsou episode 69

SPOILER Summary/Synopsis: Aki-san is driving Natsumi and Fuyuki home, but the road is very different as it goes through a wooded area even though they can see the Nishizawa Tower. They stop when the road comes to a tunnel with the entrance blocked by a guardian statue. Getting out of the car and walking through the tunnel, they come upon an onsen-bath resort called Health Land Japuro. The three take a dip in an onsen and discover Moa-chan is working there. It turns out the resort was built by Keroro to raise capital for the invasion. However, the resort was built for aliens.

On cue, the aliens begin arriving, some of whom Natsumi and Fuyuki recognize. Aki-san disappears as Keroro receives terrible news -- the water they imported contained a Banana Crocodile egg. This causes Keroro great fear as he has encountered the beast before. So Natsumi and Fuyuki aid Tamama, Keroro, and Giroro to look for the egg. In doing so, the guest become restless at Keroro's ruining their vacation. When they finally find the egg, it is too late. It hatches and a large but cute-looking alien with a banana grove on its back emerges. It eats one of the banana's on its back and tosses the peel on the ground. Keroro can't resist and runs to the peel, slipping on it and doing a face-plant that causes the guest to be very happy by the comedy.

The Hinata family take a trip to Doinaka Beach again, which distresses Natsumi considering what happened the last time they went. As before, there is a manzai contest and while Keroro feigns disinterest in the competition this year, he soon dons a female human suit and does comedy with Moa-chan. Their practice is judged by Kogoro, who's laughter has to be interpreted by his sister. Keroro's comedy is not working. Tamama gets jealous and takes off, returning with his own female human suit. With a harisen, he ends up whacking Giroro which causes Kogoro to laugh.

The contests starts and because Mutsumi is giving away an autograph board, Koyuki convinces Natsumi to enter the contest. While Dororo finds Koyuki's homonym-related jokes funny, Natsumi isn't sure. However, she and Koyuki do win the autograph board but Natsumi is disappoint not to meet with Mutsumi. Keroro wins a washing machine and Giroro, who was the target of abuse from Tamama the whole time, feels he's lost something important. Later back home, Keroro is excited to see himself on TV but disappointed when the news only shows the bikini babes.

Thoughts/Review: I've seen Spirited Away just twice -- once in English and once in Japanese. That was enough for me to be able to spot the parody road moment at the beginning of the episode with the guardian statue and the tunnel. That in and of itself isn't funny per se, but I couldn't help but chuckle when I saw it. While the aliens visiting this onsen/bath resort helped further the Spirited Away parody feel, that's was it. The story with the Banana Crocodile was amusing in that it seemed like a silly alien-monster to be so fearsome but at the same time, the revelation that the alien is a cute thing that just eats bananas was amusing as well.

The second story dealing with a return to Doinaka Beach and the manzai contest was boring and tedious. Rehashing old material and trying to slap a new coat of paint on it just doesn't fly for me. Oh well, they all can't be winners.

Space Battleship Yamato 18

Uchuu Senkan Yamato Episode 18
宇宙戦艦ヤマト Ep. 18 (TV, Anime)

SPOILER Summary/Synopsis: With Yamato eight-days outside of the planet Balan (the mid-point of their journey), they discover a Gamilus base along their flight path. Sending a scout ship to investigate, the scout ship is destroyed as it approaches the military facility. An analysis of the destruction of the scout ship shows that it was literally taken apart. The source of this are magnetron waves, which are emanating from the Gamilus facility. Yuki asks if they can go around the base, but unfortunately, whenever Daisuke attempted to course correct, the base moved to remain in their path.

Captain Okita orders science officer Sanada to take the new, seamless fighter produced in the Yamato's production facility to destroy the base. Susumu offers to go along since he's already lost two people and doesn't want to lose more. The seamless fighter has no problems approaching the station, but when Susumu attacks one of the magnetron emitters, an armored shutter closes, preventing damage to the emitter. So, the two of them have to go inside through an emitter port and destroy the facility from within.

After tethering the fighter to the base, Susumu and Sanada enter through the emitter port. During the walk, Sanada talks of how he had known Susumu's brother, Captain Kodai, and how that he felt somewhat responsible for Captain Kodai's death at the Battle of Pluto since the Yukikaze wasn't fully repaired when it set out for combat. Susumu dismisses this since he's not only come to accept his brother's death, but understands that the human's had no chance to win the Battle of Pluto.

As the two continue to attempt to find the computer core, they discover some large robots of some kind in the corridors. During one of their moments where they are hiding to prevent discovery, Sanada tells of his older sister and how she and he were on an amusement park ride when he was a boy. An accident took the life of his sister on this ride and that moment has stuck with Sanada, leading him to where he is now.

When the pair finally make it to the core, the computer attempts to protect itself by snaring Sanada in a bundle of cables and knocking Susumu out. When Susumu comes to, Sanada tells him to get him out of the cables. Sanada has a little surprise though. The accident that took the life of his sister also removed both of Sanada's legs and arms. As such, he's been using artificial limbs and those have been booby trapped with bombs. He instructs Susumu on how to detach those limbs so that he will be free of the cabling but the limbs will still be stuck, after which, he will set off the explosives.

On Yamato, the effects of the magnetron waves are being felt with some of the metal paneling of the ship being ripped off as Susumu gets Sanada to the seamless fighter. However, Sanada has to stay just outside of the emitter port or he will not be able to send the signal to set off the bombs. Susumu reluctantly leaves him and moves to a safe distance. Sanada sets off the explosives, causing great damage to the inside of the installation. As Yamato prepares for an emergency warp, Susumu's mission success communication stops them and he rescues Sanada, who's still alive.

The failure of the weapon platform is witnessed by General Domel while on Yamato, Susumu's injuries are treated and Sanada is given new artifical limbs. With the mission over, Susumu confesses that after he rescued Sanada, he felt that his brother might still be alive somewhere. Sanada says that as long as Susumu's brother lives in Susumu's heart, he'll never truly be dead.

Thoughts/Review: I guess we just discovered why one should wear a space suit when in a fighter in space...not that it would have mattered much, but just how is a pilot to survive if he has to eject for some reason without a spacesuit? Just curious. Well, at least Sanada and Susumu learned that lesson when they took the new fighter out.

Now, the other weird thing -- if you can't get around the Gamilus magnetron weapon-base, why keep advancing on it? That was a head scratcher to be sure, but I suppose it was the only way to add suspense to the episode. After all, much of the episode was filled with yakking about Susumu's dead brother and Sanada's dead sister. However, I know that was done to try to make Sanada's possible sacrifice more tragic.

No Yuki stuff this week other than she was briefly seen a few times as eye-candy. Also, there was no followup to Captain Okita's surgery last week, not even a mention. That's unfortunate. Well, this was a Susumu (Kodai)/Sanada episode so I guess that's to be expected but a line about his health would have been nice.

Keroro Gunsou 68

ケロロ軍曹 Episode 68
Sgt. Frog anime, 68
Keroro Gunsou episode 68

SPOILER Summary/Synopsis: Natsumi, Fuyuki, Aki-san, and Keroro are watching a program where a dumpy house is turned into a modern house. Natsumi remarks on how she would love for their home to get remodeled, which Aki-san basically shoots down. However, Keroro decides to put his renown remodeling skills to work. So one afternoon as Natsumi and Fuyuki are coming home, they are joined by Mutsumi, who'd been invited by Kururu to check out the remodeling. This news comes as a surprise to the brother and sister who knew nothing about it. They enter their home where they in fact discover the inside has been changed, to include a lengthy stone stairway that curves out to a great distance. However, it turns out to be a false scene designed to keep those who shouldn't be there out.

Entering the home through a secret entrance, they discover that their living room has been expanded to a massive size capable of holding 10,000 people. Kururu gives a rapid, lengthy, and cut off explanation to explain this (Dilak's Ocean). Keroro gives them a tour with Moa where they see Natsumi's perfect bedroom, Fuyuki's perfect bedroom, a kitchen studio with space food, and lots more. Keroro is distressed to learn that Natsumi doesn't like the changes, but ends up conceding when the massive size of the place prevents him from watching Admiral Geroro.

A mysterious dog with different colored eyes named Zeroyasha arrives in town and is revealed to be very powerful, so Dororo leaves Koyuki to face the dog. After Keroro, Tamama, and Giroro talk about it, they realize they've all encountered the dog and it always helps people. Keroro decides the dog needs to be one of the team. Keroro dresses like a school boy and cries in the street about his lost Gundam, the toy a short distance behind him. Giroro and Tamama wonder if this plan will actually work, but it does.

Keroro removes his disguise and reveals his true intent to have the dog work for them. Tamama and Giroro emerge and try to nabe the dog. Giroro's Gatling gun fires a gum-like substance to try to trap the dog, but the dog is too quick. The dog then grabs the Gunpla and gives it to Keroro. He's touched by this to the shock of Tamama and Giroro but then Tamama points out that Keroro has been had. The dog still has the Gunpla and only gave Keroro a stick with a shield. However, the trio are trapped in the gum substance that Giroro fired all over. Dororo arrives and challenges the dog with a ball. The "battle" impresses everyone. However, it turns out that the Zeroyasha is a ninja dog from Koyuki's village. The dog saved Dororo and helped in his training. Koyuki reveals that Dororo's and Zeroyasha's "battles" can go for days, meaning that the other three Kerons could be trapped for a week.

Thoughts/Review: The first story didn't do all that much for me. The only amusing thing that stuck out in my mind was Kururu attempting to give his explanation as to how he made the inside of the house bigger than the outside. I was hoping that "Doctor Who" would get mentioned but oh well. That show may not be followed in Japan like some other western (including British) shows. I did like the Space Battleship Yamato reference (Admiral Geroro) now that I've seen several episodes of that anime. ^_^

For the second show, I was hoping for an Inuyasha parody (since the dog's name is Zeroyasha) but alas, no such luck. Still, there were laughs at how Zeroyasha pawned Keroro and company, especially with the taking of the Gunpla.

Negima!? 24

ネギま!? Episode 24

SPOILER Summary/Synopsis: Negi gets sucked into the Star Crystal which then disappears where he's taken into a black-and-white illusion world complete with his students. However in the Magic World, everyone is prevented from locating the missing Negi when the nearby forest attacks, forcing Takahata-sensei and Nekane to use their power for a shield. Asuna bullies Eva into using her powers to open a view portal into where Negi is, where they see he is being tricked by the illusions to head to the underworld. Negi is ultimately able to detect that his students are illusions and dispel them.

He finds himself back at Mahora Academy with Anya. He thinks Anya is an illusion but as she talks, he begins to realize she's real. Her further revelations show Negi that Anya had taken the Star Crystal and that it controls her. Negi demands the Star Crystal give Anya back but he has no luck. He's in a losing situation and about to be killed by the possessed Anya when all of his students turn into energy and power their pactio cards, where they enter the illusion world and form a shield in front of Negi. They encourage him and then reform from a shield into his staff where he's able to break the Star Crystal's hold on Anya. However, a black hole forms but before they can be sucked in, they are rescued by someone looking like Negi's father. Anya is saved and everyone is back on the real Earth again.

Thoughts/Review: Ugh. What a tedious episode and to think there are still two more to go. I guess SHAFT felt that since there were all these girls in the class, every seiyuu has be given line-time even if it means they say a lot of nothing. Sadly, a lot of nothing is said in this episode.

Then again, the Star Crystal storyline never was that interesting to me. With Anya being the villain here, I just couldn't get worked up about that. Frankly, I just didn't care and if your audience doesn't care, it doesn't matter how touching you try to make it, the audience won't be affected.

The supposed humor stuff (Motsu and Shichimi's return, the Baka Rangers omake bit at the end of the episode) wasn't funny either. Man, this series can be all over the place. I'm stunned that with the crappy job that SHAFT did with this, they were allowed to do the Mahou Sensei Negima! ~ Shiroki Tsubasa~ ALA ALBA series. At least they are doing that one right, but then Akamatsu-sensei appears to be more heavily involved in that project.

Assuming I get to see the final two episodes (and I can't believe they are going to drag this out that long), I will blog about them for completeness sake.

Hayate the Combat Butler Manga Volume 4

Hayate The Combat Butler, Volume 4
ハヤテのごとく！Manga Volume 4
Hayate no Gotoku Manga Volume 4

SPOILER Summary/Synopsis: This volume of the manga starts off by wrapping up the Gilbert fake kidnapping plot by defeating the mecha with the Eight personality matrix. This resolved, Hayate's next task is to get Nagi to the first day of the new school term but sadly, he fails when he gets lost. That prompts Isumi to stop by Nagi's place to make sure Nagi is OK. After Isumi leaves, Nagi decides that Hayate needs to attend her school, Hakuou Gakuin.

Hayate gets his chance to visit the academy Nagi's attends when Nagi forgets her bento (lunch). Katsura-sensei, who's guarding the gate to the school grounds, is not about to let the suspicious-looking Hayate enter, but he manages to get by her just the same. Wandering around campus, he comes across Katsura-sensei's younger sister and President of the Student Council Hinagiku (aka: Hina) who's stuck up a tree after having rescued a baby bird. Hayate not only helps her down, but defends the baby bird from a crow. Hina figures to thank Hayate by showing him to the top of the clock tower (where the Student Council meets) he'd admired earlier.

At the top of the tower, Hayate admires the view but Hina is afraid of heights. Katsura-sensei enters and challenges the "suspicious" Hayate, leading Hina to defend Hayate. In the end, Hayate ends up saving Katsura-sensei from falling off the clock tower, but Nagi's lunch is destroyed in the process.

Hayate is given a day off to buy a cell phone and takes a trip to his old high school, where his former classmate NISHIZAWA Ayumu (because her parents and brother show up later, I'm calling her "Ayumu" for the manga reviews though in my episode reviews of the anime, I addressed her as "Nishizawa") takes a chance to finally confess her feelings for Hayate, only for him to turn her down after he thinks of Nagi. After he returns home, he's told he's being enrolled in Hakuou Gakuin but he has to take the entrance exam. Klaus tells Hayate his job rests on whether he passes or not. On the day of the exam, Katsura-sensei has a joke exam in which Hayate ends up battling a group of starving monkeys before she gives him the real exam. Hayate ends up failing by one point due to his being tired from the fight.

Meanwhile, it is assumed that Hayate has passed, so Klaus has a huge, formal party. Katsura-sensei, having consulted with Hina, comes by to tell Hayate the results and to apologize. After many failed attempts, Hayate finally learns the bad news. However, Maria uses her influence and that is enough to get Hayate in. Hayate is shocked when he learns that he and Nagi will be in the same grade due to Nagi having skipped grades. He also learns that there are other butlers at the school, so his school uniform will be his butler uniform.

On his first day of school, he and Nagi come early where they meet the young Taiga-bocchan and his butler (who acts like the master since he has Taiga shower him with flower petals) Himuro. Himuro takes Hayate's necktie as a means of showing him what defines a first-class butler. After Hayate retrieves a new tie, he is given a glowing introduction by Katsura-sensei to his new classmates. At lunch, Nagi's attempt to get romantic with Hayate is interupted by Hina, who causes Hayate to become determined to get Nagi active in a club. So they check out Hina's Kendo Club were member Azumamiya decides to challenge Hayate and summons his butler Nonohara to do the deed.

In the omake, it is Golden Week, so Maria, Nagi, and Hayate are in Greece for vacation where Maria and Nagi used to live. Hayate is somehow sent back in time where he protects the young Nagi from the mafia before returning to the present to fullfill a promise he made to Nagi when he went back in time..

Thoughts/Review: I love Viz's new otaku-friendly adaptations, but their choices are a bit odd to me. For example, I never expected them to not translate the word "gakuin," which means " academy." I was pleasantly surprised that the title "bocchan" remained in the adaptation (I think I've only seen it once before, and that was in a Fruits Basket volume). However, I am not going to complain about that at all. On the other side, the term "bento" has shown up in the adaptations of several manga I own but Viz went ahead and translated it as "lunch." That's not a problem, but it shows the oddness of their choices of when to go otaku and when not to.

The lack of translator notes continues to be the biggest weakness of the manga adaptation. Seriously, how hard could it have been to include this? If it means an extra dollar to get translator notes, I'd pay it (they'd better be complete though).

As to the stories, as I have been thinking, they do flow better than the stories of the anime did. Since this volume marked Ayumu's entrance, she comes off as a bit different. I think she was in every anime episode, usually in a cameo bit showing her eating something (including KFC one time). While those eating jokes in the anime were amusing, not having them in the manga makes her seem more of a serious character if that makes sense.

Reading the story with Hayate taking the entrance exam and the monkeys, I couldn't help but remember the scene in the anime. I have to say, this is a time when the anime version of that moment is superior, simply due to the way animators can bring things to life, to say nothing of the monkey sound effects. ^_^ Funny stuff, y'all.

As for the extras, the standard 1-page "goddess" manga is there as are the two 4-koma strips (which I wish were in color) and two notes from Hata-sensei. There's a 1-page bit for Isumi as well. The character profiles of Katsura-sensei, Hina, and Ayumu are included this go-round.

Bottom line: This manga is on my "must buy" list as great, humorous, light reading material.

School Rumble Z Chapter 01

School Rumble Z Volume 1 Chapter 01
スクールランブルZ Chapter ♮1 Cat Chaser

SPOILER Summary/Synopsis: It is the Feudal Times in Japan and Detective Harima is responding to an alert that the treasury is being robbed. Three female thieves (Tenma, Akira, and Yakumo) are there but as they flee, one's headscarf comes off revealing Tenma's face. Harima allows her to escape (Yakumo helping her "neesan") because he's fallen in love with her. However, this causes his boss, Hanai, to chastise him severely.

Harima heads to a teach shop and inside he finds Tenma and Yakumo. Realizing that Harima is a detective, she blathers on and on about the thief group Indigo and wondering whom they are when Harima already knows Tenma is a member. Harima cannot arrest Tenma even after Tenma brings out one of the stolen treasure chests and Mikoto thanks Yakumo for getting money back from the thieves so that she could get medicine for her mother. Mikoto tells of the evils the Sawachika family are doing by lending out money for high interest rates to the poor who can't pay it back. Tenma decides this family needs to be taught a lesson and Harima leaves.

Harima pays Eri a visit but doesn't tell her why. He figures that there's no way that Tenma would come to rob Eri's family but she does and bumbles everything. Harima is unable to help himself as he attempts to help Tenma (along with Yakumo and Akira) while pretending to fumble around himself, though Tenma's gang doesn't know Harima is helping them. When Tenma can't find the money box, Harima has Eri show him and then he accidentally sends the box through the paper door where Tenma's gang get it and escape.

Eri is angry by what she's seen and beats Harima up as Hanai arrives on the scene. Harima is bound up and a sign placed next to him labeling him as a thief. Tenma throws stuff at Harima, who says he did it for love as the shogun Karasuma notes from his castle how lively things have gotten.

Thoughts/Review: I knew that School Rumble was published in Weekly Shounen Magazine (the chapters denoted with the musical "sharp" symbol ♯). What I didn't know was that Kobayashi-sensei published the side-stories (denoted with the musical flat symbol ♭) in the monthly Magazine Special. I also didn't know he did a chapter for the seasonal publication Shounen Magazine Wonder (denoted with the musical "natural" symbol ♮). So when I read the first chapter of School Rumble Z and wondered why this appeared to be a side story rather than pick up anything from after School Rumble (who's end has apparently annoyed many fans), I discovers that School Rumble Z is published in Magazine Special. So that was a bit of a disappointment to me.

Now that I know this will be a monthly release and that it will be nothing but fluff (not that School Rumble was anything serious, but there were storylines), that will change how I approach the manga. I suppose Kobayashi-sensei could pick up some things from School Rumble and carry on from there, but somehow I doubt it.

As to this story specifically, I enjoyed the parody period piece for what it was, but I'm not sure if these kinds of stories will interest me that much. That's because little stand-alone chapters with no bearing on other stories or events and done purely for parody don't seem to me as if they'd have legs to stand on for long. As side-stories to the main story, they are fine. As the sole means to carry a manga, I'm not so sure. However, I'll reserve final judgment until I've read more chapters.

Slayers REVOLUTION 11

スレイヤーズREVOLUTION Ep. 11
Slayers REVOLUTION Episode 11

SPOILER Summary/Synopsis: With Zanaffar having been born after consuming Gioconda, Lina and company attack it without success. Lina decides the old tried-and-true Amplified Dragon Slave on the beast. The beast is unharmed at all and Pokota figures Zanaffar's body is actually contained on the Astral Plane. His faux Sword of Light has no energy, so to the surprise of Lina's party, Zanaffar speaks to them, having obtained the knowledge and ability of Gioconda when it was born. Zanaffar gives them a warning to stay out of its way and then burrows into the ground.

Duclis and Xellos take off, causing Duclis to wonder why Xellos is following him. Xellos states that the mazoku have an interest in Zanaffar. Further, his "superiors" would not be happy with him if he didn't keep an eye on Duclis and the situation since the mazoku do not want Zanaffar to be mass-produced as this would be a problem for them. Duclis agrees, providing Xellos doesn't interfere. Xellos has no problem with that.

Lina and party have traveled to a nearby inn where Lina and Gourry proceed to perform their normal chow-down ritual. Inspector Wiser is not pleased by this and demands to know what they are doing. Lina tells Wiser that they can't fight on an empty stomach as she and Gourry call for more food, stating it is going on Wiser's tab. After the food orgy has concluded, the topic of discussion turns to Zanaffar, where the legend of how the Sword of Light was what was required to defeat the dark beast is discussed. Since Pokota's faux Sword of Light needs to recharge, there's nothing they can do but stay at the inn.

That night, Zanaffar destroys the city of Brohkol, consuming the population (which causes him to grow) as Duclis and Xellos watch. Xellos seems quietly excited to hear Duclis talk of death, destruction and revenge at the hands of Zanaffar. Meanwhile back at the inn, Pokota has a memory-dream in which he and Duclis first see the disease that started plaguing their people. They tried healing people with no success.

That morning, Wiser hears of Brohkol's destruction and rouses the others so that they can investigate. Back with Zanaffar, the beast is drinking water when Duclis decides to have a chat with it. Zanaffar agrees to destroy the countries Dulcis wants but in exchange, Zanaffar wants more of its kind to be made. Duclis appears to agree to Zanaffar's wish, which is observed by Xellos who notes to himself that this is the problem with mass-production of Zanaffar. Xellos asks Duclis why he's so bent on revenge seeing as how it was Gioconda who stole the relief money. Duclis states that the aid was only for these countries to retain honor while doing nothing, thus they are guilty.

Zanaffar's destruction continues with Lina's party always coming on the scene too late. Zelgadiss realizes that Zanaffar is growing as it consumes the populations of these cities. Zelgadiss and Wiser state that they need to get ahead of Zanaffar if they are going to stop its destruction. That night, Pokota decides to leave the camp to face Zanaffar on his own, but is stopped by Lina. As the Prince of Taforashia, Pokota needs direct his energies into a better way of stopping Zanaffar rather than go on a suicide mission. As such, Lina's party will handle Zanaffar while Pokota handles Duclis.

As the group tries to figure out where Zanaffar might go next, Pokota reveals that he understands Duclis's thinking and as such, Duclis is going to destroy every country that didn't physically help them despite the monetary aid these countries sent. Amelia is upset when she learns that the various countries could have done more but didn't for political reasons, but her anger turns to depression when she learns her own Saillune is one of the countries in question. After getting Amelia to accept that she's not responsible, Pokota's Sword of Light activates and a beam from it points to Zanaffar's location, which is in the direction of Saillune.

Thoughts/Review: I'm a little disappointed that Lina didn't appear to know how Zanaffar is truly supposed to be, but since this is the anime adaptation and the previous incarnation of Zanaffar was something totally different, I suppose that can be excused. I just like it best when Lina is on her game in smarts and the like when it comes to the serious aspects of the story (as we are in now). Don't get me wrong, she shows some of that here, but her book knowledge from trying to learn all that can be learned magic-wise is what I miss.

On a related topic, in Slayers, they go over the legend of Zanaffar there. Considering this is a new anime series, I've no problem with having the legend retold. However, I guess I expected Lina to go off on Gourry for claiming not to know about the legend when as the prior owner of the original Sword of Light, that legend went along with the sword. I want to say that even Gourry remembered it back then, but considering it has been a while since I saw Slayers, I could be wrong about that.

Since the franchise has established a pattern of "if we can't beat this thing right away, we retreat, recharge, and attack again" (think back to Slayers and the fight with Ruby Eye Shabranigdu), I had no problems with the comedic interlude showing Lina and company scarfing. It does seem an odd thing to do though, doesn't it? *lol* I guess that's because of how the moment is played for comedy effect in addition to being a moment for the writers to inject some exposition.

As to Zanaffar himself, I do like how the writers are playing him, which is very much in keeping with how I remember him being in the novels. So, Xellos wants Duclis to create one true Zanaffar to create chaos and destruction all around. That makes sense because (1) Zanaffar wouldn't be a threat to the mazoku as a whole and (2) that much negative emotion around would cause the mazoku to gain strength. Indeed, Xellos seemed very excited to hear about Duclis's desire for death and destruction in the name of vengeance. However, Xellos was very much against producing more Zanaffar beasts, which I found interesting. I wonder if having multiple Zanaffar beasts consuming humans, elves, dwarfs, and even low-level mazoku might make them a threat to the high-level mazoku. I doubt Duclis gets the chance to make more, assuming his promise to Zanaffar was earnest.

With Saillune in the line of destruction and the miko Sylphiel slated to return according to the previews, I'm actually pretty excited about episode 12's arrival. I hope Prince Phil shows up as well. ^_^

Ah! My Goddess Ch. 238 *SPOILERS*

Ah! My Goddess Manga/Oh My Goddess! Manga
ああっ女神さまっVolume 38 Chapter 238

Summary/Synopsis: Chrono finds she still can't deal with Welsper leading Urd to grab the cat and tease Chrono with Welsper. As a result, Urd finds herself blasted out of the residence into the courtyard and slammed into a tree by Chrono. Belldandy encourages Chrono to remember positive memories of her childhood with the cat, which she does. Encouraged, Chrono faces Welsper and assumes a martial arts pose. The program has Welsper assume a similar pose and the two do a lengthy battle. Chrono defeats Welsper in the end, grabs the program fragment, sends it to Belldandy who then processes it and executes the completed program. All's well that ends well.

Thoughts/Review: Urd getting pawned by Chrono was an amusing moment. In a weird way, Chrono fighting the possessed Welsper was amusing too. I guess there's just something funny about a cat assuming martial arts poses and fighting a girl (even if said girl is a goddess and said cat is a demon). Otherwise, there's just nothing to say because there's lots of pretty art but nothing really to comment on. That's the problem with filler material though.

Well, the story is wrapped up now and I'm guessing there's one aftermath chapter before this arc is completed. While it has been nice that Fujishima-sensei has dusted off so many old characters, it is unfortunate that he has nothing to do with them other than say, "I know you've wanted to see 'Character X' and so here you go."

Oh well, we'll see what happens next.

Space Battleship Yamato 17

Uchuu Senkan Yamato Episode 17
宇宙戦艦ヤマト Ep. 17 (TV, Anime)

SPOILER Summary: At the Gamilus base on planet Balan, Sub-commander Gale is working with a life form called Paranodon, which can merge to form a larger creature. As they merge and enter space with Gale and his pilot in their ship, the creatures large form isn't quite what Gale wants, but he is making progress. He reports back to General Domel, who's ready to discuss how they can be rid of the Yamato, that has caused the delay in the colonization of Earth. Gale informs his boss that he has ordered the reconstruction of the base on Pluto. Domel does not object to this but restates the need to destroy Yamato. Domel reasons that Yamato has made Balan the midway-point for their trip to Iscandar. He further reasons that Yamato likely has no idea of the base on Balan, therefor they will wait and hammer the Yamato when it arrives at the planet. Gale strenuously objects to this plan, feeling that they need to attack now, forcing Domel to remind Gale of who's in charge. This reminder angers Gale greatly.

On the Yamato, they've just completed a warp in an attempt to make up lost time. Captain Okita collapses in his chair due to the strain and is taken to sick bay. Sado-sensei states they have to operate immediately to save the captain, so Yuki becomes a nurse again. Analyzer is also enlisted to help with the operation. Some of the crew observe from the observation level while others pray for the captain's recovery as Sado-sensei operates.

Back on Balan, Gale gets drunk and takes his anger out on some of the staff attending him. He feels wronged by having been removed as base commander and is determined to change the situation. As such, he takes his pilot out again and works with the Paranodon for a final time. The creatures finally merge into a single entity and attack a mock Yamato, destroying it. Feeling confident, Gale orders an attack on the real Yamato. With a small group of ships carrying the small Paranodon, he sets out and is soon detected by the Yamato crew, who are unsure what to do with Okita no longer in command.

Susumu decides that the Yamato has to fight as they see the Paranodon sent into space and form the large Paranodon. Firing their main guns causes the Paranodon to split up and hit the Yamato harmlessly, but they soon reform into a single creature and circle around for an attack. Susumu decides they need to use the Wave Motion Gun despite the fact they've only just come out of warp. The chief engineer agrees and prep work is quickly undertaken to ready the weapon. The weapon charges and Susumu fires just before the Paranodon can hit the Yamato. They succeed in destroying the creature to the surprise and frustration of Gale.

While successful, the Yamato's previously damaged hull from the last time they fired the Wave Motion Gun is re-damaged, forcing immediate repair work to begin. Meanwhile in the sick bay, Sado-sensei has completed the operation and all they can do is wait. After some time, Okita comes to and compliments everyone for their hard work. Susumu apologizes for taking command, but Okita assures him he did well, the incident being akin to a lion tossing its cub into a ravine, the cub surviving and then climbing back up from the ravine.

On Balan, reports his failure to Domel, who already knew Gale's plan would not work. Domel turns and closes his eyes to contemplate the situation.

Thoughts/Synopsis: I hereby nominate Yuki to be the next captain of Yamato. Captain Mori has a nice ring to it, right? After all, is there a job on the ship she can't do? However, it looks like Susumu is being prepped to be the next captain, or rather the person to handle things while the captain is out. The writers had previously established the captain's injury/illness, so this element continuing to play a part in the series makes me wonder where the writers will go with it.

Speaking of captains, I laughed when I saw the animators had not even removed Okita's hat even though his head needed to be in a special contraption to help him breathe during surgery.

I can't imagine the scene with Sub-commander Gale's drunken rage being seen in Star Blazers. Not only was he drink, but one of the Gamilus chicks had her robe open and all she had on underneath were pink panties. ^_^;

Despite knowing his plan would fail, I understood his frustration since he'd been supplanted by Domel. As for Domel, he didn't come off as an "arrogant ass" this episode. I guess having failed in the previous episode, he's being more cautious in his approach to handling Yamato. We'll see how the writers have Domel handle things now that Yamato is near Balan.

The one thing that has become kinda tedious with the series is that it is so formulaic. We know that Yuki is going to be the babe for the situation. We know that Gamilus is going to do something to thwart Yamato and it will fail. Still, I can't deny a certain level of wanting to know where things go. It will be more interesting if Okita is out for a while and Susumu has to take command of Yamato (especially since he's such a hot-head).

MORE Negima! Chapter 226 SPOILER Images

This doesn't usually happen, but some anonymous Japanese person with a camera provides some more spoiler images from chapter 226. (click pic to make bigger, y'all). My review of chapter 226 will come when I get the chapter.

The previous spoiler images are here.

Hayate the Combat Butler Manga Volume 3

Hayate The Combat Butler, Manga Volume 3
ハヤテのごとく！Manga Volume 3
Hayate no Gotoku Manga Volume 3

SPOILER Summary/Synopsis: The story of Wataru's visit to Nagi's residence continues where we discover that despite being officially engaged to Nagi, Wataru actually has feelings for Isumi and isn't keen on the fact that Isumi appears to have feelings for "Hayate-sama." When Hayate learns that Isumi and Nagi have never seen a subway, he escorts them to try to see one while taking a trip to Wataru's place, only to have Isumi get separated and lost from Nagi and Hayate. The pair end up somewhere in a giant tunnel underground and get rescued from rats by Isumi of all people.

Hayate ends up going to Wataru's place on his own where he discovers that Wataru and his maid Saki live above a video rental shop, all that is left of his family's empire. Next, Hayate discovers Nagi has purchased a MushiKing arcade video game cabinet. Nagi finds she cannot beat Hayate at the game but even when Sakuya show's up, neither can beat Hayate. Following this, Nagi takes Hayate to her personal amusement park, which had been given to her by her grandfather a few years prior but unfortunately, she is still to short to ride any of the rides. So the employee mascots are relieved when someone actually shows up who can participate. However, Eight is also there in disguise and is looking for some sweet revenge.

After returning from this adventure, Maria has the filthy Hayate go take a bath. He's joined by Tama, who ends up shorting out the indoor onsen-style bath. The two of them head to the boiler room to fix the damage where Hayate discovers a shocking thing about the boilers and Tama ends up nearly getting them all drowned, forcing Hayate to save Maria. Next, Isumi is ready to go home but is missing her shawl. Due to its expense, Hayate is keen to find it, only to discover Tama about to shred it. Before he can react, Wataru saves the shawl and punishes Tama. He gets busted by Hayate after Wataru sniffs Isumi's shawl, revealing his feelings for the girl. Hayate has to teach Tama a lesson to protect Wataru's reputation.

Nagi angrily runs away to Wataru's place after a misunderstanding with Hayate. Sakuya's gaijin step-brother Gilbert has a kidnapping plan he presents to Saki and Nagi to test Hayate's love. However, his mecha unit has been given one of Eight's chips, thus Sakuya, Nagi, and Saki find themselves in danger and no Hayate is around..

Thoughts/Review: I absolutely loved how Isumi showed up to save Nagi and Hayate from the horde of rats. To have her show up after having been lost is one thing, but her non-flashy way of dispatching the rats just cracked me up.

With this third volume, I really do think the flow of the story is much better than it was in the anime. Most chapters smoothly move along and while there are chapters that make a more distinct break from the previous chapter, even those retain some continuity factors (the time/date, Isumi's extended visit, etc.). I didn't get that same sense of flow in the anime, which is not a slam on it, just a statement of fact.

The omake for this volume include the standard one-page "agent" story, character profiles (featuring Wataru, Saki, Nagi's grandfather Mikado, Eight's creator Shiori, and Eight himself), the two (formerly color) 4-koma strips, and a note from Hata-sensei. Also included is an image from Hata-sensei featuring Isumi and Hayate in a parody "normal end" moment that one might find in a Japanese visual novel and a three-page manga about Saki's family.

Viz continues to impress me with their adaptations. All the honorifics survive as well as the previously established "otaku friendly" terms. All of that makes reading the manga a more enjoyable experience for me. It is unfortunate that Viz still has no translator notes. Some of the cultural things would be nice to have spelled out, even if I knew some of them (like the Michael Jackson reference, complete with Never-Never Land).

Overall, just another fun read that reminds me of why I liked the first season of the anime adaptation so much. ^_^

Negima! Chapter 226 SPOILER Images

What you see are the original-sized, sneak-peek images for Mahou Sensei Negima! chapter 226 as posted on a short-lived Japanese page (click pic to make bigger, y'all). My review of chapter 226 will come when I get the chapter.
As always, thanks to the anon Japanese source (8e39epcr) and Hata.

Update: A second batch of spoiler images here.

Macross Frontier 23

マクロスF Episode 23
Macross F Ep. 23
Macross Frontier Anime

SPOILER Summary/Synopsis: In a memory-dream, Ranka recalls a moment when her ill mother Ranshe is having a discussion with Grace about sacrificing "them" in order to change the world. The child Ranka talks about this with an older boy before waking up in Brera's fighter as they approach the Vajra home world.

Back on Macross Frontier, Leon has a meeting with a group of men discussing the current situation (including the Macross Quarter leaving) as another island pod is jettisoned. This is observed by Alto and two other pilots, both of whom wonder if Alto is dating Sheryl. When they return to base, the other two pilots are all excited to see Sheryl waiting for them. Alto goes home with Sheryl and prepares her a meal. Sheryl is very happy as they have an fancy dinner with champagne. Sheryl gets drunk and when Alto carries her to bed, she asks him to stay with her always. He seems to agree with that.

Back in Brera's fighter, Ranka thanks Brera for doing what he's done. They talk about Ranka's song, which is a sole memory within the cyborg's self-described hollow self. The Vajra notice the fighter and come, so Ranka starts singing as she normally does. This halts the Vajra and Brera joins in the song with his harmonica, causing Ranka to remember a boy playing a harmonica when they were children. When the song is over, Brera gives Ranka the harmonica as a charm.
Brera's fighter alerts them to an attack as the Vajra take Ai-kun. Brera maneuvers to elude the Vajra. Elsewhere, the Macross Quarter has detected the fold-waves that come from Ranka's song and have pinpointed her location. Ozama is very keen on getting there.

Alto is summoned to see the President (Leon) and they are joined by a holographic Bilrer. Alto is told that they've detected fold-waves from Ranka. They believe that Ranka is being used by the Vajra as a tool for humanities destruction. Alto is told that the Vajra have a hive-mind with the individual Vajra having no brain. The microbes in the Vajra intestines help the Vajra form a massive communications network. However, those microbes in a human attack the brain, killing the host (Sheryl). Bilrer also confirms that they want to get fold-crystals in addition to stopping the Vajra threat.

Brera has managed to elude the Vajra, hiding in an asteroid field. Ai-kun finds them, so Ranka leaves the fighter to see her former pet. However, the normally peaceful Ai-kun suddenly turns against her and captures her, causing her to realize that Brera is her "oniichan." Brera is attacked and cannot save Ranka. He is saved by two fighters, who are part of Grace's team. Grace asks if Brera had fun with his little sister. He's shocked by this, but Grace activates his programing, forcing Brera into slave mode.

At the medical facility on Macross Frontier, Sheryl gets told by Luca and another person about her condition. They want her to take her medication, though Sheryl feels better now that she's stopped taking it. She's not happy with their sin of kindness. Elsewhere in the facility, Alto is waiting when Yasaburo calls to him. Alto sees his father being wheeled down one of the walkways as Yasaburo comes over to talk with him. They talk of Alto being a military pilot with Yasaburo wondering if Alto would have become a pilot under different circumstances. Yasaburo really wants Alto to make amends with his father and return to acting. After their conversation, Alto pays a quick visit to Nanase's room, taking time to look at her painting of Ranka as an angel-like figure.

Inside of a Vajra craft, Ranka remembers the Vajra attack on SDF-4 Global and how Brera got her to a life pod, which is how she survived for Ozama to find her. As this is happening, the reaction inside of Ranka excite Grace, who's observing the holographic form of Ranka, stating that this is the moment she's been waiting for from the "Little Queen." With this, Grace believes a doorway to a new reality is opening.

Outside the medical facility, a micronized Klan joins Alto, informing him she'd been briefed on their locating Ranka. Alto asks Klan why she joined the SMS. For Klan, being in a military unit was something her clan did, so she just did it without much thought. Alto compares her situation to his own with the kabuki theater acting -- being born to do a role whether you want to or not. Alto wanted to fly and then he met Ranka. He joined SMS to protect Ranka and if Ranka is being used by the Vajra, Alto will kill Ranka. Klan realizes that this is Alto speaking because he loves Ranka. Sheryl, who'd come into hearing range early but kept out of sight, hears the truth and knows that Alto never loved her, but she'd wanted the illusion to go on a bit longer. With a tear in her eye, she puts on her shades and leaves.

On Battle Frontier, Leon decides that they will fold to the Vajra home world and end the Vajra threat once and for all. He sees the Vajra home world as the final destination for humanity and is eager to begin the crusade to cleans said world. The announcement of the forthcoming fold is made to the entire Macross Frontier fleet. Sheryl hears this, takes the paper airplane she'd made, then throws it. The airplane soars upwards for a while before beginning its fall back to the ground.

Thoughts/Review: OK, so now we see what Leon's plan is -- take over the Vajra planet and settle the humans there. We see what Grace's plan is -- opening the door to a new reality. For some reason, I just don't care. I've become bored with the tediousness of all the plotting, scheming, and whatever else is going on for these fools to have their plans succeed. Bah!

I'm glad Ranka got her memories back but it is too bad that Ai-kun seems to have turned on her, leaving her a Vajra captive so that Grace can have her "iku" moment over all this. Ugh.

When I saw Alto preparing a meal for Sheryl and Sheryl acting all happy, my first thought was, "Well, at least they had Alto choose and I can live with that." However, things just didn't ring quite true and I couldn't understand why until Alto's conversation with Klan. OK, so he was just pretending to be interested in Alto but his heart was always with Ranka. That made sense to me.

Still, I've grown weary of this anime. I'm sure there are a lot of people who enjoy it, and visually, it looks very good. It is just that the story seems too clichéd to me and while the plot is moving forward, the more it does, the less I'm interested. I find that the only element I'm really interested in for some reason are the people on board Macross Quarter and Klan. Well, that happens I suppose. We'll see how this thing ends in two more episodes.

Negima! Manga Vol 25 (Ch 225) *SPOILERS*

魔法先生 ネギま！Volume 25 Chapter 225 (manga)
Mahou Sensei Negima! Manga Chapter 225

Summary/Synopsis: Fate continues to present his case to get Negi to leave him and his people alone, using Negi's own fears of causing harm to his students and the fact that Fate is in essence holding everyone nearby hostage. Negi has reluctantly come to the conclusion that even if it is a trap, he has to go along with Fate. Fate sees this and insists that Negi take an oath to that effect, repeating the words that Fate said. Negi starts to do this, but finds himself punched by Asuna, who then whacks Fate with her harisen before hitting Negi on the head again when he starts to protest. As she turns her harisen into blade form and points it at Fate, she angrily reminds Negi that they've all received all kinds of help from the locals and that they cannot turn their backs on the people of this world just to save themselves. Negi protests that they have no choice as Fate will kill the people around them as well as Asuna. To everyone's surprise, Asuna is OK with that fact.

Fate laughs at Asuna's words, which Asuna finds weird since his eyes do not reflect laughter. Negi remembers a lesson Eva had taught him and realizes there is no perfect, correct answer here. With new found courage, Negi forcefully declines Fate's offer. In response, Fate sends one of his earth-based stone-spike attacks at Setsuna. Fate is surprised that Setsuna is unharmed, she having used her blade to slice the stone spike that would have hit her. She then activates her artifact (Sica Shishikushiro) to counter-attack Fate with multiple blades that he manages to defect. However, this also causes a small statue of a large bird (buzzard?) with stone bundles on each wing to fly out and land nearby. Setsuna realizes that this is what Fate is after and that the artifact is an extremely powerful, magical device.

Fate gets up from his chair, remarking to Asuna that she's always interfering in his plans but that he's glad that this crude plan to trap Negi and his group failed. This means that Fate's wish to fight Negi over the magic world has been granted. Fate recognizes the Magia Erebea as Negi attacks with his fist and Fate easily avoids the blow. Fate rises into the sky where several massive, black stone octagon-shaped pillars appear around Fate at Fate's incantation, using the same spell he used to destroy the gate port facility. Negi has begun his own incantation as he races up the side of one of the pillars, which Fate realizes is not Rakan's ability but rather that of High Daylight Walker Dark Evangel (Eva). Fate is surprised that Negi has learned this, but untroubled, avoiding Negi's punch and sending him crashing to the ground, destroying one of the pillars.

Negi realizes Fate's technique is the Hakkeshou martial art (a real, Chinese martial art) and races up the next pillar in the air where Fate is, the later easily defending against Negi's physical attacks. As Negi presses the attack, Fate comments to him that the Magia Erebea is little more that "doping" (actual term in the Japanese text) to increase Negi's power. However, no matter how powerful Negi's attacks are, they aren't any good if Negi can't connect. Fate expresses his disappointment in how the battle is going but then finds himself stunned when Negi lands a powerful blow to Fate's mid-section, a trail of energy come from the impact as Fate is sent up the side of the pillar. A dark Negi asks Fate if he doesn't need to train some more.

Thoughts/Review: Akamatsu-sensei has now shown us why he had Negi decide to learn Chinese martial arts from Ku Fei. How many volumes ago was that when Negi first decided that in addition to training with Eva, he should physically train with Ku Fei? It has been a while. However, that is Akamatsu-sensei's writing style. He sometimes sets the table years in advance of actually sitting down there and to me, that's the reason that Negima! is my favorite manga. While one can sense Akamatsu-sensei has made some course corrections here and there (I think that Makie, Ayaka, and Kaede were slated to receive pactios early on but he ended up not going that route though he did have Kaede in Negi's "battle harem"), for the most part, his writing reflects great planning and consideration. That's why I really wish Del Rey would re-release all of the early volumes that Peter David adapted and give then a completely new adaptation from someone not interested in rewrites.

Back to the story, as Setsuna suspected, Fate had intended to bind Negi with a pledge, likely one similar to what Eva had planned to use on Negi to force him to go on a date with her during the Mahora Festival arc.

I was surprised that Asuna managed to land a blow on Fate (or even two) but he didn't react to them. The weird thing is Asuna's sword. Her control over it to whack Fate with the harisen form before turning it into a blade is impressive enough, but the blade seemed different when she pointed it at Fate. The way Akamatsu-sensei drew one of the panels, it looked like her blade may have turned into a simple long sword, but then I realized that we were looking at Asuna's massive weapon from the blade-edge.

Setsuna being able to defend against Fate's earth-based stone-spike spell is impressive. I recall in volume six when Negi accidently caused Eva to get hit with it, but her being a vampire kinda caused that spell to fail. For Setsuna to not only react to a stone spike suddenly coming out of the ground but slice it off as well is pretty cool.

Negi's fight with Fate would almost seem to indicate that Akamatsu-sensei is heading right for a finale of the Magic World arc. Some fans have speculated that this wouldn't be the case, and they may yet be right. Fate could decide he doesn't have time to fight Negi to make his plans succeed now that Negi has landed a blow, but that doesn't seem to be were Akamatsu-sensei is going. If Akamatsu-sensei were thinking of extending the storyline, he could have Fate hurl the remaining stone pillars to attempt to kill the people below, but with Setsuna and especially Asuna down below, that doesn't seem likely as the two girls could destroy the pillars. Then again, there's Fate's other "babe" who is MIA, though it seems unlikely that he would have her in reserve. Ah, but there is Tsukuyomi, who'd be keen on a rematch with "Setsuna-senpai."

Considering Akamatsu-sensei's table setting, if he does end things now, then it would make his having Mana, Takahata-sensei, Misora, Takane, and Mei on the world rather pointless. With that in mind, this could still be the final mini-arc, but things could go for many, many chapters. Plus, we still don't know where Anya is and I find that interesting.

Well, nothing to do now but wait for Negima! chapter 226, eh? ^_~

Keroro Gunsou 67

ケロロ軍曹 Episode 67
Sgt. Frog anime, 67
Keroro Gunsou episode 67

SPOILER Summary/Synopsis: Fuyuki decides that the Occult Club needs to investigate a ruined school in Tokyo because of mysterious things supposedly happening there. Momoka decides this is a chance to be alone and close with Fuyuki, to include acting frightened and thus being able to cling to Fuyuki. The two of them head to the school that night, not knowing that Keroro and platoon have set up shop there. It is Keroro's latest plan to create Kero Kero Mystery Land tour, taking five of the seven traditional mystery horrors at Japanese schools. They are surprised to see Momoka and Fuyuki arrive, but Keroro feels this is the perfect opportunity.

The first mystery is "Hanako in the Restroom," where the ghost of Hanako-san resides in bathroom causes scary things to happen. Tamama is dressed up as Hanako-san and is eager for Fuyuki and Momoka to arrive. However, as they are about to enter the bathroom, Momoka screams and points. It is the girl's bathroom and Fuyuki cannot enter that. So, they are off to continue to explore the school but Keroro's first plan has failed. The second mystery is the "Dancing Ballet Picture," in which Dororo plays the dancing ballarina. He fails to get noticed by Fuyuki and Momoka, leading to the 2nd failure.

The third mystery is the "Music Room of Horror" where Giroro is disguised as a painting. However, Giroro becomes spooked by a real painting in the room so that when Fuyuki and Momoka enter, the paint starts dripping off his body. This freaks Momoka out causing Fuyuki to flee with her. A partial success. The fourth mystery is the "Skeleton in the Biology Room." As Fuyuki and Momoka enter, Momoka decides it is time to play the "I'm scared" card and snuggle up to a brave Fuyuki. However, the skeleton appears, causing the two of them to flee again. Momoka gets pissed and attacks the skeleton, revealing that it is Keroro in a skeleton suit.

Fuyuki is disappointed to discover that Keroro and company are behind these mysterious things, so when Fuyuki notices the 7th mystery (numbers five and six having been skipped by Keroro) of the ghost girl in the classroom, which Moa-chan had been assigned to, he just leaves as he figures it is Moa-chan. Back at the Hinata residence, their own ghost Yuurei-chan gets onto Keroro for trying to fake ghost to scare people. Momoka is disappointed that she didn't get closer to Fuyuki and he's still disappointed that this whole thing was faked. He tells Mao-chan that he was impressed with her ghost impersonation. She denies being in the classroom since she was with Kururu. Natsumi mentions that the school they were at had been leveled a long time ago. So, the platoon plays back the video tape of their activites and scream at what they see.

Natsumi is battling the final boss in her video game when Keroro accidentally kills the power to the game station. After being punished by Natsumi, Keroro realizes that they can make a killing if they create their own game. So with the help of a Idea-materializing Monitor with helmets to make their thoughts into holograms, the brainstorming of the platoon begins. Tamama's game idea is one to eat snacks, which Keroro rejects. Giroro's is to have a simulation to strip and rebuild guns. "Rejected!" Mao's is to have a game with cute animals that get killed when you destroy the planet. "Rejected!" Kururu's plan is to have a dating-sim game (called Moe Simulation) where instead of getting the cute girl you desire, you are guaranteed to fail, just as in real life. "Rejected!"

The platoon decides to quit the project, leaving Keroro to feel like the villain. He is upset and leaves to a secluded trash pile. Dororo joins him and tells him that to make a good game, one has to make what one likes. After hearing Dororo speak, Keroro is encouraged and returns to base. The platoon agrees to help him again on the game and after a time, they present Natsumi and Fuyuki with their brand new game console as well as their first game, which fits nicely onto 256 DVD's. Natsumi questions the largeness of the controller to which Keroro assures her it won't be a problem. The game starts and it is weird as the game elements emerge from the TV and their controllers change to match the situation. However, the game is too weird for Natsumi. When Keroro tries to take over to show her how easy the game is to play, he gets pulled into the TV. Then the power to the console accidentally gets cut.

Thoughts/Review: There was no preview at the beginning of the episode with episode 67. Personally, I never was a fan of these previews since I'm going to be watching the episode in mere moments anyway. The previews of the next episode shown at the end of the current episode are fine.

For the first story and the traditional "school mysteries," I'm glad I have seen enough anime titles to be pretty versed in this Japanese tradition so that the parody was amusing to me. So while predictable, the end was very funny since I didn't expect that. Of course, the exaggerated screams helped make it funnier, y'all. ^_^ Too bad Momoka didn't get a little close with Fuyuki though, eh?

I have to say that I laughed out loud at Kururu's "Moe Simulation" game, especially since it took the opposite approach to those bishoujo games and made it so that no matter what you do, you fail. Also, having recently purchased the 2-DVD 1701 A.D. Gold game (and playing it WAY, WAY too much during my time off), just thinking about a game that would be 256 DVD's in size just cracked me up (that and a lack of sleep).

So, a pretty fun episode. ^_^ I continue to be pleased on the whole with how the series is progressing.

Hayate the Combat Butler Manga Volume 2

Hayate The Combat Butler Manga Volume 2
ハヤテのごとく！Manga Volume 2
Hayate no Gotoku Manga Volume 2

SPOILER Summary/Synopsis: Volume 2 starts with Hayate and Tama battling a revived Eight in the mansion. Next we are introduced to Sakuya, Nagi's relative and another rich ojousama from the Kansai region who has an affinity for Japanese comedy. After this, Nagi and Hayate spend New Year's eve at the beach. After New Year's, Nagi, Hayate, Maria, and Sakuya take a trip to see Nagi's grandfather, who has a gift for Hayate and a challenge for his legacy. After a story about Hayate's dream, Hayate is given a cashmere coat and a task to pick up some tea for a forthcoming visiting friend of Nagi's. Hayate meets this friend, Isumi, who's lost (and often gets so), but mistaking her bodyguards for yakuza, Hayate ends up destroying his coat to protect her.

After finally getting Isumi to Nagi's home, Hayate is ill and ends up getting some nasty food made for him by Nagi. However, he eats it to spare Nagi's feelings. Once Hayate is feeling better, he plays a game of pool with Maria where he learns a bit more about Nagi. Hayate wins the game and his bet with Maria, but unfortunately, Nagi and Isumi come in on this and Nagi isn't happy with what she sees. Finally, Nagi's official fiancee Wataru and his made Saki make their post New Year's visit to see Nagi.

Thoughts/Review: First, Viz. I never thought I'd see the day, but Viz has gone from "must domesticate" to "otaku friendly." So, all the otaku-friendly terms and honorifics from volume 1 carry over, but I have to say I was stunned when the title "waka" was included in the adaptation. While "ojousama" has shown up more and more in manga adaptations, I've personally never seen "waka" used (which is kinda like the male version of ojousama). So kudo's to Viz for this. Hayate the Combat Butler is a very Japanese manga, so bringing the Japanese perspective is key.

My only problem with Viz here (and it is a small one) is that there are no translator notes. So while there are famous references (with the "O" to partially block a reference from being fully spelled out as seen in the example --> "Van HOlen"), unless they are American ones or Japanese ones that the American reader already is familar with, the read won't get said reference. That's unfortunate.

Story-wise, with only two volumes under my belt, I get the sense that the manga story is flowing better than the anime story did at this point. It has been a while since I watched the anime, so I can't be sure but that's my initial impression.

The manga makes Isumi come off a bit stronger in my opinion than she seemed in the anime. She still gets lost, she's still a bit timid-seeming, and she doesn't keep up with the flow. However, she doesn't seem overly timid as there seems to be an inner strength that comes through the pages. I found that nice.

I like the little one-page omake featuring the agent and whatever characters. At the end of the manga, we get the character pages for Isumi and Sakuya as well as a note from Hata-sensei (which is interesting) and two 4-koma manga strips. Those were included in the original Japanese tankoubon so they should be included in this volume. Too bad the 4-koma strips aren't in color as I believe they were in the Japanese.

Botom line: If Viz keeps up this kind of adaptation, they can expect a loyal customer for the entire Hayate the Combat Butler manga series. The manga is funny and just fun to read.

First Slayers REVOLUTION, now Slayers GLORY...um, I mean Slayers EVOLUTION-R

スレイヤーズGLORY

Wow. This will blow the minds of some people if what MoonPhase is reporting on their anime schedule page holds true. The fifth Slayers TV series is set to be called Slayers GLORY. That would mean that despite what most people I've chatted with expected, Slayers REVOLUTION is only 13-episodes in length. Those people fully expected Slayers REVOLUTION to get another 13-episodes so as to fit the 26-episode format of the previous TV series.

I was hoping that QP would have had more information, but sadly no such luck.

We'll see if the new series name stays the same though. Initially, Slayers REVOLUTION was going to be entitled Slayers AGAIN. Either way, the new anime is slated for a 2009 release. ^_^

Update: Golden Darkness provided the original source of the Slayers GLORY title, which came from ATV.

Update: Now to be known as Slayers EVOLUTION-R. Clever. ^_~

Slayers REVOLUTION 10

スレイヤーズREVOLUTION Anime episode 10

SPOILER Summary/Synopsis: With Gourry facing Marquis Gioconda with his stone sword, Amelia and Gourry facing Ozel, and Lina squaring off against the assassin Zuuma in the arena, Duclis and Pokota battle in the lab where the mage tanks were created. Pokota again remembers how in Taforashia, he and Duclis were summoned to the castle when Pokota's father (the king) was dying of the disease. He remembers Aka Houshi (Red Priest) Rezo showing up and coming up with a solution to keep the people of Taforashia from dying until a cure could be found by using a vase to form the crystal encasement around the people. Because Duclis and Pokota were also infected, Rezo changed them into their current forms (Tiger Beast-man and Digimon critter respectively) so that the two of them could look for a cure. The trip to memory lane is interrupted when Wiser emerges from a vent in the ceiling, having escaped from Xellos's pit.

Back in the arena, Xellos eats popcorn and enjoys the battle. The combatants are holding their own though Gourry is not keen on fighting a woman. Marquis Gioconda being impressed with Gourry's use of the stone sword and asks him if he'd like to be her fifth husband (numbers 1-4 having died in the arena despite their skills with the sword). This distracts Lina, allowing Zuuma to get an advantage on her and use his darkness, spell-nullifying ability. Because of this, Amelia and Zelgadiss have their finishing spell-attack on Ozel nullified by the darkness with Zuuma promising that Lina will hear the screams of her dying comrades. Amelia and Zelgadiss scream in the darkness.

Over in the lab, Wiser identifies himself to Duclis and tells the tiger-man and Pokota that he'd been investigating some nasty rumors of various illegal activities, which Marquis Gioconda seemed to be at the heart of. He further informs them that Marquis Gioconda is suspected of having stolen the funds from other country that were destined for Taforashia. However, since Taforashia disappeared, this caused things to become muddied and there's still not enough proof. This news stuns both Duclis and Pokota.

In the arena once more, Zuuma is beating Amelia and Zelgadiss when Lina activates her Demon's Blood Talismans and casts an amplified Ragna Blade, the spell unaffected by Zuuma's darkness. She only has one shot at this since the spell drains so much of her energy, so she attacks Zuuma. Ozel gets between Lina and Zuuma before the blade can strike, causing Ozel to take the hit. Before "dying," she explains that this action of hers is also part of her contract. Lina's energy expended, the Ragna Blade disappears and Zuuma is free to strangle the helpless Lina, where he reveals that he became an assassin because of her.

Gourry is unable to do anything to help Lina as Marquis Gioconda prevents him from getting to Lina's location. So Gourry throws his heavy stone sword at Zuuma but Zuuma somehow knocks the blade away. However, Pokota flies in and tosses Gourry the faux Sword of Light. With it, he breaks Gioconda's sword and sweeps down into the arena to save Lina. Zuuma is forced to abandon Lina but Gourry can't connect the Sword of Light with the elusive Zuuma. So wielding the Sword of Light in one hand, Gourry picks up the large stone blade in the other. Thus armed, Gourry is able to make some hits with the stone blade but still none with the Sword of Light. Lina has recovered enough to cast a Dark Mist spell. Gourry switches swords in the darkness and is able to remove the tips of one of Zuuma's claws with the Sword of Light. With Zuuma injured, Lina takes advantage to fire a Flare Lance spell, which removes Zuuma's claw completely. With that, Zuuma flees the battlefield in a whirlwind of smoke, but not before Gourry manages to fire the Sword of Light blade at Zuuma, removing his other claw.

Duclis, Pokota, and Wiser confront Marquis Gioconda about the missing funds for Taforashia. Initially she attempts to deny everything as lies told by Wiser. However, she then asks them "what of it?" Her reasoning was that since Taforashia was doomed anyway, all of the aid money would be wasted on doing anything for the citizens of Taforashia. Wiser says that while that may be the case, the money could have eased the suffering of those people. Gioconda is not ready to surrender until the battered Lina, Gourry, Amelia, and Zelgadiss arrive, meaning she has no chance.

Duclis raises his energy blade to striker her but is stopped by Wiser, who says she must be brought to justice. Amelia confirms this, saying that Saillune will wish to participate in prosecuting Gioconda. Duclis tells them that this is not enough and strikes Gioconda with his energy blade, telling her she'll be consumed in darkness. Her Zanaffar armor activates to the surprise of the others. Xellos warns them all to be careful since Gioconda's armor is the perfected Zanaffar armor, created from the Claire Bible manuscript (unlike Duclis's Zanaffar armor). Pokota realizes what this means and grabs the Sword of Light to strike Gioconda. However, he's too late as the energy of the armor consumes Gioconda, creating a blast stream that then forms into the demon-beast Zanaffar.

Thoughts/Review: Since mazoku feed off of negative emotions, having a scene showing Xellos eating popcorn while watching the fight was not only humorous, but also symbolic. There was plenty for him to feast on to be sure. I still have no clue as to what game Xellos is playing here. He seems to have wanted Zanaffar to be created for some reason though. Why? What purpose of the mazoku would be served by this? Or maybe it somehow has to do with Rezo. More on Zanaffar and Rezo in a bit.

I had thought that Duclis may have had his own Sword of Light, howbeit in red color, but this episode cleared that up. He just had an energy blade that reminded me of the energy blade that Ryoko from Tenchi Muyo! Ryo-ohki would form and fight with. No idea how he made the blade though. It might be some sort of ability listed in the novels or it may be an anime-only contrivance.

Speaking of Tenchi, Yosho's seiyuu KOYASU Takehito reprises his role as Rezo, which was awesome. He does a great Kururu in Keroro Gunsou and I knew he was still working in the business (Keroro Gunsou is still airing new episodes in Japan as of this posting) so I figured they'd get him back with little problem. It just wouldn't be Rezo without his voice. ^_^

I liked the tiny reference to the romantic feelings Lina has for Gourry (though she'd deny it) by having Marquis Gioconda's proposal to Gourry distract her in her fight with Zuuma. I doubt the writers actually go anywhere with the Lina-Gourry romance (which was highlighted in Slayers Next) but that might be nice to explore someday.

Now to Zanaffar. YES! The animators and writers took great liberties with the Zanaffar story in the Slayers anime. For starters, there was no Zanaffar armor but Copy-Rezo was able to create one just the same with the Claire Bible. Second, Copy-Rezo's Zanaffar did not consume him, but became a part of Copy-Rezo and controlled by the clone. Third, that Zanaffar was a two-headed spirit-like dragon beast. That was nothing like how Zanaffar was described in the novels. For Slayers REVOLUTION, the animators seem to be "bridging the gap" as it were by having their Zanaffar created as it was in the novels and having the wolf-like appearance of the novels. However, it seems to be made of energy at the moment which was not my impression of the creature from the novels.

Still, hat's off to the staff for a proper Zanaffar story. Since the novels stated that there are only two things that can kill Zanaffar (three counting the Blessed Blade), creating a faux Sword of Light is a way to fix things so that it and the 2nd weapon can be used in the final battle (and no, it is not Blessed Blade but I'm not spoiling what that second weapon is).

Zuuma. I like the revelation that he became an assassin because of Lina. It has been too long since I read the novels, so I can't remember how he was initially engaged in the novels (and sadly, KanzakaDex does not have a page created for the assassin yet so no refreshers there I'm afraid) nor do I remember if Zuuma became an assassin because of Lina. I do remember something else happening with Zuuma though (which I won't state) and we'll see how the writers handle him.

I loved how Gourry revealed himself not to be a brainless idiot when it comes to fighting, which is how he defeated Zuuma. We've seen this before when he's been able to instinctively understand the flow of combat and defeat opponents (sometimes by working with Lina for misdirects). However, this was the first time I recall Gourry actually saying something about not being an idiot when it comes to fighting. You go Gourry!

So, our heroes have to slay Zanaffar, find the vase, free the people of Taforashia (including Duclis and Pokota, though somehow I expect Duclis to die), and get this all wrapped up in three more episodes. ^_^ Should be fun!

Space Battleship Yamato 16

Uchuu Senkan Yamato Episode 16
宇宙戦艦ヤマト Ep. 16 (TV, Anime)

SPOILER Summary/Synopsis: Yamato is 20-days away from planet Balan and is approaching the planet Bemera. In the crowded mess hall, Susumu complains that they are just eating the same old things when Yuki arrives in a dress. She models it for the guys there, who are all very appreciative. Analyzer comes by and flips her skirt, showing of her panties. This leads to a lot of excitement amongst the men (including Susumu) and Yuki flees. She reports the incident to the captain, informing him that Analyzer has done this to her before and she wants it put to a stop. He agrees to have the matter addressed.

With Yamato now at Bemera, Captain Okita orders Yuki and Analyzer down to the planet's surface to find edible plants. In mid-flight, Analyzer asks Yuki to marry it, which causes Yuki to lose control of the craft and crash it into a shallow body of water. They explore the nearby jungle when they find a structure that looks similar to a beehive or anthill. Yuki decides they need to enter it and explore it, which they do. They are soon stopped by a bee-like humanoid and they are captured. Before being thrown into prison, they see a large number of bee-humanoid prisoners being thrown into a massive vat and ground into a thick liquid, which is then poured into containers.

In their prison cell, Analyzer compaires this substance they saw from the executed bee-humanoids to be like royal jelly. Yuki is frightened and embraces Analyzer for comfort. Analyzer tries to assure her that people from the Yamato will soon arrive, but Yuki knows that they've lost communication with the ship. However, she is happy to have Analyzer there. Meanwhile, the queen bee-humanoid contacts someone from Gamilus to ensure that the freighter to pick up the royal jelly is on time. The Gamilus contact reminds the queen that keeping Gamilus supplied with this substance keeps her throne secured.

On Yamato, the Gamilus freighter is discovered, so Okita orders the Black Tiger squadron to attack. As this is going on, the bee-humanoids take Yuki and Analyzer out of the cell and at a celebration, it is revealed that they are rebels demanding freedom, thinking they've captured people from Gamilus. As the freighter is landing, the leader of the rebels demands the queen shoot the ship down with a cannon they've provided. Instead, she shoots the leader of the rebels. When two Gamilus troops emerge from the ship, the fall off the platform dead as the ship explodes, taking out the structures nearby.

Troops from the Yamato arrive, lead by Susumu and Yuki runs to him in the chaos. Analyzer sees this as bee-humanoids try to kill it without success. The humans try to tell the bee-humanoids they aren't from Gamilus, but Yuki tells them it doesn't matter since they are just as evil for trying to steal vegetables. So the humans return to the ship with Analyzer. Sometime after they return, Analyzer talks with Yuki, who turns down his proposal. Analyzer says it is OK and that he still loves her.

Thoughts/Review: Well, lets add to Yuki's list of jobs. She's now a pilot and a botanist capable of determining what plants are eatable and what ones aren't. Oh yeah, and she's a model.


Naturally, the men all react.

But only Analyzer does what they all desire to do.


I'm not sure why the writers decided to have Analyzer suddenly want to do the ecchi with Yuki. Analyzer previous case of flipping Yuki's skirt seemed nothing more than a cheap way to score some fanservice. Maybe this was a way of addressing the issue of having one woman on board ship and a crew full of men ready to go (as it were) without actually doing it through a male character.

Yuki's moral equivalence of her mission to find edible plants (which she called stealing) and Gamilus forcing the bee-humanoids to slaughter their own in order to create a type of royal jelly for the people of Gamilus to use (consume?) annoyed me. So Yuki, how is just gathering plants stealing? Further, after talking about being afraid to die, I guess you can't die of starvation, can you?

Overall, this was an odd episode. I can't imagine how much of this (if any) survived the Star Blazers re-write considering the topics of death and sex that were touched on.

Keroro Gunsou 66

ケロロ軍曹 Episode 66
Sgt. Frog anime, 66
Keroro Gunsou episode 66

SPOILER Summary/Synopsis: Natsumi, Fuyuki, Tamama, and Keroro are enjoying time in the underground pool when the Event Alien arrives to receive his payment for some space soccer tickets Keroro asked for prior to the Earth invasion. The price is two humans, thus Natsumi and Fuyuki are taken. Giroro is very angry that Keroro signed such a contract. Giroro, Tamama, and Keroro board their craft as Kururu launches them to pursue the Event Alien craft, still in Earth orbit. The trio enter and make their way through various TV studios, where various space programs are being aired or taped (parodies of Japanese programs). Eventually, the frustrated Giroro finds Natsumi and Fuyuki on a baby exercise program where after learning that the Event Alien needed the two humans for the TV show, he joins them. Keroro is given the bill for all the sets Giroro destroyed.

Natsumi gets advice from the announcer on what dress to wear, then heads out on a date. Giroro goes nuts over this, so he, Keroro, and Tamama follow Natsumi with their barriers activated. Natsumi's "date" is with Koyuki-chan, and the two are going shopping. Koyuki senses Giroro and throws a series of shuriken his direction, only to be chastised by Natsumi for not being normal. Giroro thinks he should be relieved that it is only Koyuki, but he can't help but continue to tail them as they board the train. Naturally, Keroro and Tamama follow as Giroro's jealousy gets higher and higher as he watches Koyuki so close to Natsumi.

They reach their destination with Natsumi wanting to check out a local eatery for its parfait. Koyuki misunderstands this as "climb and fly" and starts walking up the side of the building. Koyuki gets chastised again. Inside the restaurant, Koyuki is impressed by all she sees, including the desert. Tamama wants a parfait as well, so the trio don human suits to enter the establishment and have deserts. Giroro continues to be in a jealous fury which triggers Koyuki's senses. She again throws several shuriken at the source of the feeling before leaping to the ceiling. Natsumi forbids Koyuki from throwing more shuriken or clinging to ceilings for the rest of the day and Tamama doesn't get to eat a parfait.

Natsumi and Koyuki go shopping where Koyuki continues to have troubles acting normal. As such, as Natsumi tries on clothing, Koyuki is able to try on seven at once thanks to her ninja skills. Koyuki and Natsumi take a boat ride, still tailed by Keroro and company. However, when Keroro gets sea sick, they lose the couple. At the end of the day, Natsumi buys Koyuki a bracelet, which Koyuki treasures. Koyuki leaves via a ninja kite as Keroro and company try to find them. As they talk, they are found by Natsumi, who is not happy at having been followed. Meanwhile back home, Koyuki is bothered that her ninja skills may be fading, but Dororo reminds her she wants to be more normal and thus she has no worries. This makes Koyuki happy.

Thoughts/Review: I wasn't that taken with the first story, which was little more than an excuse to show a parody of Japanese TV programs. I was amused when Keroro's seiyuu, WATANABE Kumiko, played the space alien version of herself. ^_^

For the story with Koyuki and Natsumi's "date," I laughed when Natsumi forbade Koyuki from using her shurikens in public. I also laughed when I saw how Keroro was positioned on the train to observe Koyuki and Natsumi. While it didn't make me laugh, seeing the latest human suits by Keroro and company was still amusing.

So one "meh" story and one amusing story.

Negima! Chapter 225 SPOILER Images

What you see are the original-sized, sneak-peek images as posted on a short-lived Japanese page (click pic to make bigger, y'all). Looks like chapter 225 will be a fun one! For a SPOILER summary and my thoughts on chapter 225, click here!

Thanks to Hjgmosyd and Hata for the share. ^_^

Macross Frontier 22

マクロスF Episode 22
Macross F Ep. 22
Macross Frontier Anime

SPOILER Summary/Synopsis: Leon chats with Grace about Ranka's and Brera's surprise departure after which Leon receives a report that Frontier only has three more months left based on current conditions. Meanwhile, Luca, Alto, and another SMS pilot test the new VF-171EX fighter and the MDE warheads that use fold-ore to kill Vajra. Since they are employing a fold-wave suppression field of a 100KM radius, the can prevent the Vajra from reporting on these new weapons and thus adapting to them. Luca and Alto are determined to defeat the Vajra.

Sheryl, now managed by Elmo, sings a charity event that is broadcast around Frontier. The bridge girls see this and note how she seems different and better than before. After Sheryl sings, she's summoned to see the new president. Luca gives her the information which states that she has the V-type virus and basically is going to die. Sheryl doesn't react to the news in a negative way, so Luca reveals that her singing uses fold-waves, similar to what Ranka's did, only weaker. They suspect that Sheryl's earrings cause the fold-waves to be amplified though, so Leon asks Sheryl to take the traitor Ranka's place.

Bobby finds Ozama and Cathy in the ruins on Frontier and gets them safely back to Macross Quarter. Canaria hands Ozama a letter from Ranka, confirming Ranka has made her own decisions. Cathy and Ozama report to the captain the truth behind Leon's ascendance to the presidency. Captain Wilder informs them that he has received an unofficial communication from Bilrer that the SMS will be absorbed into the NUNS as an official military unit. Elsewhere on the ship, Klan talks with Alto about him not making the same mistake with Sheryl that she and Micheal made with each other.

Shery is driven back to Saotome estate and is surprised to find Alto there waiting for her. She collapses and is put into bed. Back on Macross Quarter, Cathy and Ozama send a message to the SMS staff to find out whom their allies and enemies are. Alto gets the message and checks on Sheryl. He tells her she doesn't have to sing but is surprised when she cries and tells him that singing is all she has and is the proof to show she lived. So, he decides that he will stay with her to the end. She asks him for some courage and as the camera pulls away, it appears that Alto kisses her.

In space, Ranka is taking a space walk and points out to Brera the direction they need to go to Ai-kun's home world. Back on Frontier, Leon has sent troops to where Grace has been hiding and have a message for her -- there can be only one ruler of the galaxy. Grace agrees to this as the troops open fire. At the same time, Leon gives a speech to rouse the people on Frontier to completely annihilate the Frontier.

On Macross Quarter, 70% of the SMS staff have reported for duty based on Cathy and Ozama's e-mail. Captain Wilder has stated that since they cannot serve President Leon Mishima's administration, they have one path open to them -- piracy. Their first act of piracy is to commandeer the Macross Quarter. They launch with their air wing on standby. Leon is informed by this at the end of his speech; he expected this to happen. Sheryl begins to sing after the speech as the NUNS 4th squadron launches to intercept. Klan, in normal form, salutes the Macross Quarter as it leaves Frontier.

In the 4th squadron, both Alto and Luca are flying in their new fighters and order Macross Quarter to stop. Captain Wilder is not impressed with their new toys, so Ozama leads his squadron out to protect the Macross Quarter until it can fold out. During the fight, Ozama and Alto talk. Alto cannot understand this act of betrayal on the part of his former comrades. Ozama tells Alto that he's making a choice, just as Ranka made hers. Ozama's choice is the one he feels will allow him to protect the women he loves. Alto is angry by this but his squadron is disabled by Ozama's, allowing the Macross Quarter to escape.

Ranka has lead Brera to the Vajra home world. Grace discovers this and is ecstatic, having slaughters all of Leon's soldiers sent to kill her.

Thoughts/Review: Wow. I didn't expect for the Macross Quarter to become a pirate ship, nor did I expect Alto to not join them. I could understand Luca since he'd been working with Leon. I wonder why Klan did not join them. Clearly, she's not an enemy as she saluted the ship when it left. I suppose she could be a mole left behind to report on the activities of Macross Frontier to the Macross Quarter.

So, if Macross Quarter is now a pirate ship, what do they do as pirates? I can't imagine they would be traditional pirates, but maybe they are information pirates to rally other colony ships or the Zentradi to oppose Leon.

So, with Alto appearing to have kissed Sheryl, does this mean he's made a choice finally? I'm not sure. Since Ranka has made her choice to leave with Brera to help Ai-kun, she seems much stronger to me as a person. So, even if she returns to find Alto coupled with Sheryl, it won't be the devastating blow it was earlier. I still believe that the resolution in the end will be Sheryl and Ranka together singing whatever song.

I'm glad that Elmo is now Sheryl's manager. It just seems like justice and as my friend Taco's Rule often says, "karma." After having been screwed out of Ranka, he now has a verified star.

An interesting episode to be sure. Some nice action and nice story progression with unexpected (but good) twists.

Space Battleship Yamato 15

Uchuu Senkan Yamato Episode 15
宇宙戦艦ヤマト Ep. 15 (TV, Anime)

SPOILER Summary/Synopsis: Yuki is acting as coffee wench, leading Daisuke to make a remark about her coffee's taste. A lot of the other crew seem to celebrate her coffee, but then Yuki realizes they are having fun with her and she gets annoyed. Meanwhile on planet Balan, Domel arrives and takes command of the base from Gale, who's not happy about it. Domel heads to the commander's office and proceeds to destroy all of Gale's paintings, liquor, etc., telling Gale to replace all the furniture in the office. Then he orders the fleet to undertake a military exercise in the 4th dimension at sector 6.

Back on Yamato, Susumu and his pilots are working on their planes when they notice something not right with Yamato. Susumu rushes to the bridge to confront Daisuke, who's not responsible for the ship slowing down. It turns out the ship appears to be in a hydrogen cloud known as the Magellanic Stream. Their Wave-Motion engines are not functioning, so Yamato is left with their sub-engines. They soon detect a Gamilus destroyer and naturally Susumu wants to go on the attack. Daisuke advises that they run since the area of space they are currently in is too much of an unknown factor. This irritates Susumu.

Captain Okita goes with Daisuke's suggestion and orders a retreat as Domel orders the destroyer to distract Yamato. Seeing that the Yamato is fleeing, Domel assumes that its captain has realized that there is a fleet coming and thus is leaving the 4th dimension. However, Domel notices that the Yamato is acting strangely and thus realizes that Yamato doesn't know how to properly navigate this 4th dimension space. His fleet closes the distance and opens fire with Yamto returning fire while attempting to escape. However, Yamato's power levels fail and its instruments go out. At that moment, the female leader of Iscandar (Starsha) contacts them and tells them to escape with the dimensional compass. With that, power is restored and Yamato escapes the hydrogen cloud before warping away.

Thoughts/Review: Poor Yuki, the all-purpose babe. She's so smart sometimes but at others, she's so dumb. I guess serving coffee to a ship full of men will do that to a girl, especially when you are the only girl (I understand that Yuki is the only female crew person shown on the ship after episode 11). I hate to say it, but I sometimes think, "You know, she could make a fortune on the ship since she's the only female." This is due to seeing how some girls I served with at Yokota AB acted when the male to female ration was 8:1.

There were way too many shots of Susumu showing a fist to Daisuke because of...well, whatever.

Report: The ship has slowed down.

Susumu: Daisuke! *shakes fist Daisuke*

Report: An enemy ship has shown up.

Daisuke: Lets run.

Susumu: What?! *shakes fist at Daisuke*

Captain: Yes, lets run.

Susumu: What?! *shakes fist at Daisuke*

I guess that Starsha must have activated something on board Yamato with her message. It was rather difficult for me to determine exactly what she did beyond a deus ex machina resolution to Yamato's current problem.

Domel showed why he will fail. Seriously, he comes in, takes command of the Balan base, then proceeds to destroy of of the previous commander's things as part of his assumption of command. That's quality leadership right there. I guess that also explains why the fleet from Balan couldn't hit the broadside of a barn when they tried to destroy Yamato.

Overall, the episode was rather slow and seemed filler-filled.

Keroro Gunsou 65

ケロロ軍曹 Episode 65
Sgt. Frog anime, 65
Keroro Gunsou episode 65

SPOILER Summary/Synopsis: Keroro is watching the climactic episode of Admiral Geroro when the TV signal is interrupted. Kururu produces his latest invention, the Pan Space 966 Tuner (966=Kururu) to fix the problem. However, instead of his favorite anime, they receive a broadcast about an alien criminal named 303 who's caused destruction at a lot of planets and is known to eat a ton as he makes his way to Earth. Admiral Geroro returns to the TV, but the episode is over. Keroro is frustrated by this and wonders if his video tape managed to record the broadcast. It did not. When Keroro is presented with the idea of 303 destroying Gunpla, he springs into action and founds the 7th District Division. Keroro assigns the platoon new names, including Fuyuki and sends them out (the Keron's in human suits) to investigate.

The platoon discovers that 303 is on Earth because various food joints are suddenly out of food. Fuyuki notices a plastic ring at the scene of one of the crimes. When the platoon returns home, each have found a similar plastic ring at various crime scenes. The rings are part of a Gunpla, so Keroro is the immediate suspect. He denies everything under interrogation but when Moa arrives with a bowl of katsudon, he's not hungry. However, a small alien emerges from Keroro and eats the katsudon. It is 303 so Space Police Officer Poyon-chan appears to make the arrest. Apparently, Keroro knew nothing about having been taken over by 303 nor of his actions while possessed but he is forced to pay for all the food 303 consumed.

It is Tanabata time in Japan, so Tamama and Momoka are writing their wishes on paper to be hung up. A UFO (mecha suit) crashes and a cute Keron emerges named Karara. Tamama is not happy that such a cute character is there to possibly replace him, but since Karara wants to join the platoon and Keroro has told Tamama to handle it, Tamama decides he knows just what to do. He takes Karara to the firing range and launches a Tamama Impact to show Karara what is expected of the alien. Karara is so impressed by this, Karara begins addressing Tamama as "Tama-nii" (short for Tamama-niichan). This causes Tamama to lighten up a bit and accept Karara into the platoon as a bottom-ranking soldier.

As Tamama takes Karara to various parts of the base, Karara ends up innocently destroying Keroro's Admiral Geroro tape, deleting Kururu's data on a new weapon, and destroying Giroro's favorite weapon. The three of them are furious which leads Keroro to assign Kururu to take care of the matter. As such, Kururu places Karara into a monstrous maze where Karara's fears will come to life. That fear is Karara's father. Tamama witnesses this and decides to help Karara. He learns that Karara's fears were from taking the mecha suit that belongs to Karara's father. Tamama promises that Kururu will fix the suit and gets Karara out. Kururu comes through and even makes improvements to the mecha suit. After Karara leaves, the wish Karara writes reveals Karara is a girl and that she wants to marry Tamama. Tamama can't believe this since he's only interested in Keroro.

Thoughts/Review: Now that I've watched several episodes of Space Battleship Yamato, it seems to me that the parody anime Admiral Geroro is based off of that anime. The Admiral Geroro character looks a lot like Captain Okita, only in Keron form. The ramen shop owner in this episode looked a lot like Sado-sensei from Yamato as well. Not surprising really considering that Yamato is one of the foundation titles for today's anime. Things like this is exactly why I am keen on watching classic anime titles to increase my anime education.

There is a new eye-catch with this episode, which is a nice change from the old one (Keroro on a swing now rather than emerging from the water).

As to the stories, I'm not sure what detective show may have been parodied, but it is an amusing story. I've got to make katsudon at some point. For the 2nd story, I figured Karara was a girl from the start. Kururu's "I'm pissed" moment made me laugh because we've never seen him like that. Of course even ticked, Kururu managed his trademark laugh.

So, another fun episode. The series has been hit-or-miss for me a lot of the time, but recently, I think the episodes have been pretty enjoyable.

So, More Slayers Goodness

I'm sure most everyone knows that Slayers has been given a green light for a 5th TV series (or a 2nd season of Slayers REVOLUTION, depending on how things ultimately play out since Megumi-san (Lina Inverse) has stated that there will likely be a new OP/ED for the new season).

Still, this answers one question many Slayers fans had -- why only 13 episodes were being revealed for Slayers REVOLUTION when the other TV series all had 26 episodes?

Personally, I like the idea of having 13-episode TV series providing they are well done. The previous TV series all had filler-bridges between the first 13-episodes and the second 13-episodes. While Slayers REVOLUTION certain contained some filler, I think that separating it out as a new series will make those introduction filler moments easier to swallow.

While anecdotal information from my blog stats would suggest at least a moderately strong interest in this latest Slayers adventure, I hear rumors out of Japan that the ratings have fallen off for Slayers REVOLUTION as time has gone on. Even if that is the case, apparently the sponsors feel that there's something worth creating a new season/series and I for one am glad. I've been pleased with this latest Slayers outing and hope to see a lot more.

Space Battleship Yamato 14

Uchuu Senkan Yamato Episode 14
宇宙戦艦ヤマト Ep. 14 (TV, Anime)

SPOILER Summary/Synopsis: The Yamato has been trapped within the dangerous Octopus Planetary Group for three weeks while a massive space storm prevents them from safely navigating. As such, the crew has little to do, so Daisuke and Susumu play a game of Shougi in the ship's lounge. Susumu is losing and realizing he's made a mistake, he wants a do-over, but Daisuke won't allow it. This irritates Susumu who decides to toss the game board. That angers Daisuke and the two come to blows. However, the fight is cut short as the captain summons the department heads to a meeting.

Daisuke gives a presentation of their current situation. According to the schedule that had been laid out when they left Earth, Yamato should have been at the half-way point (Planet Balan) of their journey to the Magellanic Cloud and the planet Iscandar. Unfortunately, due to the battles with the Gamilons, to say nothing of the 3-week delay within the Octopus Planetary Group, Yamato is now 60-days behind schedule and in danger of not making the round trip in time to save Earth. Daisuke believes there to be a strait within the Octopus which would allow them quick passage through. Since traveling around the Octopus Planetary Group will take another 40-days, Daisuke feels that even if they have to wait another 20-days for the storm to pass, it will still be quicker. However, Susumu forces Daisuke to concede that he's not sure such a strait even exists.

Susumu is frustrated with this waiting around and decides to take out his fighter to search for this supposed straight. Fellow fighter pilot Kato is on the hanger deck and tries to stop Susumu, but fails. Susumu launches his fighter, but the storm immediately grabs his tiny ship, slamming it into Yamato and destroying it. Susumu, Kato, and one other are summoned to the captain's Ready Room where Okita assigns Susumu the duty of cleaning the hanger as punishment. He gives Kato the same punishment for not stopping Susumu. However, when the two arrive at the hanger deck to clean it, they find it full of crew members who've also been punished with cleaning duty.

Yuki asks the captain for permission to make rice cakes for New Year's but Okita rejects the request since they only have a 2-month supply of food and no idea of when they'll be getting a resupply. Elsewhere, Daisuke is on an observation deck when Yuki joins him. Daisuke is concerned that maybe the strait he believes is out there is in fact not out there. Yuki asks him if he believes it is there and he does. As such, Yuki is sure they will find it. If Daisuke isn't confident, then they should immediately head around the Octopus Planetary Group.

The following day, the storm finally clears and an opening through the planetary group can be seen with a Gamilus ship on the other side. Since it is not a battleship, Okita refuses Susumu's request to fire the enemy vessel. Instead, he sends Susumu out on a fighter to scout for Daisuke's strait. Susumu does find a strait but when he reports his findings to Daisuke, he learns that his investigation had been sloppy, so there is no way of knowing if Yamato can make it through the passage or not. This leads to another fist fight between Daisuke and Susumu.

Yuki, having just received permission from Okita to make her rice cakes (mochi), comes upon the fighting guys and breaks it up. Since the two are supposed to be at their stations, they race to the bridge where Daisuke flies the ship through the strait. After a while, they re-enter the storm and steering the ship becomes tough, so Susumu helps Daisuke with the controls. When Yamato finally emerges on the other side, both men laugh and congratulate each other. Yuki enters the bridge with beverages and is envious of the friendships of men.

Thoughts/Review: I'm not sure if the scene showing all of the crew members cleaning the hanger deck is an indication of Captain Okita slowly losing it (remember, he didn't give the order to defend the ship against a missile attack) or just an indication of how discipline on board ship is slipping. It could be a bit of both, but I think it would be more interesting if it were the captain losing it.

I did like the tie-back to episode 13 with Susumu's dream. Continuity is a good thing. Otherwise, Susumu was an annoying loser this episode. Too bad his punishment for destroying a fighter after losing his cool was so light. He should have been clamped in irons, I tell ya!

I get a kick out of all-purpose girl Yuki. I know I've mentioned this before but every time I see her doing "this" or "that," I just chuckle. Add "cook" to her resume, y'all, though making mochi may not be that difficult.

Tsubasa: RESERVoir CHRoNiCLE Manga Vol. 18

Tsubasa: RESERVoir CHRoNiCLE Volume 18

SPOILER Summary/Synopsis: With Yuuko-san having received payment for the water (an egg, which plays a part in xxxHOLiC), she gives the group more information as to the motives behind Fei Wong Reed. Despite everything, Sakura wants to go to where the clone-Syaoran is and redeem him if possible. Fai, Kurogane, and the real-Syaoran all agree to join Sakura despite knowing that continuing their journey is exactly what Fei wants. Yuuko-san grants their request but before they leave, Sakura leaves one of her encased feathers in the water reservoir under the Tokyo Government Building so that the water and the building will be protected.

The group travels to a place called Infinity where they are engaged in a life-or-death game called "chess," but only because Syaoran, Kurogane, and Fai are "pieces" that Sakura has to play and energize with her will power. The underground game has a huge payoff and since the group had witnessed the death and destruction that clone-Syaoran had caused to a world they visited, it is Sakura's wish (backed up by the others) that if they win the the final match of the game, the winnings will go to the damaged world to help it rebuild. The people running the game are impressed with the skills of this outsider group and their leader wishes to make things more interesting. Meanwhile, Sakura struggles with her feelings over the clone-Syaoran and the real-Syaoran.

At the end of the chapter, Fai's creation Chii notifies him that the one he is running from has awakened.

Thoughts/Review: Enter goth-Sakura. Remember when she was cheerful and bright? Now she's depressed and gloomy, but very determined. Considering all she's been through and learned recently, that's not unexpected.

Still, it is fascinating to see how CLAMP turned what had been a lighthearted shounen adventure tale and turned it very, very dark and bloody. It still takes some getting used to Fai being a vampire needing to feed off of Kurogane rather than being the guy who just teased Kurogane in a lighthearted fashion. It is this dark turn that has made the manga more interesting for me as a reader.

Now that Ashura has awakened, I guess it won't be long until the group is forced to deal with that, seeing as how Fai has been fleeing King Ashura since volume 1. I look forward to reading that story because I've always wondered why Fai felt the need to flee Ashura, yet wished the sleeping, sealed monarch well when Fai left to see Yuuko-san.

Keroro Gunsou 64

ケロロ軍曹 Episode 64
Sgt. Frog anime, 64
Keroro Gunsou episode 64

SPOILER Summary/Synopsis: Fuyuki and Natsumi notice a distinct lack of clean clothes, leading Natsumi to head down to the Keron base and find out what Keroro has been doing. Because of all the rain, he has the laundry hung up in his room, which has seriously raised the humidity and he loves it. When the Nyororo is mentioned to Keroro, he gets an idea for a dryer, which he names Keroro-chan. Inside, a small Nyororo will suck all the moisture out of clean clothing without wrinkling them or harming them. However, Kururu's plan for mass production goes awry when all of the Nyororo's escape and begin pursuing the platoon.

Natsumi and Fuyuki find themselves pursued as well as the Nyororo break through door after door to get to the entire group and the moisture in their bodies. Eventually, the group finds themselves trapped in a room with a drill-rocket. Since the drill-rocket is positioned directly below Keroro's room, they launch it to escape. This causes all of the wet clothing to fall through the drill hole as the Nyororo enter. Keroro gets caught by a Nyororo and sucked dry. Giroro falls prey to them as well, after freezing up when Natsumi's bra lands on his head.

Dororo, who'd had his trauma switch activated in the previous story thanks to remembering Keroro stealing his umbrella when they were kids, is still suffering and if they don't resolve his trauma problem, he'll stay this way permanently. Kururu has created a device called the Soul Diver, which will allow Keroro, Giroro, and Tamama to enter Dororo's mind and fix what is wrong. Upon entering Dororo's head, they enter one of his memories bubbles. It is the event when Dororo (then called Zeroro) had his umbrella taken by Keroro. So to rectify the matter and make Dororo's memory a good one, Tamama launches a Tamama Impact attack at young Keroro. Thus when Dororo (Zeroro) is about to leave school and sees it is raining, he has his umbrella. Now his bad memory is a good one.

The three move from memory balloon to memory balloon with Tamama's solution being pretty much the same each time -- Tamama Impact the young Keroro to teach him a lesson. However, their efforts fail to make Dororo improve and they soon learn why. An alien parasite in Dororo's mind emerges, known as the Tiger Horse (that's the actual name in the Japanese and not a translation). This creature gives pursuit to the trio after Tamama's attack fails. If they can get weapons from Dororo's memories, those will work on the alien. Keroro finds a weapon but it is only a toy gun. Further, it is one where Keroro wrote his name on it even though it was Dororo's. Thus, Keroro has his own trauma crisis. Giroro takes charge and leads the Tiger Horse to a memory bubble wherein is Dororo's memory of a Space Cyclops. So when the Tiger Horse enters the Space Cyclops's residence, it gets eaten and Dororo is returned to normal. Only now, Keroro is suffering from trauma.

Thoughts/Review: I laughed and laughed at the complete wrongness of Keroro humping the laundry. I even showed this to Savage Piper, who's not an anime fan, and he cracked up. I had another good laugh when Giroro also ended up getting sucked dry by the Nyororo thanks to Natsumi's bra landing on his head. I did not laugh at the trauma switch joke with Dororo though. I wish they'd stop that already.

I figured the 2nd story wouldn't make me laugh since it was going to feature Dororo's trauma's. Thankfully, I was completely wrong about that. I had another good laugh at the gusto with which Tamama punished the young Keroro in Dororo's memories. I also laughed when the Tiger Horse repelled Tamama's attack with what looked to be an AT Field from Neon Genesis Evangelion. Tamama's reaction to that cracked me up as well.

So, hat's off to the writers on creating two stories that were really funny to me. ^_^

Space Battleship Yamato 13

Uchuu Senkan Yamato Episode 13
宇宙戦艦ヤマト Ep. 13 (TV, Anime)

SPOILER Summary/Synopsis: As Supreme Leader Desler relaxes in his giant indoor onsen, he receives a report that General Domel has returned from a successful military campaign at Ruby Line. Sometime later, General Domel arrives in an open vehicle, waving to the throngs of Gamilus people who are celebrating his return. Arriving at the base of the steps to where Desler waits, the crowd chants both Domel's and Desler's name. Domel climbs all of the steps where he's then given a medal by Desler. Domel informs Desler that he's aware of the Yamato situation and requests permission to take care of it. Desler laughs, remarking that he'll have to give Domel another medal for his vacation. Thus, Domel has the assignment.

Back with Yamato, the Black Tiger Squadron has engaged a squadron of Gamilus fighters. The Black Tiger's are able to defeat the Gamilus fighters. Susumu orders that the remaining, fleeing fighters not be pursued so that they can snag a damaged Gamilus fighter and its pilot. This they do which causes a big moral boost to the crew of the Yamato. Sado-sensei is tasked with examining the alien along with Analyzer. As many of the crew watch from an observation point, they are shocked to discover that a Gamilon looks to be human save for his blue skin. This enrages Susumu, who races down into the large examination room, grabs a knife, and moves to kill the frightened Gamilus fighter pilot.

In a flashback, we see Susumu as a child as the meteor bombs are just starting to hit Earth and the Earth Defense Force has been created to deal with this mysterious alien threat. Japan has not been hit by a meteor bomb, but Susumu's older brother Mamoru has entered the Earth Defense Force Academy just the same. He's now home on leave when the first meteor bomb finally hits Japan. More follow, one even causing Mt. Fuji to erupt. Mamoru is recalled to duty and in the aftermath of the devastation, Japan accelerates its construction of massive, underground cities.

Time passes and the destruction of Earth continues. Susumu's parents have completed the paperwork to move to the underground city. Susumu pays Mamoru a visit on base. Mamoru tries to encourage him to join the Earth Defense Force. Susumu isn't interested, being a pacifist. Sometime after this visit, Susumu's parents head to the bus stop to meet Susumu, who's coming home. However, a meteor bomb hits, killing them. Susumu, who's bus was delayed in a crash, sees the mushroom cloud where his parents live. Returning to the area, he only finds the remnants of his mother's dress.

Back in the present, Susumu is being restrained by fellow crew mates, and he drops the knife in tears. The Gamilus fighter pilot grabs the knife and tries to commit suicide, only to have Susumu quickly disarm him. Because the pilot is a low-ranking soldier, he doesn't have a lot of intelligence to provide the crew of Yamato. As such, Captain Okita orders the pilot to be returned to his fighter and allowed to return since Okita doesn't want to waste any more of their precious food supply on another mouth. Thus, the Gamilus pilot is returned to his fighter and given some food before he leaves.

Thoughts/Review: Enter the new sub-boss, Domel. The writers have established him to be this competent, seasoned general for whom taking care of a single ship will be like taking a vacation. How the writers continue to play him once he engages Yamato remains to be seen.

It was interesting seeing how Earth was at the start of the war with Gamilus. It was no surprise that Susumu's parents would die in an attack.

BTW, if the people of Gamilus need a radioactive environment in order to live, how was the Gamilon pilot able to survive on Yamato? Also, if a meteor bomb is radioactive, how was Susumu able to enter the area so quickly after the blast? Well, I guess I should think about things like that.

Slayers REVOLUTION 09

スレイヤーズREVOLUTION Anime episode 09

SPOILER Summary/Synopsis: As Marquis Gioconda observes the mage-tanks construction being completed, she discusses the sale of these weapons with Duclis. Outside of her massive residence, Wiser, Flan, and Zollan arrive with their prisoners while Xellos teleports away. Once inside the compound, Lina is let out of the prison wagon along with the others. She decides to have a little bit of fun with the troops that have gathered by casting a Burst Rondo to scare the heck out of them. It succeeds, causing Wiser to get upset and whack her on the head. Wiser gives orders to have Lina and company sent to the prison cell while Lina taunts the soldiers.

Xellos and Wiser report to Marquis Gioconda, who wonders why they've brought Lina and the others to her as prisoners. Wiser begins to state his reasons, but Xellos interrupts, stating Lina's true purpose in giving up -- to infiltrate Gioconda's estate and expose her plot, if there is one. Wiser denies this but Gioconda orders that Lina be beheaded. Wiser states that he cannot allow this to happen due to the orders he received from Ruvinagald. Apparently, his government is unsure about how good Gioconda's mage-tanks are and would like them to be tested against Lina. Gioconda is frustrated, but agrees to Wiser's request to help with sales.

Before leaving, Wiser asks Marquis Gioconda if she knows what happened to the medical supplies that had been destined for the doomed city of Taforashia, which had disappeared before arriving there. The marquis is offended by the statement, leading Wiser to apologize since his superiors put him up to the question. Upon leaving with Xellos, the mazoku notes that while he has a lot of secrets, he never lies. Wiser on the other hand lies with ease. Wiser plays dumb to Xellos's commentary. Regardless, Xellos needs to have Wiser out of the way for a while and causes the floor beneath Wiser to open up, Wiser falling into the darkness below.

As Lina and company snooze waiting for Pokota, Ozel makes a surprise visit to them. She has a request of them, which surprises Lina seeing as how they are enemies. Being called an enemy flusters Ozel, who's head then falls off. Thus she reveals herself to be a puppet to the shock of everyone. After Ozel gets her head back on, she requests that Lina find the vase that contains the soul of (Red Priest) Aka Houshi Rezo and destroy it. Gourry wonders how this can be if they killed Rezo previously. Lina and Zelgadiss seem to believe that it is possible since Rezo's seal on Taforashia still stands. Rezo is dead but somehow his soul remained and is in the vase.

While their conversation is going on, Pokota manages to make it into the compound and down to the prison level. He manages to take out a guard and make it into the prison but is soon confronted by Duclis after causing an explosion. During a flashback, we see the male human child Pokota talking with the male human adult Duclis about things that are being planned by Pokota's father for Taforashia, to include the legacy of Sairaag. Pokota is not happy with this but Duclis states that sometimes the wind changes. Back in the present, Pokota demands to know if Duclis has forgotten that their goal is to unseal Taforashia. Duclis claims he has not forgotten but implies the wind has changed.

Pokota and Duclis wield their "energy" swords (Duclis's being red) and battle as Ozel leads Lina and company out of their cell after hearing the sounds of an explosion. As they head through a passageway, they are met by the assassin Zuuma, who tries to take out Lina. He easily counters Lina's and Zelgadiss's attacks and manages to get to Lina to strangle here. Despite not having a sword, Gourry manages to thwart the attempt and the group is on their way again. Ozel leads them to an underground coliseum, where it is clear that humans used to have to fight monsters to the death here in front of an audience.

Marquis Gioconda is in the stands with Xellos, wielding a large sword and she vows to end them right then and there. She jumps down into the arena while Zuuma approaches them from the rear. Because Gourry is without a sword, Lina summons a golum, who creates a heavy, stone sword for Gourry before being destroyed by Zuuma. Despite the massive weight of the sword, Gourry finds he is still able to thwart Gioconda's attack. Deciding to leave her to Gourry, Lina, Zelgadiss, and Amelia square off against Zuuma, only to discover that Ozel has joined forces with Zuuma to complete her contract and thus must fight Lina and company.

Thoughts/Review: I'm not to sure I cared for that "lightsaber" battle between Duclis and Pokota. That may have been a little tribute to Star Wars by the production staff, but it just felt weird to me.

While I wasn't surprised to see that Pokota had been a human male child, I guess I was somewhat surprised that Duclis was also human. To be honest, I was thinking him to be similar to his novel character -- a "natural-born" beast-man if you will. In my mind, Duclis could have still been a (tiger) beast-man and still served Taforashia but having both he and Pokota transformed into non-human creatures makes things a bit more interesting.

Ozel's being a puppet was an interesting twist I didn't expect. So, she frees Lina and the others, but then has to fight them in the end. Question is, if Ozel is a puppet, who's the puppeteer? Why would they want the vase containing Rezo's soul destroyed? How did Rezo's soul get in there anyway, especially since he was supposedly killed after turning into the Dark Lord Ruby Eye Shabranigdu?

I have this feeling that before this story arc is completed, Gourry will be the owner of whatever sword Marquis Gioconda is wielding, especially if it is a magical sword as I suspect it is. Then again, Pokota may give Gourry a faux Sword of Light just so he can have one. That would be disappointing to me from the standpoint of how in the novels, Gourry has to obtain another magical sword.

Wiser showed himself to be quite devious, enough so that Xellos had to put him out of action for a while. It is interesting how Xellos points out that no matter what he does, he never lies while Wiser has no problem lying to get the results he wants.

While there were few laughs this episode, the current story appears to be coming to a head. I can't say that it is a particularly strong story, but it is interesting and fun just the same.

Slayers REVOLUTION 08

スレイヤーズREVOLUTION Anime episode 08

SPOILER Summary/Synopsis: Lina, Gourry, Zelgadiss, Amelia, and Pokota find their path through a valley blocked by a large building which is not on the map. Inspector Wiser shows up on an upper level of the building, stating he'd build this structure with the sole purpose of arresting Lina for the mage-tank destruction. Lina grabs Pokota to show the real culprit of these crimes, which leads to an insult-laced argument between Lina and Pokota. Wiser laughs at this show they are putting on and disappears inside. Despite knowing it is a trap, Lina and Pokota are determined to pass through the building leaving the others with no choice but to follow.

Inside the structure, Wiser is with dog-mage Flan and the cat-something Zollan along with Xellos. Wiser is amazed that Lina would go for such a trap and is grateful for Xellos's help. Since Xellos is working for Marquis Gioconda, Xellos has no problem helping Inspector Wiser. Wiser wonders why the marquis has a need for the Sword of Light, which Xellos says is a secret. Wiser understands, leading Xellos to question why Wiser is so desperate to arrest Lina. Wiser informs Xellos that if he captures Lina, it will make his standing among the ladies of the royal court go way up.

Lina and company are observed entering the building and arriving at a dead end, where Lina is unable to resist pushing the button marked, "do not push." Her group falls through the floor, much to Lina's chagrin, but they begin making their way up a passage as Xellos tells Wiser what to do in order to capture Lina and company. When Lina and company emerge through a door at the top of the passageway, they find themselves in a royal garden with Wiser dressed as a prince while Flan and Zollan are dressed as ladies. Wiser puts the moves on Lina, who seems to be getting flustered by Wiser's advances. However, when Wiser takes Lina's hand, she electrocutes him and moves on her way.

Xellos has a second strategy for Lina and after Pokota pushes the "do not push button," the group finds themselves in a snowy field. This time, Wiser is dressed as a knight who's fought long and hard and is injured. He is attended to by fellow knights Flan and Zollan. In the middle of his speech, Lina has heard enough and blasts him. So, Xellos has a third strategy. This time, Wiser dresses as a Japanese high school punk leader (banchou) with Flan and Zollan dressed as adoring Japanese high school girls. Wiser challenges Lina to a non-magical fight as men, leading him to get blasted again. Xellos remembers that Lina doesn't like slimy things (like snails), so Wiser oils himself up real good like a competition body builder while Flan and Zollan dress up as snails. They get blasted again.

As Lina and company try to move through the structure again, Wiser, Flan, and Zollan try to recover from being blasted. Xellos, who's been laughing his butt off, decides it is time to stop playing. The final "do not press" button is on the floor of the hallway Lina and company are in, so Lina stomps it, causing a piece of the floor to elevate them up to the final room where Wiser, Flan, and Zollan are. Flan and Zollan begin to hum as Wiser begins speaking of Lina's family. When Wiser mentions siblings, Lina immediately thinks of her older sister ("neechan") and freaks out. Wiser keeps up the verbal ramblings, leading Lina to submit and surrender tearfully. However, he forgot about Lina's companions, who soon end this little party.

Xellos teleports in and Lina recovers. Knowing who was behind Wiser's weird actions, Lina ends up sending some insults Xellos's way. Xellos reminds her there are some things one shouldn't say and tells Lina that he needs her to come with him quietly. If she refuses, he tells her (as he opens his eyes) that he will not hold back. Pokota asks Lina who exactly Xellos is. Zelgadiss explains that even their combined might could not defeat Xellos. Despite this, Lina states that the stronger the oppo