clairdelune's anime/manga/jdorama ramblings

Shall slowly get edited as I fill in the blanks. First I'll just make a list of stuff I've watched so far, then I'll add reviews and pictures as I go.

Updated 12/14/11.

Atashinchi no Danshi
Attention Please!
Bambino!
Binbo Danshi
Freeter, Ie wo Kau
Freeter, Ie wo Kau SP
Gokusen
Gokusen 2
Hana Kimi
Hana Kimi SP
Hana Yori Dango
Hana Yori Dango 2
Hana Yori Dango The Movie
Hotaru no Hikari
Hotaru no Hikari 2
Ikemen Desu Ne
Kimi wa Petto
Kurosagi
Liar Game
Love Shuffle
Mei-chan no Shitsuji


Misaki Number One!!
Plot: Misaki-chan (Karina) is the number one requested host in Roppongi. However, she quits her work in the club to become a teacher for class 2-Z in a prestigious school. She soon discovers that everyone in the class are trouble students and won't even come to school! Misaki faces her students head on and shows them that it is still not late to start over and change step by step.
Cast: This is my 4th show by Karina and by this time I think I've fallen in love with her. She is *perfect* for this role (and for any other role I've seen her in!) Fujigaya's hair is odd but he still manages to be pretty, while Kitayama is, not suprisingly, super cool. Oomasa Aya is nice and still refreshing, but I was downright shocked to see Tanaka Kei here since I happen to be watching Watashi ga Renai Dekinai Riyuu (still airing) and Karina/Tanaka are the main "couple" on that show. Toda Keiko's (vice-president) overacting in the beginning is rather annoying but that dies out fast and she becomes normal.
Commentary: For the first few episodes I was in complete shock that the plot is exactly the same as Gokusen, changed yakuza to cabaret club. But I got over it fast. Misaki is a lot more pleasing to the eye, considering that this is an elite school and the production is almost 10 years later. (I never did like Yankumi's stupid track suit. Gorgeous Karina is even more gorgeous in all her fun outfits in every episode!) Misaki is a LOT less preaching. The time given to all of the characters was very adequate, I found the pacing of this show to be perfect. I was expecting a Misaki/Kazuma romance, but that didn't happen. The music was very good. The ending was MUCH more satisfactory than Gokusen. I would say this show is a tie with Gokusen 1, but definitely better than 2 or 3. If you like this type of show, I think you will love this one! I know I did.
Also see: Gokusen.

Moyashimon



Natsu no Koi wa Niji-iro ni Kagayaku
Plot: Taiga (Jun) is a fail second-generation actor floating along in life, when he randomly meets Kitamura (Yuko) and out of nowhere falls in love. Destiny brings them together as co-workers but will Kitamura leave her life as a single mother and accept a new love?
Cast: I just watched it for Jun. Yuko was okay but I was more interested in Kiritani Mirei, she really shined. I finally began to like her from this dorama. As far as Jun goes, far from his best work. I thought his acting was stale, honestly. Why do they always give him the same role? Stop being so awkward! But at least his hair was pretty.
Commentary: It was a light romance dorama. I've been searching for proper romance (not comedy, not daily life, just focused on romance!) doramas and this one definitely fit the bill! It was better than I expected, but not great. It wasn't bad, just... Normal. The type of dorama you watch once and then forget. But don't get me wrong, the watching was nice! I will never say no to Jun in a romance dorama. I just don't care as much for older-woman love interest, not my thing.
Also this must have its own point: Love Rainbow <3 I actually didn't know that song was a single from this dorama much after Beautiful World came out... And I loved the song before I knew this dorama, but it was lovely to hear it every ep!
Also see: Hana Yori Dango for what Jun is capable of, Kimi wa Petto for what Jun is capable of, Kimi ni Todoke movie for more Mirei-chan, Tatta Hitotsu no Koi for more watch-once-type romance.

Nobuta wo Produce
Nodame Cantabile
Nodame Cantabile Special
Nodame Cantabile The Movie
Proposal Daisakusen
Ryusei no Kizuna


Seigi no Mikata
Plot: High schooler Youko is the only person who knows of the secret evil of her beautiful and smart older sister Makiko. While Makiko gets everything she wants in life, by making Youko work like a slave for her, Youko has her own problems to deal with. A highly amusing pair creates a lot of interesting action that always ends up in a surprising way.
Cast: Yamada Yu is perfect as always. Not one of Mukai Osamu's best roles, his character is boring (too nice!) but he does well.
Commentary: I simply loved the evil Makiko and everything she did. She's really a person you can learn from! As far as comedy goes, the show definitely delivers. Romance, well, it's treated as a tool for humor. Youko's own story was greatly ignored (about 3-5 mins each ep) and I felt like it could have developed more but well, I guess, time constraints. (Update:) After a while I realized this is actually one of my favorite doramas. I rewatched it again and again and I just love the entire cast (especially Makiko) too much. Even the music is now enough to make me smile :) This dorama is marvelous!
Also see: Binbo Danshi for more Yu-comedy, Atashinchi no Danshi if you're in love with Mukai, Hotaru no Hikari because it is awesome and funny.

Sekai no Chuushin de Ai wo Sakebu


Stand Up!!
I just have to write a review for this since it's the most underrated show ever.
Plot: 4 friends (Nino, Yamapi, Oguri Shun, Narimiya Hiroki) are the last remaining virgins in their high school. As they constantly work to remedy that situation, they fall in and out of love, grow up a bit, and basically do hilarious things every day.
Cast: This dorama has an amazing cast, although everyone is so young, but all so very good! The main 4 fit their roles SO well, and make an amazing group. This was the first show I saw Nino and Yamapi in, and the reason I began liking Nino at all. (Now, I love him, and for me this is one of his best works ever) I also met Becky with this show, she's great too.
Commentary: One of the best doramas. I don't know, in a way, the style of it is so reminiscent of my hometown, that similarity is lovely to me. The main cast are fabulous. It is SO funny. Do not listen to the people who think this show is creepy because it's technically about sex, it's more about their ridiculous attempts, which are incredibly amusing to watch. Not just the main 4, but the entire town in this show is hilarious. Also I disagree that the end was back to square one. It was sweet and many things change. It's a bit slow to progress but the reward is not the end result, it's the journey.
Also see: Anything by Nino, Nothing Else by Yamapi, Everything by Oguri Shun. (yes I am biased but it is true)

Tatta Hitotsu no Koi
Yamada Tarou Monogatari
Yamato Nadeshiko Shichi Henge
Zenkai Girl
Zettai Kareshi

Mid-mid-season update favorites list and unbelievably short comments:

1- Hanasaku Iroha: (eps seen: 5) When thou can't have highschool shoujo, thou shalt have slice-of-life shoujo. Ohana, your hair is cute. I think my favorite character is Kyou-chan :D I just feel for the guy. I hope Ohana comes to her senses. Also I couldn't care less about Minchi, OhanaxTohru <3 Well I mean she doesn't seem to be returning to Tokyo any time soon and I want my shoujoness.. Anyway this anime is gorgeous, calm, and incredibly summery, and hence it's perfect for this season. I love it! (don't you just love my short comments, imagine the long ones!)

2- Kaiji: (eps seen: 4) In theory I don't love Kaiji at all, I think Kaiji is like a fail version of Liar Game. SHIKASHI. The episodes seem to end so fast and I'm left crying for more, so I guess it deserves its place. I mean I do like it a lot, it's just that this is the one thing in my top 5 list I don't fangirl at all about :D

3- Steins;Gate: (eps seen: 4) MAMORU SAMA. It's unbelievable but day after day I love you more <3 Ugh I'm even getting used to Hanazawa a bit. I actually enjoy it a lot more now than I did just the first ep or so. I love Hououin Kyouma-chan <3 I love how good Mamoru does it. I love his voice when he always says hakaa instead of hakkaa. I love how he says "hyuman iz deddo". I LOVE his intonation when he keeps saying Christina. (kurisu is my second fave char btw. third is the trap just cuz, well kobayashi-san :D this is such a seiyuu perfet anime) I hope it doesn't get super boring fail ending like Occult Academy, Level E, Fractale.. or even Star Driver. Well, as long as Mamo-chan keeps saying Christina I'll probably be amused enough to keep watching.

4- Ao no Exorcist: (eps seen: 3.. what?? where's more??) THIS ANIME WOULD HAVE BEEN *PERFECT* IF THEY HAD CAST MAMORU-SAMA AS OKARIN. Oh I mean Okamura Rin. Sorry >.> How does that name mix even happen, seriously? Jeez. So, at least we have Jun-chan, who I only know as Lelouch and Kei so to me he sounds nothing like Jun-chan. AND NESSA. God I need to erase Nessa from my mind somehow. Muzukashiiiii. The odd part is I liked so many of her previous characters like Kobato and Tsukimi. But her squeakiness was SO EXTREME as Nessa, I mean I don't even dislike Nessa as a character but the voice is so shrill oh god. Well, since they're forcing her on me in everything I watch I'm getting re-used to it. But WHATEVER HAPPENED TO HORIE YUI? She would've been so perfect for half of the Hanazawa roles. Esp for Mayuri, I think she should've been Yui-chan instead. ANYWAY. Ao no Exorcist has gorgeous visuals, just beautiful. Except for the monsters which are super ugly, but well drawn. And it's sooo shounen. What I fangirl about the most though is the music. I love the opening. BUT I LOOOOOOVE THE ENDING.

I love you beautiful ending <3

5- Maria Holic Alive: (eps seen: 3... sad) Mariya sees Okurin's bet and raises with:

Omg I hadn't even watched the first ep's opening but seeing this... I lol'd for AGES. It was especially hilarious with Commie's ridiculous subbing and the whole mecha-ness :D I thought it was just a crack song and not the real opening lol.
OMG LOL I don't remember this one:

OH GOD I love all of them so much. This one is a different level of epic. But then there is the Zetsuboushita oneeeeeee:

OHHH apparently there is an episode 4. I will watch soon yaay!
BUT I LOVE THESE OPENINGS SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO MUCH. Hahahahahahahahaha. I know some people were complaining that first season's op was much better but seriously??? No way can anything beat these epic muscular videos.
Also I love SHAFT so much <3

6- Moshidora: (eps seen: 5) Lol I just watched all of them a few hours ago. Moshidora is so... Mid-level JC Staff type anime. It's pretty boring but just enough force to get you to actually watch it! Which I'm totally fine with, cool dinner anime. It feels soooo JC Staff. The eyes being tilted inwards is super annoying, Nessa AGAIN, her green eyes look CREEPY, (i mean come on u have to have a black iris, you monster) people having same color eyes and hair, and it would have been so much more interesting if everyone had JUST a bit more character and a better seiyuu and it actually had color instead of being so washed out and someone actually bothered to really draw anything and the main guy was a bit cooler and the freckles disappeared from the face of the earth.
But yeah other than that it's pretty OK.

Aaaaaaaaaaaand I can't write for the rest as now that I looked I haven't even watched the second episode of anything else. C and Deadman Wonderland have been waiting to be watched for ages, but I've been rather rewatch KimiTodo-ing :D I'll get around to them one day! Probably by the mid-season update. But I really love the list here <3 I love this season! Happy Merve.

I have watched all of the following:
Steins;Gate
Kaiji 2
Hanasaku Iroha
Maria Holic Alive

And first episodes of the following:
C
Deadman Wonderland
Ao no Exorcist
Ore-tachi ni Tsubasa wa Nai
Hoshizora e Kakaru Hashi
Hidan no Aria

And currently my favorite list is as follows (the top 4 are obvious eh?)

1- Kaiji 2
2- Hanasaku Iroha
3- Steins;Gate (this is such a close call but...)
4- Maria Holic Alive (i'm sorry it's just mamoru-sama..)
5- Ao no Exorcist
6- C
7- Deadman Wonderland
8- Hoshizora e Kakaru Hashi
9- Hidan no Aria
10- Ore-tachi ni Tsubasa wa Nai

For the record, I expected this list to go as follows (before watching)

1- C
2- Kaiji 2
3- Steins;Gate
4- Maria Holic Alive
5- Hanasaku Iroha
6- Ao no Exorcist
7- Hidan no Aria
8- Deadman Wonderland
9- Hoshizora e Kakaru Hashi
10- Ore-tachi ni Tsubasa wa Nai

So yeah Ore-tachi ni Tsubasa wa Nai was doomed to begin with. And it was even worse than I expected.

While I'm at it, let's score things too: (scores are out of 10.. duh)

[9.0] Kaiji 2
[9.0] Hanasaku Iroha
[8.5] Steins;Gate
[8.5] Maria Holic Alive
[8.0] Ao no Exorcist
[7.8] C
[7.5] Deadman Wonderland
[6.0] Hoshizora e Kakaru Hashi
[4.5] Hidan no Aria
[4.0] Ore-tachi ni Tsubasa wa Nai

Yay for short and easy posts.
I like how I watched exactly 10 anime. Makes for nice lists.

So after the super long anime hiatus I've decided to begin checking out the new anime. So I'm going to make a looong list of the ones I am willing to spend first episode time on.

I'm watching Steins Gate first as I was spoiled (:|) about my love Miyano-sama's existence there. So it has moved to the top of the priority list.

Yes, I love him. Deal.

C (looks possibly interesting)
Deadman Wonderland (looks possibly pretty)
Electromagnetic Wave Woman & Adolescent Man (looks stupid! yay~)
Steins;Gate (uhhh mamoru miyano)
Tea for Universe, Tea for Life (tea!)
Moshidora (cuz it sounds like toradora)
Kaiji S2 (kaiji)
Blue Exorcist (looks prettyish and blue. hope it won't be another tegami bachi (that was also pretty and blue))
Hanasaku Iroha (looks kinda boring buut pretty!)
Maria Holic 2 (just for the record)
A Bridge to the Starry Skies (because i must make up for the lack of shoujo with harem instead)
Under the Innocent Sky (uhh same reason as above. even the name??? even the hair!!! lol omg even the stance. everything about these two looks the same except one is warm and one is cool)
Abnormal Physiology Seminar (uhhh to see just how ridiculous this is)
Health & Phys Ed for 30 year-olds (same as above :D)

I'll add more only if I see other people are reeeeeeeeeeeeally interested in them.

I don't know who is putting up these Chinese translations but it's time to redo Kimi ni Todoke!! Honestly, I don't understand anything from the recent chapters. I think even I could do better.

So I will. Eventually.