Azure Flame Reloaded

Naruto: Flashback Chronicles
Even though I do not watch it myself, it has come to my attention via those that do that Naruto Shippuden is more flashback-laden than the average episode of Gundam Seed Destiny. It is clear, therefore, that the time has come for the series to move to the next stage- in which it abandons all pretence at moving the story and instead dedicates itself to becoming the “Flashback Chronicles”. Here’s how things will work in the new regime.

• Each episode must begin with a 5-8 minute recap of the previous episode, and also conclude with a recap of the episode in case anyone forgets what happened.
• Flashbacks of each scene from varying points of view (i.e. negligibly different camera angles) will be heavily used. Continue Reading »

We begin with a Flashback Mode, in which Chishiki no Guuji works on turning Kazane evil.

Kazane: Why am I all alone?

Chishiki no Guuji: You are a mere rejected main character idea, pushed aside in favour of Abe no Seimei and his family. Your mother disappeared and your father died, but because it was the wrong way round, they claimed your rightful place as lead!

Whilst Taiin uses Tornado to take Masahiro’s party to Izumo, Seimei stays at home to write.

(Seimei: I’m going to write to the director, the producer and everyone else to complain about how I never got to become the main character! If they don’t listen, I’ll refuse to sign a contract for any more seasons!) Continue Reading »

In ancient China, there exists an artefact of great power that could change the fate of a nation- the Sovereign’s Seal. Sun Ce, leader of the kingdom of Wu, decides to pursue the seal, hoping that it will tip the balance of his war with the rival kingdom of Wei. But using the Seal comes with a cost, and it falls to Lu Xun, protégée of the legendary Zhuge Liang, to fulfil his family’s duty of protecting it. Continue Reading »

School Rumble Sangakki
According to its official site, a third season of School Rumble has been given the go-ahead, with two episodes of this new “Third Term” to be released with the first editions of manga volumes 21-22 (we assume there will be more to the series than these two episodes).
Entertainment correspondent Aria: Punyu. [Here at Azure Flame, we had serious issues with the basic crappiness of the second season, and having read ahead in the manga and found little of interest, we no longer care enough about School Rumble to watch it.] Continue Reading »

Sometimes I just can’t help being evil; telling children about the slaughterhouse whilst they’re playing Harvest Moon, persuading them that complete Iliana rings can just be mined straight out of the earth, arguing that Albel is HARD GAY for Fayt- is there nothing I won’t do? Then again, sometimes interesting things spring from my madness- for example, my sister has taken a liking to the nickname “Pink Supervisor”.

Reviewed this week: Aria the Origination 9, Clannad 19, Kaiji 21-2, Minami-ke Okawari 8-9, Mnemosyne 2, Mokke 16-18, SaiMono II 37, Shigofumi 9, Shounen Onmyouji 23, Spice and Wolf 9

…and in manga: Busou Renkin 1-37, Chokotto Sister 58, Claymore 78, Elfen Lied 83, HxH 271, Moyashimon 2, Tsubasa 184

Continue Reading »

Disclaimer: whilst all true in their own way, the opinions expressed in this article are not meant to be taken too seriously.

If anyone asks me (and why they would do so still eludes me), I will freely admit that I enjoy RPGs- ever since the days when I was a slave to the Final Fantasy franchise, they have been the lifeblood of my gaming experience. And yet, when playing, I cannot help but sometimes lament to myself that actually, I don’t like the particular part of the game that I’m on. I’m sure that many of you feel the same way, and so let us analyse just what there might not be to like about wandering from village to village, watching cutscenes, trekking through dungeons and fighting monsters along the way.

Continue Reading »

When a strange impulse compels Prince Arren to kill his father, he finds himself fleeing for his life, unable to trust even himself. Through a chance meeting with the wizard Ged, however, Arren finds himself drawn into a whole new series of events- one that must inevitably end in a confrontation with the ambitious mage known as Cob.

With the directorial reins of this Ghibli film having been handed from the legendary Hayao Miyazaki to his son Goro, Tales of Earthsea was always going to be a film that attracted much comment and scrutiny, but for me it was something I could never really be bothered to watch- until the day family members unexpectedly came home with the DVD. By this late stage in the game, I was already aware of the mixed reviews the film had accrued elsewhere, but how would it fare on the Azure Flame “400 anime” scale? Continue Reading »

Welcome to a brand new parody series, set in a world where everyone is out for some HARD GAY- and they don’t just want the normal kind, they like it as kinky as it can get. But who will get the most- big brother Ryou, main character Shin, or dual-personality shota Jun? Read on to find out…or not.

Episodes 1-3

“I really thought you were better endowed than this.” Continue Reading »

Simoun DS
As we’ve seen recently, there’s a game for everything, but that doesn’t mean that we don’t have room for more. One significant omission is a Simoun game for DS, a combination of dating sim and action game. You take on the role of a young sibylla who has just been assigned to Chor Tempest; off-duty you can chat to your fellow sibylla and try to build up relationship points with them, and then when the time comes for battle, you and your chosen pair can take to the skies. Your relationship score will affect your stamina in battle, whilst special Ri Maajon moves can be drawn with the stylus, unleashing the true power of the Simoun! Does anyone have the drawing power to manage the legendary Emerald Ri Maajon? Find out when Simoun DS hits the streets! Continue Reading »

In the country of Simulacrum, gender is not something you are born with- instead you must choose it by visiting the Spring in your seventeenth year. For those who have not yet chosen, however, a sacred duty awaits- the chance to become a sibylla and ‘pray to the sky’ within the vehicle known as a Simoun. But Simulacrum is also at war with its neighbouring countries, and under these conditions, flying the Simoun is less a holy task than it is a form of aerial combat. With the fate of their nation in their hands, how will the young sibyllae cope with the burden of their duty?

Continue Reading »