As a game, Disgaea and its sequel were great fun, but the less said about that awful anime adaptation, the better. With that in mind, I didn’t have a great deal of interest in the series’ manga incarnation, but given that my brother did, I decided not to pass up the opportunity to do a bit of free reading of his books.

So far, three Disgaea manga volumes have been released in English- a one-off for the original Disgaea game, and two volumes of the ongoing Disgaea 2 series. Each series is handled by a different mangaka, but both have that somewhat inferior “cash-in adaptation done by an inexperienced artist” feel. Nonetheless, for real fans of the series, there may be some worth in them.

Disgaea
A single volume, Disgaea covers Laharl’s quest to become Overlord after his two year nap, concluding with the visit to Celestia from the later chapters of the game, and happily missing out the whole Captain Gordon and Earth scenario that never really sat well with the game. A few other things have been missed out, but overall the story is still coherent, and unlike the anime, the humour hasn’t been dumbed down to two year old level. The jokes won’t have you splitting your sides with laughter (especially if you’ve already encountered them in the game), but they’re decent enough, and will certainly satisfy younger readers and major Disgaea fans.

Visually, Disgaea isn’t as bad as you might expect- generic tone is liberally applied and backgrounds are pretty much nonexistent, but the characters have had some effort put into them. Whilst the designs lack the polish and sharpness of their game counterparts, the ‘shoujo’ soft, wavy hair style isn’t too bad- Laharl never looks quite right, but Etna is oddly attractive in her new form.

Disgaea 2
Unlike its predecessor, Disgaea 2 is an ongoing series, with two volumes published so far, but at least several more to come. Like the game, each chapter (or ‘episode’ as they are counter-intuitively named) ends with a humorous preview of what’s coming next, and for the most part, the series is basically a paper summary of the game’s cut scenes. The only exceptions to this rule are the first few chapters, which attempt to bridge the gap between the two games by explaining how Etna left Laharl and became a Demon Lord/Beauty Queen in her own right. As new material, this is really the best part of the manga so far- everything else is just recap for anyone who’s played the game (and I can’t see anyone who hasn’t reaching for this manga adaptation in a hurry).

With the content not being a great draw, then, it is also disappointing to reveal that the artwork doesn’t bring much to the table either. Where the original Disgaea wasn’t too bad, Disgaea 2’s artwork seems a lot weaker, with an almost caricature style used for characters, and backgrounds just as nonexistent as before. One thing’s for certain- no one will be picking up this series for the eye candy, because you’ll get a much better experience from just looking at artwork from the original game.

Final Thoughts
It’s hard to see that there’s anyone to really recommend this manga to- Disgaea fanboys will buy this regardless of quality of content, but as far as everyone else goes, there’s not much point in investing in it. It might be a good option for getting younger readers into manga, but for more mature manga fans there are a wealth of series to spend time on before they even need to think of resorting to this.

Hello and welcome to another edition of Sunday News Bites! This week we are joined in the newsroom by Nozomu Itoshiki from Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei, who claims that Azure Flame has left him in despair! Let’s see if we can dissuade him from suicide attempts long enough to comment on the week’s news.

Not quite Sayonara for the hopeless sensei
Did the fact that Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei was a mere twelve episodes long leave you in despair? Then never fear, because come the start of 2008, a second season will be coming our way, promising more insanity and bleak humour from the depressive teacher and his class of misfits.Sensei says: Anime producers know that a second season is cheaper and easier than coming up with something new and exciting from scratch! This culture of sequels has left me in despair!

New manga- Shiki
Shiki, a novel series from Fuyumi Ono (author of the Twelve Kingdoms and Ghost Hunt novels) is set to follow its brethren into the realm of manga adaptations courtesy of mangaka Ryu Fujisaki. A fantasy/horror series about an isolated village whose population mysteriously starts dying, Shiki’s manga incarnation will begin in the January 2008 edition of Jump Square magazine.
Sensei says: This blatant attempt to squeeze more money out of consumers by adapting the same story across different mediums leaves me in despair! Never mind that my anime is near identical to the original manga!

Lay-off hell: the apocalypse is coming
In recent weeks, both FUNimation and (more infamously) Geneon have laid off employees, but now ADV joins them in laying off 13 of its 100 or so employees (although admittedly a few new staff members have been brought on board). These changes are supposed to reflect ADV’s priorities, but without further details, we can’t say exactly what they are prioritising and why. Note, however, that these numbers do not include freelance workers such as voice actors.
Sensei says: You work hard and then get laid off by the big bosses! This capitalist culture leaves me in despair!

Too loli for TV?
The infamous Kodomo no Jikan already made waves when Seven Seas caved in and dropped the manga license, but now the TV version has gained notoriety after its airing was cancelled from all but two channels- a move apparently sparked by the arrest of a 54 year old elementary school vice-principal for soliciting obscene behaviour from a 16 year old girl (he is also accused of filming and photographing obscene footage of 600 other underage girls). The channels which chose not to drop KnJ aired a highly censored version of the first episode this week.
Sensei says: This teacher thinks he has problems with overly mature elementary school students, but just let him try teaching at my school!

Be the height of fashion with Bleach shoes!
Come next February, you can impress all your friends with a limited edition pair of Bleach shoes from the Viz online store! Rather than being shinigami-style sandals, these special Bleach shoes are actually a pair of trainers with shinigami symbols on them, only 360 pairs of which will be made available. This really should take the biscuit for unnecessary merchandising, however Viz have already outdone themselves by offering Naruto-themed boxer shorts.
Sensei says: The merchandising culture leaves me in despair!

Manga licenses
Media Blasters have picked up Akihabara @ DEEP, a six volume novel adaptation about the trials and tribulations of life in Akihabara, alongside Strawberry-chan no Karei na Seikatsu, a one-shot volume about a frog and her master. Meanwhile, Del Ray have picked up Toto! Wonderful Adventure, a five volume series about a boy who meets a dog wearing an experimental collar, and Haridama Magical Cram School.
Sensei says: What are all these manga anyway?

Disgaea 3 promo video
Yes, in the slow drip feed of information about the new Disgaea 3 videogame, we now have a whole video to watch- and I have to admit it looks good. Although it will be a while before I have either a PS3 or the game, I’m looking forward to it.
Sensei says: So…if I commit suicide, I will become one of those prinny things? The afterlife has left me in despair!

Hello and welcome to another edition of Sunday News Bites! Although our custom made seat nearly collapsed under Mikoto’s weight last week, we have decided to test it to the limit by wheeling in the plump President Aria.

Aria gets a third season
Aria fans, the moment we have all hoped for has come to pass- a third season, Aria the Origination, has been announced. Apparently this season has been in production since spring, and whilst no air date has been announced yet, it cannot come too soon for those of us who adore this excellent series. With plenty of manga material left and the scope for original stories too, it seems likely that this will be a sure-fire hit right out of the gate for everyone who has already been captivated by the gentle and charming world of Neo Venezia.President Aria says: PUNYU!!! [I’m so happy to be coming back for a third season, but I’d be even happier if I could win President Hime’s heart!]

Scans and Screenshots for Disgaea 3
If you’re looking forward to the third instalment in Nippon Ichi’s popular Disgaea series of SRPGs, then you’ll no doubt want to drool over these magazine scans, filled with screenshots and information about the game. At the moment, it looks both solid and promising, with some interesting new characters and probably the same brand of addictive game play that made its predecessors so popular. Sadly, for those of us without PS3s, the need to invest in a new console means we either have to go on a spending spree to get set up for the game, or go without.
President Aria says: Punyu… [I don’t think Aria Company makes enough money for me to afford a PS3, and besides, the controller always slips out of my paws when I try to play a game].

Hunter X Hunter resuming at last?
Last year, Hunter X Hunter went on brief hiatus due to the apparent illness of the mangaka- but when the months passed, it became clear that brief was no longer the operative word. Finally, however, after a wait of around eighteen months and fan petitions for its return, HxH is to resume serialisation this October. I have to admit to mixed feelings about this one- I would like to see the story wrapped up, but given the artwork quality of the current arc, I can envisage it simply getting run into the ground rather than being given the ending it deserves.
President Aria says: Punyu? [What’s this Hunter X Hunter thing anyway?]

Strategic alliance for ADV and Geneon
Well, after all the unconfirmed rumours and ‘no comments’, it’s official- ADV and Geneon have entered into what they like to call a ‘strategic alliance’. What this means is that ADV has taken over all responsibility for advertising and marketing Geneon titles, with Geneon themselves only being responsible for licensing. In effect, this moves Geneon’s role to something far more behind the scenes, and is most likely the death knell for a company that until recently counted itself among the big names in US licensing.

On the plus side, this may well mean that those pricy boxsets will be out the window in favour of cheaper thinpaks of Geneon’s back catalogue (which would see me picking up the likes of Fafner and Gungrave), but even so, it is a little sad to see them go- their DVDs may not have been the cheapest on the market, but they did have good production values.
President Aria says: Punyu!? [Does this mean Aria Company might get taken over one day?]

Chagum’s Spinning Coins

Ever wished for something a little more exciting than the sitting and talking of Seirei no Moribito? Then Chagum’s Spinning Coins is the one for you, an exciting tale based on the episode where Chagum plays the spinning coin game! Can young Chagum, a beginner at Spinning Coins, master the game and rise to the top in time for the upcoming world tournament? Can he defeat the evil forces hoping to use the power of Spinning Coins to take over the world? Tune in and find out!

FF7: E-Z of spin-offs

As we all know, Final Fantasy VII has spawned four money-making spin-offs lettered from A to D- Advent Children, Before Crisis, Crisis Core and Dirge of Cerberus. It is clear that is only the beginning of a whole A-Z of FF7 cash-ins, and here on Tuesday Rumble, we plan to document the future of franchise spin-offs.

Elena- A Life in the Turks: Play as Elena as she becomes a Turk and rises in the ranks.

Fort Condor: Remember how much you loved that Fort Condor mini-game of pain and excruciating slowness? Well, now you can play an entire game based on protecting Fort Condor from endless waves of enemies.

Gold Saucer: An entire game based around the mini-games at Gold Saucer, now expanded for additional “enjoyment”.

Hojo’s House of Horrors: Before he died, Hojo left a house filled with dangerous experiments, and when the security went down, they all escaped. In this action game, you must enter the house and put a stop to their rampage- for good.

Icicle Winter Olympics: The 2010 Winter Olympics are to be held at Icicle Village, and you can join in! Enter different events and try to score that elusive gold medal in snowboarding, skiing, ice skating and more!

Joe- Chocobo Champion: Play as Joe as you go from being a rookie in the chocobo racing world to the top man in the business.

Kalm Days: You have just bought a farm on the edge of Kalm Village, but can you make it into a thriving business?

Lucky Sevens: Play Cait Sith’s slot machine- infinitely!

Mog House II: A sequel to the popular Mog House game in Gold Saucer, feed moogles kupo nuts so that they can find their one true love! Look after generations of moogles as they learn to fly and impress prospective mates!

Nibelheim- The History: Play through the “missing” five years in Nibelheim history from the time the town was burned down to its current state.

Odin’s Sacrifice: Learn the history of Odin and how he became sealed in a materia in this tragic visual novel tale.

Priscilla’s Dolphin Training: Play as Priscilla and swim with the dolphins as you train them to perform tricks.

Quadra Slam: Play an exciting card game based on Triple Triad and Tetra Master, but for FF7!

Red XIII’s Tale: Play as Red XIII for five hundred years, ending at the final scene of the original game.

Seventh Heaven: Help make Tifa’s bar a thriving business in this game inspired by the likes of Burger Rush and Chocolatier.

Tifa’s School of Martial Arts: Pull off combos and become a martial artist in this free-roaming beat-’em-up.

Underwater Adventures: Explore the underwater world of FF7 in your submarine in this exciting game.

Vincent’s Valentines: In this alternate universe dating sim, Turks Academy Vincent must win the lovely Lucrecia’s heart before she gets stolen away by Hojo.

Wutai’s War: A tactical RPG based on the war that Godo and the others fought.

X Marks the Spot: Dig up treasures in sites of archaeological interest such as Bone Village. Make your way across the world in search of rare and elusive items buried deep beneath the surface!

Yuffie- Materia Hunter: Play as Yuffie and travel across the world in search of materia.

Zack’s Story: Play as Zack as he joins SOLDIER and tries to reach the highest ranks.

More Kenichi

Yep, that’s pretty much it.

“Do you think it’s more of an Ezo than a Liang?”

The monkeys that survived battle in Heroic Age have created their own how to fight books.

“I never thought I would witness HARD GAY with my own eyes!”

…or alternatively, be terrified of next time.

Kenichi is worried about the size of his Liang.

“I already gave him HARD GAY yesterday.”

“His Liang looked fine to me.”

“I will not rest until it is destroyed!”

“…about HARD GAY.”

“…and if you can Pleasure me, then I will pay you.”

“But if your climax is merely average…”

“…it will be the end of our relationship!”

“I’ve never seen one before!”

“The internet isn’t just about sex!”

“It isn’t?”

“Let’s play Yu-Gi-Oh!”

“I summon the Blue Eyes White Dragon!”

Random Thoughts: Prinny

This week we interview a generic prinny from Disgaea! Prinny, even though you are a downtrodden damned soul, do you feel that you got the last laugh by becoming a recurring presence in various Nippon Ichi games?

Dood, everyone loves prinnies! If only Etna didn’t keep taking our pay from all those games, we’d be rich!

What is it like, working under Etna?

It’s hell, dood! We work day and night for a pittance, and if we’re lucky, we don’t get exploded before the night of the red moon.

Do you get any of the proceeds from the sale of prinny plushies?

Plushies? Those are real prinnies, dood!

And finally, what do Celestian prinnies look like?

They’re white, dood, with feathery wings and haloes.

This Week in Anime

Mobile HORSE spreads to a new town.

Vegetables make a comeback after fruit domination.

All generics are seated together for convenience.

“Hey, are you eating an apple?”

“It’s my apple- stay away from it!”

“Fine, then- I’ll just make do with some naked men and this DOG.”

Fat cat is revealed to be an impostor after it deflates.

Ah, good old tea, which we English sup whilst visiting libraries and waltzing at balls.

Nuts begin their campaign.

HARD GAY corner: Heat Guy J

Daisuke Aurora first learned HARD GAY at the hands of his brother Shun and old man Shogun, but in later years, their busy schedules prevented them from having the time to service him. Fearful of having to rely on Hyper Self Pleasure, Daisuke took on a robotic lover, J, tuned to perfectly fulfil his every desire. Even when J became damaged or started to malfunction, Daisuke insisted that he be fixed, fearful of losing his ideal lover.\r\n

Thanks to the experience gained with J, Daisuke became the envy of many a man, and soon gained other lovers in the form of older man Edmundo, bishie mafia leader Clair Leonelli and Boma, a man with the face and appetites of a beast. Nonetheless, Daisuke still longed for the strong embrace of his brother, and was understandably upset to learn that not only was Shun the main villain, but that he had turned to STRAIGHT with his assistant Phia- at one point. In an attempt to show his brother the power of HARD GAY, Daisuke organised a group session with all of his lovers, even including J, who Shun had tried to reprogram for STRAIGHT. In the end, Shun was shown the error of his ways, but after tiring of his current lovers, Daisuke decided to leave the city in search of fresh Liangs.

OST spotlight: Avenger

Ali Project are often accused of being a one-trick pony, but this opportunity to provide the music for an entire series proved that when they want to, they can actually compose different themes. Although their gothic and borderline discordant style permeates the entire OST, there is still plenty of variety packed in, from fast and energetic tracks that wouldn’t be out of place in a platform or action game, to slower and more melancholy themes. The only real weak piece on the whole CD is the vocal track “MOTHER”, an almost painful slow and dull theme that lasts for over five minutes.

Notable tracks: Gesshoku Grand Guignol, Reinforcement of Happiness, Babylon Café, Death Becoming Unavailable, Taming the Young Woman, Puppeteer, Trompe-l”oeil labyrinth, The Season of Hell, Mirai no Eve

Mini-editorial: Tackling depression in entertainment- who should be saved?

Depression and entertainment hardly seem like comfortable bedfellows, but in the likes of NHK, we see characters who are suffering from various related problems that prevent them from interacting “normally” with society. The purpose of their inclusion may be for dark comedy or to view their salvation, but ultimately, how should it be handled in the long term? In real life, such problems may take months or even years of treatment, but the good thing about anime (or indeed any form of fiction) is that it doesn’t have to be realistic- it is far more satisfying to see the characters improve over the course of the series than to see them stuck in the same old rut.

Admittedly, I haven’t read the last few chapters yet, but NHK was a major offender in this regard, keeping its characters sequestered in misery and despair long after the humour of the situation had worn away. Similarly, Eva, whilst admittedly intended to reflect Anno’s own state of depression in the past, failed to “save” its characters, making them annoying and repetitive instead of people whose journey endears them to us.

In Your Reflection

This week we have a head-to-head between two silver-haired juveniles- .hack//SIGN’s Tsukasa and Get Backers’ Makubex. Both are trapped in a virtual world of sorts and aren’t particularly keen on the company of others, but each ends up as part of a group of friends.

Amusing Search Terms

This week on Amusing Search Terms, someone wonders “El Cazador yuri?”. Another person is more confident, and insists that “El Cazador de la Bruja is yuri”. They must be hoping to link up with the “lusty lesbians”, who were also on the hunt for “yuri romeo x Juliet”, “the yuri & friends incest english ver”, “yuri+manga+sex+incest” and “yuri incest”.

what romeo x juliet character are you: You are Benvolio, a person with so much time on their hands that they have to look up “what Romeo X Juliet character are you?”

“saiunkoku monogatari”"2″: For some reason putting the 2 in quotation marks amused me.

Koutetsu Sangokushi dub: Aren’t you getting ahead of yourself? It isn’t even licensed yet.

“utawarerumono” AND “Download”AND”Direct: Some people just want everything, don’t they?

rpg games were there is a fat ginga boy: What?

the best of gay: Is this an album, like “The Best Dance Music Ever… Part II”?

Amusing Spam

"scary movie reviews...

It can on occasion get bothersome to extract the insightful ''horror movie'' work from the dreadful...."

I agree; where do you begin?

"whether all for you well�  

� a lot of useful information, thank you to you� � �  much scorched tem here�  spam all right I went away to meeting�  

key mesage for you�  

sex group link for you"

I couldn’t follow all of this, but at least they admit it was spam.

"Rafael...

I think this post is relevant but slightly biased & I would like to see more equal information..."

That’s the last time I get Rafael to write anything for my blog.

"The resourceful thing to do is to do your statistical study efficiently...."

I agree.

"Elk and Bear Hunting Tips...

� 

We are extremely thrilled that you''ve found this webpage dealing with hunting guides...."

I’m really happy too; at last I can begin my new hobby of hunting the numerous elk and bear native to the United Kingdom.

"click here...

It is tiresome attempting to total the hours we have spent looking up fx chat room pages...."

Tell me about it.

"Best site for meeting people for sex! 

A lot of local girls need sex right here"

They do? Shame I’m not into HARD YURI, then.

Ever felt that there wasn’t enough to Chevalier? Maybe you just wanted the HARD GAY scenes to be shown onscreen? If that’s the case, then you won’t want to miss this exclusive look at the scenes that never made it into the broadcast version.

Scenes included:

• Orleans’ final HARD GAY with Broglie.
• An extended flashback about the intimate relationship Teillagory had with his son.
• A lengthier explanation as to why Robespierre suddenly had to leave this world.
• Teillagory training young d’Eon and Lia with his old antique.
• A hilarious “light” segment in which d’Eon desperately tries to avoid Anna’s pursuit through the city.
• Increased screen time and back story for Giuseppe and Lorenza.
• More convenient escapes by carriage.

Sadly, Louis and Broglie doing the deed will never be made available, due to potential audience trauma.

Disgaea: Pizza Version

Remember Pizza Shack’s Teriyaki Pizza, or that “hilarious” pizza in the face incident in the anime? With these in mind, it seems clear that Disgaea should be the latest franchise to gain a “Pizza version”.

In Disgaea-Pizza version, Prince Laharl awakens from a two-year nap to find that the pizza industry has gone to hell. Desperate to bring order back to the chaos, Laharl vows to build a pizza empire unlike any ever seen before. By recruiting new characters and their knowledge of recipes and pizza-making techniques, Laharl can build up his pizza company, participating in “pizza contest” battles along the way, in which his party must rush to assemble fast food orders before the enemy destroys all the ingredients. Lose, and game over is signalled by a pizza in the face.

Nana

“My on/off switch is there.”

“Stop resisting and just fondle my breasts!”

“Friends always do this kind of thing.”

“Maybe if we were in private, I would grope you.”

“Just do what I say, or I’ll tell everyone here that you have an Ezo!”

“It’s a proper Liang!”

“Newsflash- women don’t have Liangs in the first place.”

Random Thoughts: Ash

This week we talk to Ash from Phantom Brave! Ash, did you ever feel annoyed at being a main character who died in the first scene?

Dying is always a bummer, but when you think that it could have been the end of my career, I’m happy that I was able to accomplish so much even after my demise. I hope that this will inspire others not to give up just because they were killed off.

You can be honest here- how do you cope with Marona’s endless optimism?

I do wish she’d think of herself a bit more, but her attitude is all part of her charm. I’d say it’s because of the differences in our personalities that the two of us work so well together.

How did you come up with your battle cry?

Do you like it? I spent a while thinking it up, and I was just delighted when I got the chance to finally start using it in battle. “You’ll go no further- for her sake, I will not fail!”

How do you rank yourself against the other Nippon Ichi lead characters?

The girls are great, of course, but when it comes to the guys we have a bit of a rivalry going on. I’m pretty sure I’ve got the edge over that arrogant Laharl and heroic Adell- and as for Zetta, well, he’s a book!

And finally, what would your feelings be if a sequel to Phantom Brave was announced?

I get the feeling Nippon Ichi have told our story, and that if they made a sequel it would have new leads, but as long as I got invited back for a guest appearance I’d be happy.

This Week in Anime

The love-child of Mokona and Moo-chan is revealed.

Sharing apples is a good way to get to know someone.

Once you become a princess, HORSE is readily available.

Ray Mears offers some more survival tips.

Anime World Tour: Chrono Crusade

Welcome to the Roaring Twenties, although perhaps not quite as you read about them! If you thought it was all about Prohibition, gangland wars and dancing the Charleston, then think again, because here in the good old US of A we also have a brand new pastime- summoning demons! Anyone wishing to dabble in the demonic arts should take care, however, for these fiendish beasts have a mind of their own- be sure to bring along plenty of holy objects and sacred bullets to make sure they do your bidding. Prospective visitors are also warned to be on the lookout for a young blonde nun named Rosette Christopher, since all reports indicate that the chances of personal injury are greatly increased in her presence. Please exercise caution, but don’t be put off from visiting- after all, where else can you hear the angelic tones of Azmaria?

Mini-editorial: Pride, Depth and Entertainment, a.k.a. commenting on dorama from a safe distance

Blogging dorama comes and goes, and over the past week it has condensed around two ideas- first the question of whether we should be proud of our anime viewing, and second the Owen-inspired mess of whether anime is deep or entertaining. As part of the ongoing mission of keeping this section relevant, let’s briefly deal with them both.

First, the issue of pride- should we openly embrace our love of our hobby, or should we hide it away like the otaku losers we all are? Does the fact that anime is, as Drm calls it “a slightly better cartoon” often aimed at young people mean that we must hide our association with it away? Can one really ogle the large “melons” in the likes of Tenjho Tenge and then try to convince the acquaintances who already think that it’s all Pokemon and tentacles that you aren’t immature, perverted or both?

Personally, if someone asks me about my hobbies, I probably will mention anime- the only reason not to is because I can’t be bothered to explain what it is (yet again). I’m not going to go on about it all the time or force it down people’s throats, but if it comes up in conversation, then so be it. Of course, there are some things that still don’t seem right to be admitted in casual conversation, such as writing HARD GAY parodies or playing eroge, but ultimately, whilst losers can watch anime, watching anime cannot magically make you a loser.

And so we move onto the whole talked to death “deep or entertaining”, to which we can conclude that whilst all anime is intended to be entertaining (although you’d have to go pretty far to find someone who is genuinely entertained by Shining Tears X Wind), only a small fraction of it will ever be thought-provoking and “deep”. In the end, though, the important thing is to enjoy it- else why are you watching it?

In Your Reflection

This week we see a head-to-head between two blonde beauties- R.O.D. TV’s Michelle and Aria’s Michelle. Both are gentle, soft-spoken and optimistic, but are able to inspire the respect of everyone around them.

Fashion Police: Adell

This week, the Fashion Police are in pursuit of this individual- the main character of Disgaea 2. Everything about him seems to be a poor fashion choice- the sleeveless shirt with huge collar, the inexplicably large tie, the pointless belt, the baggy trousers, the bare shoulders, the wrist guards and the loafers- why, why, why?

Fashion sense: D-

Amusing Search Terms

Mai-Otome diaper: Mai-Otome themed diapers? Now that’s going too far.

Naisho No Count: What? Is this a manga?

tsubasa reservoir chronicle convoluted

tenitsu x suzaku: Now, now…Suzaku is clearly HARD GAY.

iroha caitsith English: When do Iroha and Cait Sith go together?

sex rumble rumble rumble: Get ready to rumble!

tsubasa broglie: Chevalier Chronicle

Animes having sex: I told you before- anime can’t have sex.

hard gay without his glasses: We don’t deal with Hard Gay here, only HARD GAY.

photobucket h-game: Right…

CLAMP Tsubasa Acid Tokyo Cover: Sometimes I wonder if CLAMP really are on acid.

harvest moon year 2007: Imagine playing Harvest Moon for 2007 game years. I’ve sworn to never play again after only 3 years.

gay dynasty warriors: Zhang He.

anime resimleri: Another “what?” is in order.

]]> http://azureflame.dasaku.net/2007/08/07/tuesday-rumble-august-7th/feed/ 4 http://azureflame.dasaku.net/2007/07/24/tuesday-rumble-july-24th/ http://azureflame.dasaku.net/2007/07/24/tuesday-rumble-july-24th/#comments Tue, 24 Jul 2007 08:43:46 +0000 Karura http://azureflame.ikimashou.net/2007/07/24/tuesday-rumble-july-24th/ emember a few months ago when Amazon recommended me a book on genetics just because I once bought Tokyo Mew Mew? Well, it’s happened again.

“We’ve noticed that customers who have expressed interest in “Tokyo Mew Mew Vol. 2: v. 2 (Tokyo Mew-Mew)” by Mia Ikumi have also ordered “Essentials of Genetic Engineering” by S.K. Jain. For this reason, you might like to know that this book is now available. You can order yours for just £51.94″

I wonder, do people who buy the same manga as me get recommendations for physics textbooks?

Soutetsu no Aquarion

Welcome to a brand new anime fusion, one that sees Soutetsu Ibaragi of Iroha take over as commander of the Aquarion team. Obsessed with finding the perfect gattai, Soutetsu invites the bishiest looking teenagers to ride on the Aquarion, but who will be worthy of “riding” with him?

Pilots

• Akidzuki: A moody teenager with the most potential. Said to be the reincarnation of a legendary samurai.
• Kanna: A HARD GAY English boy who is clearly attracted to Akidzuki.
• Kakunojo: One of the rare women on the team- she vies with Kanna for Akidzuki’s affections.
• Shiranui: Not a particularly skilled pilot despite being obsessed with Gattai.
• Ebisu: A secretive pilot with a crush on Kakunojo, provides the obligatory character death partway through the series.

El Cazador del Taco

Forget El Cazador de la Bruja, this season the one to watch is El Cazador del Taco (The Taco Hunter), an adrenalin-filled tale of action, betrayal and oh-so-delicious tacos! Following the abrupt death of Amigo Taco Manager Schneider, his adopted daughter Ellis and young delivery girl Nadie find themselves in possession of his secret recipe for Ultimate Tacos. Chased by jealous former Amigo employees and rival companies such as Rosenberg Snacks, Nadie and Ellis begin a desperate journey south, hoping to protect the secret recipe until it can be delivered safely to the new Amigo Tacos production factory.

Heroic Age

“These wide angle shots are brilliant- it means we don’t have to draw detailed characters anymore!”

“RAGING HARD-ON- Utawarerumono style!”

“I told you training monkeys for battle was a bad idea, but no, you just had to try it!”

“Monster HARD GAY!”

“Is there a battle going on, or is it just the glow of distant fireworks?”

“THIS IS SPARTA!”

“If the monkeys aren’t working, maybe it’s time to get Tom, Dick and Harry in on the action!

“Cameraman, you’re getting too close again! Pull back!”

Random Thoughts: Rin Tohsaka

This week we catch up with Rin Tohsaka of Fate/Stay Night! Rin, did you ever feel annoyed that you had to play second fiddle to an inferior character like Shirou?

We all hated it, of course- having better personalities and character designs than him, but still having to play second fiddle to his pathetic ideas of justice and women taking the back row! Still, I got my revenge in the end, although I can’t tell you the things I forced Archer in order to humiliate him.

What was your motivation behind joining Shirou’s harem?

Purely screen time- I’d do anything just to increase my exposure and thus my fanbase.

Would you mind dishing the dirt on that whole “restoring mana” scene?

Well, since you ask, let me tell you this- Saber’s muscles aren’t just for show. She can go for hours!

And finally, what are your plans for the future?

I’ve been contacted about having an important role in a project called “True Fate” (working title), but I understand the creator is busy with other things, so it’s taking a while to actually come to fruition.

This Week in Anime

Freedom- home of Cup Noodle.

Do you like Cup Noodle?

“We all love Cup Noodle!”

Victory- made possible by Cup Noodle.

Ukyo dispatches an apple on an important mission.

The animators got bored after drawing two brown dogs, and gave up before the third.

“Don’t kill me- I’m an important dog!”

“You look like a common or garden generic brown dog to me!”

“How about a lovely cup of tea?”

Beware- fruit is always watching you.

Game World Tour: Disgaea

Fancy a trip to the Netherworld? Don’t delay because you’ve convinced yourself the conditions will be hellish- we actually have plenty to offer. Make yourself at home in the comfort of Overlord’s castle, where dedicated Prinny slaves will see to your every need. Venture out in the surrounding region to enjoy picnics and day trips, with all manner of exotic wildlife to observe (note: most plant and animal life is dangerous and liable to attack, so be sure to having a working knowledge of armed combat and/or magic before going outside). See how our judicial system works by dropping in on the Dark Assembly, explore the world within an item in the Item World, or just sit back and have your injuries healed by the experts at the Netherworld Hospital (fee required).

For the rare few who find themselves dissatisfied with the service offered in the Netherworld, the Dimensional Gatekeeper offers passage to the heavenly world of Celestia and even a connection to Earth via the Stellar Graveyard.

OST spotlight: Disgaea

Tenpei Sato helps to make Disgaea what it is with his excellent soundtrack, a collection of energetic and slightly offbeat themes, from orchestral marches to an understated lullaby with just the right touch of evil. Not every track hits the mark, with Mid-Boss’s operatic stylings overstaying their welcome, but overall this soundtrack is as quirky, catchy and addictive as the game itself.

Notable tracks: Laharl-sama no Sanbika, Hell’s Whisper, Mischievous Demon’s Footfall, Hysteric Kingdom, A Dark Race Becomes Magnificent, Witch Hunting, Beautiful Round Dance, Tomo Yo, Akai Tsuki, Running Fire, Planet X

Mini-editorial: Gaming- fun or completion?

The question this week is one to be debated just for fun- when you play games, is it more about enjoying them, or playing them to completion so that you can say you’ve finished them and never touch them again? I have to admit that for me, the latter was most important for a while, and even now there are games I persevere with just for the satisfaction of knowing they are finished, but even so, the end of the “First Gaming Era”taught me that collecting and playing games just for the sake of it soon ends in disillusionment and disinterest. And after all, whilst it seems all too easy to fall into this frame of mind (especially as you are equally likely to lose interest in a game if your relationship with it drags on for too long), if you aren’t enjoying yourself, why are you spending your spare time playing games anyway?

In Your Reflection

This week we have a head-to-head between two feisty blondes- Shinku of Rozen Maiden and Rozalin from Disgaea 2. Aside from their predilection for gothloli style dark red dress, both are headstrong females who find themselves bound to the male lead via a contract, and who wish only to meet with their mysterious fathers.

Fashion Police: Cloud

Since it’s beginning to get hard to find visual resources for Arc Twilight of the Spirits, I’ve decided to move on and take a look at another fashion-starved RPG- Final Fantasy 7. First up is the lead, Cloud, and whilst he may not look too bad at first glance, there are many things we must question. Why the baggy trousers? Why the one-sided ugly tin-plate should guard? Why the lack of sleeves and pointlessly spiked gloves (they look pretty stiff, for one thing)? And most of all, why would anyone strip the dead body of their best friend and put their clothes on?

Fashion sense: D-

Amusing Search Terms

who will tenchi marry: so far, no one

romeo gay anime: He’s more into HORSE than HARD GAY, to be honest.

“SchoolMate”: ???

Asking where you can find Mai Otome Zwei: will earn you six demerits.

hard gay soldiers: That’s every soldier, then.

ROMEO AND JULIET – FREE MOVIE PICK: I pick none of them.

hard might gai otakon 2007: I don’t really recall mentioning Otakon.

man watches horse do girl: you sick pervert.

how to draw cute anime dogs: start with Potato.

bathing scene rpg: Do you really want to go to all the effort of bathing scene tilesets and sprites? Just watch a fanservice anime or something.

cross dressing anime blog: Just for the record, I don’t dress as a man.

“boss audition”: audition now and you too can be a boss!

anime blog hard: Work hard, play hard, blog hard.

bondage action figures: admit, tj, you searched for this.

rahxephon ecchi: “Would you like to see my ‘RahXephon?’”, he whispered, pulling down his trousers.

hige and blue: Bluebeard?

tenchi airship: there was an airship?

manga+cats+girls: equals manga catgirls.

Busou Renkin penis episode: although we never saw them, they were never far from the thoughts of our characters.

akane girls nude: more nudity, eh?

inspire me: why should I?

an anime that is happy: I recommend Happy McHappy’s Tale of Happiness.

beyblade hilary show breast: this is more disturbing than the other Beyblade searches.

sexy anime: “Call me Queen”.

after yaoi and yuri love: Next is…BI?

get backers gay?: Afraid so.

Disgaea 3…for PS3
First it was Laharl, then Adell- but now Disgaea fans can look forward a whole new adventure with the announcement of the third instalment in Nippon Ichi’s popular SRPG series. The only blot on the horizon for some of us is that the new game is coming out on a new console- the Playstation 3. Given that the series will be maintaining the same graphical style as the first two, there hardly seems any point putting it on a console whose processing power it doesn’t even need, but no matter how it pans out, I must play this game no matter what measures need to be taken (here’s at least hoping for a PSP version). For those who like their announcements official, here’s Nippon Ichi’s pdf on the matter; just don’t ask me what Prism Red is doing as a homeroom teacher.
Laharl says: A-hahahahaha! They’d give me a cameo in this series- or better yet, make all the new characters my vassals!

Maria-sama is still watching you…
Fans of Lillian Girls’ School, rejoice- once the current OVA series finishes its run, a fourth season will be making its way to you. Currently it is unknown as to whether this will be another OVA or a TV series, but it seems like the animated adaptation of the series is determined to cover as many of the 20+ original novels as it can. Whilst I found the two TV series to be enjoyable, this latest OVA and its fifty-minute HARD YURI episodes about strange school events hasn’t really done much for me, but even so, I feel like I must stick with the series just to see where the characters end up (and of course to find out who gets to be Yumi’s petite soeur).
Laharl says: Girls in love with other girls- boring! They need some demons there to liven things up a bit, a-hahahahaha!

ADV chooses MANLINESS, thievery and chibi-HiME
Or, to put it less cryptically, ADV have announced licenses for testosterone-filled space series Moonlight Mile, alongside Venus Versus Virus and the King of Bandit Jing OVA. Despite the lacklustre nature of the Jing TV series, I was actually planning to watch the OVA one day, although it’s certainly more of a rent once than buy title. Moonlight Mile, meanwhile, is something I stopped at the first episode with- not because I hated it, but because the projected MANLINESS and Zhuge Liangs scared me.
Laharl says: Nothing here worth waking up from a two-year nap from.

FUNimation licenses Ouran
Meanwhile, FUNiMation has its own licenses to announce, with popular high school comedy Ouran High School Host Club topping the list, alongside Tenchi spin-off Sasami Mahou Shoujo Club and Baldr Force EXE Resolution. Whilst the latter two titles hold no interest for me, I did enjoy Ouran, and will probably pick it up after I’ve caught up with everything else I’d eventually like to buy.
Laharl says: Call that flowery gender-bender series comedy? The real comedy starts in the Netherworld!

Bandai supports Pizza Hut
Bandai too have some licenses to announce, in the form of Code Geass, Mai-Otome Zwei, Ayakashi Ayashi and Toward the Terra. The former two are no surprise, but overall this line-up holds little interest for me (then again, I’ve yet to try Terra, so if I’m not too put off by the Towards the Eighties feel, I may enjoy it).
Laharl says: I don’t know why, but when people mention Code Geass to me, I start fancying that Pizza Shack Teriyaki Pizza that Gordon’s always going on about. Hey Etna, go and get me some pizza!

And finally…one for the Polyphonica fans
Ever since I first saw her character design, I knew I wanted a Corti figure, but sadly this wasn’t quite what I had in mind. Aside from the hair colour, nothing from this figure really grabs me, but hopefully a captivating figure of her adult form will appear someday soon.
Laharl: Adult form!? Are you kidding me!? I hate sexy bodies!