Exactly today two years ago, this blog was born. So to celebrate that, I offer freebies for my readers and random visitors, whom I love even when they don't comment *urk* ^_^


Hotarubi no Mori e (In the Forest of Fireflies)
story & art: midorikawa yuki
length: one volume (one-shot)
ddl: 4shared (scanlated by DragonVoice)

A little girl is lost in an enchanted forest and is rescued by a masked young boy. They become friends but the boy refuses to let her touch him. Years pass, the little girl grows up. She returns to the forest and finds that her feelings for the boy has changed. The boy still refuses to be touched, saying that he will disappear...





Paprika
director: satoshi kon
script: minakami seishi, satoshi kon
voice cast: hayashibara megumi, furuya toru, yamadera koichi, emori toru, otsuka akio
ddl: 001 002 003 004 005 006 [mp4, MF]

In the near future, a revolutionary new psychotherapy treatment called PT has been invented. Through a device called the "DC Mini" it is able to act as a "dream detective" to enter into people's dreams and explore their unconscious thoughts. Before the government can pass a bill authorizing the use of such advanced psychiatric technology, one of the prototypes is stolen, sending the research facility into an uproar. In the wrong hands, the potential misuse of the device could be devastating, allowing the user to completely annihilate a dreamer's personality while they are asleep. Renowned scientist, Dr. Atsuko Chiba, enters the dream world under her exotic alter-ego, code name "PAPRIKA," in an attempt to discover who is behind the plot to undermine the new invention.



Cencoroll
director: atsuya uki
script: atsuya uki
voice cast: shimono hiro, hanazawa kana, kimura ryohei
ddl: 001 002 (mkv, MF)

A huge monster shows up on the top of a building of an ordinary city, prompting the Defense Forces to go into action and causing the citizens of the city to start an uproar. Yuki, a brave-hearted and naturally inquisitive girl, happens to know a secret. Her friend Tetsu has been keeping and raising a strange creature called Cenco. Instantly becoming fascinated by Tetsu and his pet, a mysterious boy appears with control over the huge monster threatening the town. With that, an unexpected battle begins.

Labels: anime movie, cencoroll, download, manga, paprika

EPISODE 09: A New Friend
More Screencaps from Kimi ni Todoke 09
Sadako's after-school soccer practice with Kazehaya is paying out. Even Yoshida is starting to notice the improvement and congratulates her on a job well done. Sadako watches Kazehaya also practice soccer with the rest of the boys in her class. But she can't seem to watch him for long without feeling her face warm up.

After the break, Sadako goes back to the classroom ahead of Yoshida but when she arrives there, she finds out that none of her classmates have returned yet. Just then, Kurumi drops by, apparently looking for Kazehaya. Sadako immediately recognizes her as the "French doll" girl and reminds her about the incident in the hallway where Kurumi helped Sadako pick up some papers she dropped. Kurumi smiles and seems so nice that Sadako can't help but admire her. But unknown to her, Kurumi also thinks that Sadako looks like a doll. The unexpected compliment sends Sadako into a spasm and while she is in this state, Kurumi is called by her friends and goes to them, leaving Sadako to comtemplate by herself this first-time experience of being complimented.

Yano and Yoshida soon join Sadako who then tells them what happened. But the girls don't seem to believe that Sadako being called a "doll" is really a compliment. Kazehaya enters the classroom and Sadako immediately feels nervous although she has no idea why. Yoshida is upset that Sadako continues to call her by her last name. However, Yano points out that even Yoshida still calls Sadako "Sadako." This prompts Yoshida to challenge Ryuu into remembering Sadako's real name. Ryuu wrongly answers that it's "Kuroyuma Takako." Sadako dutifully introduces herself to Ryuu again. Meanwhile Yano gets an idea and tells Kazehaya to say Sadako's full name. Kazehaya has no problem saying it but when Yano asks him to say Sadako's first name, he falters and finally shouts that it's impossible. Sadako's nervousness goes up to new heights.

After class is over, Sadako, who is carrying some class documents, happens to overhear a couple of students talking about Kazehaya and a certain female student. Sadako goes to see what's it all about and is surprised to find Kazehaya and Kurumi having a friendly chat. Seeing the two of them together makes her want to be cute (like Kurumi) as well. So the next day, Sadako asks Yano and Yoshida if she should get a perm. They don't think it's a good idea and insist that Sadako should keep her current hairstyle.

Later, Sadako waits at the lockerroom for Yano and Yoshida who are borrowing a soccer ball from Pin. While there, she overhears Kazehaya talking with another boy about Kurumi and is surprised to find that he could say Kurumi's first name without any trouble. The discovery somehow makes Sadako upset, although again she does not know why. After a moment, Kazehaya notices herand goes to greet her. But Sadako is still tongue-tied about the whole thing. As Kazehaya tries to say Sadako's first name, Kurumi arrives, effectively putting a stop to his attempt. Kurumi notices that Sadako is practically bathed in sweat and uses her own handkerchief to wipe Sadako's face. The gesture touches Sadako so much she mentally declares herself Kurumi's fan. But Kurumi has other plans as she says that she and Sadako are now friends, much to everybody's shock.

COMMENTS:

It's really hard to recap a single episode of a slice of life anime like Kimi ni Todoke. Harder even to comment about it.

So there goes another episode of Kimi ni Todoke where characters do a lot of thinking, staring and blushing though nothing actually happens.

But to be fair to the series, Kurumi's introduction should provide the right stimulus for Sadako and Kazehaya's relationship to develop. It was established from the start that Kazehaya has a thing for Sadako but Sadako is a little bit on the slow side so it takes her about nine episodes and Kurumi to realize that she's "noticing Kazehaya too much." Here's to hoping something more dramatic happens next episode.

Labels: kimi ni todoke

RELEASED: 11.25.2009
LABEL: Victor Entertainment
TRACKLIST:
1. Universal Bunny [4shared]
2. pink monsoon [4shared]
3. Gira Gira Summer [4shared]
4. Izorado [4shared]
5. Ae nai Toki [4shared]
6. Eien [4shared]
7. Obelisk [4shared]
8. Tenshi ni Nachatta (universal version) [4shared]
CREDIT: #nipponsei

No posts for Armed Librarians today because the fansub is just out and I haven't downloaded the latest episode (10) yet. So instead, I give you this treat.

Universal Bunny is the first mini-album by Sheryl Nome starring May'n. It's connected with the theatrical release of the first Macross Frontier movie adaptation. All music is again composed by Yoko Kanno-sensei with lyrics written by Gabriela Robin and other collaborators.

BUY:

Sheryl Nome starring May'n - Universal Bunny @ Amazon.com
Sheryl Nome starring May'n - Universal Bunny @ Play-Asia
Sheryl Nome starring May'n - Universal Bunny @ Yes Asia

The album's title track, Universal Bunny, is a rock song but still playful and has enough bubblegum in it so as to make no mistake that this is a Sheryl Nome song. Also included is pink monsoon which was released as Sheryl Nome's debut single before the movie came out. pink monsoon is more flirtatious with a seductive beat and May'n sounding more and more like Britney Spears so if you like that, then you'll like the track. Gira Gira Summer, by contrast, is very happy, very pop it's sickening. The album touches back on its rock beginnings with Izorado before slipping on its dainty slippers for the soft piano piece that is Ae nai Toki. I half-expected Eien to take after its preceding track but instead I was met with heavy guitar riffs for an intro and May'n singing with a slightly guttural voice. Style-wise, it's strangely reminiscent of Diamond Crevasse although the sounds couldn't be more different. Obelisk is a nice pop song that sounds like Christmas at the intro but quickly transforms itself into a melodious rock number. Tenshi ni Nachatta (universal version) is my favorite from the mini-album because it shows me the softer, stripped-down side of May'n's voice.

All in all, this is a good album. It showcases May'n's range as a singer, a regular universal bunny indeed. And of course, Yoko Kanno-sama is still a genius.

MORE INFO:

May'n HoriPro Official Site (Japanese)
May'n Universal Music Official Site (Japanese)
May'n Victor Entertainment Official Site (Japanese)
May'n (Wikipedia)

Labels: download, macross frontier, soundtrack