I was saddened to read last week of the passing of Satoshi Kon, one of Japan’s most intriguing and visionary directors to have contributed to the medium of anime. His work was always of a different perspective, a singular one that expertly fused Fantasy, Dream and Reality. That unique point-of-view will be sorely missed. Only Kon could see as Kon did, and we, as Witnesses, are allowed a bountiful glimpse into his Horn of Plenty containing all of the bizarre, discomforting, kaleidoscopic, and utterly beautiful worlds that he created. It’s a shame that that Horn contains such little fruit, as his career was so under-represented, but oh! What splendid fruit he left us!
Kon’s first directed feature was Perfect Blue(1997), and it was my first exposure to his talent. I’m not a big fan of “Idol” stories but this one had me hooked once the behind-the-scene scenes kicked in. What begins as a kinda girly story about a member of a pop trio leaving them to go into a film career becomes one of the most gripping psychological thrillers I’ve ever seen, and that includes “real movies”. Kon doesn’t pull punches either; there are some really violent, adult-oriented scenes. Wouldn’t recommend this to the kiddies! Here’s the trailer, dubbed in English:
And, an AMV (fan-made video) that kind of clues you in as to what to expect (as if you could expect anything with this story):
Millenium Actress(2001) was his next project, and it’s one of his works that I haven’t yet seen. We’ll be fixing that soon It looks to be equally as involving as his other work, and that can only be considered to be A Good Thing. Here’s the trailer, again dubbed in English:
Since I hadn’t seen this yet to describe it for you I wanted to include an AMV that kind of acts as a summing-up (as it were) of characters and themes. After seeing this one I discovered that (to my joy) it was nothing as I expected. “Unexpected”… I suppose you can say that about any of Mr. Kon’s work! This AMV was certified the moment I heard the beautiful “Gravity” by Vienna Teng as its backdrop, one of the most BEAUTIFUL songs ever by a talented singer who is also as under-appreciated by the public as Kon is:
I heart Vienna Teng too
For his next effort, Kon ventured into new (comedic) territory with Tokyo Godfathers (2003) in what appears to be a very funny and heartwarming story about three homeless persons who become caretakers of an infant whom they find in a dumpster. Of course, there’s much more to the story than that
Much
Next up for Kon was a 13-episode series that was very fittingly titled Paranoia Agent. This series has been on my “To-Watch” list ever since I made one back in 2007, and now that Mr. Kon has left us I’ll have to move it up in priority, along with his other projects I’ve missed. This title has so many of my favorite genres (drama, horror, mystery, psychological, supernatural) that I would watch it just based on the type of series it is, let alone having such a giant talent at its helm! The official trailer follows for a sampling:
Lastly, we have my favorite Kon work (SO FAR), Paprika. Talk about a twisted, bizarre, and thoroughly enjoyable roller-coater ride, this is IT. If you want a full taste of what Kon’s material and talent have to offer, look no further!
Of course, one bite just isn’t enough
I’ll make this last vid a little bigger so you can enjoy all the eye-candy that makes up Paprika. It’s truly mind-blowing and the closest thing to legally hallucinating that you can get!
Now, go out and seek your pleasure, dream, or nightmare ….
A sincere Thank You to Satoshi Kon, as well as to his family and studio, the legendary Madhouse, who provided a touching endpaper to the story. Not too long ago, Mr. Kon was informed by his physician that his time was limited, and so he shared his sentiments and final thoughts with us on his Blog, as mentioned in this news article from Anime News Network. It is a thoughtful thing to undertake when you’re in mourning, but they took the time to release a statement for the devoted fans of this gifted man. The summary and translation of Mr. Kon’s touching message to those whom he would shortly be leaving behind has been made available by Makiko Itoh on her Blog. It’s as worth reading as his features are worth watching, which is to say, a LOT. Very touching, sad, and inspiring, all at the same time: the rambling, heartfelt, and moving final public thoughts of a creator on his very last trip to the station, where the train will always wait before departing one last time…
This entry was just gonna be another “A Quick One While He’s Away” kinda post, but I thought that it would be too… mundane. If you, Dear Visitor, are going to come visit Alastor’sReflection allll the way from -well, wherever it is you’re coming from; I’m sure it’s far- then I at least ought to offer you something to make it worth your while. Hopefully. Because I like you. I really do.
In fact, I was looking around for a present for you on That Infernal Timesink named YouTube when I remembered that I have a Favorites list that I never seem to get around to playing. So, while I was there putting off mulling over what to blog about and whether, I thought of a compromise: I’ll put up a few random Favorite videos, and not have to bore the Visitor with (or type out) details of the depressing Real Life stuff such as unemployment, instability, and…
Oops, I almost did. I can’t imagine why anyone’d be interested in that boring kinda stuff anyway LOL
So: Some time ago when I blogged about the anime ef – a tale of memoriesand posted several related AMVs, I missed this lovely one that follows (if it was out there). As the majority of the ef AMVs seem to do, this one features the pairing of Chihiro and Renji. It’s not the greatest ef AMV, but it’s pretty good. It features the song “Here We Are” by Lene Marlin, which plays very well with the scene selection and progression of the anime’s edited clips:
A major reason why I dig AMVs so much is that they expose me to songs which I’d otherwise not be listening to or hearing (two different things). The most poppiest of pop songs which sounds ugh on the radio can, when matched with a sensitive-and-concisely-edited anime, provoke a highly-pitched emotional reaction in the Viewer. It interests me whenever art-works manage to penetrate and reach so far inside of us… that is an Artistic Success no matter the “genre,” at least in my book
The relationship of Chihiro and Renji is surely high-pitched; how could it not be? Here’s the short synopsis courtesy of the Anime News Network Encyclopedia: “Renji meets a girl named Shindou Chihiro at an abandoned train station. He soon learns that Chihiro suffers from a type of amnesia where her memory span only lasts for 13 hours. He also discovers Chihiro’s dream of writing a novel, but she has never been able to fulfill that dream due to her condition. Renji then decides to help her fulfill that dream.”
Having a vested interest in writing you can well imagine that I might be drawn towards both of these characters
So, IMO, here’s the best ef AMV: “Paper Image,” created by Koopikeva and integrated with the sublime song “Gravity” by Sara Bereilles. I’d never heard of Sara before this, so this AMV not only turned me onto her talent, but also to her great song, which, if I’d heard on the radio might have put me to sleep! But with the beauty of the anime, you want to keep watching and waiting on the lyrics with near-bated breath! This is a perfect composition:
Awesome. Incidentally, the actual music from the ef series is performed by Tenmon, and its OST is probably my favorite anime soundtrack. Poke around the haystack of Alastor’s for the needles of Tenmon’s mentions; there’ve been a few of them. Or just wait. I’m sure it won’t be long before I’ve come up with an excuse to put some up here
(EDIT: Oh look, a space!
(For the ef-uninitiated, Yuuko (playing the piano in the clip) and Yuu (playing the violin) are the central characters of ef - a fairytale of the two, and their lives (and fairytales, as it were) are interwoven with the lives of a handful of other associates’ pairings, love triangles, and fateful encounters, of which Chihiro and Renji are but two.)
… yeah, I do promote this series pretty hard LOL It’s my favorite anime-story, has many favorite characters (Yuuko <3) and a typically dynamic Tenmon soundtrack. Brilliantly done, and you don’t even realize it while you’re going along (but you do suspect…)! The meticulous timing of certain plot elements and the manner of the reveals was breathtaking; the writing was as whole-heartedly dedicated to depicting its story as the direction, animation, and music composition were in their own parts. The whole of ef, you realize after finishing its two seasons, truly is greater than the sum of its parts!
Anyway, I like it. Edit off!)
Moving on… Avril Lavigne is another artist whose music I might have missed (assuming that there is no radio in this imaginary world), but catching this great Kimi ni TodokeAMV reminded me that she really does have some talent! The short clip is simple and sweet, much like this wonderfully romantic anime itself is, and offers up a convincing and touching portrayal of first love. Do you remember yours…?
Okay, and now for something completely different!
What is this I don’t even -
While watching this next one I laughed ’til the tears came outta my eyes. LITERALLY! Courtesy of Loudon Wainwright III’s “I Wish I Was a Lesbian” this AMV utilizes several old-school animes in quite a unique way. The initial narrative porton uses scenes from the ultra-wack FLCLseries (aka Fooly Cooly), and the character’s lip-synching with Loudon’s voice is spot-on, which adds to the hilarity. Enjoy!
Speaking of FLCL… (and yes you should buy this 6-episode series because it is totally unlike anything else. And it’s cool. Mostly that.)…
You don’t see very many good FLCL AMVs. The show’s utterly random nature, unpredictable characters, and very incoherent plots make it difficult to edit together a consistent theme to go along with its chosen song’s lyrics. You’ll see what I mean LOL Hit or miss, to be sure. This following AMVs maker used “It Ends Tonight” by The All-American Rejects to very good effect along with the scattershot explosive animation from Fooly Cooly. Do not try to figure anything out about the story from this short; you’ll break your brain. Trust me on this. Wait until you see the show for yourself! (Caution: spoilerish activities ahead…)
…and that’s certainly a nice point to leave off. I mean, I’m kinda drained. You?
I’m happy to report that Anime News Network’s just added Last Exileto their roster of streaming anime. The first four English-dubbed episodes are available, and the entire subtitled 26-episode series is up, free, streaming, and legal! This exceptional, action-packed, and riveting characters(s) study has long been a favorite; the blend of fantasy, steampunk, science-fiction, and epic adventure is masterful. If any of those genres interest you, go check it out (after you finish here, natch)!
The diverse cast is one of the best ensembles that I’ve heard and witnessed, being both convincing and expressive. I’m such a fan of Range Murata, the show’s conceptual and character designer, that I bought the complete season in the Murata Collector’s Box. Just this week I received his “oversized comic” Robot #2 which features stories by not only him, but ABe Yoshitoshi, creator of Serial Experiments Lain and Haibane Renmei, two other “Most Favored” series, due in large part because of the character designs and sensibilities exhibited by both artists.
this is the wonderful wraparound ABe artwork for the Collector's Box
Murata and Yoshitoshi are my two favorite concept/character designers; their subjects seem so alive and expressive, and convey a ton of personality through gestures, facial tics, and body language that all negate the need for writerly exposition or unnecessary scenes. Combined with oodles of minutae and details in their clothing and accessories, we get a very full picture of a real person, complicated, quirky, and very well-motivated. The Viewer gets them, and can easier connect, even when astonished or repulsed. Murata designed quite another cast for the Shangri-La anime, including a couple of transgendered individuals with whom the audience could care about, and other more conflicted good guys ‘n’ bad guys in a story that cuts across cultural and hierarchal boundaries with a decidedly Green economic/environmental message; the OP will serve well to show off the characters:
As an adventure, I enjoyed Shangri-La quite a lot, but to a much lesser degree than Last Exile. The characters and details definitely are Range Murata’s though, and that’s a good (and possibly the best) thing!
This is the wraparound artwork for ROBOT #2, by Murata
In a similar vein, Yoshitoshi ABe’s subjects maintained that distinctive “look” fromSerial Experiments Lainto Haibane Renmei. This is an interesting pair of artists to stand next to each other, and note how complementary they are. Murata seems more the macro concept artist and designer influenced by film, and ABe appears to approach his work via the imaginary visions of the story-world, off the printed page. Still, it must be stressed that each needs a crack team of animators to sustain that consistence with their original designs.
The main cast of Last Exile, by Murata
Yoshitoshi ABe rendition of Rakka
A sampling of ABe’s animes to illustrate my points: first is an AMV from Lain that didn’t get included in the “AMV’d: Serial Experiments Lain” Post from some time ago; some minor spoilers but they’re more subtle than revelatory, given the… let’s say ”uncertain” nature of events in Lain’s World(s)…
…and this stunner from Haibane Renmei, done to the exquisite “Angel” by Sarah McLachlan. The song fits the anime very well; they’re equally touching in different ways. Rakka doesn’t appear until after a few minutes; this AMV focuses more on Reki though it definitely pertains to Rakka as well. It has a few spoilers (hard to find ‘em without any)…
See how ABe improved from the earlier Lain, yet so similar/familiar that the main characters from both titles, Lain and Rakka, could very well be sisters! OR… or… the same person? (Both Lain and Haibane are easily deep enough and ambiguous enough to entertain that and other suppositions…)
Serial Experiments Lain, by Yoshitoshi ABe
Now’s your chance to check out Last Exile, so go for it if anything about the genres and plot intrigues you. The story and subplots are a blast to watch unfold, and the characters of Lavie and Claus go through some heavy changes, as do most of the cast, most notably by the Mercenary leader Alex Row, who’s probably the most interesting character in the series, along with little Alvis who pretty much steals every scene she’s in. The story is very much like Space Opera, but not so grand; it’s more manageable and comfortably fills its 26-episode length with enough excitement, humor, carnage and intrigue taking place in planetary atmosphere rather than the reaches of space, that you don’t even realize you’re not IN space!
Random awesome Range Murata art
And if you enjoy or have enjoyed Last Exile, let us know what you think; it’s good to share ;-)
This Summer’s anime season had all the markings of a very lean schedule, but serving as a good example of why one mustn’t assume too much negativity too soon, has yielded better fare than anticipated. From the early look at the Summer Calendar I only was able to estimate that I’d like maybe four series, and that was stretching things. Now that nearly everything’s been released, I find myself with NINE series that I’m watching, plan to watch, or passing time with before it crashes and burns. That happens sometimes
I’m going to skimp on the verbose descriptions so that you can do some legwork on your own The links of my favored shows will take you to the Anime News Network encyclopedia entries for each, but for the rest I’ll suggest simply checking out ANN’s Summer Review which covers pretty much everything here, and not here. I’ll link to it later after we’re all done here
Series that I passed on sight unseen:Kiroshitsuji II – not big on butlers or sequels of series I passed on the first time, and a few other juvenile-like titles which I forget.
The Fail is strong in this one, yes...
Series I dropped after trying out:Asobi ni Iku Yo!, Shukufuku no Campanella, Strike Witches II, Ookami-san to Shinchinin no Nakamatachi, and Amagami SS. If you’d like a reason, let me count the ways. Or, better not. Suffice to say that there’s a fine line between what’s acceptable for me in terms of fanservice and ecchi, and it’s definitely not at over-the-top levels. I find it hard to take deliberate manipulation by the show’s creators to attempt to titillate me into watching their (usually) lame show by purposefully positioning my point of view right at (A) gravity-free and excessively-bouncing boobage, (B) gratuitous panty-shots, and/or (C) tantalizing scenes that require either white cloud or shadow censoring (UGH). I don’t mind these things per se, but only when used to substitute for a good story. Except censoring; I hate that
Oddly enough, if the story is good, then these things won’t bother me too much (aside from an eye-roll or three), although I don’t often get into the story due to the ridiculous fanservice. Like, I had heard that the Strike Witches story was pretty good, but I just couldn’t get past the premise (not to mention excessive pantsu LOL). A bit much for me…
This review page by ANN’s head-honcho Zac Bertschysums it up perfectly; just scroll down a bit for his pictures of two Viewers’ typical reactions to Strike Witches for a good (and knowing) laugh! Don’t forget to come back now, y’hear? (I’ll link you later with the Reviews main page.)
Series that I had also passed on but decided to give a decent chance to get going:Mitsudomoe, Legend of the Legendary Heroes (yes, that is the doubly-redundant title LOL), Seitokai Yakuindomo, and Nurahiyon no Mago. I’d go over the reasons but I am SO frickin’ tired of spelling these #@$%&*#$!!! Japanese names! Damn, I’ve never been so confused about titles before! ILLOGICAL NAMES DO NOT COMPUTE. If I’d really wanted to be mean I’d have spelt out Legend of the Legendary Heroes without translating it but why be a dick? (okay, okay, FYI: It’s Densetsu no Yuusha no Densetsu.) These average shows I’ll stick with until unbearable
Here are the Winners for me this Summer Season:High School of the Dead, Occult Academy, Shiki, Black Lagoon 3: Roberta’s Blood Trail (5 episode-OVAs), and an oddity called Cat Shit One. REAL odd! Might as well start with that one, since it’s sooooo… “unusual”!
Cat Shit Oneis actually a stop-motion animated feature that not much is known about (at least by myself, anyway) (or ANN, judging from that linked page). It features a pair of combat-ready rabbits fighting Middle Eastern types who are most likely camels. With really bad attitudes! Involving a battle over an “Iranian Hostage Crisis” the action is fast and furious, hardly ever letting up for the entire twenty minutes. This isn’t actually an anime, but more along the lines of a modern theatrical release, only lower-budget, of course. Not much of a story yet though. That being said, the look and action of this episode is excellent. Very entertaining, and that’s really all that counts
Killer Rabbits???
Black Lagoon 3: Roberta’s Blood Trailis a welcome return to the grim world of Black Lagoon. One of my favorite all-time series, Black Lagoon is filled with a tangible, gritty, and decidedly violent vibe that never really goes away. Ever. Its main heroine, Revy, is the ultimate kick-ass girl-with-a-gun, and she’s not afraid to use it. In fact, she rather likes it <— (understatement) If you’re an action fan, this entire series is well-worth checking out; I plan on buying it for my collection when I can afford it. It’s just that good…
...meet the cast 'n' crew of Black Lagoon
Apparently this will be another 5-ep series that is to run through next March. Wow. Nine months for five eps… hm… *getting impatient and fidgety already* Roberta, a secondary character from the previous seasons, is (for all appearances) a maid serving a powerful warlord in South America, and finds herself back in Roanapur, which is somewhere in Thailand (I thought it was somewhere else in the vicinity, but you get the gist), with bloody vengeance on her mind. That doesn’t bode well for her targets… Recommended for action/violence/realism anime fans, highly!
Believe it or not, she can see youuuu... run now!
Shikiis dark, deliciously so. Vampires, characters with wild hair, and a definite Higurashi no Naku Koro ni vibe that is rarely managed successfully in other anime, all conspire to make this a surprise hit for me, at least so far. The character designs seem simple at first, but are slowly growing on me. And those hairstyles! The story is starting to get interesting and has a lot of room for twisting around, so I’m keeping my eye on this one.
High School of the Deadis exactly as it sounds: a zombie-survival show. With tongue planted firmly in cheek, and its tributary homages plainly evident, this show is a glorious, gory-ous romp through zombie hordes, split (zombie) skulls, brains (of course), and sundry typical survival issues that any zombie flick would be proud of. This is an example of my tolerance (or lack of) for fanservice: there’s just enough present to keep me in the story without it being exploitative. I’m not crazy about the flotation devices that pass for boobs on one or two characters, but it’s kept to a minimum, so I’m grateful for that. But really. Someone’s gonna lose an eye for sure, and it won’t be a zombie! (Oh, wait… on second thought that might be cool!) The so-so OP:
Occult Academyis probably going to be my favorite show this season. The character designs are memorable and distinct, and the animation and direction are great. The atmosphere and suspense are even greater than HSotD, and the story is interesting and just quirky enough to provoke a feeling of “this can go anywhere” in the Viewer. Maya, the main girl, is a … well, pretty unlikable person at first blush. Which she’s not really given to doing. But that’ll give her room for plenty of growth, I’m guessing, and it’ll be interesting to see how this girl who “hates the Occult!!!” will in turn transform into someone who is really quite interested in it
Now that your whistle is whetted (as it were), you can investigate these shows for your own self. Isn’t that so much better than me yammering on about them? (nod yes) Well then, hie yourself over to the Anime News Network’s Summer Reviews page, where along with the reviews you’ll find links to watch some of these shows streaming on various (legal/free) websites! And doesn’t that beat downloading? Well… for those not so inclined, I guess it’s just about the only thing better than downloading (aside from having a clearer conscience), as the quality of these streams varies quite a bit. But still… you get to watch new shows online!!! Could a sea change in the methods of delivering new anime to Western fans be in the offing, at last? (nod nod yes yes)
And since we’re on the subject of ANN, here’s a funny little story to add before we close:
I have to admit… some of these Japanese names and titles I still have a bit of trouble with. But damned if an ENGLISH name brought the attention of ANN down on me (and Alastor’s)! In my recent Evangelion post, I’d mis-remembered Mari’s name as Mira and typed it as such in the Post. (I know *sigh*) Right afterwards I received a helpful comment from a “Gia”, who politely brought my attention to the matter, allowing me to correct it before I appeared too much the fool. After wondering “gee, I wonder if she’s cute…” for awhile, as I am wont to do, I thanked her, and then resumed browsing ANN. There, I saw an announcement that they had just hired a new associate editor named Gia Manry. Whoa! :-O
Long story short, it seems that we were blessed by a visitation from the very same Gia! This is an anime expert and insider who definitely knows her stuff, as you can plainly see for yourself by her very well-thought out (and well-written) reviews on the aforementioned review link. Wonder how she managed to find herself HERE?! I’m very happy to have somehow enticedattracted snagged her attention, if even for a brief chastisement correction. Thanks Gia; if you ever stop this way again, be sure and say Hi! Errors will be duly noted and fixed; keep me straight!
And you, Dear Visitor, just keep on keepin’ on, and enjoy your Summer Season!
The Spring anime season has pretty much wound down, with most of the series I’d been tracking having run their last episode this past week. All in all, I consider the Spring ‘10 crop of shows one of the best seasons in recent memory, although many endings could have been much better, which would have helped to make the anime all the more memorable as time passes in the recollections of the fans. The bulk will be forgotten. The mark of a really exceptional series is by how it’s remembered years later, after the blush is off the rose. This is why Toradora is still widely loved, while Code Geass not so much, due to a very different closure process. One left you satisfied, the other somewhat lacking. Looking back, Toradora seems fresh in my memory, and CG quite distant…
Let’s see how many of these Spring 2010 series can prove to be “memorable”, starting off with my remaining Winter 2009 title, Durarara!!, that just ended its 24-episode run.
It would have been enough if the creators of Durarara!! had simply let it be a sequel-of-sorts toBaccano! and left it at that. They could have just used the same type of random time jumps that the original did, the sudden character-POV-swapping, and the singularly-twisting storylines, merely duplicating their original masterpiece with the formula of a proven recipe. But they made DRRR!! to be as distinct as Baccano! is, and in its own twisted way Durarara!! is quite a different animal. While maintaining that “anything can happen here in this city” element of mischievous delight, something a bit more menacing and malevolent is always lurking in the background… In Baccano! this is used expertly and to great effect; in Durarara!! to a somewhat lesser degree. But it is delicious, yesss…
Working with such a large cast must be unwieldy as hell; Baccano! had around fourteen principles and DRRR!! somewhere over twenty! Where both of these series shine is in presenting each one as an individual, with quirks and faults galore, to separate him (or her) from the rest. Unfortunately this requires a great many sacrifices in character development and backstory from many other characters whom you want to know more about, such as Celty, the headless biker, and the pursuit of her head. Believe it or not, that isn’t the main plot!
(Not the main plot, but should be:)
The plots in Baccano! seemed more labyrinthine, especially effective considering that it was a 13-episode season (plus three Specials). Spread over centuries, the editing and pacing gave the impression of an almost-timeless story being told/shown to you. On the other hand, DRRR!! is told over the course of a much shorter time-span, giving it a feeling of being condensed and choppy, even though granted a 24-episode lifespan. Also, the characters of the former seemed more relatable, even though murderers, thieves, schemers, and vampires :-O Both stories always kept me “turning the page” and wanting to know (and see!) what happens next…
(A bunch of fluttering pages from Baccano!, done to a rockin’ tune:)
On to the regular Spring 2010 summary! Of the eight series I’m tracking, two (K-ON!!and RAINBOW) are going for ~24 episode seasons. The other six have all concluded (for better or worse) and are covered here. I’m including my MAL scores just as a reference; Your Mileage Will Vary, and all that
Angel Beats!was a mixed bag for me; scored it an 8. I really wanted to like it (being a major Visual Art’s/Key fan) but had trouble connecting due to a lack of backstories from most castmembers. This was most likely caused by the short run; this series would’ve benefitted from more time to develop the intriguing story and its characters. Most memorable for me is the character of Tenshi/Angel/Kanade, whom I suppose will be always and forever more held high in the running for Most Moe~
Arakawa Under the Bridgeis my favorite show of the Season. When all is said and done, from beginning to end, it was brilliantly funny, surreal, poignant, and always whimsical, and to degrees far surpassing its competitors. The usual SHAFT-ness of the art and animation styles thankfully keep progressing over the years (though the closeup-eyeball cuts are certainly on the verge of becoming cliche), and Akiyuki Shinbou’s distinct vision is rendered and presented well through the workings of his and his crew’s unique talents. I wavered between giving a 9 or a 10, and decided that any minor faults didn’t warrant lowering it from a Masterpiece and so gave it a 10
Hakouki… this one was all over the place, not many of them good ones. Too many characters that seemed the same, vague shifting alliances that made little sense, and a somewhat annoying and useless main character. For a historical setting, darned little history goin’ on. Gave it a 6, meaning “just above average… barely”
House of Five Leaves(Saraiya Goyou) was stubbornly true to iteself, and that’s definitely a good thing. Even though based around a timid samurai, and with action possibly just around the next corner at every turn of the plot, never did it break its liesurely stride and resort to gratuitous violence. Or much of any violence, really. Not that there’s anything wrong with that. More a character study than anything else, this story unfolds matter-of-factly, and seemingly on a need-to-know basis. The ending was sort of ambiguous, and that fits as well. I gave it a 9; while ultimately satisfying, I found too much of the story was left out or neglected, which, if included, would have vaulted the score to a perfect 10. Once I accepted that there likely wasn’t going to be swordplay, and simply let it be, it became truly enjoyable and enchanting in a considerate, casually-paced and patient manner. Kind of like Mushishi, only with samuraiii~!
Working!!was a fun, harmless little ride that accomplished exactly what it set out to do: entertain. That’s about it though. To be honest, I had this show at a 7 pretty consistently from its start; the endless (and literal) man-bashing got to be pretty much a one-trick pony, as did the cross-dressing (don’t ask LOL). Fortunately the show didn’t hang its hat on just those elements, and delivered up some decent character development and other small delights, mostly involving newly-added cast members Aoi Yamada and (at last!) Maya Matsumoto. I ended up giving it an 8 despite my disinclination to reward stupid plot elements (such as a man-hating waitress and the ”necessity” of the main character having to cross-dress to appease her ohgodshootmenow…). But, it was fun while it lasted
This brings us to The Tatami Galaxy… and words totally fail me. If you like “deep” anime, or “arthouse anime”, or like to ponder philosophical matters whilst slurping “cat soup”, then this might be right up your alley! Nobody else though. Damn, is this show a trip! Hilarious and insane, oftentimes both at the same time! I’ve mentioned it recently already down below, so we’ll leave it at that. A real mind-fucker… in a good way! I’ll leave you (again) with the apropos Tatami ED, as it seems to bring the epic Spring 2010 season to a final close with its last notes and visuals. As for the little bit that comes after, I have no idea LOL
Spring 2010 certainly served up a bountiful harvest! The bad news is that Summer 2010 is looking awfully bleak; I’ve checked out five series so far and none of them looked even remotely interesting. Still, it’s early yet, and if I recall correctly there might have been 4-5 series that had caught my interest when the Summer season preview came out, so I’ll be looking forward to those shows. Feast or famine, *sigh*…
Here’s an idea: Maybe we can use the lack of worthwhile new shows to spend some time with the multitude of unearthed gems that have gone overlooked or underappreciated in the past? It would be fun to dig down further into anime’s history and find out what we’ve missed. Surf over to Anime News Network’s video page for a huge sampling to choose from; use the title’s encyclopedia link to check out the genre, synopsis, and ratings and so on.
I am not (generally) a mecha fan. Robots and mechanical anime creatures usually don’t do it for me; I dislike having to strain to make out what and where the action is, and the constant metal-bashing and yelling can get tiresome. Not to mention being unable to tell which part of which robot belongs to who! Nevertheless, I’ll give any anime of any genre a chance to simply tell me a good story, and look good in the process if possible. Since I’d heard so much about Evangelion, I knew I had to give it a chance. Plus, any anime with the genre-combination of “action, drama, psychological, (and) science fiction” that is joined with themes of “self-identification, post-apocalyptic, (and) military” has GOT to grab my attention. So what if it also has mecha and real robot themes as well?
(can you tell where the robot is?)
Well, I just finished watching both of the Evangelion movies and was greatly impressed with the stunning makeover of this storied yet long-in-the-tooth franchise. Indeed, when one mentions “anime” to anyone old enough (i.e. BH -Before Haruhi), Evangelion’s mere mention evokes knowing nods of acknowledgment (or in some cases cursing and the gnashing of teeth).
The original 26-episode Neon Genesis Evangelion, long considered a classic whether you loved or hated it, was one of my first anime and was so convoluted and action-heavy that most of the memories have sadly been lost in the blurring of time. Not helping any was the crash of an old harddrive that EVA and around 30 other of my proto-anime were kept and so I was never able to rewatch it to clear up the confusing story. (Like many titles, EVA was one well worth viewing again, preferably marathonned, in order to better understand the plot and uncover the numerous bits missed during the first go-round.) This crash also explains why it never made my ratings on My Anime List along with Cowboy Bebop and others, since I prefer rating a show right after watching it, and I hadn’t joined MAL yet. When I eventually buy the original series I’ll finally rate it
(Shinji's cold, complex father is center left; a great "heavy")
It was fun being reunited with the main cast once again, including the young pilots of the EVAs, Shinji, Rei, and Asuka, and the supporting cast as well. The updated graphics were a welcome sight, and the animation and facial expressions were noticeably improved even with my faulty recollections of the original. The jump from the technologies of 1995 to present day/present time were dazzling to me. The differences between 1.0 and 2.0 were just about as equally significant, but the direction in 2.0 was incomparable! The creative team really outdid themselves; I was stunned at the fluidity and razzle-dazzle of the combat scenes, the movements of not only the characters but the shifting of scenes and focus as well. BRAVO!!!
I’d heard that the first movie, Evangelion: 1.0 You Are (Not) Alone, was just an alternate retelling of the series, and so put off watching it, figuring that the updated graphics wouldn’t be enough to justify such a reduced amount of time (it’s around 1:45 or so compared to the 13 hours of the series). However, it was a blast to watch again, even though it apparently only covers the first 6-8 episodes, and continues in the second movie, Evangelion: 2.0 You Can (Not) Advance. Here is where the franchise is really turned on its head… and the best (apparently) is yet to come! Two more movies will follow in “The Rebuild of Evangelion,” and judging from the previews, NO-ONE will know what to expect after the ending of 2.0…
Unexpected delight: Mari, the new Pilot
I’ll confess to something up front: While the original’s highly-regarded sequel/alternate ending The End of Evangelion purported to answer critics’ complaints about the ambiguity of the series, it pissed me off so badly that I never gave it its due credit. Frankly, the first scene was SO off-putting and offensive that I blanked the whole thing out, because all I can recall is that loathsome and unecessary opening scenario. I think I was enraged the whole time watching LOL
(Asuka cooking and NOT enjoying it)
I never really liked Asuka in the original; she was annoying, mean, self-centered and highly-aggressive; not traits that I like watching in anime girls. But she didn’t deserve what Shinji did “to” her while she lay in her hospital bed. I won’t go into it, except that it was the single most unlikely and deliberately provocative scene I’ve ever witnessed. As messed-up as Shinji was, he’d never do what he did in that odious scene. EVA’s gifted creator, Hideaki Anno, delivered what I felt was a deliberate slap in the face to the fans of the show, similar to Pink Floyd’s Roger Waters spitting in the face of that fan in Toronto. I’m sure that EVA fans know exactly what I’m referring to, and you innocents are better off not knowing.
(Asuka and Rei, in an unlikely pose)
All that aside though… I have to say that 2.0 is Anno’s redemption and salvation. (Technically, I watched 2.22, more or less “the director’s cut” of 2.0, as my version of 1.11 was to 1.0) From start to finish I was kept firmly in his grasp; the story was much better explained yet still gauzy enough to maintain that sense of wonder at this post-apocalyptic world and its flawed humans and incomprehensible other-worldly inhabitants. The main cast was SO much more palatable; for instance, Shinji seemed such an angsty little self-pitying crybaby in the series; here he was toned down to great effect, and seemed much more realistic. Well, as realistic as a 14 year-old twenty-story-high robot-pilot can be LOL Rei was somewhat warmer, Asuka not such a bitch, and the new girl Mari suitably mysterious…
(l-r: Rei, Asuka, Shinji, and Mira)
Anno and his co-director Kazuya Tsurumaki kept the action moving forward even when there wasn’t any, and the character development was noticeable and significant, even in this abbreviated form. I could swear that I actually saw Rei Ayanami smile! In the first incarnation of this series I didn’t much care for her; the silent type doesn’t do much for me neither. But careful, clean, and quick scenes of her alone in her “dwelling” (such as it is) drove home her plight in ways the original didn’t, at least to my recollection. Have to admit that I’m now firmly in her camp
(note re: “Fly Me to the Moon” music in the above clip: The original series used it for the EnDing Theme… with (I think) 14 different versions!)
The action was amazing; the many battles between the EVAs and the Angels was at times breathtaking. I suspect that Tsurumaki was responsible for directing the action scenes, but I’ll need Max to verify The redesigned Angels took on many new (mecha-nical) forms, and the updated visuals really improved on the originals, continually morphing into some new and more dangerous form, as each successive Angel became ever-more powerful. Now I know for sure that piloting an EVA is at the very bottom of the “things I’d like to try” list!
The only flaw that initially kept me from giving it a “10-Masterpiece” rating was the inclusion of two insert songs that sounded wayyyy too childish for the furious action on screen. Not the thing I want to hear: kindergarteners singing a pretty song while heavymetalthunder-ing is going on! But I relented, figuring that that one issue wasn’t enough to detract from the overall spellbinding effect of this anime. Besides, the OST is incredibly good and tasty! So, in light of Anno’s obviously hard work, dedication, and successful resurrection of this legendary franchise, I gave it a 10 after all
The ending of 2.0 does offer about as much closure as the first and is typically (for Evangelion) open-ended, until at least the next movie comes out, which promises to add a completely new chapter to this enduring franchise. The preview for 3.0 looks awesome! Long may it run
(l-r: back of Asuka?, Rei, Shinji... and The Mysterious Pilot of EVA .6)
Sort of an update to the Anime Spring Season post (far) below, or here, I thought I’d give a progress report and also serve up a few of the more unusual and eye-catching OPening and EnDing Themes for the more unusual and eye-catching series currently airing. You might refer to that previous post for links to more info about the titles discussed.
First, the sad news: I dropped Senkou no Night Raid, and am gutting through Hakuouki Shinsengumi Kitan, which I’m still trying to maintain an interest in. But when a series goes unmissed for a week it indicates that the story’s hooks haven’t snagged me, and as intrigued as I am by the plot, it isn’t really grabbing me. Quite unlike all of the others mentioned below! Let’s examine why, and use a few clips to demonstrate what separates the winners from the not-so-win… (be sure to use the Full Screen option, and HQ if available; detail is everything!)
I’m still enjoying Angel Beats! (more details in previous posts below) and Working! , both of which are still sustaining their creative energies. The former title will definitely be a keeper, but the latter one I’m not sure; it’s a bit too repetitious, though likable enough. It does have a lot of funny moments, and the characters have grown on me quite a bit, so a lot depends upon how memorable the ending will be, and how much the characters develop. Working!does have one of the catchiest OPs from this season:
That song sure has a subversive way of sticking in your brain… Hours later for no apparent reason you’ll catch that “One! One! Some-one one!” chorus eating away at your grey matter, just you wait and see!
Since we’re in “light ‘n’ fluffy mode” we might as well check out theK-ON!!(Season Two) ED, since it’s just as catchy a song, and has that notoriously magical artistry from Kyoto Animation to enjoy as a bonus. This series (and its first season) are wildly popular worldwide, almost as well-known as the Haruhi Suzumiya franchise, also by KyoAni. I like to ask myself about any well-regarded series, “why is this show so popular?” and then go watch it for myself, usually alone so that no snide comments or mockery can work its poisons on me. I’d much rather rely on my own capacity for appreciation than someone (one! one! -agh, STOPPITT!!!) else’s biases and hates.
K-ON!’s a good case in point. You catch a lot of jaded and cynical fans complaining about the show’s “moe-overload” for no other reason than the girls are cute. That’s it. *rolls eyes* Mostly unreasoning elitists, they fail at being able to enjoy a show simply based on its visual appeal and storytelling, focusing instead only on perceived negatives as spread by others of that ilk. When encountering their bitching and moaning, don’t let them influence you; simply judge a show based on whether you like it or not! There’s a difference between an honest critic and a howling monkey
As an example of how critical High Quality video is, check out the expressions and animation as you watch the following ED (click the FullScreen button), entitled “Listen!!” THIS is the level of detail that you want in your anime!
Now that we’re suitably fluffed, we can ease out of our comfort zone and check out some truly interesting shows with considerable depth to them. Studio SHAFT’s Arakawa Under the Bridgehas turned out just as delightfully quirky as I expected, and there’s no telling which way the plot will go in its last three episodes. And, what a cast to twist that plot! (This is assuming that it does have a plot, of course.) I’ve really come to enjoy each of the zanies, each wildly distinct and funny in their own rights. While our main cast members Kou and his “Venusian” Nino monopolize the OP, the others all have cameos in the ED that follows it:
And now for something completely different: Saraiya Goyou, or “The House of Five Leaves”. I’m really pleased with this liesurely-paced and beautiful show; the subtle sense of menace that lies beneath its unique and placid face is delicious; focused more on its characters than any cohesive plot, it’s definitely not for the action-junkie. The timid and starving samurai Masa has found himself in the company of a gang of apparent kidnapers, but there is more to the story than meets the eye in this superb character study. Yaichi, the white-haired “boss”, has hired Masa to be his bodyguard, even knowing of his evident withdrawn nature, yet keeps him on and in the care of his cohorts, all seen in this promo that incorporates a more traditional-sounding soundtrack that is typical of the great atmosphere of this show.
Here’s a higher-quality trailer that features the very pretty opening theme song “Sign of Love”, and showcases Studio Manglobe’s distinctive character designs for this Edo-era (I think) anime. While taken aback at the initial impression of these wide-mouthed and almost crudely-drawn characters, I found that they very quickly grew on me, and I am now thoroughly enjoying this unique show, always wondering just where the next episode will take us…
The House of Five Leaves is available to watch streaming for free on Funimation’s official anime site (along with a BUNCH of other titles)! Get thee hence
Okayyyy… what to say about The Tatami Galaxy(aka Yojouhan Shinwa Taikei)? My God, this has to be the most unsettling, hilarious, intriguing, confusing, and metaphorical series ever! There is NO WAY that I can describe it for you. But I’ll try My “synopsis” in the previous Part of this essay was, as it turns out, premature. It was based on the first episode, and the whole thing RESETS at the end of each, thereby revealing new predicaments in the next, and indeed, even twists the personalities and roles of its cast. Except for Watashi (”myself”), the main character, who is doomed to repeat his mistakes until he gets the right outcome. Ozu, the demonic-faced companion, is more of a Satan (which means “adversary” rather than “evildoer”), whose motives seem to be a catalyst/influence for Watashi, and foiling (or is he enabling?) his dream of a “rosy-colored campus life” in his much-anticipated first year of college. The prize appears to be Ms Atashi… or is she?
This will explain it better: an offical and subtitled trailer that introduces us to the main concepts of it all, including the “deity” running the game, the fortune-teller who knows more than she lets on (along with her ever-escalating prices), and a few glimpses into this insane world. At the start of each epsiode, Watashi, in his never-ending quest for that rosy campus life, chooses an after-school club through which he means to encounter the girl of his dreams; the title of each ep is the name of the club-du-jour. Check out the speed-speaking that Watashi’s seiyuu rattles off… man, I’ve never heard anything so fast! You may have to utilize the “pause” button to read, unless this flash-dancing of the mouth incapacitates you, and it may! But just absorb the full effect of this crazy show first:
If you enjoyed the brief snippet of the ending theme at the beginning of the trailer, next up is the full ED with its Tom Tom Club-like music. (The vocalist, Etsuko Yakushimaru, also performs the OP for Arakawa Under the Bridge.) Note the little “winged-cube” design? There’s more to it than meets the eye… more later:
So… that little square is actually a “top-down” view of the story’s ”Tea Room”, including the tatami mats that are laid upon the floor and the “wing” that represents the entrance. Supposedly there are 4 and a half mats set out in the story’s Tea Room; the title is literally translated to: “Four-and-a-half Tatami Mythological Chronicles”. Honestly, I’m still working it out LOL! Here’s the Wikipedia on Tatami Galaxy, but beware of spoiling yourself reading the chapter synopses. It is definitely a wild and crazy show! And deeeeeeep…..
If you’re curious (and who wouldn’t be LOL), Tatami Galaxy is available to watch for free on Funimation’s website!
Finally, we have Rainbow (or is it RAINBOW ?)… as I mentioned in the earlier post, it is a little overly-dramatic and sort of manipulative of the viewer’s emotions as these seven young men endure their harrowing prison ordeal with varying degrees of success (and failure). This one’s not for the kiddies, definitely, with its sickening portrayal of the sadistic and perverted detention facility’s leaders, and the torturous existence of the characters. I’m hoping for something redeeming to come out of all of this as it’s been something of a slog through the deepest levels of human cruelty, and it’s somewhat depressing. But then it’s supposed to be. You’ve got to survive!!!
The following OP gives glimpses of each character’s backstory, showing how he came to be in this hellish place, a 1950’s youth detention facility. It also has the lyrics to the song in both English and Spanish, so enjoy! Oh… and fasten your seatbelts
RAINBOW is also available to watch streamed on Funi’s site!
That about wraps it up; now all that’s left is to watch the remaining three or four weeks’ worth of shows remaining in this superlative Spring season.
THEN it’ll be time for the Summer Season to start! Hoping it’ll be awesome, but it’s going to be really tough to top this one…
Thought I’d take a moment to make it easier to comprehend the Comment sytem on Alastor’s Reflection, since more than a few times folks have asked me how to leave a Comment.
My Comment: …
IT’S REALLY EASY!!! All you need to do is click on the “Comments” link beneath the Title of the Post you want to reply to! Then type away
Don’t be put off by the “Approval” necessity; I have it in place NOT to censor Comments but to keep out the damned spammers. The downside is that it won’t appear immediately; there’ll be a slight delay until I notice the alert that it needs my Aproval, which I’ll quickly grant, assuming I do ;-) The Approval screen also helps me to net the spam that might pass through Akismet and show up immediately in the Comments were it not in place. This is for the Visitor’s well-being as well as mine: Nearly every one of those generic types of comments (typical = “I like this topic! I agree with you and want to share with you this:” -bad link follows) are merely tricks to get Readers to click on malicious links, and I won’t subject my Visitors to that. So, if I see that a prospective Comment makes no mention of content relating to a particular Post (or any other element of the BlogSite), I’m going to assume they haven’t actually read anything, treat it as spambot and delete it. I like doing that *evil grin*
Alastor’s welcomes all Comments that reflect that you’ve actually read the Post (or anything here), and have a thought about it to share. I won’t delete, edit, or censor your thoughts; that’s not why the Approval routine is used here. BUT: Let’s just say that asshattery won’t be tolerated encouraged. Obvious jerks aside, I’ll approve Comments of fair criticism or disagreement. As long as the exchange goes on and remains (mostly) civil, anything goes, really. Bearing all that in mind, please feel free to leave your Comment!
I see that a lot of Visitors arrive here from points all over the world; welcome! If moved to share your thoughts please feel free to use your own language and I’ll try to translate (as I did in the NANA post’s Comments, below). I like “the International Feel”
…and Thank You for your Visitation, Consideration, and Comments :-)
“24″ is no more. Jack Bauer has staggered off of the grid and into the sunset, not to be seen again, or at least until the promised movie premieres. For now, Jack is finally free, and unbound from his latest ordeal(s). Following a superlative run of eight seasons, the creative minds behind the scenes (and in them) decided not to pull the plug, but to go out on top and finish with the class and integrity that defined the show from its start.
Teri, Kim, and Jack from Season One
I rarely watch television, mainly because of the annoying, inane and innumerable commercial interruptions and the week-to-week wait for the next episode to continue the story. “24″ ran several season premieres without commercial interruption, and eventually even insisted on running its episodes without any breaks in between. That really made an impression on me, as it showed that the creators cared enough about its fanbase to not interrupt what was such a riveting and suspenseful joyride. Early on, it was extremely aggravating to have to wait three weeks sometimes for the next episode, as the hooks so cleverly inserted through the viewers’ lips became loosened with the break in continuity. Once they went to a week-to-week schedule and faithfully stuck to it, we all were snagged for good! It really was not only a masterpiece of suspense, but also in how it hooked its fans mercilessly. Just like Jack would have done
No mercy...
The “events occur in real time” format was a stroke of genius; no other show had ever attempted such a risky gamble. If Jack needed to get across town, then the other characters needed to pull their own weight while Jack drove and/or carjacked a vehicle and kept in touch via cellphone as he drove. This brought the supporting cast to the fore, where for the most part they performed admirably and with purpose. Rarely were there any wasted minutes of the allotted sixty!
I began watching with the second or third episode of its first season, which was in late September of 2001. In order to complete my novel in peace, I’d just moved from San Francisco to Washington State where I pretty much isolated myself in order to work on it. Rarely with any visitors (not knowing anyone up there), “24″ would become my weekly surrogate companion for the next nine years, and it rarely disappointed. The Event of the 11th contributed much to the feeling of general insecurity and the possibility that danger could erupt at anytime, at anywhere. After settling into my new home, and finally catching my first episode, I never missed a minute afterwards. (Well, almost a minute, as detailed below.) In that first scene that I witnessed,Mandy, played by the foxy Mia Kirshner, who was to become one of my favorite “love-to-hate” characters of the show, was with her associate (and girlfriend) near a campfire, awaiting their employer. For some reason, she had decided to remove most of her clothes while they waited. Okay, I’ll admit that this caught my attention The events in the episodes that followed certified it; I was hooked bad! And that’s good
Mandy from Season Four...
The show also led to some unexpected and significant benefits outside the realm of entertainment. After a few episodes, I joined the official FOX 24 Forum (as “Titan”) where I enjoyed the company of (and sometimes aggravated by) an extremely diverse group of fans from across the political spectrum, not to mention the mental-stability spectrum, I might add. What a fun and crazy (and invigorating) place that was, in those early days. This was the very first Forum I joined, and let’s just say that it was “educational” and kinda leave it at that. You know how Forums are, right? ‘k…
...and now of course we need a Mia Kirshner pic...
Early on during my time there I was fortunate enough to meet with a Forum member who expressed an interest in my novel (UNBOUND, the site of which is here), and then offered to proofread, critique, and give critical feedback, which she did over a number of years (and seasons), going over its 700-plus pages three gruelling times! With recognition rendered for services well over and above the call of duty (and friendship), I owe a lot to Samantha, and would like to express my appreciation right here, right now, IN REAL TIME! Which is, you know, where “events occur” Thanks, Sam
Due to my periodical withdrawal periods (where I pretty much sink into a shell of reticence, avoiding everyone and everything), and events in Sam’s life, we spent a few seasons apart, but happily were able to get back in touch in recent years. And, she asked to read Lily’s story again, this time for pleasure. I can’t tell you how complimentary this is to an author’s ears, especially given her knowledge of the publishing industry and the requirements of a good story! (A published author whom I met on another forum also proofed it thrice, and then asked to read it again just for fun, which proves to me that this story has triple-barbed hooks of its own.)
The complexity and interweaving of “24″’s multiple plotlines also helped me to construct Lily’s story when things become complicated and entangled. At first the various and divergent paths of my many characters felt a little too much to deal with during the latter portions of the story where they all begin to come together,. After experiencing the labyrinthine yet tightly-woven and simultaneous adventuring of Bauer and his buddies, I was taught how to interpose and intercut scenes occurring almost in real time. (It is a book, after all!) But this lent an air of urgency and immediacy to those latter portions of the story, and likely wouldn’t have come off as well as they do were it not for the influence of “24″.
Bauer and Buddies from Season Seven
Even though I’m sure that the creators won’t read them, I’d like to offer these heartfelt words of Thanks to Kiefer and the various directors, producers, and writers (not to mention the awesome cast!), who enriched my life so well. The sadness at the show’s passing is mitigated by the remains of the continual joy that this series brought me better than any other television show, ever. It was my adrenaline fix, my faithful and expected guest every week (once they began airing consecutive weeks), and my entertainment while I labored alone on my novel. It was inspiring, thought-provoking, horrifying, moving, and so suspenseful; I felt such a delight in experiencing its genius week after week. Being a huge and longtime fan of Donald Sutherland, I had a strong feeling that Kiefer had inherited his daddy’s genes, and in that I was never let down. Like father, like son! Thank you Kiefer, ya did good, man
Proud papa Donald Sutherland with son Kiefer
Oh, about that almost-minute I missed… It was a mandatory condition of friendship that NO-ONE was to call or drop by on “24″ night. EVER. And, for the most part, my friends complied. I guess. I never answered my phone when the show was on, so I wouldn’t know about that. This “no popping-in” rule was rather easy to enforce too, as I was like 900 miles from home and so didn’t have to suffer unwanted guests. EXCEPT ONCE, grrrr!
In Anacortes Washington, where I spent 2005-2009, I met a friend of my neighbor. I wasn’t into socializing, since I was still finishing up final drafts of the novel. But I was trying to be sociable. So, I casually mentioned that he could drop by anytime, as long as he called first, and that it wasn’t on “24″ night. In fact, I mentioned it twice! Just to be sure….
Wouldn’t you know… at Season 5’s finale, at a crucial point in this last episode, at 9:35PM (events occurred in real time) an insistent knock came from my back door. I was on an unfenced property and was disinclined to just ignore someone tromping around my property (and possibly checking if anyone was home, since the lights are off for cinematic effect during “24″). This was right at the about-to-be-disgraced-President Charles Logan’s ”comeuppance” scene (if I recall correctly); the whole season had been leading up to this! Uttering a profanity I leapt up and RAN to the back door, peeked through the curtain and saw the neighbor’s friend. Then I saw red. Like Jack. Uh oh…
I yanked open the door to his suprised expression, yelled, “I TOLD YOU, MAN!” and then just as quickly slammed it in his face. BANG! Poor guy; he totally looked stunned from the very brief glimpse I caught of him. I knew it was uncharacteristically rude of me, and I sort of regretted it but… 24 IS ON!!! Then I ran back into the living room, having missed less than a minute. Just like Jack always did, I convincingly shouted ”DAMMIT!” to the TV. I apologized to the guy later, but had to remind him of what I’d warned him about earlier, twice. He thought I was rude. Guess he’s right (in that instance)! But ya gotta ask yourself… What would Jack do?
...probably the first thing Jack would do...
I guess he’s lucky that I didn’t do as Jack would have LOL!
After eight seasons, “24″ does leave me with a bounty of entertainment riches. I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the wonderful casting. Sure, there were some flops among the secondary characters, but for the most part they were the best part of the show, following Kiefer. I was disappointed in the U.S. Presidents who followed in David Palmer’s huge footsteps; once his term (and time) ran out, no-one but the complex villainy of Charles Logan (played by the incredibly talented Gregory Itzin) came close to Palmer’s gravitas and dignity, and that in direct 180-degree opposition. As the country’s first black president, Palmer (played by Dennis Haysbert) seemed the prototype for Barack Obama, and may have eased the way into the voters’ acceptance for this historic accomplishment. And as positive an iconic figure as Palmer was, his direct and polar opposite was the duplicitous Logan. What an amazing feat Itzin pulled off; when he first appeared, I thought he was not very good, to be honest. His Nixonian expressions and mannerisms seemed directly ripped off from that disgraced president, and over-the-top; at least, in his first episodes I felt that way.
Then an amazing thing happened… with his subsequent appearances the actor’s ingenuity really came to the fore, and I found that these mannerisms and treacheries were Logan’s and only resembled Nixon’s in comparison. Logan was one of the most complex “24″ characters, and Itzin kept unpeeling his layers as the seasons went on; soon the Nixon side-by-sides were forgotten in Logan’s evil glory. Well, there was the “pray with me, Mike” scene that was pretty funny in its apparent Nixonian reference. Talk about a headdesk moment… Taken that distracting and rather unfair comparison away, Itzin’s talents really blossomed (if I can use that word for Logan LOL). I enjoyed every minute that he was on the screen. Bravo, Mr. Itzin! *applauds*
Gregory Itzin's masterful portrayal of Charles Logan
There are so many others, way too many to mention. But me being me, you know I’ll give it a try
hmm... I am strangely compelled to add another Mia Kirshner pic
*ahem* Sorry, it seemed time.
But more importantly: Chloe O’Brian was simply awesome, what can I say? Mary Lynn Rajskub totally owned this snippy and annoying sidekick, and as the seasons went on, turned what began as a second-tier character into a critically-important co-star. ESPECIALLY at the end!
ever-faithful Chloe
Tony Almeida, played by Carlos Bernard, from Season One on turned in as complex a character as Itzin did with Logan. I sure hope that he’s in the “24″ movie; he’s too good a character to pass up utilizing one more time. The delicious Nina Myers, as portrayed by Sarah Clarke, was incredible in her scenes and storylines; another excellent character who left the show too soon for my liking. I thought that Elisha Cuthbert’s Kim Bauer was oftentimes criticized unfairly; some fans seemed reluctant to recognize that she was a teenager early on, and prone to the same questionable judgment calls that young people make. Plus, eye-candy never hurts a grim-toned series, does it?
Elisha C. as herself and not Kim
…and have I mentioned Mandy?
Mandy... er, Mia
Oops, sorry, that’s Mia, not Mandy, wait a sec…
THIS is Mandy *sweatdrop*
And a last, tributary nod to my favorite-cast “Ultimate Bad Guy”, the recently-departed Dennis Hopper, who played the Serbian mercenary Victor Drazen in Season One. Ever since watching him in Easy Rider, Dennis was always amongst my favorite actors, ever since that movie’s release. I enjoyed pretty much any film he was in; he was a joy to watch work (and stealing scenery). He, and his talent, will be missed. Rest In Peace, Dennis; you’ve earned it.
Dennis Hopper as Victor Drazen, from Season One
The same goes for “24″, my favorite televison show of all time. And in the end, Jack stands tall, beaten and bowed, but not broken…
Jack at the end of the road... for now
If you’re a fan (or even if not) please feel free to comment; comments are always welcome, even if not readily apparent :-)
I finally finished another epic-length series: after 47 episodes, NANA is over, and I’m already missing the characters and their stories very much. The fairly vague open-ended ending doesn’t help any either; forget about closure! Nonetheless, by its end I was quite satisfied and fairly fulfilled, but for all the unanswered questions. But consider: how many TV series end a season fully answering everything? Not too many!
Ai Yazawa's cover of the NANA manga
This is a series that screams its throat raw, lights its lighters until fingers burn, and stomps its feet in impatience for a second season. Sadly, its creator Ai Yazawa has been recuperating from an illness and the future of the manga is still uncertain (let alone the anime), so we hope for the creator’s speedy recovery, mainly for her better health, but also so that we can read, listen to, and watch her intriguing, deep, complex, and highly-charged story of the two Nanas and the rippling (and broken) concentric circles of their complicated lives.
Several of NANA's cast members
One of the best elements involved the two bands, Nana Osaki’s punkish Black Stones (or BLAST), and the farther-along-the-road Trapnest, which Nana’s ex now plays guitar with. Ren was BLAST’s first guitarist until he left it (and Nana) for Tokyo in order to pursue a professional career with the rising (and more conventional) star of Trapnest, which features a bewitching singer named Reira. Their bass player, Takumi, was a crush of Nana Komatsu (hereafter referred to as Hachi, which was Nana’s nickname for her, meaning “puppy”), and since a connection existed between Nana O., Ren, and Takumi, well… let’s just say that shit happens! Things get complicated. And that’s just the simple stuff!
All of the characters, ALL of them, are very well-written as are the various plots, subplots and twists, of which there are many. The role of Nana O. especially deserves praise, as she is just amazingly complex, driven, and utterly cool; a “broken rose” indeed. There’s quite a bit of laugh-out-loud comedy too, which serves to lighten things up considerably, which is definitely needed given its serious look(s) at relationships of various types. Despite the somewhat average animation, the direction by Morio Asaka is stellar, and you become so engrossed with the story that any faults become invisible. That’s how it was for me; I rated this anime as a “Masterpiece” despite the way-outweighed flaws that I don’t even remember anymore. I believe that we must be forgiving of an anime’s flaws and celebrate what it is that works, as long as the story delivers.
The uber-cool and tragic (but rarely emo) Nana Osaki
If you love music, and prefer realism and more mature themes of true-to-life relationships in your anime, then NANA is right up your alley. If you’ve known musicians (aspiring or successful), romantic-but-immature and mistake-prone young women, and the attractions that opposites have towards each other, do check this series out! You’ll most likely see someone you know…
Nana Komatsu, sweet yet self-centered, and mistake-prone in love
A short time ago I posted my mid-point thoughts about NANAhere, or just scroll down a bit to the “Slice(s) of Life” two posts below. This here post is just to say that, at its end, NANA was a great ride (despite the quixotic ending). And, you can watch it streaming at Anime News Network for free! Legally! Just go to the ANN Encyclopedia page and click the “Watch Now” button. Simple!
Speaking of ANN,this timely review of the final two box sets just appeared several days ago; if you want to read a very well-written and articulate review of the final episodes (by Carl Kimlinger), it’ll definitely wet your whistle He is a little harsh on Hachi, but since I “know” her (i.e. girls like her) I get her, even if I disagreed with most of her decisions, most of which caused me to headdesk repeatedly…
Now, a last word about the beat of NANA, the music. This OST must be amazing; when I get some money I’m going to buy it for sure! On the one hand we have the up-and-coming Black Stones, raw, punk, and rusty-razor-blade edged, fronted by Nana. In the opposite corner stands the established Trapnest; successful, wildly popular and idol-ized, who play a more traditional (and popular) sound with their precious vocalist Reira. Right smack-dab in the middle is Hachi, who would be torn between the two if she knew any better. But our little Hachi-Nana is a trifle clueless, let’s say…
Trapnest's enchanting (and insecure) Reira
Anyway, a treat! It took me a few hours to find a video that interspersed clips from the infrequent concert scenes in the anime with live footage from the singers who voiced Nana (Anna Tsuchiya) and Reira (OLIVIA Lufkin). Apparently there was a promotional event in Los Angeles where both took the stage performing some of the theme songs, two of which are here. You’ll be able to not only sample the two bands’ different styles but also glimpse the “real” bands in the anime. Kind of like “life imitating art imitating life,” which is a pretty cool concept! The first song is “Rose” and the second “A Little Pain”:
Personally, I prefer the “official” music video for “A Little Pain,” mainly because Olivia is just so damn beautiful; she really captures Reira’s essence here. Enjoy :-D
…and here’s Anna Tsuchiya, performing the music-video of another NANA theme, “Lucy”, done the Nana and BLAST way!
If the genre(s), theme(s), and character(s) of NANA suit your fancy, give it a shot! You won’t regret it; one of the best anime I’ve been priveleged to experience. All it needs and is lacking is a real resolution, and hopefully a continuation is in the works that will provide one
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