Things are (very) slowly turning around, unless I’m just becoming dizzy! There is that possibility. The back problem persists, but pain is lessening or else I’m adjusting to it better. So what better time to post this little update at Alastor’s, the portal to UNBOUND through which many of you Enter?
(By the way, the above setting is one of the scenes for UNBOUND, in the chapter entitled “The Turnaround”. The department store windows you can see are where our mad street preacher, the home-less Fingal, is accosted by some street thugs. To put it subtly, the glass doesn’t stay intact for long…)
First of all, apologies for the lengthy delay; I’ve really just been too down to feel much like writing or reading much of anything. Let alone comprehend what I’m reading! Way too much on my mind(s)! Not feeling-sorry-for-myself down, but fatigued-from-constant-crises-to-deal-with-for-the-past-six-years-to-even-think kind of down. Seriously tired of it, not to mention dealing with the constant pain and limitations (which I naturally abhor), let alone the cynical and skeptical government agencies who supposedly are set up to be there for us. It’s a deep fucking pit I’m trying to escape from. But I’m grateful for my Helpers
Then in the deepest depths (as they say), something I cherish always pulls me out, whether a friend’s timely advice or just Listening, or some uplifting music, or watching an inspiring anime. Or even just a glimpse of the ever-hopeful Lily-Doll, standing patiently, waiting for the World to discover her Story. Her eyes twinkle mischievously, I imagine; she seems to know something I don’t, and she’s not telling!
But she might tell you though, through the pages of her story. That’s why she’s here. She’s such a delightful and comforting presence and continual inspiration to me, as she is the persona of Lily Godwin, brought to “life”. (Well, my life anyway!) I’ve had her with me for nine years this month, and she’s been one of the few constant shining lights, along with Pennie, our cat. Our lights come in many hues and shades
Usually I’ve put Lily-Doll’s birthday Posts here, but since we’ve published half of UNBOUND already, I’ve made one for our website focusing on the novel. They (our potential Readers) haven’t really met her yet like you have Here’s the link to her Birthday Post, with a dozen photos, in celebration of the release of UNBOUND Book One: Earth, and UNBOUND Book Two: Air. The minute my conditions become amenable to resuming my work on Book Three: Water, I’ll be throwing myself into that deep end of the Pool
Coming Up Dept: New Posts on the 2013 ISML tourney now underway, reflections on the past Wintery anime season, an overview of what I’ve chosen to watch for Spring, and a new collection of AMVs. So: Lots of stuff! Now to just find the time and a moment of peace. It’ll come
Thanks for visiting; your thoughts and comments are most welcome :-)
Alastor is a bit jealous of our new website’s blog, “Stirrings From Within.” I spent about twelve hours on it yesterday writing a 3,500-word Post telling of our trials and tribulations over the last ten years, and the willpower required to see it through to this point. If intrigued by the mysteries of Creativity and its energies, please give it a read
Bring snacks and be comfy. We’ll still be here, and Alastor still has a lot to say
Just a little heads-up that the website and possibly Blog will be in a state of flux over the next week or so, but hopefully something beautiful will emerge soon…
This Place will remain the same but the Contents of the site will have changed. Please stay tuned
To bide the time, here’s something beautiful and peaceful and relevant to UNBOUND as well, while we wait for the light in this darkness…
I don’t know when… but just saying it could even make it happen
I wanted to type a quick (EDIT: “quick” LOLyeahright) note to apologize for the lapse in Posts lately; a lot of critical stuff IRL has needed to be dealt with and I haven’t had time to compose anything to my satisfaction or completion. And my posts need a LOT of time to put together (not that you can tell)! So, a brief update instead
(EDIT @ 2:30am: “brief” -Idon’tthinkso.jpg)
(Rewrite EDIT @ 3:36am: I started this at like 10pm o.O “Update”? HAHAHAHAHAAAA! *sigh*)
UPDATES & OVERVIEWS:
I’m gratified to see from the stats that Visitors keep coming by and haven’t dropped off due to my absence, and I’m very grateful for that. Thank you, and I hope to keep being able to give you something worthwhile to read rather than a three-sentence “post” which amounts to nothing much more than a sneeze! Please remember that all Comments are appreciated, so feel free to leave one if so moved. I value my Visitors highly, and You are Important. Thus, the capital letters, see ;-)
Also, I happily noted an uptick in Japanese Readers who are braving the language-barrier to spend a little time here, for which I am most grateful, and say “welcome!” and “thank you!” to them for going through the trouble to read my lengthy Posts. (I would’ve put those two words in Japanese but that might seem a bit patronizing. Besides, I’m not sure how to properly spell konichiwa and arigatou )
I hope that my genuine affection for anime and Japanese culture shines through to them and invite western audiences to share in its delight; I try to write my anime entries from a nonbiased perspective and a simple desire to share what I like with others who might appreciate it as well. K.I.S.S.: Good art = good entertainment = good art xD
I don’t spend time watching mainstream or poorly-executed shows, but also don’t like criticizing anime companies for trying. Rather, I salute them for helping populate the industry with their efforts. However, I’d rather watch accomplished productions from studios who know how to deliver stories suited for my particular tastes and genres, and enjoy recommending them. I love characters that I can CARE about, and in this anime excels.
So, there won’t be any cynical criticizing of dropped shows or echoing bleatings that I’ve heard elsewhere (“HOW COULD I FORGIVE THEM FOR DOING ‘ENDLESS EIGHT’ TO US!!! WHYYYY???” and so on LOL). There are plenty of other sites for that sort of thing, and better-written and more expert in knowledge than mine. I’ve been studying anime only since May 2007, but in that short time have found an embarrassment of riches in so many fine shows that I’d be remiss in not sharing them with others. That’s what I like to do, whether with anime, music, stories, or anything awesome created by a fellow being :-)
And lest I forget anyone else, I’m gratified to see Visitors from so many different countries across the globe popping in; the Internet can be a wonderful thing, when it isn’t being a pain in the ass. Thank you for surfing in from your corner of the world xD
PREVIEWS:
Please stay tuned, as I have several posts in several states of readiness coming soon:
KATE BUSH:
First, I’ve just about finished a Post celebrating the release (and ownership of!) the new Kate Bush album, 50 Words for Snow, which should be done by the weekend. [EDIT: Actually this Post was scrapped because it was too wordy and rambling. STOP LAUGHING!] It’s more sublime than words can describe (the album, not the Post), but I’m gonna try anyway ;-) Not being able to buy this upon release probably kicked off my depression (or increased it rather); it was released November 21st and my last Post here the 20th, hmm… possibly. Kate has long been my favorite artist and every release is so highly anticipated, and I’ve not missed one since 1985′s Hounds of Love. (Okay, being that she hasn’t released much since that album that’s not saying a lot LOL. Still.) Needless to say, I was bummed. Knowing it was out, reading so many ecstatic reviews, and reading reports from thrilled people (not only fans!) who were discussing it, without having heard it, was awful. Truly.
But, for the second time this year a fellow Kate-fan helped me out (so thank you to Sharnee for 50 <3, and Suli for Director’s Cut). The CD came in the mail the day before Christmas Eve, and I had it in my hands to listen to for the first time through on Christmas night, just after midnight. I was enchanted from the first song, “Snowflake” and its perfect line “It’s midnight at Christmas”… The house was (thankfully) as quiet as a mouse but for the beautiful music and voices… you could almost feel the snow falling outside. As ever, Kate and I are in vibrational sync, in sentiment and sympathy and sound; it’s so beautifully strange and delightful; how we resonate :-) Her music is magic, as always, and I consider her as the most significant discovery of my life, and the Igniter of my Muse
And, Kate’s fans are the best <3
ANIME:
Second, a Review of the recently-concluded Fall Anime Season, from which I was able to find fifteen series worthy of watching, a huge amount for me. It… -it was a little much, actually. Miss one week and you have fifteen half-hour shows to catch up on with the next ones around the corner :-O But the entertainment yield was great!
There was quite a diverse offering this past season; 2011 produced several undeniable classics including the emotionally-charged yet sedate Ano Hi Mita Hana no Namae wo Bokutachi wa Mada Shiranai (aka “AnoHana”, thank god); the surrealistic and very dark re-take by Studio SHAFT on the Magical Girl genre (not my favorite genre LOL) Mahou Shoujo Madoka Magica, the well-scripted, very funny and ultimately deeply moving time-travel epic Steins;Gate, and the recently-concluded Mawaru Penguindrum, which is probably my favorite of the year. Here’s an AMV of various scenes; some are spoilerish, not that you’ll be spoiled with this unpredictable and surreal series! The music is provided by Florence and the Machine:
Pengi’s journey was incredible, if incomprehensible at times due to a deliciously vague separation between reality, fantasy, and symbology. And it had… penguins! Kinda. In short, it is the closest anime to reach the level of ef ~ a tale of memories, and its sequel, ef ~ a tale of melodies. That’s saying a lot, for me
-Actually it’s not, so I’d better not get started LOL But for those who haven’t yet experieced ef, a little surprise awaits you at the end
UNBOUND:
Lastly, I felt that a Post on the State of the Novel would be appropriate, since that is the reason I’m here, as well as the UNBOUND website and this humble Blog’s presence. Since it is my raison d’etre and ongoing Mission to have the story reach its Readers’ hands, I’d like to keep it in the Visitor’s awareness until that happy day when they might hold Lily in their laps and turn her pages. She wants and waits to inspire you
So, those Posts will be forthcoming soon, assuming I can weather these damned storms. I always do (*knocks wood*) but it takes a little time to ensure smooth sailing before going forward alone in these especially deep and dark waters. Thank you for your stopping by during the time off; we appreciate it :-)
AN EF-FIN’ BONUS!:
(The clip is from the official Preview edited down to its essence, featuring a beautiful instrumental version of “Euphoric Field”, taken from the OST.)
I’ve gone on at length before about the ef series; it might be my favorite anime, if I had to rank them, and I don’t LOL. I tend to favor the dramatic romantic comedies featuring deep characters with tangible emotions, that blend slice-of-life with a taste of the supernatural, an interconnected reality and fantasy, of sympathetic and parallel worlds coexisting side-by-side but not the focus of the story, which ultimately depends upon its complex characters to drive its varied plots. Usually to Hell and back! It’s a rare balancing act, and very hard to pull off well. I should know; that’s pretty much how my own novel presents itself. In my “inner circle” of beloved anime, among those that fit that description are AIR, Kanon (2006 version), and the Clannad series, and ef. (Now I can add Mawaru Penguindrum, if a rewatch certifies it, which I’m sure it will. But there’s very little “slice of life” in it at all… LOL)
I don’t like to compare series; it’s essentially unfair. But ef has it all: Stellar direction by Shin Oonuma under the supervision of Akiyuki Shinbo, presented through the admirable talents of Studio SHAFT; an emotional and gorgeous soundtrack by Tenmon; beautiful sets, animation and characters (assuming one doesn’t mind the chin-o-doom faces in Naru Nanao’s designs, which I don’t mind at all); and the story… wow. Let’s just say involved, well thought-out, complex (yet by the end of the sequel all is revealed), powerfully emotional and sympathetic, and at times utterly devastating. It is rife with symbolism and layered several times over with interlocking and shifting relationships that flare, coalesce, shatter, burn, fall apart, destroy, and come together. It hits you just like that. It’s a Masterpiece.
(The clip is a fan-made trailer made for the 2009 Tsunacon AMV contest held in Sliedrecht, The Netherlands, and took 6th place. Epic music (one of my favorite pieces) provided by Immediate Music, “Serenata”.)
And now, you can watch it, free and legally! In advance of its release (#*$%^!*$ YAY!!!), The Anime Network is serving up the first season of ef ~ a tale of memories, and you can watch the first two episodes without paying for Premium, which will allow viewing the remaining ten eps. I haven’t heard the English dub yet so don’t know how it fares; I prefer subtitles so I can hear the original voice actors perform and emote, as they play their roles seriously, not trying to sound funny or screechy like we sometimes get with western cartoons. But this way you can sample it at least, and then buy it if you like; the release will surely include both English and Japanese casts. Or, just sign up ;-)
Okay, I just finished replacing the “Removed due to blah blah blah” YouTube videos in the below post (regarding the Spring 2011 Anime Season); what a pain. Normally I just leave them as dead, but those black blocks are so damned annoying and ruining my feng shui
I think from now on I’ll just replace them immediately with duplicate videos of the same quality (I hope). These Control Freaks are really annoying me. NOBODY’S MAKING ANY MONEY, CLAIMING OWNERSHIP, OR TRADING FOR ILLICIT CONTRABAND! We’re just sharing, right? No harm in that, at all. In fact, it used to be considered a good thing to share, before this selfish, greedy, and self-centered epoch was entered (probably in the late ’70s – early ’80s). I used to tape songs from record albums onto cassette and share them with my friends, cleverly leaving one or two songs off to provoke them into buying the whole album (emph. on “BUYING”; Control Freaks take note). The idea is to get the listener/viewer into BUYING the product! How stupid do you have to be not to get that?
Oh well. If they don’t want exposure to an ever-widening potential audience, it’s their loss. I’m just trying to turn Visitors on to some things they likely haven’t yet seen but might like to experience. I’m trying to support an industry that I love so that it will continue to grow and give us more wonderful stories to share. And buy. But I feel like I’m overstating the obvious here
I plan on eventually writing up a Deep Post on downloading anime and its changing face due to official streaming sites, but since that’s a very slippery slope it’ll take some time and thought, both of which are scarce at the moment. But it shall be done
Meanwhile, since I’m still feeling a bit spiteful, here’s a handful of goodies for you
“They” pulled the cute Nichijou (aka My Ordinary Life) OPening from YouTube, so I looked around for a replacement and while I was searching found a very cute music video of the full song. It kept a smile on my face the entire time! AND IT’S STILL THERE!
…I’d better not go outside LOL
Cute Japanese girls doing cute things… it never gets old. In 2D it’s quite nice, but in 3D it’s just YUMMY
Here’s another HQ version of the actual OP used in the show, this one has subtitles too! Enjoy the usual brilliant animation and quirky characters courtesy of Kyoto Animation; music by Hyadain:
This next pair is for Kholdstare. Well, it’s for you too (of course!), but we both really love this show, so I’m hoping to spread the “love infection” to those who might miss it otherwise. (Sorry for the sick analogy LOL) At the time of writing up the post below, I couldn’t find a good version of “Secret Base”, the lovely EnDing theme from my favorite show this season, Ano Hi Mita Hana no Namae o Bokutachi wa Mada Shiranai. There hasn’t been an anime in a while that has pulled and tugged at the heartstrings like this wonderful show has mine, and it’s hard to describe why, aside from just saying that it’s dramatically riveting and very effective. For my details, please see the post below this one, and if a fan of dramatic, reflective, and moving shows, be sure not miss this!
Speaking of music videos, here’s a subtitled and full version of “Secret Base”, performed by (I think) the show’s seiyuu, Ai Kayano, Haruka Tomatsu, and Saori Hayami, but credits for this version show the artist to be ZONE. It may be a case of the trio doing the actual ED and ZONE doing the video. In either case, it’s awesome. FYI, the video recreates the younger days of the show’s main characters as they played on, in, and around their “secret base”.
(EDIT: Wellll… “They” pulled this one from YouTube as well, so here’s another video to replace it using the same song, with subtitles. This doesn’t help my spitefulness in any way, but. It’s kind of a random AMV, but it uses characters from many favorite shows so… it’ll do )
Do you remember? What it was like to be that young and idealistic, when everything was still new and exciting, when exploration was a daily part of life? When you made friends, broke apart, and reunited after many years? When an integral part of your group left all too soon, and the memories of the time gone by, ten years gone, remain as vitally (if not literally) alive as if a beautiful ghost? Remember…
Many have mentioned the (apparently) cliched settings and environments of School Life and wonder why the protagonists are largely teens. I suspect that it’s because since so many viewers can remember and relate to those days, they can relate to how life was at that time. It’s also a more fitting “lab” for the characters to interact in, rather than, say, a boring workplace. I can easily recall and relate to the school settings and the experiences learned from ” my ordinary life”. Before we became jaded, cynical, and entangled in “adult life”. I’m trying not to be
The last show that had a video removed was Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko, so I replaced it in the post below this one with a substitute AMV appropriately titled “Take Cover”. Not much to it; it basically serves as a character introduction of sorts, and hopefully an enticement for you to check it out. (For a better description, please see the post below this one.) Cute little Erio wraps herself up in a futon, so yeah, the title’s quite apropos. Also, her 39-year old “mom” (unclear at this point), Meme, is seen in her full moe glory
It’s SO difficult to find an OP/ED for this relatively-new show yet, so I’ll put another AMV here for your consumption. The visuals focus on Erio Touwa, who along with Ano Hana‘s Menma is probably the most moe girl of the season; she’s absolutely adorable and worthy of that “need to protect” gene in the moe DNA. Not really my kind of music (a bit too much pop/dance stuff, but it is catchy). YMMV It does serve as a nice depiction of the main characters and animation, including scenes from the ED. Hopefully soon I’ll find the originals to share.
Studio SHAFT and director Akiyuki Shinbo deliver yet another quality work here; a typical SHAFT blend of surrealism, reality, and fantasy to keep the Viewer guessing as to what exactly is going on. MAKE ME DIZZY; I LOVE IT! Plus, as is typical of SHAFT, cute character designs and legs. Lots of legs. Which is fine, ‘cos I’m a fan
See, it’s good to share
And it’s very good to support the anime industry (and Japan!) by buying the products and merchandise from the shows we love
Thanks for Visiting, and please feel free to leave a comment if you wish; all are welcome! Well, except from haters LOL
I’ve had a delightfully-unexpected guest staying here recently so haven’t had any opportunities to post; please note that I thank you for your continued patience and patronage. Or something like that I’ve got a few items bubbling around in the stew-pot for future consideration, one of which is an imminent report on the Spring 2011 anime season, which has aired eight series that I love already, and around seven others that I’m following as well. Stay tuned for that, if anime is of interest! Tonight I wanted to just share some very wise words of wisdom.
I first came across ”Desiderata” in the late-sixties. I bought it at Ben Friedman’s PosterMat (?) in North Beach, which is where I “worked” my first “job” (perched atop a ladder looking out for would-be thieves LOL). (Incidentally, the store was on the corner of Grant and Green, and is the spot where Lily’s flat is located in our novel, Unbound.) The poem was written in 1927 by Max Ehrmann, and first was rumored to have been “found in Old Saint Paul’s Church Baltimore, Dated 1692″. It wasn’t.
It was printed on parchment-like paper and rolled up as if it were a sacred scroll. Maybe I rolled it up to look like one; it was the ’60s, I’m lucky to remember that much! It just looked cool, and the words were arranged like indisputable, simple Truths: advice on the Best Way to Live. Info is at the Wiki link above; here it is:
DESIDERATA
Go placidly amid the noise and haste,
and remember what peace there may be in silence.
As far as possible without surrender
be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly;
and listen to others,
even the dull and the ignorant;
they too have their story.
Avoid loud and aggressive persons,
they are vexations to the spirit.
If you compare yourself with others,
you may become vain or bitter;
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.
Keep interested in your own career, however humble;
it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.
Exercise caution in your business affairs;
for the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;
many persons strive for high ideals;
and everywhere life is full of heroism.
Be yourself.
Especially, do not feign affection.
Neither be cynical about love;
for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment
it is as perennial as the grass.
Take kindly the counsel of the years,
gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.
But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.
Beyond a wholesome discipline,
be gentle with yourself.
You are a child of the universe,
no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.
Therefore be at peace with God,
whatever you conceive Him to be,
and whatever your labors and aspirations,
in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul.
With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful.
Strive to be happy.
Finally, the move is complete! Not without its hitches, so pretty much a typical relocation, i.e. ugh. Just a brief update before attempting to consider myself as being “settled in”, which’ll involve getting my workhorse desktop hooked up to the Interwebs (and all that that entails). I’m typing this from my laptop, and not enjoying it much. So, this’ll be short LOL
Things are, as you might imagine, still pretty hectic. Once I’ve finished sorting things out, learning the local ropes, and changing all of my addresses I’ll resume posts of the more worth-reading variety. Not that this isn’t, or the other ones are, but, you know… yeah.
And since I hate leaving you without anything to watch or listen to, here’s a little something that I found featuring… well, they say a picture’s worth a thousand! I’ll just say that the video’s song is from the recent anime Shinryaku! Ika Musume (aka the inelegantly westernized ”Squid Girl”) and I *think* performed by the comedy dance troupe (???) OK GO!
Whatever the case, actual or synced, their dance over the show’s Opening Theme is pretty hilarious, especially after having watched the series itself. I’m pretty sure that Ika Musume will be my favorite anime from 2010, it was that consistently entertaining! It was one of the very few titles to break through that mechanical limitation of ratings and reviews to make me feel that I really loved it, which puts it well north of 10 on the ten-scale into the realm of “best-loved” anime. And Ika herself… <3
Here’s a subbed promotional video that offers the premise in just around two minutes:
I’ll write more on Ika Musume soon, but for now there’s more unpacking/sorting/arranging to do!
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS ON WINNING THE 2010 WORLD SERIES!!!
A native son and fan since forever, waiting for forever, it seemed. They might not have been the “best” team in the league, but in the end, they were
My history as a Giants fan is a long (and frustrating one), so I’ll leave all the reportage to those other sites, like the S.F. Gate, which has a dedicated Giants’ page plus some pics of the celebratory parade. Sure wish I was able to go, but am presently stuck in a valley about a hundred miles away with no gas
Which brings me to my next point, which is to say that I’ll most likely be moving again at month’s end, out of the valley and much closer to the City of my birth (not to mention that of my ancestors, one of who came here early enough to be included in the 1850 Census records!). I’m also dealing with a whole other host of issues, none of which would be interesting to relate (or for you to read LOL), but which would explain why my Posts have been few lately, and might be sparse ahead as well, depending. Simply put: VERY BUSY!!! But I’ll be writing one or two soon, probably the intended Halloween anime post, followed by a review of the first quarter of the Fall anime season.
Why all this anime stuff? Because it’s ENTERTAINMENT! Besides, have you watched TV lately?
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?
"When early youth had passed, he left his cold fireside and alienated home to seek strange truths in undiscovered lands. Many a wide waste and tangled wilderness has lured his fearless steps; and he has bought with his sweet voice and eyes, from savage men, his rest and food." (from 'Alastor, or, The Spirit of Solitude', by Percy Bysshe Shelley,1815)
For info on our novel UNBOUND, please see our website in the Blogroll!
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