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 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
I was going to add an addendum to the previous post showing a few of the more interesting Openings for the shows listed below, but I kinda got carried away sidetracked during the typing of this. I didn’t want to put up too many vids in one post, and after my Visual Art’s/Key pieces it would have run pretty long. Make that very long. Now it’s short. -er :-P So basically, now this entry’s just an excuse to show the Angel Beats! OP since I’m a sucker for girls playing pianos (see the ef – a fairytale of the two trailer later on in this post), and it’s a typically great VA/K composition that I’d like to share. Plus, I love Angel/Tenshi/Kanade, or whatever name she’s going by! One of my newest favorite characters…
Sticking to the tried-and-true Visual Art’s/Key formula of having outstanding OPs and EDs, it sounds like they have another winning song on their hands. Performed by Lia, the Angel Beats! theme (”My Soul; Your Beats!”) carries on the tradition of very strong musical “bookends” for their shows, as the following samples will demonstrate. (The studio that created the above anime is P.A. Works, and the following shows are done by Kyoto Animation.)
(Before we embark, let me warn you against reading any of the YouTube comments if you manage to go there; too many losers and assholes enjoy spoiling these precious stories there. The Visual Art’s/Key stories are intricate and interwoven both technically and emotionally, replete with deeply felt tragedy and happiness, sorrow and joy which you won’t want ruined for you, or the experience lessened for you in any way. Don’t give those worthless miscreants the pleasure of reading their infantile remarks and spoil yourself in the process.)
That being said, first up is an extended version of the OP from Air, again composed by Key and performed by Lia, the moving “Tori no Uta”:
I should point out that a large part of each series’ budget goes toward the song production; there’s a lot of money generated from singles and CDs featuring anime OPs and EDs (not to mention Insert Songs) and their airplay over radio. Therefore the OPs and EDs quality oftentimes outshines much of the regular programming! Here’s another very popular song; Lia performs the gorgeous OP from Clannad ~After Story~ “Toki wo Kizamu Uta”:
Their (that is, Visual Art’s/Key & Kyoto Animation) work on Kanon’s OP is certainly memorable, as this clean (no text) Blu-Ray version for “Last Regrets” clearly shows, sung by Ayana this time (’cos Lia apparently can’t be everywhere). And if you find this version too short, here’s a link to an earlier post that includes towards the bottom an extended version of “Last Regrets” that will knock your socks off! Well, it will if you’re a Kanon fan (Plus, it has the lyrics in English and romanji as well.)
…not to mention their collaboration on the Kanon ED, entitled ”Kaze no Tadoritsuku Basho” (”The Place Where the Wind Arrives”). Pay attention as you listen, if you will, to the animation, backgrounds, and expressive features and mannerisms of these wonderful characters in this special extended version, and then go out and find the anime and watch it! (A word of advice: To get the highest detail (highly suggested), choose 480p from the video’s toolbar; I tried repeatedly to keep it from defaulting to 360p to no avail. Makes a BIIIIG difference!) Also, pay no attention to the brief and pretty lame rap verse near the end and its strange “translation”; just enjoy everything else:
…oddly enough, I can’t get enough of Ayu running to the beat of the song
So, the combination of visuals, direction, and music really make the OP/ED, but more importantly, the deep, well-developed characters even more deliberately drive the emotional impact home. But you’ll have to watch the animes to discover those little secrets It’s no coincidence that the Triple Crown of the Visual Art’s/Key titles of Air, Kanon, and Clannad are not only among my Top Ten anime of all time, but each features a main character who just happens to be among my top handful of “extra-special beloved girls” among all of anime: Misuzu, Ayu, and Nagisa, respectively. Many of the other characters are up there as well; even though they all start out as mysterious “blank slates”, by the end of each series we get to know them very well, and cherish them, and their stories, quite a lot. (Just check out those colorful li’l Anime News Network links for each shows’ ratings as evidence!) Now Angel Beats! continues in that tradition, although how the story plays out will determine where Angel finishes in that special niche
I mentioned girls playing piano being a weakness… here’s Yuuko (yet another in that select group) from an ef – a fairytale of the two trailer that features clips from both seasons where she speaks to you a little bit (it’s translated). The instrumental music by TENMON is nothing short of breathtaking, and the artwork by Studio SHAFT (what’s with all the capslock???) is sublime; probably their best work…
So yeah… I’m glad that I switched horses in the middle of the stream! Those other Spring 2010 OPs I was going to include just don’t compare, yet they are memorable in their own right. We’ll cover them soon
To my utter (but delighted) surprise and shock, I’ve just read about Michael Lynche’s well-reviewed cover of Kate Bush ’s sublime “This Woman’s Work” on (of all shows) American Idol. Since I rarely watch television at all, and resist everything spurted out by any Hype Machine, I missed it. A small regret, one which I shall attempt to remedy by searching YouTube so that I might share it with you…
Hmm… I’m sure there must be something up by now… Ah! Oh. Well. Here’s one from early March, but nothing from tonight’s show yet. To be honest, I’m not sure if Michael performed TWW again as a “save” or whether he begged his earlier performance be used as his save. Sorry, the article wasn’t clear and neither am I as I don’t watch the show. Still, any offering of Kate’s music into the general public’s perception merits a great big Thank You from myself and Kate’s legion of devoted fans who are all-too-often dismayed at her lack of recognition here in the States. Really. Don’t get me started on that.
ANYWAY! Here’s a nice clip of Michael Lynche’s performance along with the judges’ remarks; he even won Simon over!
Okay, Mike… that wasn’t bad, and as I said, Big Props for picking it out
No doubt his point of reference was Maxwell’s cover of it (I’m merely assuming though based on the lack of Kate’s exposure here), and since this clip from MTV’s “Unplugged” series includes the lyrics, I’ll post it here:
NOW. If you want to see how it’s really done… here’s Kate’s version:
/rant: You know… I have to say: I think that the “music video” has single-handedly ruined the pleasure of listening to music. Not a popular notion, but as far as MUSIC goes, it has. True, there are inumerable video visual treats that have been given us over the years, but let’s talk music, shall we? JUST the music. I guarantee you that if you just turn out the lights, close down your eyes, open your mind and ears and listen, with no distractions, that you’ll hear and more importantly, feel, a whole lot more than in simply sitting on a couch with life bustling, lights blaring, and video visuals sucking all the beauty and feeling out of the song, and the lyrics, and the Art-Work of the artist’s performance. Depending upon the song and the source, of course. Unfortunately, so much music in recent years has become, as Frank Zappa once wisely observed, “product”, and the performers such self-conscious and sensationalistic ego-strokers, that the actual art of music-making has become in danger of producing all flash and little substance.
Give yourself in to the music as much as the Artist has done in creating and presenting you with their Work. Especially this woman’s work!
As she says on her very first record, “Please feel it.”
/rant off
Back to business: Here’s a nice montage from the movie that probably best-delivered Kate’s music to the West, John Hughes’ film She’s Having a Baby. Notice the difference in presentation between video and film-making; it offers much of the same sentiment as the above video does (with a bit of preliminary exposition), and is very moving:
BUT… there are some pretty damn good music vids out there to be sure! This is one of my all-time favorites, Kate’s Cloudbusting, featuring another fave, Donald Sutherland, portraying the intriguing figure of Wilhelm Reich, with Kate acting as his son (!), Peter, whose “Book of Dreams” was the inspiration for this song and mini-movie. Symphonyofflowers has thoughtfully provided the lyrics on the video’s page if you’re interested in reading them (and you should be!). Crank it up!
If you need any further proof that Kate is an incredibly gifted Artist then you’re most likely just a bloody cynic and there’s no hope for you. Unless her music’s just not your thing, strokes/folks and all that, which is fine. But she should be properly recognized as a great, unique, illuminating, and beautiful Talent given us; do try to sample Aerial(her most recent album) for proof. You’ll hear nothing like this record ever again, it’s quite safe to say; it’s funny, quixotic, inspired, mournful, happy, even “painterly” and ultimately, exhilarating! To put it short, she’s a Force for Good, beneficient, benevolent, and bountiful. I’ve loved her for years and will continue until the day I die, as I have her Work for constant companionship and comfort. Thank God.
There’s plenty of hateful, materialistic, and/or mean-spirited music out there, and for some reason it’s selling and very popular. I’m sure that there’s no connection at all to the rapidly-spiraling descent of humanity into malevolence, bleakness, and madness, right? Right. *cough*
“Ooh, I just know that something good is going to happen
I don’t know when
But just saying it could even make it happen…”
Light up your life, will you? And spread it around. Hate the hate… and not each other. Illuminate the World, not darken it!
“I want to be up on the roof
I’ve gotta be up on the roof
Up, up high on the roof
Up, up on the roof
In the sun…”
Times are hard; I don’t need to tell you that. If you’re working, have family and friends, and reasonable shelter, then you have most of what you need. If you still feel that you’re lacking, then getting the rest is up to you. But sometimes just getting the basics can be a daunting task, especially in this economy, business climate, and plain spitefulness and maliciousness of the world in general. People can be so hard, just like the times they live in…
Anyway, enough of that despair and pessimism. And we should say “ENOUGH!” but we don’t and continue on our not-so-merry way. At times during my nine-month and ongoing job-hunting (in an 18.9% unemployment rate location), I’ve felt like just giving up. It’s been a constant and growing life-or-death pressure from behind to determinedly keep on going, ever mindful of the chasm that plunges on either side of my crumbling path as I climb that damn mountain over and over again, feeling just like Sisyphus. Aside from my stubborness and desperation though, one song has always kept me going, instilling me with hope and faith and reassurance. For all those reading who are feeling equally desperate, despairing, and hopeless, I’d like to share this wonderful and inspiring song with you.
Written by Peter Gabriel and performed with Kate Bush, it’s called “Don’t Give Up.”
DON’T GIVE UP
In this proud land we grew up strong
We were wanted all along
I was taught to fight, taught to win
I never thought I could fail
No fight left or so it seems
I am a man whose dreams have all deserted
I’ve changed my face, I’ve changed my name
But no one wants you when you lose
Don’t give up
‘cos you have friends
Don’t give up
You’re not beaten yet
Don’t give up
I know you can make it good
Though I saw it all around
Never thought I could be affected
Thought that we’d be the last to go
It is so strange the way things turn
Drove the night toward my home
The place that I was born, on the lakeside
As daylight broke, I saw the earth
The trees had burned down to the ground
Don’t give up
You still have us
Don’t give up
We don’t need much of anything
Don’t give up
’cause somewhere there’s a place
Where we belong
Rest your head
You worry too much
It’s going to be alright
When times get rough
You can fall back on us
Don’t give up
Please don’t give up
Got to walk out of here
I can’t take anymore
Going to stand on that bridge
Keep my eyes down below
Whatever may come
And whatever may go
That river’s flowing
That river’s flowing
Moved on to another town
Tried hard to settle down
For every job, so many men
So many men no-one needs
Don’t give up
’cause you have friends
Don’t give up
You’re not the only one
Don’t give up
No reason to be ashamed
Don’t give up
You still have us
Don’t give up now
We’re proud of who you are
Don’t give up
You know it’s never been easy
Don’t give up
’cause I believe there’s a place
There’s a place where we belong
******
Yes, there is. Don’t give up, and keep fighting. There are LOTS of things to fight for these days… survival is just the first. No one said that it would be easy, but if more of us keep fighting for change, then we can make it so, and hopefully life will become easier. Keep hoping and try to think positively, okay?
Oops! It’s been a little too long since I’ve added anything new here. Busy busy busy! Since I’m positive that you don’t want to read about how absolutely suckish job-hunting is, and probably don’t want to have my novel pushed in your face (AGAIN), how about something relaxing to watch, hm?
Well, maybe not too relaxing! At least, not by the time we’ve finished
I’ve been searching YouTube out for new AMVs of exceptionally high quality, and after a futile hunt finally came across a bunch of ‘em! I’ll keep descriptions to a minimum this time out; these are merely posted for your viewing enjoyment and hopefully turn you onto top-notch anime you might want to check out (and hopefully buy). These are clips of both very talented editing and equally-as-important music of quality to match it. (These AMV posts aren’t tagged under “Music Is Life” for nothing!) Instead of going on about these exceptional anime, I’ll simply include a link to the featured show’s Encyclopedia page at Anime News Network so that you can check its synopsis out. More technical info (including credits) can be found at the video’s YT page.
A while back I’d included a True TearsAMV that shortly came down, but happily found it last night. The quality isn’t quite as good as the first, but still is dramatic, thanks to the instrumental playing behind (and with) it. As always, expand the screen to Full-Size, and if available, choose High Quality, then crank up the sound, because the music is the half of it
Next up is a beautifully-orchestrated piece that features the story of Air. This anime is easily in my inner circle of most-precious favorites; such an incredibly poignant and moving series…
Keeping to the same studio as the AIR anime comes the following Kanon AMV featuring Shiori’s arc, and perfectly edited by KholdStare. Kanon is in a virtual tie with AIR as being an “untouchable” fave. Short and very sweet…
Let’s ramp it up a notch with a video featuring Eureka Seven, another excellent series that combines romance, mecha, and character development into a very memorable experience:
Here’s an interesting, if a bit dark, alternate take on the story of The Girl Who Leapt Through Time, which is a movie that I’d recommend highly if the genre is your thing. Note how it combines scenes from the movie and then adds its own dark little twist:
Speaking of movies, how many of you have seen (or even heard of) Paprika? What a remarkable mind-bender it is! Really indescribable, so allow this AMV to give you a few not-so-subtle hints:
Another very weird anime was the short six-episode series referred to as FLCL, or Fooly-Cooly, whichever you prefer. You’ll find that its title really doesn’t matter once you’ve gotten into the story (if possible; it’s something of a challenge). Hereyago:
Lastly, here’s a fittingly-disturbing AMV featuring Death Notethat goes a long way towards delivering that peculiar Death Note experience, all in 4:44. Can’t get much darker than this!
That oughta hold you until next time, but please do feel free to leave a comment as I’m always interested in reading your opinions (just click the “Comments” beneath the title) :-D
Hope you enjoyed all the beauty and madness! There’s plenty more where that came from, too…
In this second in the AMV’d series, I wanted to cut right to the chase and get to one of my favorite anime-stories, ef – a fairytale of the two. This is the over-arcing title of the two seasons thus far, namely ef – a tale of memories, and its sequel, ef – a tale of melodies, which were all bundled together into one tale in the excellent game of that original title. This show is definitely for those drama/romance lovers in the audience, because it caters to both equally, tossing in a few tasty mysteries as well as its various triangles. Along with a couple of intense scenes, I’ve chosen some fan-made videos for you to watch, and hopefully will manage to get some of you to try the series out, which is the main purpose of an AMV, right?
For all of you who’ve already seen the series, I hope you’ll enjoy the clips; for others, I have to issue a warning about spoilers: there’ll be lots And try to watch them in Full Screen and highest-quality for added tastiness
So, we’ll try to take these in order, with ef – a tale of memories (hereafter known as efMemo) first up. The cast includes the two main male characters Hiro and Renji, twin sisters Kei and Chihiro, and Miyako, another girl who competes with Kei for Hiro’s attention. Hiro grew up playing with the twins, and how Kei and he view each other is central to their relationship, further complicated by his friend, a videographer named Kyusuke, who is studying Kei as a subject for his film project.
Renji has fallen for aspiring writer (as he is) Chihiro, and their story is complicated (apparently) by her guardian, named Yuu, who is very protective of her, and for good reason: she is dealing with a nightmarish condition brought on by an accident she had as a child where she can only remember events within a 13-hour window; all else before that vanishes from her memory unless she writes it all down in her faithful diary, and reads it before sleeping so that she might remember upon awakening. It makes more sense in the series, I’m sure ;-)
Let’s see how they all play together, shall we? To the tune of “Falling Slowly” from the film “Once”:
The animation and design done by Studio SHAFT is remarkable in this series; the director, Shin Oonuma, really takes control and spins his own web of symbolism, foreshadowing, mystery, despair and delight in every scene. The expert use of color, light, geometrics, storytelling, atmosphere, music and scenery fed every aesthetic hunger I had; I was utterly captivated throughout, and comfortably numb in the end. If you’re a sucker for a truly Romantic tale (in spades!), with just a touch of mysterious goings-on going on, then you need look no further for satisfaction. ef is a masterpiece!
Season two, ef – a tale of melodies (hereafter efMelo) fairly continues alongside and right after season one, focusing on a different set of protagonists, while the previous characters take something of a back seat as these ones do in the first. Here we have Renji’s neighbor Kuze, a professional violinist who’s on something of “a retreat”, and Kei’s good buddy, the bubbly and energetic Mizuki, who’s taken a liking to Kuze. And here we find out something more about that mysterious nun-like figure, who enjoys throwing paper airplanes and handing out keys to the school’s rooftop, which, as it turns out, is a pretty special place… The video is backed up by The Afters’ “My Beautiful Love”, and is most appropriate:
Now that we’ve met most of the cast, how about a little eye-and-ear candy? SPOILERS AHEAD, so if averse to them and are interested in watching the shows, don’t get spoiled! Once secrets are out of the bag, they can’t go back in unless you have a memory like Chihiro’s ;-)
Yuu, Chihiro’s guardian, is seen oftentimes in a cathedral, where he implies that he is “waiting for someone”. Also, as in the first season, we come across a young woman garbed in nun’s attire, also at times in a cathedral, where she is “waiting to meet somone”. Her name is Yuuko. She also appears from time to time to advise much of the cast, when they are at their darkest times. Yuu met her long ago, when a paper airplane that she tossed from a rooftop landed at his feet. And thus began the fairy tale of the two, and the other tales are those that they tell each other…
The tale of Kuze and Mizuki is alternately upbeat and despairing. Kuze, you see, is dying. He is in the process of parting with everyone and everything, his apartment bare except for a wall full of masques and his violin case. That’s pretty much it, until Mizuki comes along, and refuses to let him have his way… Here’s the overview, a video done to Taylor Swift’s “Love Story”:
You wanna change of pace? Here is something completely different, provided in order to focus on the quality of the acting talent: A pair of emotionally-wrenching scenes that are essentially monologues, expertly delivered by Kuze’s voice actor Kenji Hamada. Try to read the words quickly, but concentrate on the sincerity of the voicing of Kuze’s emotional states. Make no mistake, this IS acting; it’s not some guy just reading lines off a script!
When Mizuki refuses to understand his situation to his satisfaction, Kuze decides that it’s time to get serious with her in a blistering verbal assault. Note how the music (courtesy of the immensely talented and satisfying TENMON) subtly supports the emotional pitch, and how SHAFT’s trademark direction and animation takes no prisoners in its intense delivery. So devastating, and so draining! (There are several of these kinds of scenes in ef.) In the second clip, alone as he wishes, he deals with wreckage of his consequences…
Okay. Back to the music
Here’s a spoiler-heavy clip that focuses on Yuu and Yuuko (who from the first season became one of my all-time fave anime-girls), done to the beautiful “Tears of an Angel” by RyanDan:
And last, but certainly not least, is Chihiro and Renji’s ”Paper Image” video done by Koopiskeva in his usual top-of-the-line AMV-making; it’s probably my favorite AMV ever (and something like the fourth time I’ve posted it here LOL). Backed by the sublime “Gravity” by Sara Bareilles, it is breathtaking in its beauty:
I hope you enjoyed this installment of AMV’d; it’s my hope with this series to makeforcecoerceentice Visitors to watch, discuss, and eventually buy the featured animes in these Posts. Hopefully ef – a fairytale of the two will soon be licensed for release in North America so that we can finally purchase it! I would definitely and without a doubt leap on it upon its availability here, and I hope that any self-respecting Romantic would do the same :-D
Just a quick (EDIT: Hah!) little schizoid post to wish a Merry Christmas to the ever-welcome Visitor
This Post is best read late at night, and especially so if you love Kate Bush as I and her many KateFancies and LoveHounds do *waves to Kate fans drifting in like snowflakes* And for those impending winter season anime fans wandering in, a little treat or three for your patience at the end (at least, if you like Kanon and “Canon in D” )…
Since pictures tell a thousand words, and words just… kinda pile up (at least around these here parts LOL), moving pictures must multiply that another thousand-fold! Since I’m feeling lazy (yum… eggnog!) I thought that a few videos would do well in conveying my Yuletide wishes to you. So, light a fire (preferably in a fireplace!), nog your eggs with a dash of brandy (or five), and let’s all get comfy in a warm and soothing room… and for an appetizer, listen to Kate singing “Home For Christmas”:
Nice little ditty, eh? (AND… to those aforementioned Kate-fanciers, you have found the hidden and secret Kate Bush Page here, haven’t you? Hint: you won’t have to go to the Unbound website to find it! Now, no more hints! You’ve got to do your homework, haven’t you? )
Let’s get serious and settle down for the main course, and watch her perform the lovely “December Will Be Magic Again”, taken from her 1979 Christmas Special. Turn up the heat, light up the candle lights, and melt like the snow…
If curious about the lyrics, they’re on the video’s YouTube page, as are those of the following set; many thanks to Symphonyofflowers (a fellow KateFancy from the HomeGround Forum) for the wonderful vids :-D
So, are you feeling warm and soothed yet? How ’bout something to take care of that, hmm? Because Kate is so Warm and Soothing… well, at least when she needs and wants to be! And here, she does indeed…
Man, she even warms up a slideshow! Speaking of, and so as to help keep the cold out from your room and your heart, something to warm your Place up considerably: “In the Warm Room”…
Ah… that was swell! *sighs contentedly*
I think everyone’s feeling a little sleepy now, so to send you off to dreamland… Pachelbel’s “Canon in D” performed against the anime it inspired, called fittingly enough, Kanon. Both the song and the show are among my Most Favorite Things. Coincidence? I think not…
For the uninitiated Kate fans still hanging around, the following slideshow Anime Music Video introduces the Viewer to each of the girls first: Nayuki, Shiori, Makoto, Mai, and Ayu, and then Nayuki again followed by Yuichi, the male lead (lucky fellow!) (well, he is for the most part in this dramatic, funny, tragic, and heart-wrenching/-warming series)…
Hmm… my plan to share a clip from the show where the significance of the Pachelbel piece was explained is foiled; it’s gone! Agh! I’ll have to make it up to you: Last year I made a Post about Kanon/Canon entitled“Changes… in ‘D’”, where I transposed the short-but-critical dialogue mentioned above. And yeah, the actual clip was yanked But please do read it if curious about the deeper meanings in that connection, and the illuminating Comments from Max that follow it ;-)
Well then, a bit of a change in plans; care for a little dessert? Since snow seems to be almost everywhere this time of year, how about a tour around “that snowy city” of Kanon’s, and listen to the extended version of the beautiful opening theme “Last Regrets” while we’re at it? Oh, and glory at the sheer beauty of this acclaimed masterpiece:
...and since you've been so very good this year, the lyrics in both Romaji and English (thanks to animelyrics.com!):
Original / Romaji Lyrics
English Translation
arigatou iwanaiyo
zutto shimatte oku
sayonara ha kagerinai
yume no ato shizuka ni oritatsu
I won't say thank you
I'll always keep it inside
It won't be a sad goodbye
Silently, the aftermath of the dream rises
ryouteni ha furisosogu kakera wo
itsumademo itsumademo daite
saiko made waratteru tsuyosa wo
mou shitteita
Always, always embracing
The fragments that rained into my hands
I already had the strength
To keep smiling to the end
ohayou mezame ha
mabushikute kanashii
sayonara yurusenai
bokutachi no yowasa ga yokatta
Good morning
Waking is dazzlingly sad
I'm glad that our weakness
Wouldn't let us say goodbye
futari ni ha arifureta yasashisa
hana no youni koi no youni utsurou
hikui kumo kaze wo matsu shizukesa
mou kikoenai
Like love, this routine kindness between us
Blooms like a flower
The low clouds, the silence waiting for the wind
I can no longer hear them
ryouteni ha furisosogu kakera wo
itsumademo itsumademo daite
saiko made waratteru tsuyosa wo
mou shitteita
Always, always embracing
The fragments that rained into my hands
I already had the strength
To keep smiling to the end
mou nakanai mou nakanai nakanai...
I won't cry anymore, I won't cry anymore, I won't cry...
Finally (oh damn, my formatting's changed and I forgot what the default is -bear with me!!!)... an aperitif!
Here's Ayu's short (no pun intended!)"Seasons" monologue and scene, voiced by her seiyuu (and my favorite) Yui Horie:
WARNING: MAJORKanon spoilers ahead; don't view if you plan to watch it!
This is, for those who've seen it, a cherished scene, and so this little Christmas present-o
Thanks for reading, and again I'd like to wish a very Merry Christmas to you and yours,
and forward my best wishes for a prosperous (however you may count it) New Year!
May the many days to come bring you Joy, whatever Season you celebrate
I thought I’d start up a new series that features a favorite anime as represented by some of the more readily-available (*cough YouTube cough*) AMVs out there. Today’s initial installment will deal with one of the more unique and incomparable series made, namely 1998’s Serial Experiments Lain. With initial character designs by Yoshitori ABe, who also did those for Haibane Renmei, and at times startling, disturbing and quixotic direction by Ryutaro Nakamura, Lain is a psychedelic cornucopia of visual and aural sensations. The story begins with a classmate committing suicide, and then days later seems to be sending messages via the Internet about now existing in a place called “the Wired” where she claims to have found God. Dealing with (among many other things) reality, identity, and being, it’s probably best not to try to explain what it’s about, as different viewers will come away with their own interpretations. For those unafraid of spoilers, the Wikipedia has an interesting article on it here.
One of Lain’s elements that is immediately noticeable is the use of sound, both in effects, music, and even silence. Even the ominous and everpresent humming of electrical overhead wires lends much to the atmosphere. While it’s not an AMV, this clip of the initial seven minutes from the first episode will give you a taste of Lain’s apparently-strange world, and introduce you to the theme song, “Duvet” which you’ll hear more of later on (suggestion: watch in Full Screen and High Quality):
It was tough coming up with AMVs of quality in both presentation and especially song choice, as music is so subjective. I wanted to have a sort of progression as well, so that the flow reflects the series movements. So let’s start out with the intriguing character of Lain herself, shall we? A quiet, introspective, and shy girl, she gets a computer upgrade courtesy of her enthusiast-father, who has no clue as to the “monster” he gives birth to. It’s not long before Lain surpasses his own expertise and is soon connected to The Wired. There she encounters… well, let’s let the AMV show you. This one’s quite pixelicious so you may want to just keep it normal-sized; it’s here mainly for the song, “Mad World” by Gary Jules, and the excellent scene choices by its creator:
The next AMV, accompanied by Natalie Imbruglia’s “Smoke,” deals more with Lain’s immediate circle of family and friends, and the increasingly disorienting world which she inhabits. Her parental units and sister are all seemingly detached from her, but her closest friend Alice stays with her through thick and thin; she’s just about the only reliant one she knows.
This next award-winning AMV is backed by “Cells” by The Servant, and depicts Lain’s place(s) in her environment(s), and her shifting sense of self. Or should that be “selves”?
Finally, we have a spoilerish but excellent AMV that focuses on several key scenes from the series: the “men in black” set up as opposition to Lain’s explorations, the harrowing nightclub shooting scene where a deranged gunman takes aim at Lain, and a confrontation near the end with Alice and …?… It’s hard to describe anything as spoilers with Serial Experiments Lain as it will constantly keep you scratching your head and trying desperately to un-blow your mind! This video is backed by Frou Frou’s “Psychobabble,” some might say quite fittingly
That should be enough to entice you, assuming your genres line up accordingly! Needless to say, “psychological” is at the top with this anime It’s really an incomparable series, and as I mentioned above, the sound alone is pretty amazing. For the first third of episode 11 there is no dialogue, and aside from sound effects a feedback-distorted guitar is the only ground you’ll have to accompany the disorienting imagery.
And speaking of music (kind of), here’s the “live” version of “Duvet” as performed by Boa. This song is one of my favorites, and I just can’t get enough of it! First up, the lyrics, written by (and sung by) Jasmine Rodgers:
“And you don’t seem to understand
A shame you seemed an honest man
And all the fears you hold so dear
Will turn to whisper in your ear
And you know what they say might hurt you
And you know that it means so much
And you don’t even feel a thing
I am falling
I am fading
I have lost it all
And you don’t seem the lying kind
A shame that I can read your mind
And all the things that I read there
Candle lit smile that we both share
And you know I don’t mean to hurt you
But you know that it means so much
And you don’t even feel a thing
I am falling
I am fading
I am drowning, help me to breathe
I am hurting
I have lost it all
I am losing, help me to breathe”
Now you can sing along!
I LOVE watching Jasmine dance Think I’ve got a(nother) crush
Hope you enjoyed this installment; now go out and buy it if you like what you can sample here (and there). It really belongs in your collection, if the type is your thing ;-)
I’ve already written about my personal “Master” (other descriptors fail me), Leonard Cohen, in a post entitled “The Reason I Write” (which has an ass-kicking live video of “Who By Fire” with Sonny Rollins on saxophone) but recent events have conspired to provoke another. On his current tour the legendary Poet became ill and collapsed during a performance of “Bird on the Wire”, as reported here by Rolling Stone magazine. It’s a damn shame that this Man, who has worked so tirelessly over the years cannot pause to take a rest without having to undertake a huge tour in order to recoup losses from an alleged pilfering by a one-time manager of his retirement fund. Some parasites are so shameless…
And so, in gratitude, let’s revisit Leonard’s career, one that has produced an overwhelmingly moving and beautiful body of work that is cemented in the annals of music, and branded with fire into the pages of purest Poetry. His gifts to us are immeasurable. He IS our Man.
First, in the early and olden days from when I first discovered him, a live rendition of his “The Stranger Song” from 1967. Upon buying a collection of his poetry at 14 or 15, his writing inspired me to express myself through such careful words and sublime imagery. His poetry struck me deeper than that of any poet I’ve read since; his religious/spiritual/metaphysical symbology spoke to me in ways undefinable, and intuitively connected his words to my soul despite his Jewish mysticism and my Catholic catechism. I didn’t know what he meant; inside I did; I got it. But don’t ask me to explain. It’s like a dream… the firmer you grasp it the quicker it escapes you. So, just Listen. Calm your mind; be not in a hurry; interpret as you will… and see the Man with Vision, and hear the words the words the words the words; the images don’t matter… and see the tear drop from his eye, it’s clear that he can feel it. And so can you you see, that’s why he’s telling you these things, that we all know we share, and we’re all Strangers…
Leonard has an almost hypnotic speaking voice… enjoy this live performance of “Chelsea Hotel #2″ that includes his humorous and poignant little story that sets up the song, accompanied by video of the actual hotel. Old-timers will certainly recognize who this song is actually written about and for, and if you’re patient and slow down and Listen, he will tell you ;-)
’Round about 1987, he gifted us with what is (probably) my favorite L.C. album, I’m Your Man. So many great songs, but this one spoke to me in many ways, both in fore-and-hindsight. This song could be my Special Theme, my driving force, my message just to you. But Leonard beat me to it, as you’d guess a Master might do. Here’s an alternate semi-live video for First We Take Manhattan:
DAMMIT! Several of his videos have been “disabled by request” BASTARDS!!! I guess TPTB don’t want me sharing these videos with you. WAY TO SPREAD THE MUSIC, YOU @#!$%&*^!!!
Ahem. Well, you really have to see this official video for “Dance Me to the End of Love”; it’s so touching and thought-provoking. I was going to type up a treatise on the song’s subject matter, but without the video it’s useless. So, just view it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y_PIadFsvDk
Yay, another official and quite-different video for it! Perseverence furthers
That felt good.
I’ll wrap this up with what is most likely my favorite song from him, the luminous and transcendant “Hallelujah”. It has everything that has made his music, and his poetry, so special and ever-lasting for so long. Hallelujah is a song that has kept growing richer by the year, and enhanced by the many artists who pay tribute to him by covering it. In a notable contrast to his original work the song seems to have now taken on a life of its own, as seen in this live video from Glastonbury in 2o08:
Such a Remarkable Man, and still so vital, humble, and eloquent even in spite of time and betrayal pressing down on his shoulders. His is a presence that will not be dimmed. Keep it up, Leonard, and stay with us while we abide here together; thank you for making our lives so much richer. Long may you live :-D
Welcome to Alastor's Reflection, the re-imagining of Fingal's Cave; a much more suitable environment than that poor soul's indwelling. Fingal resumes his journey in the pages of UNBOUND, while another solitary Spirit remains in this Place to muse with his Muse on the pursuit of "Life, Joy, Empire, and Victory," and the beauties therein...
But please do read it if curious about the deeper meanings in that connection, and the illuminating Comments from Max that follow it ;-)