I think you’ll find it much more than we first let on, and hope...Random Updates & Overviews & Previews of Coming Distractions: Something Good is Going to Happen :-)
Ξ January 12th, 2012 | → 0 Comments | ∇ Music is Life, Randomness, The Anime Annals, UNBOUND, BOUND, and my other creations |
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 ;-)
Or you can just read a previous ef Post here and enjoy its AMVs, or search The Haystack for previous ef mentions :-D
Thanks for stopping by, please check back, and have a very Happy and Prosperous New Year