METANORN

Durarara!! – 11

Kyokai — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 09:56:30 +0000

Paint the town red with the power of Dollars, yo~!

Leaving behind one of the biggest cliffhanger last week, this time when a big secret was revealed, even more puzzles are added to the list. It all starts with an eerie bloody moon and thematic music to match. It seems something horrific is about to unfurl and paint the town red.

Yagiri Seiji is going mad without Celty-Harima, while his sister is plotting to find and kill her. She is talking with her assistant (anybody remembers his name?) about who had her, when she gets a call from Mikado to set a deal.

We switch to the downtown of Ikebukro, where a lot of people are gathering (some, checking their watch, as if waiting for something). Simon is selling sushi intently, while Shizuo lets out some deep thought. Quick to throwing things and easy to inflame, Simon stops him without any trouble. What do you think, if Shizuo is violence incarnate, from where Simon gets his strength? I sure missed Shizu-chan’s signature move of throwing cigarette and crushing it with his foot.

There were a lot of pan shots in this episode, jumping haphazardly from one scene to the other. But, it was done right because some of the characters were moving towards a revelation that needed all or no pre-thinking in different scenarios:

– Celty wondering about the purpose of her existence. Coming to terms with the ‘what if’ she could not get her head back

– Yagiri Namie’s meeting with Mikado

– Celty- Harima’s chance meeting with Dotachin gang

– Shinra proposing to Celty

– Celty finally hearing Celty-Harima’s response of her own name

– Mikado revealed as the only remaining mastermind behind Dollars

– The many faces of Dollars revealed

I hated Namie’s overconfidence from the start of the conversation that stemmed from the presence of her henchmen (biaatch! ). I liked the way Mikado stood his ground though, standing resolute without any hesitation. He only wants the truth from Namie, what her brother did to Harima Mika and what she did with her body and Celty’s head. Namie shows her true colours of more than just being obsessed over her brother. Yare yare~ both siblings are sooo similar… So, all of that for getting in her precious brother’s way? Seriously disturbing indeed! She harbors more than sisterly love for her brother and no wonder Seiji has turned out the way he has. Psycho sibs pair!

Mikado wants to believe in connections! The power in numbers

Namie is quite nonplussed with this ordinary-looking boy’s outburst about what she thinks is every day’s job of making her brother happy and experimenting with human bodies. However, what follows next she never dreamed or even expected. The crowd that was colourless starts to come alive, while the eerie music changes to a built up. I couldn’t take my eyes off the scenes unfolding, too good to be true.

You’ve got mail! Mikado’s message spreads like wildfire

Everyone we already know part of the Dollars get Mikado’s message. Baccano! fans watch out for Miria and Isaac.

sugoi, Sugoi, SUGOIIIIIIIIIIII!

So, how did a simple boy from a small town became the leader of Tokyo’s Dollars? Here’s the interesting story, which got hinted in the last episode. Mikado has always been about ‘making connections’. When his life turned to mundane, he found an escape in the online world.

He made new friends and started the idea of Dollars, spreading online rumours of a group that really existed. The rumours spread and so did the numbers on the password protected Dollars site. Even when password was not leaked, site members kept on increasing (Izaya can be behind this). News started appearing about people pretending to be Dollars and intimidating others in RL (a fine example we can find in Takeshi, the previous bald and last epi’s regent hairdo doofus). The originators of Dollars left Mikado in the dust, while new members kept on joining the site. However, Mikado didn’t lose hope and kept on clearing the name of Dollars: “They are really not bad people; some positive things should be done so that the bad stuff is forgotten. How about collecting trash, cleaning up graffiti, small good deeds?”

His work really paid off, even if he couldn’t believe it at first

I would call Mikado goody-two-shoes, in a nice way. He wants to make a difference, even if it starts in a small way but he believes that a little deed of goodness would grow and spread throughout. And that is what happened. Namie thought she was all that but a teenage kid with brains checkmates her in her own game. It was awesome and quite satisfying to see Dollars colourless group coming alive and in such a huge number.

Mikado’s mail to all Dollars members was simple: “Anyone not looking at their phones is your enemy. Just stare at them, do not attack.” (Izaya sure is having fun with all of this! ) Namie and her henchmen are dumbstruck with the crowd’s force but there is more to unfold.

Mikado had his own plans of distractions with Celty in return of her meeting Celty-Harima. Hearing her own name from Celty-Harima’s mouth, Celty loses it completely.

She finally accepts the fact that she would remain headless—something that Shinra wanted for some time—but that would make her a monster; a freak of nature. She embraces her inner demon that gives voice to her even when she doesn’t have a mouth to speak from.

The crowd becomes a mob, eye-witnessing a living urban legend in their midst

The end is quite abrupt and filled with kazillion question marks, which has become a signature of this series.

I always thought Seiji was a bit cuckoo in the head but his obsession has reached new heights when he tracked down Mikado :kill. Who would save him now? Shizuo, Simon, Dotachin gang, any random Dollars member can take care of this. All in all, again a helluva show. But banzai for Shinra, calmly proposing to Celty!

The flow of this episode was more than gritty with frazzled edges. It all connected in the end yet I could see in my imagination, many threads opening up as if a spider web incomplete. Just when we thought, all answers were with Mikado, we find there is so much more to be revealed. What would not happen now that Namie knows about Mikado’s identity? What of Celty-Harima? Would Celty remain stable after embracing her identity of a Dullahan without a head? Would Mikado tell Kida his true identity, now that Celty and Izaya know?

The truth about Mikado was somewhat similar to Shizuo’s strength reveal. Who would have thought, getting truckloads of fractures and sprains would make a person stronger than hundred men? In Mikado’s case, who would have thought an online chat group would come up with the formidable plan for Dollars? The “interesting-level” of this anime is getting higher by each episode. Too much to think about and mull over.

Update: Check out Limone sensei’s take on Orihara Izaya. I swear he sounds like Kamiya Hiroshi! He performs Bakemonogatari’s “Renai circulation” in a very moe-Izaya voice. Song is riddled with Durarara!! dialogues from the original Seiyuu. Don’t blame me if this goes to your head and you can’t ever see Izaya again with the same eyes. (It’s stuck in my head, fuwauwari fuwauwaru…. ) — tipped by Dashelgr

Kobato. – 22

NJR — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 06:00:29 +0000

Heart-touching CLAMP-ness…

One of the best episodes, if not the best episode so far, of this anime (In the same level as the 13 episode, that was awesome too). The last episodes were great too, it is really saddening that here they only got to episode 5 T.T After all, this series picked up its pace from episode 13 onward in my opinion. Also, this episode featured the diabolically evil Ushagi-san, that with each appearance it becomes even more creepier (It must be the laugh or its perpetual grin xD)

It started with an incredibly sweet dream sequence while a piano version of Ashita Kuru Hi played. I always find this song fitting, and this version is just beautiful like the OST itself. Also it does raise some questions regarding the place where Kobato wants to go, and seems to suggest some father-daughter relationship here (An incarnation in another world of Syaoran, I mean Fujimoto?) Too bad she couldn’t remember anything, but it is Kobato so I can forgive her and also, this…

Awww! Kobato is cute even sleeping! She even got Ioryogi to blush in one scene! But poor Ioryogi though, he can’t win against the Fujibato-ness (I support it too!) BTW, Piffle Princess owns pizza stores too? What does that monopolic company doesn’t sell?! Maybe that’s why Touya changes jobs so easily, if they are ALL managed by that company that obviously has ulterior motives it would be easy to jump from job to job xD

Fujimoto in this episode shows its stoic and melancholic demeanor instead of the caring personality he started to show in later episodes. The nursery was quite important to him and Sayaka, so no surprises here, and I must admit that I was sad when they demolished the building.

LOLI SAYAKA! And her father seems so kind too! Talking about Touya, we got this! We also got to see how Fujimoto spaces after his quick visit to the nursery and nearly get hits by a car.

Ioryogi, more pissed off than usual (A cue to the manga readers!) , cleverly points out that the cause of Kobato’s sadness and her hurt heart are that she is in love Fujimoto. I actually liked the manga more, as Kobato didn’t receive any hint of this subtlety and realized herself. The whole realization and the preluding-healing were spectacular in the manga. Too bad they skipped that (Or we could get it on the last two episodes I guess…)

AWWWWWWW! (I will try to grab a GIF of this later!)

Then we get to see the nursery being demolished while the Kobato, Sayaka and the kids watch. Fujimoto didn’t went and the tug who was sick and then cured was there demolishing it. While that happens, Genko yells Ioryogi because of its idea of kidnapping Ushagi to force God to extend the deadline (Sounds like the debt of the nursery xD) I support the kidnapping theory though, but sadly Ushagi seems more evil to do that kind of things IMO. ~~Ahh, and Fujimoto has an accident.~~

Ioryogi then has a flashback of the time when he presented itself to a hat-less (Clothless to be exact) Kobato. This supports the theory that Kobato isn’t normal (But if you read the manga you have an idea of what she is)

After the demolition, Kobato gets shocked when Sayaka asks her to take care of Fujimoto because she feels that the nursery absorbed his life. While heading home, she encounters Chise and Chiho that tell her that Fujimoto suffered an accident. With the damage he suffered of the accident, he becomes even more cynical and mean towards Kobato to the point of shouting when she showed concern for him while walking. With a devastated and shocked Kobato, the villain of the story takes the cue and appears…

THERE IT IS! Taunting poor Kobato with its flashy flowers! Leaving an ultimate deadline, he then proceeds to giggle and taunt the begging Ioryogi…

How evil can it be?! Look at its bluffing grin?! What does it think it is?! God?! xD Well, Ushagi refused to extend the deadline and then leaves laughting. This scene perfectly showed how much Ioryogi cares about Kobato (Bah the whole episode did it, as he wanted to kidnap Ushagi!)

Final Impressions:

With how awesome and lovely this episode was, I getting melancholic at the thought of only having 2 episodes left. At least I got the manga to read, that it is quite behind on some issues (The debt for example), so I will survive some months lol

Ahhh! I need to introduce myself! I am NJR, the latest addition to the team of METANORN I suppose. I am from Buenos Aires, Argentina and I will blog a few series here that I watching right now: Bakatest, Kobato, Sora no Woto. Katanagatari appeals me too. I also would like to blog Kobato and Naruto manga chaps. I usually watch all the series I watching near the weekend, so my post would be near the weekend too. I will try to blog them as fast as I could to please everyone.

Anyways, I hope you enjoy my posts and comment! AND thanks to Kanzeon for adding me to the team! Byee-nii!

Kimi Ni Todoke – 23

Kyokai — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 03:52:32 +0000

New Year’s Eve, Sawako and Kazehaya finally on a date!

Previously, Kanzie reviewed Epi 17 of Kimi ni Todoke, after which the Chizuru arc ensued and ended. I won’t go into details but I really loved this small arc that centered on Chizu, Touru and Ryu. It told a sweet tale of puppy love that finally ended with time. I can’t even go and smack Touru for being hidoi! Because he seemed decent (maybe because he resembles Kazehaya?).

So, without any further ado, below are few highlights that I couldn’t miss before I got to Episode 23 review:

Sawako’s adoration for Kazehaya’s bedhead. Kawaaaaaiiiiiiii…!!!

Yano-chin breaking up. =.=’’

We finally see, the Aniki Sanada, Chizu’s first love

The typical Sawako, can’t help but feel friend’s pain

Chizu, finally cries her heart out; Ryu had a big hand in this. (I loved this scene!)

It’s hard to get over the first love, be it puppy love or not. In Chizu’s case, it was very hard for her because she’s been infatuated with him for the longest time. To her, Ryu has only been a friend, but I think even she doesn’t know the extent to which how much she depends on him and how he takes care of her silently. I liked the fact that he was man enough to call his Aniki back for a closure rather than being a jealous boy. Ryu says he’s more of a match for Chizuru and I believe him. It is enough for now that he comforted her when she needed it the most.

PROCEED to the Review of Episode 23 (GIF heavy)

Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood – 48

Kyokai — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 20:39:13 +0000

We bring something old but new to the blog: Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood.

I still remember. I was wide eyed and a bit wet behind the ears when I got fully captivated by the anime fandom. Full Metal Alchemist to-date is still one of those anime which I can get back to any day and be intrigued, amazed and laugh my guts out. It does not need an introduction.

Fullmetal has the right amount of drama, comedy, action and intrigue. The main characters are lovable and to be identified with. There is no young boy or even a girl, who could not get what Ed and Al went through. The loss of loved ones at a young age; the feeling of abandonment and helplessness; when it felt that it couldn’t have been worse, the will to stand up and do something about it. All is one and one is all.

The first installment is still a classic but I have to say that the moment it strayed from the manga, it went on a downward spiral with twists that really didn’t make much sense. Show ▼

When I heard that the franchise is returning and it’s being produced by BONES, I had hopes of it living up to the expectation that the Manga demands. When Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood started airing I finally went back and read up the Manga and felt the story should have been told in the same way rather than the first installment. However, nothing changed in terms of the characters we have come to know and love.

The Fullmetal Alchemist extraordinaire, Edward Elric. Err… Chibi… (I can hear him say, “Oye, Kurra! Urussai!”)

The aspiring Alchemist, Alphonse Elric. Calm and resolute.

The Flame Alchemist, Roy Mustang. Ambitious leader.

The Protector, Riza Hawkeye. Loyal and confidante.

The Automail guru, Winry Rockbell. Warm and strong.

The True Friend, Maes Hughes. Bishie and adorable.

Not just a house wife! Izumi Curtis. Stubborn and strict.

The Missing. Van Hohenheim. Mysterious and distant.

I take a pause here to let all of you know that I was rearing to go on a limb to review all the episodes in one single blog post but when I went and looked through the first 10 episodes, I kinda felt like this >>> <<< Err… 37 more episodes?! Nooooooooooooooooooooo!!!

I want to love blogging about anime not make it a chore. (kanzie made sure that I don’t! XD)

So, I’ve decided that I would keep reviewing the current released episodes regularly but keep on bringing defining moments of the series 10 episodes at a time. By 52^nd Epi review, I would be done with it.

So, getting back to Brotherhood, when it started airing, I had mixed feelings about it. What if it was a dudder? What if, it couldn’t live up to the huge expectations? What if, I come to hate this new anime because characterization was not done right? There were too many ifs and buts; yet, when it finally began, I was swept away with the storyline even more than before.

Here were Ed and Al, fighting the rogue Ice Alchemist as if nothing had changed and they were just gone for a breezy walk in the park.

Of course, Ed’s temperament is same as ever.

The bickering between Mustang and Hughes is usual too.

All but not the least, Ed is still quite touchy about his height and people misunderstanding Al for him.

I was only miffed with the metallic sounding “Fullmetal Alchemist” in the middle of episode. It still goes on, I don’t know why! This is the only thing I can complain about the series.

Episode two onwards, the story becomes a recap of what we already have seen in the first Fullmetal Alchemist anime adaptation:

What led the two brothers to the path of Alchemy? How in the hopes of reviving their deceased mother, they used human transmutation, which took Ed’s arm and leg, while Al’s whole body. Their constant struggle began with the determination of getting their bodies back for good. The first step after getting automail was becoming the dog of the military for Edward.
Their visit to Liore and how they save this city from the clutches of Cornello, the Leto preacher. We also get to see the first glimpse of homunculus: Lust, Envy and Gluttony.
Scar surfaces and so does Shou Tucker and cute Nina. Ed and Al are faced with the grim realities of being a state level alchemist and the level some people go to in order to keep their status.
Ed and Al finally have a face-off with Scar. He is like a mad dog fueled with revenge rather than blood running in his veins. He doesn’t care who Fullmetal Alchemist is, he would like to kill one and all state alchemists. Truth of Ishbaal is revealed, while Mustang and Armstrong intervene in saving the brothers.
With Armstrong, Ed and Al travel back to Resembool to get themselves fixed. We see the headstrong Winry and old Pinako loving both the brothers as family. They meet Marcoh on the way and see the first philosopher’s stone. He tells them about the secret hidden in the central library.

After rushing back to central, to their disappointment they find out that the library burned down. However, they find Sheska, the bookworm, who agrees to write every single book under the name of Tim Marcoh. They discover the truth behind the creation of Philiosopher’s Stone from living souls. They ditch their bodyguards and go to the fifth Laboratory to investigate.

There they find the two murderer souls affixed to armours, Barry the Chopper and Slicer. They fight them but come out bruised, in case of Alphonse, skeptical about his actual existence.

Winry sheepishly visits Ed in the hospital to fix his automail, knowing fully well that it was the missing screw she forgot to add in that caused it to malfunction. We also get to see more of Maes Hughes and his adorable family.

Al confronts Ed about being an artificial soul and gets his butt kicked for the first time by Ed. They reminisce and their bond becomes stronger than ever.

They finally decide to visit their sensei Izumi Curtis in Dublith, scared out of their minds from her. King Bradely pays them a visit in hospital, while Hughes investigates the connection between Ishbal war, Liore and the fifth Laboratory. Before revealing the truth, he is first stabbed by Lust and then shot by Envy. Hughes funeral, his promotion to Brigadier General and Mustang’s reaction was one of the most moving moments alright.

Proceed to the Episode 48 review

Durarara!! Cover Song Vol. 1 – Kida Masaomi

kanzeon — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 06:15:19 +0000

Durarara!! Cover Song Collection /Character Single Vol. 1 – Kida Masaomi (Miyano Mamoru)

Tracklist:

1. Special Voice
2. Linda Linda

>> Download Here

Eden of the East Movie II – OP & ED Single

kanzeon — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 06:02:54 +0000

Higashi no Eden The Movie 2 OP and ED Single – Future Nova / After Laughter by school food punishment

Tracklist:

1. Future Nova
2. After Laughter
3. Light Prayer -Akxmim Remix-

>> Download Here

K-ON! Official Band Yaro-yo! – Pt. 2

tsuiteru — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 02:26:54 +0000

K-ON! Official Band Yaro-yo! Part Two – by Houkago Tea Time and DEATH DEVIL

Tracklist:
1. Fuwa Fuwa Time [StudioMix] (Instrumental)
2. Fuwa Fuwa Time [StudioMix] (Instrumental [-Guitar 1])
3. Fuwa Fuwa Time [StudioMix] (Instrumental [-Guitar 2])
4. Fuwa Fuwa Time [StudioMix] (Instrumental [-Keyboard])
5. Fuwa Fuwa Time [StudioMix] (Instrumental [-Bass])
6. Fuwa Fuwa Time [StudioMix] (Instrumental [-Drums])
7. Maddy Candy (Instrumental)
8. Maddy Candy (Instrumental [-Guitar])
9. Hell The World (Instrumental)

>> Download Here

FAIRY TAIL Character Single Vol.1 – Natsu and Gray

tsuiteru — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 00:47:34 +0000

FAIRY TAIL Character Song Collection Vol. 1 – Natsu (CV: Kakihara Tetsuya) and Gray (CV: Nakamura Yuuichi)

Tracklist:

1. Blaze Up
2. Frozen Soul
3. Blaze Up (instrumental)
4. Frozen Soul (instrumental)

> Download Here

Durarara!! – 10

Kyokai — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 11:03:06 +0000

Tick! Tock! Tick! BANG! Jackpot! Time for your head to explode…

All of us have been looking forward to this. Not many of us had expected this though! The recap usually summarizes all main pointers from previous episode, this one gave a hint to the looming eye-opener episode with Izaya-kun whirling about maddeningly: Tanoshimi da na! (I’m so excited!)

When I saw the Mikado/Celty-Harima collision, I doh’d and thought, please not one of those recap episodes with another character’s POV again (a la episode 2)! Thankfully, I was proven wrong very soon with Kida-kun coming for the rescue and doing his usual super-fast self.

Finally, we see a Mikado-episode, shedding light on his character of hating the ordinary and an ardent wish to live in a way unlike any other (Tick!). A double play between Kida and Mikado is always fun. Kida is just sooo kawai~! Seriously wanted to glomp him for his continuously flowing dialogues and the whole ‘Dollars Degree Prediction’ charade.

The more we get to know about Dollars, the more they are turning into curious guys who are above and beyond the colour gangs in ‘Bukro. Take Takiguchi for instance: normal guy with a flare of music. There’s nothing effil or dark-like vibes coming from him. He’s just someone who doesn’t like to follow the usual societal norms or rules (Tock!).

The pause that Kida had when Takiguchi was talking about Blue Squares was note worthy. Why do I have the feeling that he belonged to that group and is vying to get into Dollars now? We’ll find out soon enough.

Coming back to Mikado, being the central character he sure takes his time around Anri being extremely anxious with a heavy dose of ‘ano…, sono…, eto…’ (I lolll’d at the puppet show of stalker business).

However, we were not tortured too long because one of the butterfly girls (without her wings this time) shows up with her fake-Dollar-member Takeshi, the bald-now-regent-hairdo-guy (is that glue sticking up a wig?!).

Simply loved Celty’s slowmo kick to the loser and Izaya’s signature jumping up and down in glee (man, this guy is evil yet too smexy for his own good!) This gif is killing me!

The meeting of Mikado with Celty and Izaya is not by chance, Izaya is actually stalking our lead character for a reason only known to him (Tick!). However, Celty has more pressing matters to discuss with Mikado, of her long lost head and it materializing with an unknown body that is sheltered in his home the last he checked. I liked the boyish touch to the scene when Mikado goes totally wide-eyed after seeing the black swirling matter coming off from Celty’s neck. It’s interesting to note, how easily Mikado accepted all facts about Dullahan and Celty’s head gone missing and showing up on someone else’s body. He agrees to be the middle party of getting the Dullahan-Celty meet with Celty-Harima (Yare Yare, this is getting confusing!)

The short cut to the Dotachin Dollars gang was abrupt but relevant for showing the cleaners going out of Yagiri pharmacy for discovering the whereabouts of Celty-Harima at Mikado’s abode.

Celty and Izaya follow Mikado to his decrepit house. (Don’t Izaya and Celty make a weird pair? Twisted Fanfic anyone?)

What followed next is: finally things coming together… Yagiri Pharmacy, Harima disappearing without a trace, Celty being a Dullahan searching for her head, which finally showed up on the body of a girl who is madly in love with Yagiri Seiji, human trafficking and last but not the least: Dollar’s role. (Heh… Check the Baccano reference in password ^^;)

BANG & CLICKITY CLICK!

JACKPOT!

Yes, ladies and gentlemen, the pretend timid ‘Mikado-kun’ is not so normal. Actually, he wanted to live in a way unlike everyone else. He has the very potential of being a full-grown badass! (Check the voice and mannerism change).

Unless, you want to know Mikado’s secret and be spoiled, do not click. Also, use SPOILER tag in commenting for people who know and want to discuss. Show ▼

Let the speculation, OMGing and Kyaaaing commence!

In conclusion, SIMPLY LOVED THIS EPISODE (as always)! Show ▼

All in all and eye opener episode, leaving behind a lot more questions again, like what is Mikado on about? What’s the story of the pervert teacher? (His creepy mug keeps on cropping up)! What’s the incident that happened with Blue Squares and was Kida directly involved with it. Where is Celty-Harima? What’s Shinra’s role with Yagiri Pharmacy and how much he knows about Celty’s head? His knowledge of their activities and a lot more! Missed Shizu-chan this episode. Looking forward to seeing him in the next one!

BTW, Ahem!

Konbawa, Minnasan! I’m Kyokai, the newest addition to Metanorn blog team. For starters, I’ll be taking up Durarara!! and Kimi ni Todoke reviews. Let me get this off my chest that this is the first time I am anime blogging. Though, I’ve been a writer since college, writing pieces for newspaper, magazines and later on even branching off to fanfics when I had time. I’ve been obsessed with the anime fandom since 2007, (kinda late in my opinion) but once I started with the classics like Samurai X, Cowboy Bebop, GTO, Death Note and Fullmetal Alchemist (just to name a few), there was no looking back and I kept on comin’ for more. That is how I ended up ardently reading up manga and started following seasonal anime. In RL, I’m a workaholic 20-something Product Specialist for a Digital Agency. My character resembles Hermione (from Harry Potter) in many ways but I’m her milder version than on-your-face know-it-all. tee hee.

Thank you, Kanzeon for adding me to the team. Dear readers, I’ll be looking forward in interacting with you. I’ll be in your care~

Last updated: at 18:30 for adding gifness!

WORKING!! – 01

tsuiteru — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 15:42:41 +0000

Wow, a month early before the premiere… Thanks Japan.

We have a lolicon-in-denial male lead, and a clumsy loli (Funny thing is that the loli turns out to be 17 years old, and a year older than him) She’s in charge of finding a recruit for their family restaurant. Since the male lead likes little things (claiming as a “minicon”), he gladly accepts the offer, an offer that welcomes him to the Wagnaria family restaurant.

We get to get a glimpse of the crazy staff on the restaurant. From the age-sensitive manager, who you don’t really want to mess up with, and a lot more girls, including an exaggerated androphobic and a waitress who uh, carries a sword. By the way, fans of DRRR!! would be really glad to hear Izaya and Shizzy-chan in this show as well (Hiroshi Kamiya and Daisuke Ono), we’ll be expecting some non-stop bickering from these two aside from Durarara!!

Animation is from A-1. Expect KyoAni/K-ON!-ness, like what they’re doing with Sora no Woto too. They were all-out promoting this one by the way before. The music is boring, it doesn’t help at all. Voice acting is fine. Probably the best thing about this show is its seiyuu line-up.

Overall, I wasn’t impressed at all with this. It’s plain ‘ok’ with a little bit of bad. It can be something you wanna waste time on if you want a light slice-of-life watch. I gotta say the only thing that made me chuckle a bit was the age issue with the manager. The rest just screams overly generic, especially with the characters. I really only like the 28-year old manager character so far.

So that’s it for the month-early preview for working. Catch the full run of the first episode (with possibly added OP, ED, and no screen interruptions) this April 4th.

>> Screencaps Here

Durarara!! OP Single – Uragiri no Yuuyake

kanzeon — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 09:25:31 +0000

Durarara!! OP Single – “Uragiri no Yuuyake” by Theater Brook (Limited Edition)

Tracklist:

1. Uragiri no Yuuyake
2. Mirai wo Ima
3. Uragiri no Yuuyake -TV Size Opening Ver.-
4. Uragiri no Yuuyake -TV Size Long Ver.-
5. Uragiri no Yuuyake -Karaoke Mix-

>> DOWNLOAD HERE!!!

Baka to Test to Shoukanjuu – Character Song Album

kanzeon — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 02:57:56 +0000

BakaTest Character Song Mini-Album

Artists: Shimono Hiro, Harada Hitomi, Mizuhashi Kaori, Suzuki Tatsuhisa, Miyata Kouki, Katou Emiri

Tracklist:

1. F wa Muteki na Aikotoba – Yoshii Akihisa
2. Koi no Scramble Egg – Himeji Mizuki
3. Tsundere Dou – Shimada Minami
4. Kaidan ~KAIDAN~ – Sakamoto Yuuji
5. Muttsuriini to Kikanjuu – Tsuchiya “Muttsuriini” Kouta
6. Sakura Chiru Sakura Saku – Kinoshita Hideyoshi

>> Download Here

Bakemonogatari OP5 and Original Soundtrack

tsuiteru — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 14:02:22 +0000

Bakemonogatari OP5 – sugar sweet nightmare & Gekihan Ongakushuu Sono (OST) 1

Tracklist:

01 sugar sweet nightmare
02 sugar sweet nightmare -instrumental-
03 joshou
04 machi dan chimata setsu
05 kannen
06 sensou
07 jinchiku
08 tawagoto
09 haikyo
10 shugendou
11 kami iki
12 ika kaisou

>> Download Here

Kobato OST – Haru no Utakata

kanzeon — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 03:17:02 +0000

Kobato Original Soundtrack

Artist: Hama Takeshi, Hanazawa Kana, Sakamoto Maaya, Nakajima Megumi

Tracklist:

01 Haru no Utakata
02 Magic Number (TV size) / Sakamoto Maaya
03 Konpeitou Pizzicato
04 Boushi no Waltz
05 Ohisama to Nichiyoubi
06 MISSION WAN.
07 Nobody Sings
08 Hashiridasu Skirt
09 Ashita Kuru Hi / Hanazawa Kana
10 Kaze no Catharsis
11 Himawari no Kioku
12 Dobato.
13 Hotaru no Mori
14 Octopus Dance
15 amber sky
16 Sora ni Utau Shoujo
17 Maigo wo Sagashi ni
18 an ancient story
19 Tooi Hi no Wasuremono
20 Umaranai Nanika
21 Tobenai Kotori
22 Ashita Kuru Hi ~ Yuki no Furu Machi de / Hanazawa Kana
23 Mizu no Hana
24 Jellyfish no Kokuhaku (TV size) / Nakajima Megumi

>> Download Here

First Look: Shiki

kanzeon — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 08:05:35 +0000

First Look on Shiki!

The anime adapts Fuyumi Ono and Ryu Fujisaki’s Shiki horror mystery manga about an isolated mountain village, steeped in ancient traditions, whose population of 1,300 starts dying in droves due to mysterious causes. Eventually, it becomes clear that vampires are attacking the town.

The anime is 22 episodes in total, and we also have entertainment figure Gackt voicing the character Seishiro Kirishiki. Animation production is Studio DEEN, and it’ll be directed by Junji Nishimura (Simoun, true tears)

Looks pretty good so far, as they built the atmosphere this show will have already judging by the trailer. The character designs is also very unusual, especially the eyes, but they definitely got it right. I’m definitely checking this out, most especially after knowing it’ll represent the Noitamina block this Summer season (July). The director is also a big plus. Not to mention it’ll be interesting to hear Gackt in here. The only thing that pulls this back for me is DEEN, because of how Umineko turned out. But anyway, still checking this out. Can’t wait for some horror~