Konnichiwa, Mikuites! I’m back! Did you miss me? Today wasn’t so hard, so I had the energy to type, although my arms are kinda sore from lifting chairs. But despite the physical work, it is nice to go outside every once in a while, as opposed to being stuck inside all day––which actually kinda ties in to today’s topic.

Anime itself has become a growing subculture, especially in the last decade, but within that subculture has developed a hierarchy. Though I’m not usually one to spark conflict, there have been many times in my 7 years as a fan where I’ve witnessed people arguing over who’s a bigger anime fan than the other––especially during the four years I ran our local anime club. If you didn’t know what Clannad or Code Geass was back then, you were considered a newbie. The altercations remind me a lot of how gamers make comparisons between what divides a hardcore and causal gamer.

Anime, obviously, is much different––because while gamers have three main consoles to select from, we only have one (two, maybe, if you count manga––but that’s a whole ’nother monster), which makes it harder to gauge what makes one anime fan better than another.

So, how do you define a hardcore anime fan? I like to bring up the “quality vs. quantity” argument. One would assume that someone who keeps up with all the currently airing anime is more hardcore than someone who does not. But what if that someone (which was mostly the case amongst my colleagues at the club) keeps up with all the latest anime, but have no idea about obscure titles like Shigofumi or GA: Geijutsuka Art Design Class? Is someone who’s read the Soul Eater manga from beginning to end better than someone who’s only watched the anime?  Perhaps most importantly (at least in my opinion), is it more important how much anime you’ve watched or which titles you’ve seen?

Maybe it boils down to a matter of taste. Is someone who likes Claymore better than someone who likes Queen’s Blade? Who’s better: Pokemon or One Piece fans? While many people are willing to defend how great Kampfer is, does that make them void of being a true anime fan by default?

Anime is infused with Japanese culture, and it’s no secret that some of us try to integrate a bit of Japan into our lives, whether it’s learning the language, eating Pocky, or even celebrating Japanese holidays. Does knowing the language make you any greater of a fan? In order to be considered “hardcore”, must you attend conventions or even go so far as to visit the Land of the Rising Sun itself?

Hell, just being an anime blogger has to put me a few steps ahead of most of the “casual” pack out there. :P

While here in the States we use the term “otaku” playfully, in the East it’s practically insulting. This leads to the main question: is being a hardcore anime fan even a good thing? Having bought two Nendoroids (BRS and Miku), my fandom has already surpassed my expectations from just a couple years ago. I told myself I would never pay that much for a figure, and yet I still gave in––and once you buy one, it’s hard to stop. XD

It must be fate…

There has to be a line drawn somewhere. Forget about comparing casual fans to hardcore. How do you separate a hardcore fan from one who has gone to the extreme? The problem is that I think it’s all relative. While owning two figures might be considered “extreme” to someone who only watches a couple episodes a week, it could be perceived as insignificant to someone who has been collecting figures all their life.

I think fans can be divided into anime (and/or manga) experts, and Japan experts––though on many occasions they tend to overlap. Thanks to anime, even though I know more about the Japanese culture than the average American, I can only speak the few words I’ve picked up from anime due to repetition. I believe that instead of drawing a linear line, we should imagine anime like a pie chart and anime fans taking up certain percentages of the pie––some more than others, obviously. In other words, you’d probably have to measure yourself on a percentage scale from non-Japanese to complete Japanese. But again, what anime is considered hardcore and what is not? Some will even argue that liking anime doesn’t make you any more Japanese, it just makes you a fan of animation.

Tell me then, how much of an anime fan are you?

I’m not one who usually likes to make excuses, especially when it comes to writing, but after much contemplation, I’ve decided that it’d be in my best interest to go on a short hiatus. I’m not doing this out of anger or depression––in fact I’ve been getting more views recently than I ever have been––but due to physical stress. Last Saturday I did more labor during my community service than I ever have during any other day of my whole life. I feel like I sprinted 5 miles, and 24 hours later certain parts of my body still feel numb.

Now, when it comes to this blog, over the past two years I’ve been in many tight situations, and getting a new post up is always my first priority, even if it means staying up late the night before. But right now I just can’t. I’d be too focused on the feelings of pain and achiness in my fingers every time I touch the keyboard (that’s what happens when you’ve been shoveling gravel and mud for 4 straight hours) than to be able to concentrate on what I’m writing. Last week was also my birthday as well, so I “lost” a few days of writing while celebrating that. ^^; Therefore, I think it’s best to take the next few days off, to give my body some time to recover. Who knows, maybe this will give me time to think up more ideas of what to write, since I’m falling short on that also.

Konnichiwa, Mikuites! Even though My Little Pony is not technically an anime––despite its moe pony designs and wide-eyed protagonists––it has caused quite a stir amongst anime fans…almost completely polarizing fans. Some otakus have embraced it, while others have called it the bane of animation. Whatever side you are on, many lessons can be learned from MLP, specifically that a good story can appeal to anyone, no matter the superficial visuals. Perhaps anime fans can relate to this fact better than anyone.

Developer Lauren Faust has said that MLP was made with all genders and age groups in mind, but not even she could’ve conceived how much it would surge with Internet popularity. Fans claim it’s the best thing that has happened to the Internet in a long, long time. And I’d have to agree. Though, I’m not here to talk about how MLP has spread love and tolerance across the world, but rather why it has gained so much popularity with people like you and I, who usually have a penchant for pussy (not the feline kind) as opposed to ponies.

What’s unique about MLP in particular is that it seems to appeal to older males mostly. Sure, there are tons of guys out there who like cute anime (take anything produced by KyoAni as your pick), but even they are resistant to succumb to the power of ponies.

Therefore, I have to believe that adult males are at a point in their lives where they are ready to start a family––to have a wife and kids. What does this have to do with liking MLP? Well, one would assume that in order for a man to become a father, he must develop a softer, caring demeanor. Also, older males are more confident with their masculinity, and not afraid of being ostracized for watching a “girly” show. On the other hand, male teens face many social pressures and are perhaps afraid of being judged by their peers for watching a show about bright-colored ponies. A weaker argument, and one that’s not necessarily true, is that older men tend to be more mature(d), and therefore interested in the story rather than bloody fights or massive jugs. What I mean to say is that they don’t mind the lack of ecchi. In fact, most Bronies say outright on the Internet NOT to make Rule 34 for MLP. Well, curiosity got the better of me, and I looked up just to see what would be considered as Pony Rule 34 (since they obviously have no visible private parts), and most of what I came across was just comical demotivational posters and mild mare-on-mare kissing. So it seems like for the most part the Internet has respected the Bronies’ request.

Despite Hasbro being well aware of all the Bronies out there (0:27), for whatever reason, they don’t cater much to their peripheral fans––missing out on a potential goldmine––even though they’ve claimed plans to market to this older demographic in the near future. The ironic thing about their passive marketing strategy is that 90% of their viewership is comprised of adult males. As much as we Bronies love MLP, it’s obvious that we hold higher standards for our merchandise than the average elementary school girl. I just wish the products would match the quality of the show. Hopefully Hasbro will pay better attention to our requests once Season 2 starts picking up momentum. It’s a win-win situation. Hasbro will dominate with MLP the same way they’ve gained dominance with Transformers, and Bronies will get a bunch of cool pony products that we won’t be ashamed to show off in public.

C’mon, you know you would buy it.

MLP means so much to me because I see it as the start of a revolution. The pony fan base continues to grow larger and larger every month, proving that Friendship is Magic is not just a fad, it’s become a whole subculture. Just as blacks earned the same rights as whites, and women began to stand on equal footing with men in the 20th century, it’s the year 2011: it’s time to tear down all preconceptions that guys can’t like girls’ shows for what they are, or vise versa. In the future, I hope that everything will become ambiguous, that designing clothes won’t be considered a thing for women and football will not just be a “guys’ sport”. We are not quite there yet, but MLP is a start. So, for any producers out there, don’t be lazy by appealing to your target demographic; as they say, “Aim higher.”

Further reading: http://taikutsuremedy.blogspot.com/2011/09/gender-based-marketing-time-for.html

Konnichiwa, Mikuites! Having seen the infamous Night Shift Nurses hentai twice over, I’ve come to realize that one of my favorite anime has perhaps…soiled over time. A lot has changed in the last 4 years since I last saw it, and besides growing older, I’ve come to realize (and admit) that NSN is hardly any more than shock value.

That’s not to say it’s the only one of its kind––Bible Black also followed in its footsteps––but like a smelly pile of shit, NSN has not aged well. The girls aren’t even that pretty, at least by today’s standards. The premise of NSN sounds like something out of your typical cheesy porno, and it is. The story follows a linear path that only a badly made visual novel could come up with.

Ryuji Hirasaka (above) becomes a gynecologist at St. Juliana Hospital, only to discover that the female president wants him to seduce/recruit the nurses in order to use them in a new department that will pander to patients’ sexual interests. Because, you know, every medical patient is willing to pay a little extra to get special something-something from some hot, young nurses––I know I would; I would pretend to have a fever every day!

Ya, and that’s about the most mild part of this show.

Dr. Hirasaka’s first encounter is with Ren Nanase, who was and still is my favorite of the libidinous ladies…I-I mean nurses. I used to admire the way Dr. Hirasaka used his wits to blackmail the girls into doing anything he wanted, but now it just seems unbelievable. Anyone who has been in a relationship knows that women aren’t that easily coaxed into doing such unorthodox, bowel emptying things (at least when they are not drugged). To see Ren douche herself with the only motivation being, “I’ll do it for Naoya-kun (her boxer boyfriend)!”––not even deprived men are desperate enough to have pain-inducing sex with a complete stranger for the sake of their crush.

I have to wonder how all these dumb, horny bitches got through med school in the first place. Oh wait.

Anyway, for those wondering why I’m here today writing about this peculiar hentai, especially when I’ve never written a hentai review before, one of my jobs as the author of this blog is to push your conventional boundaries, and for sure NSN is one of the most unconventional things I’ve witness (psychologically and physically)––even for a hentai. If you weren’t afraid of going to the doctor before, after this you may be.

The only good point I’ll give to this hentai is that, like the Saw movies––which ironically I was much into at the time––it’s interesting to see the different ways Dr. Hirasaka blackmails each nurse and then turns them into sex slaves. Halfway through the series, they end up confessing to the detectives why they never reported him to the police: “Because I love him!” In retrospect, I find it hard to believe that the hospital employed so many nurses with Stockholm syndrome, unless the president knew all along(?).

NSN can be good for fapping, but maybe just for your one favorite episode. If this type of stuff doesn’t interest you, I wouldn’t sit and watch the whole series, unless you skip to the good parts. Even then, I can’t seem to get off on women defecating themselves (which is what 90% of this anime is). After seeing NSN twice and knowing what to expect, there were still 3 times where I had trouble swallowing (maybe I’ve become a softie). If watching this doesn’t cure your constipation, I don’t know what will.

I’m not sure what the moral of NSN is supposed to be: either that all women are covert nymphomaniacs or blackmailing will get the shit stabbed out of you. I believe it is neither of those. The true moral of this story is that all gynecologists are scat-loving, BDSM perverts, all nurses lust for sex due to the stress of continually working late hours, and in the future, all hospitals will take care of more than just your health needs.

Even though these two years of blogging have flown by, I have only been a part of WordPress for 9 short months (which is when the fun really began). One year ago, I felt like I was no one. Now I honestly feel like I am a part of the anime blogging community, albeit a small slice of the ginormous pie.

Like most amateur bloggers, I started this humble blog with big dreams. I used to strive to become the next Sankaku Complex. I eventually ended up obsessing so much over the view counts and stats that I started to lose focus of why I really wanted to blog. My passion was waning. I’ll admit that, for a time, I used to think blogging was a pain, and it was becoming so overwhelming that I nearly quit. But it was you guys, my Mikuites, who encouraged me to keep on going, and so I have. I planned on continuing anyway (I never was going to stop after coming this far), but maybe not until after a month’s hiatus, though it was thanks to all the support you gave me that I had the perseverance to pick myself up and keep chugging along much sooner than expected. X3

It’s kinda ironic that that day––when I stopped competing with other blogs and decided just to do my own thing––my percentage of increase in views from month to month has doubled every time. I don’t know what to say, really; maybe I just allowed my inner self to shine. On a daily average, I am getting 40% more views this month compared to last month, which is astounding.

 Couldn’t find anything appropriate to post, so [insert obligatory Miku fan service here].

If you want to talk about more feelings of unfamiliar territory, many of the blogs I used to admire two years ago, I now stand above them. While I don’t think Mind of Miku has yet reached that same titular prestige, I’d say my blog is more active coment-wise, which is bewildering because I used to envy how many comments they would receive. These major blogs I used to read (and actually still do) when I began my journey––in order to familiarize myself and learn (from the masters) the proper way of blogging––are now pretty much dead. And by that I only mean they post like once a month (I won’t name any names). And if you’re wondering, almost all the still-active blogs that I read today are from the very same people who comment on mine. ^0^

Surprisingly, in the last year alone I’ve seen a renaissance of sorts with the birth of many NEW blogs, and I can’t wait to watch them grown over time, just as mine did.

I’m not gloating that my blog is anything great (yet)––I still continue to run towards that infinite finish line––but I’m much closer to Sankaku Complex now than I ever have been before. So by my standards, blogging has been a sizable success.

But there’s no use in getting caught up in page views…or in this case, comparing leeks to orange triangles(?). It doesn’t matter if you get 100 views per day, or over 9000. The important thing is that you do what makes you happy, in other words, what makes you unique. Because friendship, connections, and community are much more meaningful. Thankfully, I have come across a lot of those since I began, which is just one of the many perks of blogging that I hadn’t expected. So once again, thank you, Mikuites; I can’t thank you enough. If there is one thing I want you to know, it’s that every time I write a new post, I write with you guys in mind. So thanks for being the source of my inspiration.

Konnichiwa, Mikuites! It is highly debatable as to what makes a good anime. Is it the absorbing story or the kick-ass animation? Can an anime stand on visuals alone? Is an anime that lacks all the flashy explosions and fast-paced fights that Japanimation has been come to known for, still be considered anime at all? Anime as a form of entertainment has grown diverse. Moe blob K-On! and psychoanalytic mecha Evangelion are almost incomparable, and yet each have masses upon masses of fans. Some otakus will tell you that story is all that matters. Others will say it’s all about the visuals presentation.

Koike Takeshi has made it his goal to excel in the animation depart. Anime as an art form is already detailed and stylish enough to make your eyes bleed, but Koike Takeshi pushes it even farther, to a level that’s almost surreal. In 2003, he directed the Animatrix short “World Record” about an American track runner trying to beat his own personal record while simultaneously freeing himself from the Matrix. If you haven’t seen it, it’s amazing and my favorite short on the disc.

Prior to that, he worked on a little unknown OVA called Trava, which I had no idea even existed until I heard that it’s a side story to his latest work, Redline.

Redline took 7 years to produce due to it being all hand-drawn (reaffirming my belief that 2D animation should NEVER die), which means production started even 1 year before the Animatrix was released, or to be more precise, soon after the Trava OVA.

It’s amazing what 7 years can do.

And here we are now with Redline––a synthesis of F-Zero, Speed Racer, and The Fast and the Furious (believe it or not)––claimed by many to be a visual masterpiece beyond anything that has ever been created. Koike Takeshi is best known for his fluid, high contrast animation. I simply adore his use of opaque shadows as opposed to traditional shading––even if it does strain your eyes after a while. It looks more like a motion comic book than a typical anime. There is no doubt in my mind that Redline is a visually jaw-dropping anime, but does that––by default––make it one of the greatest?

In the world of high-budget Hollywood movies, general audiences seem to react better to amazing CGI and huge explosions (always the explosions) over a touching, sensitive, dramatic narrative. Does the same apply to anime?

“It needs more explosions!” — Michael Bay

Is Redline the future of anime? I mean that in both a good and bad way. If Michael Bay were born Japanese, his name would’ve been Koike Takeshi. Redline is meant for pure entertainment only. With its abrupt ending (who needs an epilogue?) and lack of characterization (especially the severely underdeveloped minor racers who are hardly more than *spoiler* cannon fodder), it’s hard to recommend Redline to anyone looking for any more than eye candy. And perhaps that’s a good thing. I mean, how many anime can you name where you can turn your brain off and have fun by just sitting back and soaking in the super exaggerated illustrations alone (the roar of the engines and jubilation of the crowd, each of the hundreds intricately detailed)? Redline never touted itself to be anything thought-provoking in the first place (neither did Michael Bay when he made Transformers).

I’ve noticed that these high-budget popcorn flicks seems to follow a pattern. They don’t provide much exposition to the audience, practically leaving it wide-open to your own interpretation. Whether this was completely intentional or they were too focused on the visuals that they didn’t care/completely forgot, that’s left up to the viewer to decide, as well. If you so desire, Redline can be interpreted in many different ways. The most unorthodox I’ve read is Yi comparing it to oral sex. If I understood the analogy correctly, the Redline represents blood, therefore the Yellowline is piss?

Does an anime need a substantial story to be considered important or can the medium persevere through its outstanding visuals alone?

Konnichiwa, Mikuites! I got the idea to write this post two weeks ago, but due to certain outside things *cough*college*cough* I didn’t get to write it till today. So it’s only a coincidence that it happened to fall on the week of my favorite 2D idol’s birthday! That’s right, it’s Miku’s 4th birthday (or her 4th time turning 16, if you so prefer).

I have loved Miku since the day of her debut (though I never imagined she would grow this popular). When I first saw Miku, my initial thought was, “Wow, this is the future of music.” Little did I know, fast forward a quick 4 years later, that Miku IS the future! :O Below are 3 of the main reasons why Miku means everything to me.

THE FAME

At the mere age of 16, Miku is already living the dream life. Ever day, perhaps every minute, she continues to grow in popularity.

She is the personification of everyone’s dreams––to become famous some day and have fans from all over the world. Miku is an icon of Japan, the symbol of synthesized music at its summit, and she’s steadily becoming an icon here in the US as well. Who knows, one day in the near future, you just may go into your local store and see Miku merchandise everywhere, just as Transformers and Barbie toys have become commonplace in every shop in America.

She already has her own manga and video game. Though, despite fans’ persistence, we’ve yet to see her headline a full-length anime. Yet, she’s already made a cameo in many others, even if she was cosplayed by different characters. (See? Even other anime characters love her!) We can only continue to hope that Miku will one day get the anime that she so deserves. Maybe she’ll play a role in the Black Rock Shooter anime next year? Which reminds me, I have to also (indirectly) thank Miku for my waifu, since BRS probably would’ve never gotten an exclusive OVA, had Miku’s popularity not helped sprung her into a starlet of her own.

As a writer, I hope that one day I too will become a household name and have enough adoring fans out there to fill an entire country.

THE OUTFIT

Teal and black just happen to be two of my four favorite colors, although the truth is I liked them years before I liked Miku. I have no shame in saying that since becoming an anime fan over 7 years ago, I’ve always had a skirt and thigh high fetish. Miku layers all of these things, and even takes it a step farther by adding half sleeves to her arms (who else besides Miku is cool enough to do that?). Yet, what distinguishes Miku the most from other anime characters is her suitably contemporary outfit with its flashy electronics on her skirt and sleeves.

She also always dons those headphone things on her head (similar to how I always have my headphones on while on the computer, as you can tell from my avatar). Of course you can’t forget about the seductive tie. I love girls who wear ties. My love for Reisen Udongein Inaba is a testament to that.

I honestly don’t care about her flat chest, while some people will loathe in a fit of rage about any fan art that displays her with average-sized breasts. I like Miku with or without boobs, as long as they don’t obstruct her petite body. I just enjoy her sleek figure and slender legs.

It’s amazing. Sometimes I feel like Miku was made just for me.

THE VOICE

Last, but certainly not least, is her cute voice derived from voice actress Saki Fujita. Miku has a wide pitch range unlike anything we’re typically used to hearing. From her theatrical 01 Ballad, to her peppy Vegetable Juice Dance, to her flirtatious World is Mine (my favorite song of hers), Miku’s assortment of songs match any major pop artist’s, if not greater. In fact out of all her songs, even if it’s one I don’t particularly like, you can’t say it’s because she sang off key. Of course, one can point out that she’s a program and therefore it’s impossible for her to unintentionally go out of tune, but again that’s why I like her. She’s just perfection, inside and out. Her auto-tuned voice may be an acquired taste, but I enjoy it, since it fits especially well with her futuristic and technologically advanced theme. If I cared to hear a natural voice, then why would I listen to a virtual idol?

♫♫♫

Hatsune Miku smashed the preconceptions that a computer program cannot make a name for itself, much less be cute and admirable while doing it. From performing live on stage at international concerts, to being the source of inspiration for hundreds upon hundreds of MMDs, to being a marketing tool for a major car company…who knows where she’ll go next! If there is such a thing as perfection on this corporeal planet, Miku is the closest to it.

For more history on Miku’s humble beginnings, her present, and future, visit this article on UK Anime Network.

Konnichiwa, Mikuites! Females in anime come in literally all shapes and sizes, but perhaps those who have garnered the most controversy are the ones with the least physical presence.

How do we define a loli? Is it by age? Height? Breast size? Each person seems to have their own subjective opinion. For some, age is the only defining factor. Others take a more liberal approach and go by appearance alone. If she looks like a loli, she is a loli, no matter if she’s 14 or 40 (I’m looking at you, Tsukuyomi Komoe). As I said once, even if you’re not a loli, you can still dress like one.

I believe the question that comes up most often when trying to define a loli is “Does size matter?” Not to discriminate against women with washboard chests, but if a fully grown women has a chest with the steepness of the Grand Canyon, is she still considered a loli? Adversely, is a youthful loli who is “well-endowed” still loli, despite being abreast with her postpubescent seniors?

The thing I find most fasinating about the “laws of loli” is that it seems to fluctuate from one anime to the next. While Azunyan may be considered the loliest (is that a word?) amongst lolis in K-ON!, she would look quite normal in an anime like…say, Hanamaru Youchien or Kodomo no Jikan.

Obviously, there’s a distinct difference between loli and moe, but I find both of them cute, so either one is good in my book. I don’t tend to grade women by the size of their cup (although, I will say that my grading scale is quite similar to that used in a typical school classroom).

Lolis can overcome any deficit, except perhaps for the ones in their chests

What makes lolis so unique (as compared to older anime women) is that they have a youthful innocence that adult females tend to lack. Imagine if the 501st of Strike Witches consisted of no more than a gang of 20 – 30 year old women. It would lose the slice of life appeal and coming-of-age factor, as the women would probably be too busy training and focusing on their mission to spend time getting to know and playfully tease each other.

Some people will claim that lolis are the downfall of anime, while others on the opposite spectrum wholeheartedly embrace anime for this trope. I don’t find lolis, or even loli anime for that matter, to be intrusive at all––I just see it as another genre of anime such as mecha or shonen. Loli fits right where it belongs, and every otaku has their individual tastes.

In fact, lolis have become so integrated into anime that you can typically find at least one in almost every anime you watch, even if its not loli related. Do I really need to give any examples? Think of the last few anime you watched, and no matter the genre, I bet there was at least one loli in it.

And for those feminists saying that loli characters are demeaning to women, most lolis (Index, Shana, Mikoto, you name it…) are usually the strong––tsundere, if you will––type that are able to defend themselves against much greater opponents––which just goes to show you, you shouldn’t underestimate a person short in stature.

Without lolis we wouldn’t have classics like Nanoha or Madoka Magica. So next time you see a loli in the grocery store, reaching for a cereal box high up in the aisle, make sure to help her out and thank her for making anime 20% cooler.

Konnichiwa, Mikuites! Queen’s Blade has been criticized for pandering to the deep sexual desires within us. In other words, some people claim it’s nothing more than a fan service anime.

I found Queen’s Blade to be unintentionally funny. Unlike a lot of other ecchi anime that think they are being clever by cleverly hiding their characters’ naughty bits, Queen’s Blade likes to flash its breasts at any given opportunity. It felt like the producers went to great lengths to show us a certain something when it wasn’t even called for or related to the story. I saw more wardrobe malfunctions than at a Janet Jackson concert. In other words, they went way out of their way to give us fan service for the sole purpose of just that––giving the fans what they want, or rather what they think we want.

Now I know I may be making it out to be a bad anime––and it is––but I believe it was just made with a different type of audience in mind.

If you were able to get past all the ecchiness in Strike Witches and still enjoy it, then you may like Queen’s Blade; if you didn’t like Strikes Witches, then you won’t like Queen’s Blade––simple as that. Queen’s Blade is like Strike Witches, but with less action and more ecchi. Perhaps the most appropriate example I can give is to have you imagine Claymore if they took out all the great action scenes and replaced it with boobage.

Not that I think anyone who likes Queen’s Blade is any worse of a person; Queen’s Blade just caters to a niche audience. The average anime viewer will see nothing more than scantily clad chicks fighting and disrobing each other, but others will see the protagonist’s growth and struggles and as well as the arguably intriguing adventurous story behind it.

The main purpose, ironically, of this action/fantasy anime is to NOT take it so seriously. If you try to think to hard about it, then you are really setting yourself up for a bad time, because there are so many things you can nitpick––at least 5 or 6 at minimum PER episode.

In what brings up memories of Sekirei, the story of Queen’s Blade revolves around the titular (that’s titular not titillating) tournament held every four years to determine the most beautiful and powerful Queen (like the Olympics if all the athletes were dykes and clothing wasn’t required!).

Perhaps what I love most about this anime is that each warrior has a different, usually super natural, ability. At first I was thinking there would just be human chicks battling to the death, but many of them have special powers and outfits––some aren’t even human (though they look human in appearance)!

My favorite character by far isn’t even a tournament participant in Season 1. Nanael, the Angel of Light, descends upon Earth in order to broadcast the fights. She’s a real goofball, always messing up when least desired. It’s a blessing that she hasn’t been condemned to Hell yet for all her screw ups. But, that’s what gives her her unique charm. I love her cute voice and comic relief. Of course, it came to me as a surprise when I discovered she is voiced by none other than Haruhi herself (Hirano Aya). It’s a really unique role for her––then again, the characters she plays are all over the board. ^^; Okay, maybe this role wasn’t so farfetched for her after all.

Bitch, what’d you do this time?

Queen’s Blade is not for the faint of heart. In other words, if you are adamant against ecchi and exposed boobs, then chances are more than likely that you won’t enjoy this anime. But those who don’t mind extreme ecchi in their anime (we’re talking to the extent of acid-shooting breasts and a live snake living between a woman’s legs to hide her…you know) or can see the journeys and motivations of the characters though all the exposed flesh, may consider giving it a shot.

It’s surprisingly moe for an anime about hardly more than juggernauts and jugs. Personally, I think Nanael is the most moe maiden of them all, but don’t worry if you’re not into angels. Whether it’s lolis, spirits, elves…whatever your fetish, we’ve got you covered. ^^ The girls in Queen’s Blade come in (literally!) all shapes and sizes, so there’s something for everybody.

While watching, the thing to keep at the forefront of your mind is that this is meant solely for entertainment purposes. When I watched the first episode again with my friend who saw it for the very first time, I decided to give it a shot, since this time I knew not to set my expectations so high and was mentally prepared for the face-palming fan service that was going to inevitably come.

Luckily, I’m in the midst of Season 2 and it’s a lot more focused, serious, dramatic…and believe it or not, action-packed; I can safely say that it’s just what the fans were hoping for from Season 1. If anything, Season 1 feels like a 12-episode prologue to Season 2. I remember my friend caught me watching on my own and the conversation went something like this:

Friend: “What anime is this?”
Miku: “Season 2.”
Friend: “Of what?”
Miku: “Queen’s Blade.”
Friend: “Why does it look…(pause)…better?”
Miku: “’Cause it’s Season 2…”

In conclusion, Queen’s Blade is by no means a perfect anime, I’m not even claiming it to be a good one. But it’s not as bad as other reviews or word of mouth may have given you the impression of. The best thing is to see it for yourself and not judge the anime by it’s cover…or in this case, its chests.

Konnichiwa, Mikuites! Do not adjust your computer screen. I know MLP is technically not an anime, but it might as well be with their large, sparkly eyes and vivid colors.

Like in anime, each pony follows a similar, cookie-cutter aesthetic template (think of how most anime facial features follow the same design), which in this case actually turns out to be a plus since they all look conformed when lined up against each other, and it would probably be easy to draw fan art of your own. :d Besides the color of their coat, the only other physical trait that marks their individuality is their mane which creatively acts as their hair––they also have their own unique cutie marks on their (’cuse the pun) ass, but no point in me spoiling the purpose it serves here––notice that Twilight has pink highlights in hers. <3

Unlike anime, though, you don’t have to wait half the series for all the main ponies to be introduced; in fact, I was happy to see that you get to meet ALL of them from the very first episode! The first two eps are broken down into part one and two. I think the reason for this was that it was meant to be a pilot. But the rest of the series is episodic, making it easy to get into to––if you happen to catch it in the early morning or late afternoon––so you don’t have to worry/feel guilty if you missed the first 13 episodes.

I always thought I was Twilight, but this personality quiz said I was Rainbow Dash which was my 3rd choice (Fluttershy being 2nd). But now I kinda like Rainbow Dash a little more than I used to, since I do see a bit of her in me (it is still a “her,” right?)

I had no idea that this show even existed until Valen asked if he should watch it, so all the credit/blame for this post should be directed at him. It was then that I took it upon myself to see what all the hoopla was about.

I’ve watched this vid from beginning to end, probably 10 times in the last week. The lip-syncing is the best I’ve ever seen. But it wasn’t until after I watched the Anthology that I finally understood all the memes and approval of this show (at least among bronies) and decided to give it a shot. Continuing on the anime theme, MLP is like being a member of a private club, and only those on the inside will really understand the humor, charm, and puns (*Brohoof!*), while those on the outside will be left in perpetual confusion. XD

I’ve never used Flash, so I can’t say for sure what program(s) they use, but it looks as if some professional sat down and made a 20-minute Flash video. Whether this particular art style was intentionally used to make it look like a 2D cartoon, I’m not sure. Either way, I believe it works really well because it allows fluid facial expressions that 3D CG would’ve never been able to produce. (Edit: It turns out they indeed used Adobe Flash to produce the show.)

Due to an animation error, however, 4chan dubbed a gray horse with crossed eyes as Derpy Hooves. Lauren Faust decided to adopt this into the show and made Derpy a “Where is Waldo?” Easter Egg of sorts. If you don’t recognize Producer Lauren Faust, she also worked on The Powerpuff Girls, which gained similar popularity. :D In an ad by Hub, they used fan-developed names “Brony” (generally referring to male fans of the show––a portmanteau that’s pretty easy to decipher if you give it a moment’s thought) and “DJ P0N-3” in the lyrics of their California Girls parody. Despite people using copyrighted footage and combining it with mature themes (like the two videos I posted above), Hasbro has continued to allow the videos since it has helped draw more attention to the show. That’s just a few examples of how much the creators care about their fan base (“Love and Tolerance” is the Bronies’ code). If that alone is not a reason to support the show, then I don’t know what is.

There are only two things I dislike about the show: The theme song and a short purple dragon unimaginatively named Spike––he’s like that one annoying step-cousin, but you eventually learn to love him for his flaws and big heart.

The theme song opens up with a short snippet of the dull, weary solo from the original theme before cutting into a cheery, up-beat one for the new generation. Still, it’s far from impressive and feels like it was put together at the last minute. I don’t know if there’s a full, longer version out there, but I hope it’s better than these 30 seconds of pain.

Yet, it’s a minor complaint. For a cartoon about the mystical land of Equestria, cotton-candy colored ponies, and the magic in friendship…to only complaint about the opening theme song is not saying much.

As you probably know by now, I like short series, and even 26 ep anime can take me about a month to watch. But I’ve been watching 2 – 3 MLP eps every night (just finished it today!), usually after responding to comments and before going to bed. :)

Do not be presumptuous. These are not your grandmother’s ponies. Generation 4 has a lot more spunk and attitude than their predecessors. Each character has their own flaws (but also their own set of strengths, which I won’t give away, but is revealed during the 2nd episode). This kind of versatility is NOT something I expected from a show like this, where all I imagined were ponies living happy, perfect lives just prancing around in Ponyville like there’s no care in the world. Friendship Is Magic is far from it. Not only do the ponies face external struggles, but internal as well. Fluttershy, to give an easy example, tries to work on her assertiveness. (*yay*)

Each episode ends with a “moral of the story” message about how magical friendship is, which makes for a nice wrap-up. MLP has taught me more valuable life lessons than all my years of schooling combined.

You’re probably wondering, for a show that’s not a true anime, why I’ve written so much about it, especially on my anime blog. Some people may call MLP stupid, without even seeing it, or dismiss it entirely because it’s not a true anime. One of the purposes of my blog is to push you outside of your comfort zone, and if I can get at least one person to watch one episode, then my mission is accomplished. ^^

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For those still on the fence, check out Overlord-G’s summary and character descriptions.