Waitress Sakura because I’m officially a working girl. Just not in a cute uniform like that…though I do look pretty cute in a visor if I may say so.

I started off pretty strong this week, but I got tired out by the end by my own stress and anxiety (because of the work which I will talk about a little at the end). So not much happened, but I have a decent post. Too bad it’s a day late. Heh.

A decent number of anime (with my progress on the season), a long manga rambling for Koko ni iru yo!, more looking ahead, wishlist, and…the usual stuff. No AMV though. I was picky this week and just didn’t have anything to say on anything I saw and was too lazy to go looking.

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Anime

Had to use a Nia image~

So I had my wisdom teeth out so I watched a couple of anime on the first day I was laying in bed. First I finished off my rewatch of Gurren Lagann which has been going for a couple of weeks. Not sure what to say except that I think that anime gets better every time I see it. I just love how it can have that “do anything!” message without being a corny mess. I don’t even need to explain it because everyone who watches it knows what it is. Oh and the characters get awesomer too. (And I love Nia~)

Then I watched the movie Toki wo Kakeru Shoujo which I bought a while ago as a “rainy day” DVD when it’s on sale, for a time specifically like this. My feelings on it are rather calm. Basically it was “okay” to me, probably just okay because I expected a little something more from how much everyone loves it. It started off dull for me, but it did warm up and turned into a good story, but I still don’t quite feel like it met expectations. But movies rarely meet my criteria for being entertaining since so much of it runs on characters and there’s not enough time to develop everything properly. Other things I judge are awesomness and story and Toki wo Kakeru Shoujo just didn’t quite meet the quota for either. Still a very good movie though.

I really am in one of those moods where I’d rather just marathon everything and so it causes all of my anime to build up. It’s not exactly good though, because sometimes I get over that mood before I watch stuff, like when a new season comes along, and I just never get back to it. I already think this season is going to have a lot of casualties. I’ve already given up on Hatsukoi Limited despite all the good stuff I hear about it. It’s not exactly new, so I don’t need to force myself to watch it, right? Better to watch the stuff I’m already watching I think.

Oh yeah, and for those who probably didn’t notice, K-On! was dropped for me a while ago. The way I see it, I can read a chapter of the manga, play the ending if I so desire and I’ve saved myself like…20 minutes. K-On! really is too much if you’re either not completely new to moeblobs (therefore not getting tired of how everything is familiar) or if you just love moeblobs that much. I guess I don’t. I’m a moe snob. Proud of it too.

I was more tempted to watch Shakugan no Shana II just because I knew what to expect from my viewing (more incredibly slow shit in the first half) than to catch up on the remainders of the season. Ah well, such is my lazy nature. So I ended up finishing that after needing to stop at episode 7 a while back because it got so boring. The series overall really isn’t that bad…after you get through the first nine episodes.

My one complaint is that even past the first nine episodes, at least until the last four or so, certain characters get all whiney with all of their inner conflict and turmoil and I feel like smacking them. There’s just too many characters in this story that serve no purpose but to…have their own problems really. It’s quite annoying. The series gets so slow when there’s no immediately approaching danger. I always despise the aftermath of anything too, because it usually gives everyone time to start making their own so sad speeches about what happened in the last conflict. Then right before the next thing or during it, you get this dramatic conclusion that’s either, “Well duh” or “Didn’t you figure that out five times before?”

The five times before thing usually applies to Kazumi. She always has some problem going on and has the same epiphany (to different levels of resolve at least) a bunch of times before she moves onto the next problem. I feel bad for the girl, because she really doesn’t serve any purpose to the plot as a whole. She’s kind of just…there.

Anyway it wasn’t really that bad and was actually good enough to make me look forward to the new season (especially since Fuyu is a naughty girl who knows plenty of spoilers from the novels~). My major complaint would be how slow it was at first and then (probably because of that) how things seemed to really rush at the end. Of course I can’t really complain much about the rush if we get a third season. Who really cares anymore~

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Manga

So two more chapters of Koko ni iru yo! are finally out and while for a while I’d say my fandom would be dwindling, it’s totally back now. And the chapters just confirmed that I’m a Hinata fan. It’s weird because plenty of people I’d normally agree with are going for Teru, but for some reason I’m completely cold to him. He “knew” Hikage first, he’s stubborn, he’s a little cold. Those are usually what would come together to make me root for Teru.

But I don’t know, I find Hinata’s personality so much more fitting for Hikage. They’re more similar, but I suppose there’s the “opposite” thing so many fangirls love, but I don’t know. With a shy girl like Hikage it just seems off to me. It’s actually a little bothersome that Teru knew Hikage so long, but Hinata was the one that reached out to her in person first. Friends online are great, but you need real relationships with people you can see face to face and trust. Also, Hinata is nice, that should bother me, but somehow he’s nice while still properly being a guy. I don’t quite understand it myself, but most guys that are as nice as Hinata with his polite way of doing things would sicken me.

I think it had something to do with that part of his personality that made him confront Teru when Teru’s being all sneaky and trying to keep secrets from his best friend (I’ve said it so many times, if it’s to protect them, it’s forgivable, but it’s still not cool). I always love the boy that makes the challenge first~ He’s so nice without being a pushover. He sees that Hikage wants to help Teru so he lets her go and he helps Teru as his friend to recognize his own feelings, but he has no intention of letting Hikage go. He’s a good friend and can still be a proper boyfriend which…should make the world explode or something. I don’t know. Guys usually aren’t capable of doing it as neatly as Hinata is able to.

Though I have to say, I don’t like Hinata being called “boring” so often like it’s a fact. I guess any tsuntsun stubborn boy always gets to be seen as interesting. Usually we do take it pretty regularly that the “nice” usually “princely” boy is boring because he’s perfect Though I obviously disagree since I found a boy who was nice, but somehow managed to get my full attention from the start fascinating. Teru’s the one that’s actually more boring to me because he seems a little copy & paste. His type isn’t anything new really, but for some reason he’s missing the charm that others have. I think it’s because I don’t really see him get all embarrassed like those boys usually do. So it’s not like I don’t think Hinata wouldn’t be boring to others, but to me he is easily preferrable over Teru who has no charm for me.

Hmm, but going back to the lack of embarrassment…I guess the simple answer to why I prefer Hinata is because he’s just so cute. It’s been way too long since I had a pure shoujo couple that just runs on blushing and smiling and still has some substance.

Also the, “I’m right here!” scene in chapter 15 made me so happy, like the title right~? (Wish I could have seen the raws to see if it was really “koko ni ir yo!”). Sadly it was followed by a, “I guess I’m not needed” line which put me in a bad mood. I always hate it when the character I don’t favor doesn’t change my opinion of them and just does all the things that would make me not like them. None of that! You have to fight for the girl you like! Love is a battlefield!

Of course, my #1 love for Hikage also plays a factor. I want to trust her to the person that I think is better for her. They both obviously treasure her, but I just personally feel like that person is Hinata. Since she wouldn’t have moved forward at all without him and how he wants Teru to do his best as well too, kind of feels like so it’s Hikage can have whoever she treasures more herself.

As for the boys though, as expected when they’re together they’re both great. But the fact that Hinata is kind of the more straightforward one in their friendship and helps Teru with his problems may be yet another reason why I prefer him. But I really think some boys just irritate me when they’re involved in shipping because I want the story to be more straightforward and stuff and the triangle seems highly unnecessary so that frustration would be taken out on the boy I would see as unnecessary because I don’t prefer him. But they were so cute when they were adorable shoutas. Friendships and being with people should be the main thing to take away from this series I think. So I’m sure no matter what happens everyone will be happy at the end.

Basically my idea being, Hikage is happy now so to me it feels like the story is already over. So now matter what I’m probably going to stop enjoying the series from here. Ema Toyama really should have made Teru have more of a presence earlier on to make him “fit” better.

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Looking Ahead

DAMMIT! Stop making stuff come out in Fall. Thank God I decided to take a break from school after the Hellish stress of trying to deal with graduating while sick these past two years. I don’t have to worry about things getting in the way too much. Unless I’m feeling confident and well enough to go to full time hours in Fall. Then I’m in trouble.

A new shoujo anime adapted from a manga in Ribon has been announced for Fall. That manga is Yumeiro Patissiere and was brought to my attention by Kiseki (thank you for that btw~ even if I’m tortured by yet another series for Fall). Right away there’s the paralyzing fear that they’ll continue on this bizarre new trend of 3D animation with this series since it’s from one of the three magazines geared towards the younger fans. If they do I will be most displeased, because I’m actually looking forward to this.

I love cooking in shoujo manga, I don’t know why but I do (must have something to do with the adorable desserts and aprons). So I want to watch this! Another problem pointed out by Kiseki though is that there’s only 10 chapters, which means fillers no matter what (even if it happened to be a 13 episode series). I can’t say how that would work out since I’m not really familiar with the manga, but I’m already a pro at dealing with shoujo fillers. Though aside from Shugo Chara! it’s been quite some time.

Which basically would mean I’d probably watch it, but not really consider blogging it. After Shugo Chara! ends, I’m really going to need a break. Which is just as well since there are already two confirmed series for Fall that I’m guaranteed to blog (Kobato and Haruka). Then if you add on all the possibilities, I’m already in deep dookie for scheduling this Fall.

Oh well, I’m just happy to know that I’ll have some cute fluffy series from one of my favorite magazines this Fall after all. Just keep that 3D crap away from me and to save on animation budget, you can make the actual episode shorter and add in a cute cooking segment! It’s better than 3D shit, that’s for sure.

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Fuyu’s Wishlist

The only Lucky Star merchandise I have ever wanted. Though it’s just because I love Macross Frontier so~

Too bad I never really liked any character too much so I can’t complain about who does and doesn’t get to be Ranka. Though Miyuki as Sheryl was most obvious (and Kagami as KlanKlan was second most obvious). I suppose having the “most typically moe” Tsukasa be Ranka makes sense, but I do not accept anyone without green hair as Ranka (purple clashes horribly with orange). And Konata as our trappish Alto…is actually kind of win. Never would have expected it so it was awesome. Also what is awesome is that Kagami isn’t either of the girls in the triangle. Screw you yuri fanatics.

Yeah…I’d want it, but even with a job I don’t just have money laying around. There’s plenty of other stuff I’d buy first. Like real Macross Frontier merchandise…if they ever came out with anything that I thought was worth buying online. Like a decent Ranka figure, not a 3D version of something that was 2D in the series itself.

I also don’t really buy too many adorable keychains, because almost every series gets at least a few. You get bored with them pretty easily. So if I bought every keychain of gachapon I thought, “Oh cute!” for, I’d have piles of them sitting in my room. I still don’t even know what to do with my Shugo Chara! ones.

So yeah, it’s a nice idea, but I think it’s only Wishlist material…For now~ (Oh and let’s not even talk about the current price for a set)

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Blog-Related

Summer Anime (2009)

Geh. I actually completely neglected my post this week even though quite a few videos and pieces of information came out. I’ll get on it…soon.

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Random Thoughts

I’m Serious Guys – Cut it out with the Twilight trailers. & Any fucking contests just for a New Moon trailer with Shugo Chara! especially! (WTF!?!?!) The trailers all suck. Doesn’t matter how much work you put into it, nothing matches or works so it’s all going to suck. Especially if everyone makes one because they’re ALL GOING TO LOOK THE SAME!! I thought parodies and AMVs and stuff were supposed to be original, but I guess empty-headed fangirls just think “I like these two things! This is awesome!” and that’s enough.

Really, there’s nothing to make you dislike a series more before even trying to experience than having others besmirch (look it up) the characters you love with…whatever that shit is. I keep all of my opinions on Twilight to myself because it’s not fair since I haven’t read the books, but come on!

Whatever. I’m done now. Just pissed me off that I saw a video pop up in my subscriptions again this week after last week’s mini-rant. Not like I can really tell people not to do what they clearly enjoy, but it doesn’t mean that I have to like it.

Cosplay – Yup. Right now I’m looking into doing some cosplay, which may or may not lead to another section on this post. I’m deciding between that or a category. Either way, this post is getting too filled up, so something should probably get moved out of here. Maybe…I don’t know.

Anyway, I’m only at the stage where I’m looking into costumes I could make that I would want to wear (meaning characters I like enough). I want to do a Shugo Chara! cosplay, but Amu is so common that it kind of lessens my excitement. But Utau and Rima would both have impossible wigs, so they’re not really options either. Though I did consider Black Diamond Utau because the wig could be shorter, but…it doesn’t seem as recognizable to me (thought it would be cool). So I’m looking into different, but recognizable outfits for Amu since her uniform is so overdone (though it’s probably what I’ll end up doing anyway). Not her chara-nari’s because even if I think some are possible, I really shouldn’t attempt when my mother and I are both so out of practice. Especially without patterns.

Nagisa is also a possibility, but I’m trying to decide between the summer uniform and her grown-up mama version~

But any other suggestions are welcome too~ Though I only want to even think about two costumes. It’s bad to overload yourself. But I may change my mind if something good comes up.

Of course, the most important step will be seeing how I look in a wig so if that doesn’t work out, I’m scrapping the whole idea altogether. I think people shouldn’t go out in cosplay if they don’t really look good. I don’t see why it’s different from going out in every day life, you don’t leave the house before you make sure you’re not a mess, right? And to me it’s just as important for cosplay. It’s bad to “ruin” a good character by looking bad I think. That’s why it’s okay to think, “ugh” about cosplayers, even if it’s rude to say something and downright sneaky and nasty to talk about them online later like a highschool teenage bitch.

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My first day of work was so boring. Kind of a letdown after how I stressed myself out. Well I had to go at 6:30AM and was having trouble sleeping so some of the stress made sense. But all I really did was watch videos. Then I even got interrupted from that easy task every so often when someone needed to use the computer. So boring.

Watching the videos also gave me a little moment where I got scared seeing how complicated everything was. I totally forgot that I wasn’t just doing the register. But it actually looks pretty easy and kind of fun once you get into the routine. This is coming from a person who thought being a cashier was kind of fun too by the way. I like pressing buttons.

So yes, I’m officially working. And I already got enough money to pay for Sumomo, but my parents are just taking half of my paycheck until I pay everything back. So nice~ Especially since I insisted on it being half when they were saying, “Pay whenever.” This is because I got over my, “I want to buy everything!” feeling that’s been plaguing me as soon as I got the money to buy stuff. Everything doesn’t seem quite as good now. That’s how reality works I suppose.

In: Weekly Extra | tags: meh, shipping. | #