Category Archives: Editorial

Anime that could use a sequel Part One

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Disclaimer: The following article may contain spoilers for the shows discussed below. If you have not watched the shows listed below or are in the process of watching them please read careful. Areas with Spoilers will be given white colored text so if you want to read it then highlight the text that is hidden.  Some images used here in this upcoming articles may be NSFW so please read at your own risk if you read this blog at work.

Recently two polls were created and asked fans what shows they would like to see get a sequel to. The list had me thinking as well about what shows should get either more episodes (another season) or just a few episodes to tidy things up (a few OVA’s). Sequels can be good or better than the previous season (Initial D is a good example) or they can be worse (Comic Party Revolution, To Heart ~Remember my Memories, and Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Destiny some good examples of this). Below are some of the shows that I believe could get sequels in terms of another season or just some OVAs. This list is far from complete and this will just include shows that I have finished myself. There is a high doubt that any of this would happen but hey one can dream right?  This will be a several part series since the list that I have come up with is longer than more articles I have written.  Part Two will be up tomorrow and Part Three will be up Saturday, along with a special on Sunday.

Ai Yori Aoshi

What is the show about? – Kaoru Hanabishi, a college student who lives alone, met a beautiful but bewildered girl dressed in kimono at train station. He volunteered to guide her way to the address she was looking for, which looked like in his neighborhood but turned out to be an empty lot. Not knowing what to do next, Kaoru invited the devastated girl to his apartment and asked for additional clue — a photo with two children whom Kaoru immediately identified as himself and Aoi Sakuraba, his childhood friend. It turned out that the girl in front of him is Aoi Sakuraba herself, his betrothed fiancée who came all the way to Tokyo to marry him. Her revelation was not only surprising but also reminded the deepest part of Kaoru’s memory for why he left the Hanabishi family in the first place.

Why does it need a sequel or prequel? (SPOILER ALERT) – Enishi ends with nothing being fully resolved. Kaoru and Aoi still love each other, and Tina is the only one of the harem girls to know that Kaoru and Aoi are in love with each other. The manga does give a great ending to the series and fleshes everything out. (SPOILER END).

What type of sequel does it need? – To bring the story to a close several OVA’s would be enough to wrap everything up completely. Three to Four OVA’s would need to be created to bring everything to a complete close that the series deserves.

Chances of this happening: It is an old show by today’s standards so there is a pretty low chance that it would get any OVA’s.

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Angel Beats

What is the show about? In a world after death, angels fight for their fate and their future. Yuri, the leader of the Shinda Sekai Sensen, rebels against the god who destined her to have an unreasonable life. On the otherhand, Tenshi, the chairperson of the student council for the world after death, battles against the SSS members. SSS members utilize armed weaponry to battle it out against the angels harnessing supernatural powers.

Why does it need a sequel or prequel? (SPOILER ALERT) – While the series did end and everyone left limbo to either go on to the next world or get reborn we do miss a few details on some of the other casts members as what happened to them when they were living and why they could not move on initially do the afterlife. (SPOILER END)

What type of sequel does it need? – This is a tough one. On one hand another twelve episode series could be made to wrap everything up complete and see what happens to everyone else after they leave the limbo world. On the other hand having a few OVA’s to explain what happen to some of the others to end of them and what allowed them to move on completely would also be enough. For this one I am going to chalk this up as either or.

Chances of this happening*: Angel Beats got high marks on either list but but since this is a P.A. Works title with Kyoto Animation being involved would at least give it enough interest if a sequel was made.

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B Gata H Kei

What is the show about? - Yamada is a high school student, and a virgin, who aspires to have 100 casual sex partners. Despite this, she soon finds herself targeting and pursuing only one boy.

Why does it need a sequel or prequel? (SPOILER ALERT) The TV series ends with Yamada and Kosuda attempting to have sex only to fail with getting this done. The series ends with just showing that Yamada and Kosuda still care about each other. (SPOILER END)

What type of sequel does it need? – This series needs another twelve or thirteen episodes to bring everything to a close. The manga ended after the TV series was finished but does give a legit ending to the series. The manga also after where the TV shows ends gives more development to the main cast and some to the side cast members.

Chances of this happening: B Gata H Kei flopped in Japan and it pretty well known about the threats the studio got after the show finished airing so the chances of B Gata H Kei getting a sequel would be low, but it did alright in the polling so there is always hope.

[Source: ANN]

Thanks to Reaper_GI for informing me of a mistake

Bandai Restrospective

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With Bandai Entertainment, no longer going to be putting out new shows after next month I decided to do a retrospective in regards to Bandai and what they meant to me as an anime fan.

I will start by saying that my first anime purchase was not a Bandai releases.  It was the first VHS release of Pokemon by Viz.  Say what you want about that but I was young at the time that I purchased and I enjoyed that series back in the day.

Getting back on topic the first anime DVD that I ever purchased was from Bandai and it was the singles for the original Mobile Suit Gundam.  I purchases that first five single DVD’s back in 2001 for a little over $100 for them.  People now might say that is crazy to pay that amount but remember paying $30 for four episodes of anime on a DVD was the norm at that time.

For about five years the only anime DVD’s I had in my collection at that time were from Bandai.  This included most of the Gundam shows released at that time, minus Gundam Wing and any of the Gundam SEED stuff and the other Bandai stuff I had at that time was the Love Hina.  I spend a lot of money on the Gundam DVD’s over the years.  Hell I even pre-ordered the $200 set for Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam the one that had dubtitles.  Of course, at the time, I did not know that, but that is a story for another time.

I have always had a soft spot for Bandai Entertainment over the years.  Hell the Gundam franchise got me to expand my anime watching experience back in 2001.  I used to tape the episodes on Toonami religiously back in the day.  Hell I used to stay up on Saturday nights and watch Adult Swim (you know when the used to shows anime more often) when it first started showing before I had a job just so I watch Gundam 0083.  I used to also watch Cowboy Bebop when it first aired on Adult Swim because it was pure AWESOME.

Even with all of their mistakes over the years, (no company is perfect so I am more forgiving in that area), they ALWAYS had a soft spot in my heart for helping shape me as an anime fan today.  Now I know personally Bandai did do this just for me, but with putting Gundam on TV it helped me in more ways than one.  It helped increase a bond between close friend and me even more than before which was already pretty close.

Now I know there are people out there who are not fans of Bandai and are happy that they not going to be putting out any new DVD or BD’s after February’s releases are shipped out.  Regardless of your feelings for Bandai, keep in mind this.  People are losing their jobs over this.  People who contracted to Bandai will not have those contracts continued and they will lose their jobs.  This also affects other groups such as Bang Zoom and Ocean Group two studios that Bandai has used in the past for their dubs.  Bang Zoom will probably stop dubbing anime and just focus on video games.  Ocean Group on the other hand will still do some anime, but since they also do Western animation and video game dubbing, they will probably be all right.

So what does Bandai not putting out any more titles after February mean as a whole?  First, one of the oldest anime licensing group in R1 will be gone, which is always a terrible to see any group leave the scene especially one such as Bandai Entertainment.  Second, the three titles that they had planned to release this year Turn A Gundam, GoSick, and Nichijou will not be released this year.  The good thing with that however is that the rights for these shows go back to their original holders so there is a chance that these shows can still get licensed and released thought if any of them do it will probably be another year or so before we see them out in the R1 market if at all.  Third and this will be come into effect years later (or sooner depending on the license) is what about the shows that they currently have licensed.  Once they go, OOP is there a chance that a lot of the titles will get licensed rescued or will they be forever in the bin of shows that do not get another chance in the R1 market.  Lastly, and this is probably the most important of all is that less shows will be licensed in the R1 region.  Sure Bandai was not putting out the amount of titles that say Funimation and Sentai Filmworks put out every week but Bandai still put out titles.  With one company out of the picture that just means there is less of a chance that a show can be released.  Funimation, Sentai, Media Blaster, and the other groups can only license so many shows and put out so many shows in a year.

Now I have read on the internet that some people think that Bandai Entertainment in a few years can come back and start releasing shows again.  I highly doubt that this will happen at all considering that their parent company decided to pull the plug on the stuff over hear so I doubt that they would be willing to let them try again in the future.

In short, Bandai Entertainment leaving the R1 industry is a terrible thing to happen.  Three shows that were going to see the light of day (and I was going to purchase two of those three shows) in R1 are not going to see that now and maybe never see it.  Fewer shows will probably be licensed as a whole and fan favorites may never be licensed again once they go OOP.

If there is a silver lining to this whole thing, I have to give credit where credit where credit is due at least the anime titles that are going to be released in February are still going to be released.  I cannot say the same for the manga division though.

Misleading articles

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Note: this article is the sole opinion of OtakuAnthony and is not the opinions on Janaiblog.

Like many people these days I get my news online from sites such as CNN, MSNBC, Yahoo, etc.  However, an article that I read yesterday caught my attention for all the wrong reason.  The article is called “This is how you buy a gift for an otaku.”  Upon reading the article in full it is easy to tell that the article should be labeled “This is how you buy a gift for a weeaboo”.

Now why is this you ask?  Let me break down this article a bit into why this article is misleading.  The third paragraph talks about a USB drive by that is based on GoLion (or Voltron if you have never seen the original series) The paragraph is as follows:

“It’s hard to go wrong with a gift like a USB drive, especially since there are so many cool ones for fans of Japanese culture. For instance, the Voltron 2 GB USB drive is part pose-able toy and part storage monster, ready to transport your files with attitude. Plus, he comes with a blazing sword, which has no other function beyond making you look that much cooler. Voltron Force, go!”

Now a USB drive is never a bad idea for any computer person or an otaku.  USB flash drives a great way to do backups for things like word or excel document or some pictures.  So what is the problem with this one?  First, this is a rip off price wise.  Looking at some other sites just for USB drives shows that I can get a 2GB USB flash drive for $5.99 at Tigerdirect.  So if I can get a normal one for roughly $6.00 why should I spend $37.00 one.  Second, you are buying for the name not the product.  But if you are asking yourself what type of drive can I get the $37.00.  Well you can get this 32 GB for the same price as the 2 GB Voltron one.

I am not going to go into every little thing that the article talks about since that would take up too much of my time.  Most of the items in the article would fit in with a weeaboo, which may or may not be an otaku.  The only items in that list that an otaku would probably enjoy would the two figurines that they discuss and the overpriced calendar.  However, a person who collects figurines would probably already have them either pre-ordered or ordered already.

Therefore, now that I have talked enough about what is wrong with this article lets us talk about what you could get an otaku for the holidays or their birthday whichever comes first.  First off, gift cards or gift certificates to places that sell anime or manga is never a terrible idea if you do not know what anime titles or manga titles to get a person.  Places that sell anime like Amazon.com, Right Stuf, Best Buy, RACS are just some examples of places that sell anime and manga excluding Best Buy which does not sell manga and RACS which I believe does not have gift certificates though I could be wrong.

For those who have large DVD and BD collections there are a couple of gifts that could benefit otaku and non otaku alike.  Shelving to stores DVD’s and BD’s are great especially those like me with large collections that are growing by the week.  Those who prefer manga over anime would also enjoy have bookshelves to stores their manga on.  If you are like me and do not keep your DVD’s and BD in their cases storage wallets are great since it allows ease of access for their BD’s and DVD and they are a lot easier to take around the house or apartment then a bunch of cases.

Maybe new shelves are not what they need, but a way to play those DVD’s or BD’s they own.  Blu-ray players have come down in a price lately so getting them a player so that if they only have DVD’s but plan on upgrading to BD’s in the near future then they are set to go.

I really could go on and on about what to buy an otaku, but I will end it here.  While I appreciate CNN for their news articles and their articles on geek fandom this article on what to get otaku is misleading and can easily confuse someone into thinking that an otaku and a weeaboo are one in the same.

An anime fans thanksgiving (aka what I am thankful for as a fan)

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Tomorrow if you are an US citizen or live in America it is Thanksgiving.  For everyone else happy Thursday.  Anyways we are supposed to be thankful for stuff that we have in our lives.  As a person I still do have a lot to be thankful for.  I’m thankful that I still have my parents who are supportive of me.  I am thankful that I have employment in these tough times.  However, as an anime fan I do have some stuff that I am to be thankful for this year.  Here is what I am thankful for this year:

1. I am thankful that we are still getting English dubs for some shows being released in North America.  In a perfect world all shows being released would have an English dub, but we do not live in a perfect world.  I am thankful that Funimation is still doing English dubs for the shows that they release.  I am thankful that Sentai is at least doing some dubs for their shows but A LOT less when they used to be ADV which in a way is probably for the best.

2. I am thankful that some older manga titles are being released again.  While I am grateful for Tokyopop bringing out many titles in their life, I am just as grateful if not more grateful to Kodonsha Comics for bring some of the titles that TP has released in the past and given a new life line in the English.  I am grateful that titles like Love Hina and Sailor Moon are being released again in English.

3. I am thankful for legal streaming.  Okay, so I do not really use legal streaming options because my laptop cannot stream well at all, but I am thankful that there are more legal options then there were ever before to watch anime.  This is great because not only can fans shows that either have never gotten an official physical release outside of Japan, but also watch the newest shows that come out of Japan each and every season.  Sure not every show being release is given a legal option but more shows than ever are given this option.

4. I am thankful for premium releases.  Times are tough for everyone including me; however, I am thankful that a few companies still put out premium releases these days.  Funimation has been doing this with the LE sets. Aniplex of America has been doing this with some imports and sets with a good amount of extra.   Nozomi does this with nice art boxes and some type of booklet about the series.  NISA does this with their first run of a series with a huge box and large book about the show.

2012 & Third Impact: This Time For Sure!

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Uh oh ..... Pull shade ..... draw curtains.

2012 & Third Impact: This Time For Sure!

October 21 has come & gone & it looks as if Harold Camping is wrong again (He has since retired & now says no one can know the time …..). No rapture. No armageddon. No world destruction.

And for us Evangelion fans, no Third Impact! As for me, good!

But wait! There is 2012. When the Mayan calender ends. Even though there are no indications that something would happen there has been much speculation about ….. THE END (Roll credits.). It’s all bullcrap but then again what a better time for Third Impact to happen.

So, when the ball drops on New Years’ & “Guy Lombardo” strikes up the band (Yeah, yeah, I know. It’s later. possibly 12-21-12. Can’t be too careful though.), be on the lookout for any hovering, blue haired, Japanese albino schoolgirls in the vicinity. Do whatever you can to avoid physical contact. Fight, run, hide, whatever. Just don’t let her get close enough to touch you. You may not like what will happen if you do. That’s my advice to you, take it or leave it.

So there …..

OK, so much for that. I can only hope somebody takes this warning to heart. I can only do so much to …..

Awww ….. Nooo! Not you ….. AGAIN?!. It’s not even Thanksgiving let alone New Years’. Why are you always picking on ME?! We’ve been through this ….. how many times already? Twice. Yeah, two times before & both times I’ve rejected Instrumentality & came back. The last time what was left of me dribbled under the front door & I rematerialized outside my apartment. BUTT NEKKID! Have you any idea how embarrassing that is? (Good thing the door was unlocked.) Come to think of it I don’t think you would …..

Look ….. kid. I don’t want Instrumentality. Really, I don’t. I don’t wanna be one with the greater “whatever”. I don’t care to be joined to the collective conciousness of the oversoul. I’m not into that communal thing. I’m also not into that fetishy schoolgirl look you seem to effect ….. & …..

Never you mind what I’m into! That’s not the point! The point is I don’t wanna go! I like it here. I like being here. And I like me just the way I am. It may be lonely & “painful” but that’s the way it is. I can take it.

Now I know I can’t outrun you, so I’m just gonna step right here in this here bath tub (Plug’s in? Good!) & pretend you’re not here. I figure if I reject Instrumentality beforehand, I won’t have to go through the krap of “transcendance” again.

Let’s see now ….. I’m in my happy place ….. I’m in my happy place ….. my happy place ….. happy place ….. happy place ….. happy ….. happy ….. happy ….. Aw darn it! ….. BLOOOOOSH!

burble ….. burble …..

LCL ….. Crisp & clean ….. no caffiene. Never had it. Never will!

Article copyright © 11-10-2011 Jay Agan

This article first posted at Jays’ Tee Vee.