Plot

Junpei Kōsaka is a second-year high school student who despises cats and has an allergy to them. It just so happens that his high school crush is Kaede Mizuno, a girl who adores cats. One day, while walking home from school, Junpei kicks an empty can and unfortunately breaks the local neko-jizō-sama (guardian deity of cats). He finds he can now understand what cats are saying, including his family’s own ill-tempered cat, Nyamsus. However, if he does not grant 100 wishes to cats, he will turn into cat himself and die from his own allergy.

Opinion

With so much time watching more classic anime I wanted to watch something that was new. Nyan Koi was the first one back from the classics, so maybe a bit scewed opinion. I got this one on the suggestion from someone on MyAnimelist.net.

Well first I will say this is a pretty standard Ecchi Harem, no complaints there. However, they decided to make it “new” by adding cats. Unlike the images display they aren’t nekomimi; nope they are cats, and the girls don’t turn into nekomimi either .

What I liked about this anime is that it looks good, I think. Also for late night watching standard harems are always fun. This one kept me engaged by throwing out something enough at the end story wise to make me want to watch the next episode so I applaud that. There isn’t too much more about the anime it is pretty standard, but isn’t bad at all.

What I didn’t like is that they relied to much on same old same old in they way of gaffes and cliches. While the whole possessed cat kami statue cursing someone was new it still was pretty much the same old same old, which I didn’t have to much of a problem with.

If you like this type of anime you will like this one for sure. If hate these then don’t bother watching. If you are 50/50 I think you might enjoy this one over others.

Images

More images can be found in the flickr set (Nyan Koi flickr Set)

I have recently been splitting my anime watching time up between classic anime and new anime.  Generally doing a horrible job of keeping up with both I am trying to watch so much at one time. However, I finally got a chance to watch Project A-ko movie.

Plot

Sixteen years have passed since a mysterious alien ship crashed on Earth. Graviton City, once leveled by the ship’s crash, is now a bustling metropolis. Within the city’s high school, superhuman high school student A-Ko Magami dukes it out with the diabolical genius B-Ko Daitokuji, who will stop at nothing to win the friendship of A-Ko’s buddy C-Ko Kotobuki. Meanwhile, in outer space, another alien ship is on course towards Earth to find its planet’s lost princess. (via ANN)

Opinion

Overall the anime was good for a satire piece. If I had to rewrite the plot I would probably write it as

There are 3 girls in a broken love triangle. C-ko decides to fight A-ko for the love an affection of B-ko, and the war between them is on. By the way there is also a ship headed to earth to find their princess.

Originally this anime was supposed to be a part of the Cream Lemon hetnai ova series, but they decided against it and produced it as a movie. That said you can pretty much tell it was supposed to be a hentai considering there are all of 4 males in the whole show. A-ko’s dad and 3 military guys. Everyone else is female. Also considering how much yuriness there is to it it is almost unavoidable to notice it was supposed to be a hentai.

As for as a classic goes I definitely suggest getting it and watching so that you can add it to classic anime to talk to the veterans about. At the recent anime con I went to a group of people started talking about it, and I wasn’t able to join in for that 5 minutes. It is only an hour and a half so give it a shot.

Images

These are images from the anime Project A-ko (More images can be seen in Project A-ko Flickr set)

Plot

The Kagemori family has secretly protected its neighbor, the Konnyaku family, for 400 years. Mamoru has been the protector of the daughter, Yūna Konnyaku, since they were in kindergarten. When Yūna is in trouble, Mamoru quickly puts on his ninja suit and transforms into a competent ninja; able to protect her from harm. Unfortunately, this poses quite a challenge as Yūna, being both clumsy and absent-minded, often stumbles into situations where Mamoru must once again come to her rescue.

Opinion

I liked this anime, but I don’t recommend it. It is a bit to formulaic and there is better stuff out there. If you like wacky ninja scenarios then by all means watch it because you might like it too. I will say you gotta love the Banana song. Some of the over-the-top fights and scenes were really funny and some just gave you a “What is going on here?”. I am curios what others think though.

Images

Here are a few images. To see more check out the Flickr Set (Kage Kara Mamoru Flickr set)

K-ON! Seems to be like it is pretty popular, but really I can’t figure out why. Maybe it was just over-hyped to me. Not saying it was bad, in-fact I did like it. However, not really sure what all the fuss is about, especially Mio. The only reason I can see why people like her so much is that she has the biggest boobs and gets scared the easiest. The music is good. I am a fan of the type of music they were playing throughout the whole show, and I liked the story line too. Something different that we don’t get to see everyday, but by no means revolutionary like so many people made it seem. Believe me though if there is a second season I’ll be watching it, once it is all released and I can marathon it.

Plot

K-On!’s story revolves around four Japanese high school girls who join their school’s light music club to try to save it from being abolished. However, they are the only members of the club, and at first Yui Hirasawa has no experience playing musical instruments or reading sheet music. Eventually, she learns how to be an excellent guitar player. The rest of the club helps her to buy a guitar, and they perform at the school festival.

Images

For more images check out my K-ON! Flickr set (K-ON! Flickr Set)

Here is the Schedule for Godzilla Fest. I just wanted to post it up so that others could see it. I am very excited. While I wont be able to participate fully because I am helping man a booth for a Japanese Language club. I am excited that we are having this in Tulsa to help celebrate Japanese Culture even in the middle of the United States.

Plot

Shion no Ō centers around a young junior-high school girl named Shion Yasuoka who witnesses the murder of her parents as a child. At the time of the murder, the killer takes the king piece from her father’s shogi board. This leads her to believe that the murderer may be a shogi player. The shock of the incident renders Shion unable to speak, forcing her to communicate by writing on a pad. After being adopted by her neighbors, the Yasuoka family, Shion takes up the game herself, both for the love of the game and to possibly learn who killed her parents.

Opinion

I have never watched a board game based anime so this was a first, and I must say it was a lot of fun to watch. The concept is kind of odd I mean who wants to watch an anime about a board game. However, they have to create a great story/drama if they want to keep people engaged in the show. I think that is just what they did. They have a good amount of tension and actually get you interested in shogi enough to feel emotion with moves.

I liked the idea behind the main story where in order to find Shions parents killer she had to become the best Shogi player. I am a huge fan of anime about the main character comeing from behind and kicking some butt. Honestly, if you haven’t watched anime about a board game before I recommend this one. Actually I recommend this one in general.

Images

Shion no Ou images for more visit the flickr set (Shion no Ou flickr set)

Plot

In the future, water has covered much of the Earth due to the effects of global warming, leaving the human race to live on floating cities. The orphaned Maia Mizuki, 15, just graduated from middle school and has already applied for employment in the elite Ocean Agency, part of the futuristic world government. Only the best, most intelligent, and physically fit students are eligible for admission. Maia, the series’ protagonist, is set to become one of the few.

But her ideal life quickly falls apart. To her disappointment, Maia unexpectedly fails her entrance exams. Making matters worse, she promptly gets evicted from her house, pick pocketed, taken hostage, then shot. She is “saved” by two women (Rena and Shizuka) that are part of an unorthodox help-for-hire organization called Nereids (inspired by the Greek mythological Nereids). With nowhere to go, Maia joins up with Nereids, taking jobs from capturing wanted criminals to chasing stray cats, often with unexpected results. Gloria and Yu later join up with Nereids.

Opinion

I didn’t have a lot of hope for this anime since I hadn’t heard much about it, ever. I got this when I went on a search and just got hold of a bunch of random anime. Surprisingly this wasn’t too bad based on my thoughts of how good it was going to be. The story seemed to be a lot of mixes of other shows but twisted well to bring you something unusual.

I actually rather enjoyed the show it lulls in a few places, but is still fun. As a note though it is pretty ecchi, and I am sure it is ecchi just for the sake of being ecchi as I really never saw the purpose of their work “uniforms”. If you have a lot of other stuff to watch that you know about and has a priority watch that. If you are looking for something I would recommend this anime. With the fun ecchi’ness and a few surprising twists it is a lot of fun to watch.

Images

Can view more images of this anime in the flickr set (Daphne in the Brilliant Blue flickr set)

I think it is possible to use subtitles to help learn the Japanese Language.  I think it is entirely possible to use it as a tool to help with listening comprehension when it comes vocabulary, and maybe even so far as figure out some grammar too.  It is just another fun way to have fun with a language.

First, lets get something out of they way.  A lot of people say to better learn Japanese you MUST turn off subtitles when watching anime or J-Drama’s.  I partially agree with this, but only to a point.  I say this because while listening to conversations far above your head help you to get tones and eventually remember words; it sucks because you have no idea what is going on.  It gets frustrating.  At Tokyo in Tulsa I watched the first disc of Ai Yori Aoshi in raw Japanese no subtitles since I was doing late night in the Anime rooms and no one was there.  Its depressing to only know bits an pieces of the conversation, and basic conversations at that.  In short watching anime and J-Drama without subtitles can help, but it sucks.  I do recommend it, but not all the time. I mean we Otaku, Americanized reference, want to enjoy what Japan has to offer and understand it.

That all being said here are 5 simple ways, from experience, subtitles help you learn.

1. Correcting the Subtitles – Often times we get speed subs of stuff to watch so the translations aren’t all that great, even some non-speed subs are bad.  This leads to an excellent opportunity to listen to what is being said while watching and reading the subtitles, and correct them.  Basically watch what is happening, listen to tones and words, and read the subtitles (easier than it sounds).  At this point you can start to tell what is being meant by the tones, which helps in Japanese conversation, and by words, which helps in comprehension.  Those are the two keys after that pick up the vocabulary and you will start to notice times when the subtitles could be a bit better or how they are off just a bit, or completely.  Its okay if they are because YOU have now found out they are, and that means you are learning Japanese.
2. Word Recognition – When studying we learn a lot of words and can somewhat keep track of what words we do know.  While I watch anime I will read the subtitles, and when I read a word in the subtitles that has been said and I do know the Japanese counterpart I’ll make sure I hear it.  I suggest you do the same.  If you don’t hear the word you read in the subtitles rewind and try to find it.  If you can’t then it might be an opportunity for #1 above or you need to work on the word a bit, as long as it is not a word in a different dialect. Don’t beat yourself up if you can’t hear the word you will eventually.
3. Speed Recognition – If there is one thing to be learned it is that Japanese is a FAST language.  it can be read and spoken fast.  This leaves us at a disadvantage because English isn’t really a fast language it takes a while to read in comparison and with some of the most complex sentence structures available it doesn’t leave room to consistent speed talking.  So how do subtitles help with this? well it helps us tune our ears to start reading the subtitles faster, but also trying to pick up the phrases too.  Sometimes I have caught myself reading half the subs and picking up the other half by listening to dialog.
4. Sentence Structure – This one is a tad bit harder to really follow unless you geek out a bit on grammar, both English and Japanese.  When the subtitles are good subtitles and it is a leisurely show you can concentrate on what is being said and make out the differences between English and Japanese.  This may not be important or even notable to most people, but it can help when learning general sentence structure in spoken language which can differ quite far sometimes from written.  Again this can only really be done when it is a leisurely anime and you are paying attention, but it has helped while in speaking situations at my Japanese language club.
5. Enjoyment – This might seem to be a cop-out point, but I really believe that if you don’t enjoy doing any of this then you aren’t going to get any benefit from it.  I tend to do the above naturally, but I also do it as a fun exercise.  After all learning Japanese should be fun and not a chore so finding fun ways of doing it is important.  Too many people in my Japanese class aren’t actually enjoying the experience and having fun with it so they don’t get very far.  Every time they mess with Japanese is it a chore so things like this ruin their experience of Anime or J-Dramas.  So don’t do any of this if you aren’t going to enjoy it.

In the end learning Japanese is what you make of it. Nothing more nothing less.  This is a way for you to maybe get more out of what you do, and also maybe gives you another way to look at study habits when dealing with media.

Have you found ways to effectively use subtitles to help you learn?

Plot

Early April, Kazuki Sendō is invited by his friend, Taishi Kuhonbutsu, to come with him to Tokyo Big Sight. He is surprised to see thousands of people waiting in line to get in. Apparently they’re at Comic Party, a giant dōjinshi convention. Once inside, Kazuki meets some of the dōjinshi artists and is surprised to find himself enjoying their work. Taishi convinces Kazuki to draw dōjinshi after their visit because he recognizes Kazuki’s skill as an artist, but Kazuki’s childhood friend Mizuki tries to talk him out of it because she believes otakus are smelly, dirty, and disgusting. Her reasoning doesn’t help because Kazuki already made up his mind and begins to draw his first dōjinshi.

Opinion

To me this is one of those interesting anime’s that talk about its audience that watches anime or reads manga. Personally, I like these anime no matter how bad they are, not saying this one is, because I like to see how the creator sees his own community. I love introspection.

Comic Party to me was good, but once it hit about episode 8′ish I got a bit annoyed because they went super downer on the plot, was kind of depressing. However, i pushed through and the end of the anime really perked me up because they did good showing someone come out of a slump through hard work and determination. I’d say you should watch this anime if you like anime/manga about anime/manga. Other than that you might not be too interested.

Images

More images int he flickr set (Comic Party Flickr Set)

Plot

Maria Holic revolves around a high school girl, Kanako Miyamae, who is scared of boys and breaks out in hives if a boy touches her. During her second year of high school, she enrolls in an all-girls school hoping to find a female romantic partner. However, her ideal candidate, Mariya Shidō, turns out to be a sadistic crossdressing boy.

Opinion

It isn’t often I get to see a gender bender anime. For some reason I like them because they are soooo funny. This one especially since it was a yuri’ish gender bender where the main character is in love with girls and has a hard time controller herself. I laughed so hard through this anime because some of the stuff was so off the wall. Also, you can tell they go for symbolism and have put quite a bit of thought into many scenes and episodes to make subtle things important relevant. If you like gender bender comedy definitely go for this it is hilarious, and a trap at first.

Images

See more images in the flickr set (Maria+Holic flickr set)