By now, people all over the world must be making a fuss over KyoAni’s alleged cancellation of the supposedly upcoming anime adaptation of the FYG manga Tonari no 801-chan. KyoAni has not disclosed the true reasons behind this, and despite how the future of a Tonari no 801-chan anime seems bleak at the moment, they sure have succeeded in peaking people’s interest over this manga(s) / drama (apparently, the manga has been adapted to a DVD-only live-action movie (shall we call this ODV - Original Drama Video?) and I only knew about it today). Case in point would be yours truly, who just got herself to do a little research on the series, and is now itching to read the manga and/or watch the live-action adaptation. A pretty damn good marketing strategy I should say, KEIKAKU DOORI or not.

Now, after this interesting turn-of-events, more people (especially those who are updated in the anime scene and not so much in the manga scene) will be into the manga, and by the time it actually gets animated, its fanbase would’ve grown. Exponentially and internationally too.

I was browsing MOONPHASE today, checking out updates regarding Skip Beat’s website, much to surprise that what I saw was this new anime among the list (with its homepage now up too!): Asaki Yumemishi. The first thing that came to my mind was the recently released PC game of the same name, but of course there’s no way that could happen. Just as I [later on] thought, it’s the adaptation of Waki Yamato’s epic Tale of Genji manga (based on the epic Tale of Genji novel, of course). Now, all the ones who watched Kure-nai and had no prior knowledge about this novel will be able to see the light! Or something.

There’s not much info on the staff and cast for the anime yet, but the epicness of this tale (albeit tragic, melodramatic and filled with political concubine conspiracy) and the fact that this will be taking up the Noitamina slot after Nodame Cantabile makes me excited over this series (though not quite for the right reasons… I’m somewhat imagining going ‘SRS BSNS romantic rant mode’ with this series ^^; ). I just wonder how much of the novel/manga they can cover in the span of 11 episodes, and how sensual this adaptation will turn out to be.

Credits to *reira* of AnimeSuki forum for finding this scan, and to the one who really scanned it (thank you, scanner-san)

Looks like this news came out real early, like way back 5 or so days ago. Katsuyuki Konishi is casted as Ren! I know people are having mixed feelings over this news, and those who already had this image of Ren (with their ideal seiyuu to boot) are especially disappointed.

I’d like to think that I’m a bit on the “yay!” side with this one. I was trying to recall Katsuyuki Konishi’s voice as Soubi (Loveless), Ousaki-sempai (La Corda d’ Oro), etc., and it initially didn’t quite fit the supposedly ‘image’ I had of Ren. But then I read the manga, and started imagining how it would seem like with Katsuyuki Konishi’s voice, and I actually found it fitting for his snarky, somewhat egotistic yet gentle character.

I know we have several expectations for the seiyuu of Ren, and each of us are entitled to our own opinions, whether we disapprove of this casting or not. But I really think we need to rid ourselves of the preconceived image we have of the character and whatever biases we have to be able to accept this announcement. There’s nothing we can do about it anyways, so why not look at the brighter side of things? I don’t want to judge this as a miscast, especially not until the anime has aired. And I honestly think it could’ve been worse.

People still had doubts over the unofficial announcement I posted about the Skip Beat seiyuu cast, and I was even thought to be a troll by other ones who don’t know me or this blog and thought that I was just spreading false news like the rest of the 2ch people. That actually bruised my ego. I mean, do I ever look like a troll and/or a liar?! I know I lied once for the April Fool’s joke, and I guess I’m reaping the consequences of it. But oh well, this is the internet for you. I didn’t have solid proof of the news anyways, so who am I get hurt for something I didn’t deserve to be trusted with, right? Better safe than sorry, as they say. Still, thanks to all the people who actually trusted the words of this unknown blogger, despite how unofficial that announcement was *hugs*

Lo and behold, the Skip Beat anime cast.

Finally, after daysss (or has it been weeks already), I finally got hold of the ultimate solid proof for anime thanks to the person who scanned and uploaded this Skip Beat chapter 127 I got. Marina Inoue and another Japanese blogger also posted partial scans of this one, showing the portion with Marina Inoue as Kyouko, and Miyano Mamoru as Shou, respectively. This time, you get the full-page view of it

Since this is already official, I guess I’ll say more of my thoughts on the selected seiyuus, especially Miyano Mamoru. I know many of you are dismayed that Miyano Mamoru got the role of Shou, but I’m pretty positive about it, especially after knowing that Mamo can sing!!

Now I wonder who will be playing Ren… *dun dun dun dun* I’m sure gonna be on the lookout for this announcement~

Good news people (at least to those who found this new cast to be good), this news has been confirmed by several Japanese bloggers I’ve seen around the net in my lurk today. We can’t possibly go wrong with Japanese fans who have actual copies of Hana to Yume raving over this news now, right? I’m still on the lookout for more official news on this one, for those who still deem this to be unreliable.

Ok, so I don’t know who the heck gave ANN the heads up for the Skip Beat anime seiyuu lineup they have, or how they found out that Rina Satou and Koyasu Takehito will be playing as Kyoko and Ren, respectively. But one thing’s for sure: they’re booboos. Sorry to burst your bubble dear Skip Beat fans who already got excited with this false “rumor” about the Skip Beat seiyuu cast T__T I am sooo disappointed in you, ANN. Dear Wikipedia, please correct your anime seiyuu information too. - The Undersigned. –> I’m too lazy to edit the Wiki page atm.

The _REAL_ seiyuu cast for the anime (except for Ren, whose seiyuu remains a mystery at this point) has been announced in the latest Hana to Yume issue, and I am SOO happy with the seiyuus they chose It made me all giddy and excited, unlike the previously mis-announced seiyuu cast.

Kyoko will be played by the lovely and talented Inoue Marina, who voiced Iku of Toshokan Sensou. Shou will be played by Miyano Mamoru, which I deem to be fit for his role of being a mix of a dope and serious kind of guy. Yashiro will be played by Kawanago Masahito, who I don’t know much about. Kanae, aka, “Moko”, will be played by Risa Hayamizu, seiyuu of Kumiko Yamaguchi in the Gokusen anime.

Ren’s seiyuu won’t be announced till the next issue of Hana to Yume, what a bummer. So much for keeping us at the edge of our seats!

And that’s about it. I hope the Skip Beat fans will now be enthralled with this officially announced seiyuu cast

I just couldn’t afford to have this news as an ‘Aside’ post, this needs as much spotlight as it can.

So while I’m still writing my post with shoujo manga recommendations, in which I was going all “I worship Yoshiki Nakamura ^:)^”, this announcement just had to come at the best possible time, making me reach a state of fangurl nirvana. To those who are not familiar with Skip Beat, it’s a manga by the god Yoshiki Nakamura-sama I mentioned, whose previous work Tokyo Crazy Paradise will forever be in my GREATEST SHOUJO MANGAS Hall of Fame. I fail as a Nakamura fan however, coz I haven’t been catching up with the Awesome Skip Beat!! orz *spanks self*

I was just browsing through my feedreader this morning when I stumbled upon Gia’s news about this “rumor”, which she heard from AnimeSuki regular NeoSam. While Gia thinks it’s just a rumor, I’m telling you now that it’s not. This is even more true than that rumored Skip Beat Taiwan drama, which makes me a really happy fangurl. I checked out moonphase and saw that it’s really in the works. The studio who’ll be producing it will be Hal Film Maker (who’s also behind Aria, Princess Tutu, Pretear, and Boys Be) to be directed by Kiyoko Sayama (director of Pretear, Princess Tutu, and Vampire Knight). And it’s airing this Autumn!! Now is this awesome or what +___+

Autumn 2008 is gonna be GREAT, more so if Ga-Rei and Hakushaku to Yousei will air in this season as well!

My eyes shot wide open at the headline: “New School Rumble Anime This July!” I was letting out streaks of “OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG” as if I were chanting it to attain nirvana.

The 21st volume of the manga will be released on July 17, 2008 (on my birthday!), the first limited edition will come with a DVD. I would guess that the DVD will contain the “third semester”, which will just be an OVA or a couple special episodes, I’m still not sure. It doesn’t matter. As long as I have some SR goodness to look forward to, I’m a happy hamster!

I love the tagline of this series, “People become stronger when they find someone they ought to protect”. rawr, so GAR

Not too long ago, I pointed out Kurenai as one of the animes I’m looking forward to in the Spring Lineup. Yes, I’m looking that far ahead. Although I don’t have the actual novel in my hands, I managed to find it *cough* somewhere else *cough* It took me weeks of perseverance, to keep me from buying the novels on impulse. I thought hard, wondering if it’ll be worth my time and money, considering the pile of unread mangas and novels (*cough* Saiunkoku *cough*) I have. I browsed through the novels again, supposedly for dispelling my excitement (the want-to-buy-it kind of excitement) for it, only to end up failing to resist it more orz.

These pictures in particular caught my attention, enough to make me exclaim “I AM SOLD!”. Without reading the text of the novel, I think these images already give enough hints that there’s more to this show than meets the eye (like duh, these images already show some plot-clues in the first two volumes of the novel xD). I think you’ll even be more interested once you see the recent manga adaptation. What worries me is how they’re going to conclude the anime for this yet-to-be-finished novel. Aside from that, it’s all good~

I get Aishiteruze Baby vibes from the loli & bodyguard relationship of Murasaki and Shinkurou, the two main characters of the show. I think the antics in Kurenai will be more fun, because we have a tsundere ojousama loli in Murasaki The possible love triangle angle with Shinkurou, Murasaki, and Shinkurou’s classmate Yuuno makes this all the more interesting. I’m in the loli-side for this one, though Yuuno is a cool kickass female herself, whose martial arts skills is even more superior than the GAR-in-disguise Shinkurou.

I decided to give this pimping my ALL (sort of), so here are some of the entertaining antics I was able to pick-up during my quick browsing:

Murasaki: Come Shinkurou! Let’s read this book together! Shinkurou: But I still have to take care of these documents… Murasaki: I’m reading it now! Shinkurou: Alright, alright. So, what book is it? Murasaki: It’s The Tale of Genji manga I borrowed from Tamaki! This story fits us to a tee, Shinkurou! Shinkurou: Orly…? o_O (Note: In the Tale of Genji, Genji becomes fascinated with this little girl named Murasaki, who turns out to be the niece of his stepmother, his first love. Enamored by the young 10-yr old, he “kidnaps” her, and brings her up to become his ideal lady. Murasaki is 8 years younger than Genji, and came to be known as his “most loved one”, among the MANY women in his life.)

before this, Shinkurou told Murasaki not to hesitate to ask him about anything that’s bother her, and soo… Murasaki: Hey, Shinkurou. Which do you think is cuter between these two [panties]? Shinkurou: Whichever is fine, so just go and wear it! Murasaki: I said, which?! Shinkurou: well then.. the white one. Murasaki: Hrmm, so this is what Shinkurou likes. I’ll take note of that. Shinkurou: Umm, you really don’t have to…

Below is the PV from the official site. Found the subbed version in youtube, but I don’t know who graciously subbed it ?_?

Murasaki is <3 8D

…but of course, April is still a long wait, so I’m going back to the present and finish the rest of my planned posts.

This time around, I decided to take it slow, to delight in what the Winter ‘08 animes has to offer, before deciding on which shows to blog. Despite how several shows piqued my interest, namely True Tears, Persona, Porfy no Nagai Tabi, Shigofumi, Spice and Wolf, Hatenkou Yuugi, Hakaba Kitarou and KimiAru, I can’t seem to bring myself to write about these shows. These animes struck a chord with me, but somehow, it wasn’t enough inspiration for a write-up (the KimiAru deep frying I did isn’t really a proper write-up, but just a random “lol”).

Winter’s Block is making me feel like a sad girl in the snow. It’s not you, winter animes, it’s me.

I’ve never been a good writer. If there’s one thing that blogging has really taught me, it’s that I should not have taken reading [English books] and writing for granted, during the “formative years” of my life. Sorry, mom, I now realize how foolish I am for not listening to your advice. But that’s not the point. The thing is, with the lack of ability to articulately express myself, especially for shows I can’t [fully] get into, I am not able to churn out a “worthwhile” post. With this, I come to the conclusion that the problem lies with me and my current Winter’s Block. The most plausible and convenient reason I can think of behind this phenomenon is that, I left my heart somewhere else, in the season of Spring~ yes that’s right. Deliberately or not, I found myself not wanting to become attached to the Winter shows, in light of what is to come in the next season. I feel like singing, “O Come All Ye Spring 2008 Animes” now, actually

My Newtype magazines just made this worse, as it allowed me to do some sort of “time leap”, and I became excited for what Spring ‘08 has to offer instead. I guess this also explains why I wasn’t able to cook up a Winter 2008 Anime “Menu” / Season Preview? Though I think I owe much of that to laziness, procrastination, and loneliness (bunnies need company to be able to GIVE IT ALL THEY’VE GOT, after all)

Having known the roots of my Winter’s Block, I obviously cannot go about proclaiming how the Winter season of animes suck. I’ve already lost the “right” to proclaim that with what I’ve mentioned thus far. If you’re looking for a guide for the Winter season of shows, I’m sorry to say that I cannot be a hermit bunny at this state of hibernation. And besides, there are other blogs out there which are more qualified for that, IMO. So instead of forcing myself to post about the current shows [halfheartedly], I’ll just stick to what I’ve already been doing and continue to look at what lies ahead, while not losing focus of the present (aka watching Winter shows, and blogging what I’m supposed to). Allow me then to guide you into the world of Spring! Wai~ So yeah, all this lengthy introduction is just to tell you guys, that I’ll be providing “Snapshots of Spring 2008″ in the coming months, as I scan pages from Newtype / Animedia, for the greater good. ^^;;;

Enjoy the pics~! Let’s all be happy and look forward to Spring! =3

I’ll be adding up more chunks of info about these upcoming shows as I get my lazy butt to write-up a summary for each of them >_<

Highly Anticipated Animes

(pardon the Shoujo fangirl bias ):

Neo Angelique Abyss
Official site

Neo Angelique is the newest installment to Koei’s Angelique games, and the only one I played so far. If I were to describe this in simple terms, it would be “Harukanaru Toki no Naka de: Victorian Style”. Instead of a miko, we have Angelique, the chosen one sent by the heavens~ who teams up with a group of bishies to save the world from evil. That’s roughly what its “plot” is, pretty cheesy and unoriginal, but I’m really biased for this because the game has a soft spot in my heart. As early as now, I can already predict many bloggers dropping this show from their watch this with simply one episode, just like the fate of Corda, but I will stand by this show through thick and thin, despite how others might label it as “crap” >3

For fangirls, especially, here’s a little pimping present to go with this, the translation for the ending dialogues of the characters in the game, which I did as a favor for someone in AS before (and whom I haven’t heard from ever since =[ ). This is gonna be cheesy, so prepare yourself
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Special A
Official site

You can already tell I’m excited about this show, ever since I pimped it a few months back. While I’m a little apprehensive about the character designs, I don’t think that’ll ruin the fun and WAFF this anime has to offer. The “GONZO” involvement is what I’m worried about.
As for my highly anticipated animes which still haven’t been “fully” featured in Newtype (aka, no widespread pics):

Monochrome Factor
Official site

This is not what you think it is, naughty people

Based on a BL-ish fantasy manga, whose eyecandies and seemingly interesting premise is enough to make me anticipate this I’m gonna post some pics from the manga later on, or in my next posts

Vampire Knight

Yet another adaptation I pimped not so long ago. It’s Vampirilicious, what more can I say? =D It’s just, really angsty though… I’m gonna read the manga again and see how much I can fangirl over this. Another thing to note about this show is that Studio Deen is gonna work on it~

Toshokan Sensou
Official site

shounen manga vs anime vs shoujo manga, who’s the shoujo-est of them all?

Based on a novel by Hiro Aikawa, with two manga adaptations to date: a shoujo and a shounen version, running in Lala and Dengeki Daioh respectively.

Synopsis:

Set in the year 2019, where Japan has been dominated by the dictatorial Media Regulation Organization, who takes away people’s freedom of expression. The organization Library, an underground militia, steps out for an uprising to take back what they have lost.

There are several factors which make me all the more want to watch this: (1) Kaoru Iku (made a booboo with the name x__X), the strong female lead of the show, (2) the interesting premise, and the possibility of an epic battle, between the Library and the Media Regulation Organization, (3) possible romance development, and of course… (4) Production I.G.

This immediately became one of my anticipated shows in the coming season, right when I saw a chapter of the manga in Lala. I mean, I never thought it had some shoujo elements! I already ordered the first volume of the novel, and I really hope I can get into it, as much as I did with, say, Kaze no Stigma

Teaser pics:

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Kurenai
Official site

A loli and a bodyguard. I think that sums this up From what I’ve seen in the novel and the PV, it’s going to be a heartwarming story about these two characters. And, here’s a teaser pic from the novel.

Aside from this, I’m also looking forward to Macross Frontier. Hayaotome is hawt. ’nuff said.

[Moderately] Anticipated Animes

Amatsuki
Official site

I’ll just go copy paste this summary from mangaupdates, as I’m still in lazy mode :))

History isn’t Tokidoki’s strong subject. He’s even forced to do make-up work at a high-tech history museum to bring up his failing grades. After losing an eye to a virtual reality monster in an Edo-period simulation, he finds himself unable to leave the game. Could it be real?

Interesting enough for me. And that guy over there is hawt +___+ Oh and we have another kickass girl too! This series draws me, for some reason. I blame it on the manga cover pic.

Junjou Romantica
Official site

It’s been quite some time since I’ve watched a BL anime, so I thought it won’t hurt to delve into this genre again, considering that the plethora of guys in the blogosphere will most likely run away from this show, unless for comedic satire I haven’t read the manga, but this synopsis I found just sparked my interest for this show even more (I think that might be bad >_<):

Misaki is suddenly having some unexpected and odd problems. What started as a need for some college entrance exam tutoring has somehow led him to being romanced by a suave older man who also happens to be his big brother’s best friend. Confused by all of his brand new emotions, Misaki struggles to deal with his suddenly very odd life. And if that wasn’t enough, his suitor, Usami, has plenty of issues of his own. A man-child who decorates his room in giant teddy bears and toys, Usami is a famous novelist who also writes steamy boys’ love novels on the side. When Misaki cracks open one of these books and reads sentences like “Misaki licks every inch of Usami’s hot body”…well, let’s just say that all hell breaks loose. And if one couple isn’t enough for you, Junjo Romantica focuses on three different sets of lovers, each with their own compelling stories. -blumanga

I just hope it won’t be a hardcore yaoi anime, like Papa to Kiss in the Dark, which I have forsaken even before I got to finish watching it.

Aside from this, I’m also looking forward to Himitsu Top Secret and Itazura na Kiss, both of which are shoujo manga adaptations. While Himitsu Top Secret seems to have a solid storyline, I’m dreading that it might be too disturbing for me to handle. Itazura na Kiss on the other hand will be fairly easy to follow (and to blog), a lighthearted shoujo anime, my dose of common shoujo romance fluff for this season, if ever.

Other interesting looking shows (at least for me) include Tower of Druaga (again, I hope GONZO doesn’t screw this), BUS GAMER, Nabari no Oh and 20 Mensou no Musume.

Additional Eyecandies:

Code Geass R2
Official site

If only I watched the first season of this, then it will be in my Highly Anticipated List as well. Sadly, I have yet to catch up on this backlogged title =/ It seems that Lulu’s brother is going to be introduced this season, together with a new set of wardrobe~

Kyou Kara Maoh 3rd season
Official site

I haven’t finished watching the first two seasons, so sadly, I won’t be following this. It’s actually a little blessing in disguise, since this means I can fangirl over the other shows instead

Soul Eater
Official site

I don’t know much about this except that it deals with Shinigamis and “Soul Eaters”. I haven’t read the manga, but I don’t think I’m gonna watch this anyways. I’m sure my baka anikis will watch this though… so I think I can just take a peek from time to time Ok, so I browsed through the manga, and among the first scenes I see is this, and then this. Oh but wait there’s more! It might, or might not really be a boobfest like Dragonaut, since the Soul Eater manga seemed to have toned it down in the later volumes, but I just don’t see any saving grace for me in this show =/ Oh, BONES, why did you not work on Special A instead~

Da Capo II S.S.
Official site

I have no intentions of touching this show… just scanned for this for the Da Capo fanboys out there who are looking forward to this second season, despite being labelled as an SS (sucky show) by others.

This list is still subject to changes, as I get to know more about the other upcoming shows, and see more eyecandies =3

P.S. Wow… I never intended to say anything about these shows but just pimp with pics. Talk about being inspired

Can’t wait to see more Sousuke and Chidori!

So I heard that Full Metal Panic is reairing in Japan. I first learned about this news from double of Furu Anime Panikku, but with a little prodding from jinya of the ab channel, I decided to join in the fun in announcing this interesting news, for more FMP <3

It might not seem anything special, but this clearly points out that something must be brewing behind the FMP scene. Not to mention the fact that FMP ranked 1st in the “Kono Light Novel wa Sugoi! 2008″ rankings. Drawing the fans’ attention to FMP again is a strong sign that an upcoming season is probably in the works. Even the official FMP site mentions that what’s left after this announcement, it to wait for an upcoming 4th season. \o/

2ch mentions about speculations that the anime might probably come out this coming fall, though it’s just a rumor at this point. Let’s all hope for the best~! =3