The problem with sending all your pawns out first...

...is that they're easily out maneuvered and captured. And when it comes down to the end game, having a Pawn cross can easily change the course of the game.

So yeah, I finished Death Note, 37 Episodes in a bit over 2 weeks, thoughts on that in a moment.

I've got RxJ through 15, though I've only seen through 8, haven't convinced myself I want to pick it up again, but I figure once they get into some action I will. Hayate through 17 though I haven't seen 11. Likely this won't make the cut. The service is nice, but one doesn't subsist on that and weak gags alone. I've dropped many a show for similar reasons, I'm not certain this one will be any exception. It's over my head half the time and beneath the floorboards for the rest, I'll just pick the pretty pictures off of whatever Danbooru clone comes next.

On that note, I can't help but hate e-shuushuu. So much potential wasted by lack of formatting in tags, ease of view, and a virus community that makes pages more words than pictures as people live out their e-lives. Not trying to be hypocritical given my own attachment to WoW (though I'm pretty much a strung-out raider these days, I've got enough insurance to survive till the end of time and there's nothing I still need that's out in the world; plus the alt thing isn't working out). Same deal with the WoW forums, fuckers need to stop getting in the way of my information with their e-relationships.

On a related note, it sucks not to have any conversations over lunch, bleh~

Anyways, let's not get tangental here.

Last post ended on Zwei 03, and since 04 isn't subbed yet I guess I can't really talk about it, but so long as S.ifl features alot of Chie, Ms. Maria, Midori, and Juliet (Nao) then I'll be happy.

As usual, I'm not afraid of Spoilers, so watch what you're reading if you're worried about that.

Death Note - This was the pawn comment. If I was talking about losing the tougher pieces it would have been a Geass commentary instead. Fantastic show, did a great job of supplying my anti-hero needs. I'd have liked to had Light manage to scribble out Near's name in his last frantic attempt though. The way the final events played out was fairly masterful, nice perfomance by Kira for having his hands tied as much as he did. Some masterful cinematography/animation throughout and very excellent plot twists. Very glad I could marathon it instead of being stuck on weekly cliffhangers.

Can't help but sympathize with Light throughout just because of the way he's cornered the entire time, his madness wasn't too infectious to me though since it gets diluted to detached killings unrelated to the nature of crimes (something evolves as the time goes on). The lack of focus on his family in all of this plays out the starkest contrast between this and Lelouch's anti-herodom. While Light just seeks to cleanse the world (and to a greater extent become God), Lelouch is doing it for the sake of Nanally (more on her later).

The entire conflict plays out nicely though. I like shows that can keep me guessing, and I'm even forgiving of those that don't give me the full deck of cards to play Solitare with (Not that it matters, 3 draw Vegas is a losing propostion no matter what else is involved). Alot of what I liked with Pirates of the Carribean's final piece, everything changing hands and everyone preparing to betray everyone else in a giant, tangled net of greatness.

Spin: It's over, nothing to spin about it. Not place to really continue it either, though all the concepts were brilliant. OST is great though.

"You know the guy who can pick up any girl? I'm him. On crack." -Nick Naylor, from Thank you for Smoking (2005)

Just felt that had to be said about Light, shame he doesn't seem to do enough with that power.

ED2 was masterful though. Would make for a wonderful Guitar Hero song. OP2 was, everything you expect from a Maximum the Hormone song I guess. Misa no Uta felt out of place as the single insert song, but at least it's likeable. And reminds me exactly who is the voice behind the crazy, suggestable gothic idol.

Code Geass - Hell yes, can't wait for the second season, though I worry about what could be the body count at the opening here. Nina's a total wildcard and a threat to everything that I worry about (and some that I don't). Hopefully Cornelia lives, I liked her alot more than
Euphemia. Though Euphemia's beauty was marred by her forced bloodlust and resultant emotional instability. Guilford was totally my favored Knight from the beginning. I suspect that several of the Order of Black Knight's elite aren't going to last past the opening volley of the next season.

Obviously the 7 on the island are the biggest questions. That'd be V.V., C.C., Lelouch, Nanally,
Suzaku, Orange-kun, and dearest Kallen/Karen, though concerns about Viletta and the school crew (minus Nina) are present as well. It is Sunrise, so I'm expecting something unexpected, obviously I don't know what yet. Here's to selective bloodshed of the people I don't really like.

Spin: Get another OP as awesome as COLORS please, don't kill Kallen, give Millay something to do, and keep ALI Project away from singing anything (that last one is sorta a more general request, but oh well)

Lucky Star - There's a strange breed of people out there that like Tsukasa. Those people I don't get. I understand the Mikuru-appeal, but I'm not sure what Tsukasa qualifies as. As a fan of the tsundere (debates about the applicability of the term in usage as someone who oscillated versus someone who transforms once aside) it should be obvious who I prefer the most, or not since I happen to like most of the cast. Speaking of which, some interesting observations about nearly the entirity of their voice extras.

Entry #1, Tachiki Fumihiko: Announcer (eps 8,15); Annoying Customer (ep 12); Baseball Analyst (ep 19); Baseball Commentator (ep 19); Big Guy (ep 5); Boy A (eps 11,13,15); Boy B (eps 11,13,15); Camera Boy A (ep 16); Camera Boy B (ep 16); Clerk (ep 11); Clerk A (ep 10,12); College Professor (ep 6); ComiKet Staff A (ep 12); ComiKet Staff B (ep 12); Cop (ep 5); Customer (ep 2); Director (ep 19); Gamers Clerk (ep 14); Goal Official (ep 8); Homeroom Teacher (ep 15); Host (eps 5,14); Host (Male) (ep 19); Male Student (ep 18); Man (ep 11); Man A (ep 2); Michael (ep 15); Narrator (ep 19); Newscaster (eps 14,19); Official (ep 8); Ordinary Person A (ep 6); Ordinary Person B (ep 6); Participant A (ep 12); Passerby (Male) (ep 8); PTA (ep 8); Recorder (ep 8); Reporter (ep 20); Salesperson A (ep 12); Salesperson B (ep 12); Santa (ep 11); Spiritual Counselor (ep 20); Student (ep 10); Teacher (ep 2); TV (Man) (ep 2); TV Businessman (ep 12); TV Personality (ep 10); TV Voice (eps 13,18); TV Voice A (ep 11); TV Voice B (ep 11); TV Voice C (ep 11); Yankee (ep 2).

Also known as Zaraki Kenpachi (you'll see why I bring him up a bit further on)

Entry #2, Kujira (Wakako Matsumoto): Anchor A (ep 8); Anchor B (ep 8); Announcer (eps 15,17); Brenda (ep 15); Bus Announcer (ep 10); Cafeteria Lady (Elder) (ep 8); Cafeteria Lady (Younger) (ep 8); Cherry (ep 20); Clerk (eps 9,17,19); ComiKet Staff C (ep 12); Commentator (ep 20); Cooking Researcher (ep 12); Cooking Teacher (ep 5); Couple (Female) (ep 9); Cousins (ep 13); First Runner (ep 8); Game Voice A (ep 20); Game Voice B (ep 20); Game Voice C (ep 20); Game Voice D (ep 20); Game Voice E (ep 20); Game Voice F (ep 20); Granny (ep 9); High School Girl (ep 3); Host (ep 15); Host (Female) (ep 19); Loli Teacher (ep 3); Passerby (ep 9); Passerby (Female) (ep 8); Performer (ep 5); Receptionist (ep 10); Register (ep 8); Reporter (ep 19); Salesperson C (ep 12); Salesperson D (ep 12); Salesperson E (ep 12); Second Runner A (ep 8); Second Runner B (ep 8); Teacher (ep 1); Third Runner A (ep 8); Third Runner B (ep 8); Waitress (ep 14).

Though perhaps better recoignized for efforts as Naruto's infamous Orochimaru. (Or Ursula in Kingdom Hearts, though that's neither here nor there).

Between them and Minoru, that's pretty much the entire cast of nameless extras right there, awful impressive.

I really like Lucky Star. Not the most expansive mix of BGMs but they all work for me (wish the "next episode preview" song was a tad bit longer but they seem to do pretty much every right that Hayate is doing wrong for me. And even if there are some references that go over my head the sheer 4Koma shotgunned volume keeps me from dwelling on it. This is Azumanga Daioh with all the right extras.

Spin: They're got the right formula. Haven't struck me with an ED that wows me yet though, not that I expect them to. Those songs were probably pretty nostalgic for some viewers in the intended audience, but I didn't grow up listening to those songs so I'm out of luck.

Toppa Tengen Gurren Lagann- Needs more subbage, enough said. Seriously though, watching Jiaz's subs, this show is incredible and I can't wait for Black Order to put out another set of it. It's going places that I like the look of, plus the 7 years future twist actually works here. As opposed to in Death Note where it's just used as a carte-blanche to give Near and Mello all the little tricks they could possibly desire (like a giant untrackable missle-rocket transport or that entire sub-desert mafia complex setup, that they don't actually use on a conventional basis).

Spin: Needs more subs. Glad we've diverged from the place where I feel like I'm watching the improved version of Eureka Seven though.

Idolm@ster Xenoglossia - It's very good still. I like it. Tempestas was sorta odd, but it tilted several hands into full view. Looks like we'll be playing with backstory for the next couple episodes (Mami's and then Chihaya's / Asuza's) which should set the stage nicely for the final battle. Pity this only running 26 as it is clearly going to HiME on me; cram far too much into the last few episodes. Too many falls and redemptions are possible, and the iDOLs have to change hands a few times still. The OP dropped a good deal of hint about the events that have occured, but what is yet to come is a delicious mystery. I'm awfully worried about the ribbon-wrapped key though.

Spin: Iori needs an animal, how come she gets the shaft? Also I'd really have loved an episode akin to the Eureka Seven episode where Renton realizes that the KLMs he's been smashing are also humans, possibly too late but I they need to stop pulling their punches and have someone with a name get hurt (the Techs on the island only sorta count and Iori's broken hands didn't last long enough). Jiaz is probably right about the iDOLs, their capriciousness gets called into play in an unbalanced manner and it hampers consistency and reasoning. Also, OP2 rocks, I want a new ED as well though.

Doujin Work - This one is sorta a guilty pleasure of sorts. It's quick and dirty, in both senses. Not sure I like the sorta dilapidated love-triangle effect though. I guess it serves its purpose but between the ultra-innocent, the quasi-innocent, and the absolutely-loves-to-stir-up-trouble there's still a bit of magic at work. Gotta see how it ends though, too curious.

Spin: Does her art really have to be that bad? It's kinda painful. Like really kinda painful. "I draw that bad level" of hurt.

Zombie Loan - Needs to make up its mind what it's trying to do. One moment I'm hating that Shito's gun has the to be the absolute worst weapon and combat style I've ever seen animated, the next they're musing over the death of a Zombie's soul and the price of immortality. At least the secretary slash medic has stopped using her hands as additional characters (knock on fucking wood here, don't bring that back). I get the feeling with a bit of a reinvisioning and touched up art this could be a really winner of a show. For now it's just got highs and lows, but enough highs to keep me interested in where the plot is going.

Spin: Firstly, less on the Yaoi overtones please. Secondly, good lord that some of the most explicit Yuri that I've dealt with, and I watched all of Chikane's antics plus all of HiME/Otome. Seriously, Yomi's comments cross the line, but so long as she's bringing her badass combat skills to the table I won't really be complaining.

OP is good, ED is senseless fun. The dancing buruma is just a bit odd though.

Sayonara Zetsubo Sensei - Amazing show, though I have no idea what's going on sometimes. Cast is a bit too large, randomness prevails, and yet I'm intrigued by where this one is heading. Bleak harem is a new variety, and I think it's paying off. Satiates my service needs without actually being a service-y show.

Spin: Is that OP signficant to anything. If so I fear for the future, if not I just am curious about exactly what the plot of this resolves down to. He hasn't actually cured anyone nor himself yet. At best he's redirected neurosi to himself. But keep those opening credits, they're incredible.

OP is absolutely amazing and disturbing at the same time.

ED is the same way, though disturbing in a different manner.

Darker than Black - The two at a time method of episodes still doesn't flow with me, but there's still alot of unanswered things at the present time. This is going to run past 26 right? Otherwise we're going to crash a ton of stuff down at once, and I'm already fearing that for one decent show this season, I'd hate to do it with two.

Spin - Some of the new renumerations are pretty creative, though most of the powers seem a tad on the killing machine side of things (not that that's a suprise). I was kinda hoping for a dead Hwang though and more focus on Hei, Ying, and EPR (which pisses me off as Primrose is only one word...)

OP2 is fantastic, I love the Initial D vibe at the beginning. ED2 I just can't get behind, I find myself just closing out after it starts up.

Baccano! - Take like 18 characters with a variety of god-complex clauses and missions, mash them up a narrow storyline, tack on a reflecive, outsider perspective and you've got Baccano's own special brand of madness. It's a bit early to comment on everything as a whole, but I'd like a bit less of the focus on people's routines and a bit more emphasis on the actual action and backgrounds. The Yuki-type is a nice touch however I'm mostly waiting to see Chane work some of her violence.

Spin: We're not gonna spend all 13 episodes just on this train ride I hope. We've seen some prior and post events but only as setup and resolution to the events. Hard to tell this early. I'm just hoping for some nice brawls and good laughes.

OP is incredible for a vocal-less track. Helps me keep track of who's who and is a very catchy beat.

ED is like they took everything they did right in the OP and did it wrong in the ED.

Claymore - Can't believe they killed Flora (I'm hoping she's only injured though everything about the show would tell me otherwise) as I'd taken a liking to her. I'll have to keep with the manga just to see what the non-immediate-endgame storyline ends up looking like. Still uncomfortable with everyone taking a liking to Raki, but I anticipate the coming bloodbath will be especially enjoyable.

Spin: I'd like a few more cool unique Claymore abilities to take the field. Also I still think that the organization is as much the problem as the Dwellers in the Deep, but there's not enough time for the anime to resolve both. Can we get a second season of this?

Tales of Symphonia - Wow...it's like they took the game and did it properly. Same voices and everything. This is what Ragnarok could've been. I just grabbed the first two (all that's out atm) cause it was sitting in easy reach (low hanging fruit principle succeeds again) but Kratos' defeat of Sheena was so absolutely true to form that I am in great anticipation of the rest of this one.

Spin: Nah, they've got this one, I'm just waiting for Zelos to show up.

Sidebar: There's a "Tales of Agriculture" manga and anime, I don't even want to konw.

OP is pretty cool with the flashes of action, and I figure it'll expand as the party does.

ED is, well did I mention this was a ufotable production? You guessed it, claymation of a excellent degree.

As for the cast:

Format:
#
Charname (VA); role decription - related roles.

Additional comments.

#
Lloyd Irving (Katsuyuki Konishi); the aspiring badass who gets the girl - Maxima in KoF, Haji in Blood+, Kaede Nonohara in Hayate, Asano Keigo and Hisagi Shuuhei in Bleach, Kenta in Karin, Sergay in Otome, and of course Kamina.

There's a slew of other major roles as well, including a number of pokemon - the burly kinds mostly, though he played Mew once...

#
Colette Brunel (Nana Mizuki) ; the self-sacraficing female, wants to be more of a contributor, oftentimes reduced to being emotionless - Riful in Claymore, Miskai Kirihara in Darker than Black, Wrath in FMA, Fate Testarossa in Nanoha, Hinta in Naruto, Shinobu in 2x2.

Plus a small force of haremettes, most of whom are probably the quieter onces but I can't know for certain.

#
Genis Sage (Ai Orikasa); young book-smart half elf mage - Ryoko in Tenchi Muyo, Quatre in Gundam Wing.

And a slew of young boys. Either way, I'm used to hearing him shout out spell names, so now's no different.

#
Regal Bryant (Akio Ohtsuka); troubled man with blood on his hands from his own love yet a powerful warrior - Ansem, Dyne from Lunar, Gabranth of FFXII, Solid Snake, and the voice of Spawn, plus Black Jack, Mister of Coyote Ragtime, FMP's Kalinin, GitS's Batou, the King of Ingary in Howl's Moving Castle.

Also a mix of lesser tough guys (Kyouraku Shunsui in Bleach (8th Divsion Captain), Rai-Dei the Blade in Trigun, and Inuyasha's father) and a few voice overs like Blade. Talk about a fitting role.

#
Refill/Raine Sage (Yumi Touma) ; knowledgable and capable elder sister of Genus, a teacher but a bit of a weirdo about learning things, troubled past as a half-elf - Ivy Valentine, Leifang, Lenneth Valkerie, Nephilim, Hijiri in Air, Emma of Emma, Chun-Li.

And a recurring role as a older Pichu in several short Pokemon features, but we won't hold that against her.

#
Presea Combatir (Houko Kuwashima); lone Yuki-type girl with fierce combat power - DoA Kasumi, MGS Mei Ling and Para-Medic, Seung Mina, Kagura in Azumanga Daioh, Clare in Claymore, Sango, Wendy from GunXSword, and Bocca from Melody of Oblivion.

Hopefully she'll get enough lines to make use of this talented mix of combant and confidant.

#
Kratos Aurion (Fumihiko Tachiki); detached combat master whose lying to himself and everyone else, also part time instructor / councillor - Gendou Ikari, Zaraki Kenpachi, Odin and Verdo and Wagner from Odin Sphere, plus Soul Calibur's Nightmare.

Kratos has been totally badass so far, hopefully they'll pull of his betrayal in the same cool and emotionless manner. Not really getting Kenpachi's bloodlust out of him, but the combat victor feeling is still there.

#
Sheena Fujibayashi (Akemi Okamura); thunder-scared assassin with something to prove but no drive to actually murder - Nami from One Piece. She also plays Chidori Kaname, but the Koi Kaze version.

I was half expecting to see Rikku (as another thunder-frightened) on that list, but I guess they're spreading around the number of VAs that can wimper in fear on command.

#
Zelos Wilder (Masaya Onosaka); full of himself prettyboy playboy who actually cares deep down - Aquarion's Pierre, Kero in CCS, Salior Moon's Jadeite, Leeron in Gurren Lagann, Vash in Trigun.

You listen to Zelos for all of 2 seconds and you know he's Leeron and Pierre. Damn it's nice to have that voice back.

PS: I'd really love another Tales game on a current gen system. I'll never understand making one exclusively for the GameCube.

Masterpiece Post

Quick Song Listing, almost entirely in this order, repeats omitted.

Daft Punk - Robot Rock
Sophie Ellis-Bexter - Another Day
United State of Electronica (U.S.E.) - Vamos A La Playa
Shiny Toy Guns - Don't Cry Out
Digital Planet - We'll See Heaven (Initial D 4th Stage)
Toshio Masudo - 300 Years of Love from Siberia (J2: The Counterattack of Siberia Yagyu)
Felix da Housecat - Money, Success, Fame, Glamour
Safety Scissors - Sunlight's on the Other Side
Jame Lavelle - Everything in its Right Place
2 Bit Pie - Here I Come
U.S.E. - Emerald City
Fall Out Boy - Grand Theft Autumn (Remix)
Milk & Sugar - Let the Sun Shine
Jenny Bliss - All About Me
Venus Hum - Montana
Puretone - Addicted to Bass
Erasure - Video Killed the Radio Star
Venus Hum - Surgery in the Sky
Annie - Helpless Fool for Love
The Crystal Method - Born too Slow
U.S.E. - Open Your Eyes
Data 80 - You are Always on my Mind
Darude - Sandstorm
Daft Punk - Face to Face (Cosmo Vitelli Remix)
Yoko Kanno - Velveteen
Eiffel 65 - Blue (Remix)
Statistics - A Number, not a Name
Queen of Times - Ever and Ever (Initial D Second Stage)
Erasure - All this Time Still Falling out of Love
Deux - Sun Rising Up (Jupiter Ace Remix)
Venus Hum - Soul Sloshing
Andy Bell - Delicious (Feat. Claudia Brucken)
Basement Jaxx - Get Me Off (Peaches Remix)
Galleon - The Best World
Maroon 5 - This Love (Junior Sirius Edit)
Bob Sinclair - The Beat Goes On
DJ Sammy - Heaven (Feat. Yanou)
Regina Spektor - Fidelity
Moonbootica - To The Club
Jordan James - Livin' On a Prayer (Radio Edit)
DJ Downfall - The District Sleeps Alone Tonight (feat. The Postal Service)
Ayumi Hamasaki - Whatever
Scooter - Posse
Cirque de Soleil - La Nova Allegria
Peter Presta - Totally Hooked
Utada - Exodus '04 (Double J Radio Edit)
Basement Jaxx - Oh My Gosh
DJ Encore - I See Right through You
DJ Sammy - Why
Basement Jaxx - Rendez Vous

Au gratin ... with Cheese!

Yes, that is the same thing. No, it's not supposed to make sense. Well, unless you're family, in which case it makes all to much sense.


New wallpaper, needed something cooler for this sweltering heat.

Don't like the way these new headphones rest on my ears, though the mic isn't nearly as bad as the old one had gotten.

(Disgaea)
Did some empowering via Item World to crank out a pair of level 50 Infernal Armors, an 80 Infernal Armor (80 Base, 107 after affects), a 50 Beam Axe, and have a few Exaliburs and Satan's Motors slated as well as a couple more Infernals. Was using Teachers (just a 40 atm) to boost a trio of Dietician, Gladiator, and Coach - the three I had at the highest base - but have swapped over to an 80 Mediator to breed Sniper children for Cammy and Erika (Axe Beastmaster and Bow Thief) owning to the value of Hit in both of their abilities (the Beam Axe is -1700 baseline).

Gathered the Prism Ranger Pirates in the deepest of the armor trips, so that puts me at 15/16 on Maps, just lacking the damnable Animal Pirates despite several trips through the 21-40 range. Maxed on Female Warrior Lovers however I haven't really attempted to get any of the rest of them up, though Thief is at the top of my list. All the armors have triple Move boost just because it seemed the most logical choice at the time, I wasn't going for stat maxing with stacked Sentries anyways so I didn't see the need to enhance growth. Have 7 Collectors from Item World trips though, so I'm all set for Rarity matching when the time comes.

Ares (Male Warrior) is pushing level 2600 with 180K Attack, 200K Armor, and almost 570K Health. He's got the most Felonies of all my criminals however I've got no clue on the precise amount, probably not at the 300 cap yet but I have no good way of knowing except by doing the math, and really I'd rather just assume he's only got 150 or so and build on that to be safe.

Minerva (Female Warrior) finally got up to above 1000, at about 1400 right now. 300K Defense and Health with a respectable 160K Attack that's mostly driven by the level 80 Infernal since she's only got a Legendary Gaia Spear. No one seems to have any Holy Longinuses (Longini?) at the Rare rank, let alone Legendary. The fact that her only static maneuvers are Turbulence or Divine Strike is kinda weak though, since she's either Wind Reliant or single target. Spear Storm and Avalanche just don't hold it on smaller stages where I can't get the opening to use them.

Cammy (Beastmaster) has a twice range-increased Axe that gives her alot of opportunity to
counter and destroy targets that wouldn't normally be hers to hit. Anything at max range in a straight line is still Boomerang Axe fodder though. 200K attack, but without an Infernal her other stats are way behind, barely pushing 10K-30K, since her gear is sorta dated as well. Almost at 1000 though.

Erika (Thief) rounds out the powerhouses (yeah, I didn't level Adell, nor a Fist user, nor any Monsters, nor a Gun user). She's nearing 2000, but until I cap her lovers she's only got a 1.3x level range on stealing, which makes the bottom-grade pirates nigh untheftable at deeper items because of their high level multipliers capping them quickly.

Hopefully I'll have another largish anime post forthcoming now that I'm deep into Death Note (26 through)