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Monday 31 December 2012

Guilty Crown (1st-8th Episodes)

I haven’t grasped the full story yet, but let’s say...

[WARNING: Broken English, and probably some mistakes with the character name]

2039. Ten years after a pandemic called ‘Apocalypse’ break. An organization called GHQ has invented the vaccine, reduced the infection, and then controls the world to prevent further infection.

Here, we have a protagonist named Ouma Shu, a high school boy who didn't stand out much. One day he met an injured, emotionless girl named Yuzuhara Inori. The girl was a famous internet singer, but at that moment she was chased as a terrorist who’ve stolen some new weapon called ‘Void Genome’. She was captured in front of Shu, who hadn’t done anything to save her, so that’s why the chaser let go of him.

To make up for his guilty feeling, he delivered ‘the weapon’ to a guy called Gai. Later then, Shu was caught up in the battle between the terrorist and the chaser. In that battle, he met again with Inori, and this time, he saved her. When they were in a pinch, the Void Genome accidentally fused with Shu. It allows Shu to extract ‘Void’ (a unique item) from people hearts, use the extracted Void as a weapon, and stop the battle. However, the Void Genome was originally planned to be used by Gai. Gai has an ability to see people’s void, and that Genome is perfect for his ability. Gai asked Shu to join Undertaker (the resistance against GHQ), but Shu refused and came back to his everyday life.

Inori then transferred to Shu’s school, and even living with him in his apartment. Gai then revealed that a student from his school was witnessed the previous incident and sent Inori to deal with the witness. Shu and Inori then identified the witness from his Void, and it turned out to be one of his classmates, Yahiro. Shu and Yahiro then promised not to reveal each other secret (Yahiro is part of ‘Norma Gene’, an organization that is affiliated with GHQ), but Yahiro betrayed him and sold him to Saigo, a high-rank member in the Norma Gene.

The Undertaker infiltrated GHQ, and Gai met Shu. However, the main mission is to rescue Kinji, an Undertaker member that was previously captured. Gai asked Shu to extract Kinji’s void. Shu, bewildered with Gai real motive, initially refused but finally he went along with Gai’s plan after he saw Inori came for him. The mission was completed.

Shu followed Gai and the rest of Undertaker team, hoped that he could understand their real motive. Gai instructed Ayase, one of the members, to train Shu so he could survive in the battle. Altough he had slow progress, finally he passed the qualification by using his ability to extract void from people. During the training, he saw that Gai has a close relationship with Inori, to the point that it made him frustrated. Later, Gai told Shu that he isn’t as perfect as Shu sees him.

Being officially member, Shu was participated in the Undertaker mission. After that mission, he came back to school. He first had a hard time, but the student council president helped him. During that time, his mother came home and met Inori. Shu’s mother is a Norma Gene researcher who rarely came home. His late father is also a researcher. His mother then met Inori. After that, Shu was participated in some more missions, like accompanied Gai to a supply trade (he extracted the student council president’s void there to protect people around him from missiles attack), and even bring his friends to other town due to Gai’s request. In that town, Shu visited his dad’s grave. At the grave, there was a mysterious person using white fedora hat that also visited his dad grave. Despite his own feeling for Inori, Shu utilized his friend’s feeling for Inori to extracted void (required for the mission to obtain some item) from that said friend. Later, Shu told his friend that he also has feeling for Inori and for the first time, they were being honest to each other. The plan itself was failed because a Norma Gene researcher, the man with the fedora hat (later known as Keido), had predicted Gai’s plan and obtained the item before Gai. Keido is somehow connected to Shu’s dad, and even use Shu’s dad pass to obtain the item.

Friday 28 December 2012

Puella Magi Madoka Magica (1st and 2nd Episodes)

1st Episode. Cute girl named Madoka, went to cute school with cute friend. Suddenly, a transfer student named Homura came to her school. Madoka was surprised because the previous night she dreamed about a girl that looks like Homura. Homura has cold, mysterious aura, and she was somewhat interested in Madoka. After school, Madoka and her friend Sayaka were shopping together, when suddenly Madoka heard someone asked for help. Then, she figured that the sound came from a cat-like creature, which was attacked by Homura-in-some-magical-girl-costume. The world became distorted until Mami, another magical girl came and helped them. Kyubey (the cat-like creature) then asked help from Madoka and Sayaka to form a magical girl contract. 

2nd Episode. Mami explained the magical girl job is to risk their life to hunt witch. In exchange, Kyubey will grant their wish. Mami let Madoka and Sayaka observed her work as a magical girl. She defeated a witch and obtained Grief Seed, a witch’s egg. It is some reward for magical girl (not every witch has it); it could restore magical power that she used. Mami thought that the reason Homura attacked Kyubey was to prevent it from making magical contract with another girl, since being magical girl is also a competition. Although they haven’t figured their wish yet, Madoka and Sayaka decided to help Mami.

Thursday 27 December 2012

Arakawa Under the Bridge x Bridge and BRS (TV) Finished

Second season of Arakawa. Phew… It’s a bit hard because I watched it without subtitle. Fortunately, it is a comedy show, not a serious one, so I could follow the story even if I missed some lines.
The show itself was a continuation from the previous season, and it was as great as the first. The show is a typical gag comedy, so for those who aren’t in the same wavelength and has different sense of humor, it might be boring. As for myself, I rated it 8/10.

The BRS (TV)… Hmm, this anime has some good points, such as the concept of other world and the fighting scenes are well-made. However, the show failed to deliver some important point, at least to me.
[SPOILER]
From the show, it said that Saya's goal is to protect Yuu in the other world, so she tried to keep Yuu away from Black Rock Shooter. She manipulated the emotions of other girls whom close to Mato (yeah, Mato is the 'real world version' of BRS). Those girls' stress then piled up, awakened their other self in the other world, then their other self would fight BRS in the other world. BRS is keep away from Yuu.
I rated it 7/10. I also rated the previous BRS OVA 7/10, but I think I prefer the OVA.^^;

[UNRELATED] Steins;Gate Boukan no Rebellion chapter 15&16 were released today, yeay! ^o^

Wednesday 26 December 2012

...before Winter 2013

I just finished The Distant Valhalla yesterday.
The Distant Valhalla is a Steins;Gate spin-off that was published along with Steins;Gate Official Doujin. This short story takes place at divergence 0,334581. After Suzuha traveled back to 1975 and failed, she committed suicide in 2000.
August 2010, Okabe couldn't send the D-mail to erase the memories that lab member created with Suzuha.
"I tried to struggle by using the Time Leap machine, but that ended when I realized it’s hopeless.
When I gave up, the future stayed the same and, once again, Mayuri died due to the headshot.
Our time machine was stolen, we were captured and sent here, to SERN."
One and half year after that, Okabe and Daru arranged 'Operation Valhalla' to escape (with Kurisu) from SERN.
And the story is totally great. ^o^

I also obtained Chaos;Head visual novel. :D Haven’t successfully installed it… Dunno when I will play it._.

As for Winter 2013 Anime...
For the upcoming anime(s), I've decided on Haganai Next.
And Robotic;Notes still ongoing, so I'll continue watch it. :)
Any other recommendations for the winter 2013?

Tuesday 25 December 2012

Hayate no Gotoku: Can’t Take My Eyes off You (1st-9th Episodes)

I don’t remember why I decided to watch Hayate this season. I mean, I never watch the two previous seasons and I’ve read only a few chapters of the manga.

I guess I just wanna give it a try.

The story itself, mainly focused on the new character, Tsugumi Ruri, who claimed that she is Nagi’s little sister from (maybe) another mother. Old characters, such as Nagi, Hayate, and Maria also become main focus in this season. Hinagiku appears in several episodes (I think it is natural ‘coz Hinagiku is a popular character of this series), as well as other Nagi’s friends (too lazy too type them all :D).

The side storis in this series is the character development between Hayate and Hinagiku, Hinagiku’s sister, and several flashback stories about how Nagi’s parents met.

From this point, I’ll be straightforward.
[WARNING: Broken English and MAY CONTAINS SOME SPOILERS.]

Tsugumi main goal is to obtain one of Sanzenin’s heritages, Kuro Tsubaki (Black Camelia). Tsugumi tried to come closer to Nagi, practically by using Nagi’s favorites: game, anime, manga.
Nagi herself didn’t care about Tsugumi, but she let Tsugumi lives in an old house outside the mansion.

One day, Nagi tricked Tsugumi to reveal her true objective. Later, they learned that the Black Camelia was stolen by Nagi’s father and then his father died in a car accident. The Black Camellia is a gold pocket watch that brings bad luck to its owner, except if both hands of the clock strike to eight. After that, a storm came and Tsugumi saved Nagi when she was almost hit by a fallen tree.

Several days before, Nagi got news from American Las Vegas police department that her father’s possession is being kept by the police. The police also told her to retrieve the item within 10 days (if I’m not mistaken._.v). Tsugumi tried to go there, by persuading Nagi, participating in a quiz, and even plotting a fake kidnapping act.

Although Hayate and Nagi realized the fake kidnapping as soon as they read the ransom note, they still went to Vegas. After retrieved the Black Camelia, they were waiting for the appointment time, but the Black Camelia brought them series events of bad luck.

Even though they were in Vegas, they were reunited with their friends through various circumstances, as if they were drawn by the fate. Hayate and friends ran into some events before confronted Tsugumi, whom accompanied by a woman (apparently Tsugumi's mother) and a birdman that once attacked Tsugumi. The woman took Nagi as the hostage. Hayate and the other friends (divided into 3 groups) searched for the Black Camelia, which was stolen from him due to the bad luck curse.

At the end of 9th episode, Tsugumi tried to take the Black Camelia from the thief, but suddenly a sword was pointed at her. Hayate saved her and getting stabbed instead.

Monday 24 December 2012

Robotic;Notes (1st-9th Episodes)

I can’t clearly remember how the story went, but I’ll give it a try. No pic ‘coz I’m too lazy to upload the pic. :D

[WARNING: Broken English Alert!]

This story takes place in the Steins;Gate worldline --if you don’t know about Steins;Gate, the just google it and I won’t explain, since it’s a long story ^^;--, in the near future (2019). Somehow, you could feel the atmosphere… the characters are using tablets (PhoneDroid… LOL, Android Domination 2020? :D No offense, I’m android user, too._.v) instead of cellphones. The main heroine, Akiho a.k.a. Aki, is also obsessed with her goal to making a giant robot. Well, since she is just a high school girl, you’ll think that the setting is on advanced level compared to today’s technology.

Aki is a cheerful girl, lives together with his parents, and hasn’t been contacted by her sister for years. Apparently her sister is an important person in some organization (though I forgot what exactly her sister role is). It is a bit irony, since her goal to build the giant robot Gunvarell was originally her sister’s.

Aki often drags her childhood friend, Kaito a.k.a. Kai, to help her making the giant robot. Kai is an indifferent person who only cares about 2D robot in his game, but sometimes Aki successfully persuades him to help her. For example, Kai once entered the hobby-robot-fighting tournament to get the prize money for the project funding.

At the final match of the tournament, Kai encountered the defending champion, Subaru, whom is none other than their schoolmate. Despite their draw result (thus no prize money), Kai successfully tricked Subaru to join their club.

Later, the other character were introduced: Jun, Frau, Airi. Jun is a shy-karate girl; she is also the granddaughter of the shop owner which Aki often go (to buy robot part). Frau is a genius girl who also the programmer for the game that Kai often plays. Jun and Frau joined the club. Airi is an interface of the application, which takes form as a girl. Kai incidentally met Airi in the park that he often visits.

Aki asked help from the other members to search for the sponsor. However, Frau is a hikkikomori, while Kai and Subaru never came, so Jun was the only one who came. After took a liking to Jun’s karate, a relative of their teacher (who also owns a candy company) decided to sponsor them.

Kai and Subaru were practicing for the upcoming tournament, when suddenly Subaru’s father came and interrupted then. Apparently, Subaru’s father had not approve his hobby and told him to get rid of his robot and focus to his study. After Subaru disassembled his hobby-robot, his father gave him permission to come to the club, only because the place is quiet enough for study.

In the end of 7th episode, a woman named Tennouji Nae came and had them went to JAXA, an institutional research group. JAXA offered to help them with the funding and knowledge. Aki refused the offer after she learned that the JAXA wanted them to build a new giant robot and hold the Gunvarell Project.

I seriously forget the details, but in the previous episodes, it was stated that NASA runs some experiments. They are probably related to the solar storm, which in this series, occurred in 2012, 2015, 2019, and also predicted in 2020. Other mysterious aspect is the last episode of Gunvarell anime, which was never aired due to a murder case. In this murder case, Frau’s mother became the prime suspect.

Kai interacted again with Airi, and got a new clue about NASA through some reports (I forget the report’s name, though… but I remember that Kai had to do some challenges to get the reports).

At the 9th episode, they finished the giant robot. But, it could only walk at slow speed. The relationship between Aki and her sister hadn’t change either.

Friday 21 December 2012

First Post!! ^o^

Ah, finally I post something here.

Long time ago, I planned to write about some random, interesting stuffs here. Stuffs... such as culinary, anime, poem, inspiring story, or my opinion. 
But... now I've decide. This blog is dedicated to keep track about my-currently-watching-anime. And maybe other stuffs that related to anime. :D 

I've no intention of pretending to be a busy person, but I have another task(s) to do. It just… every season, I usually only watch 2-3 animes, because watching 3 or more animes will confuse me and their stories will all be mixed up in my head, along with other task(s) that I supposed to do. 
During the season, I made a list of notable anime(s), and give some time to watch them later, when they're finished airing. That way, I could finish them in one-go, without mix-up their stories with any others different series.
That's why I hate anime(s) with long episodes. -_-
All the series with 40 episodes or above, sorry… but I'll skip them. If the story is great, maybe I'll consider reading the manga. 

Well... 
Due to some circumstances, I think I don't have that much of free time anymore, especially the time to watch the shows in one go. 

Starting from winter 2013, I'll post the summary of the episode(s) I've watched here, so I won't lost track, hehe. :D
I usually post my comments in the forum, but for now, I think it'll be easier if I collect them in my personal blog. :)
I just do it for myself, for my own satisfaction. But, if you want to give your comments too, you're welcome.

Enjoy. :)