Venus Versus Virus-Episode 4: Vertigo, Encounter

I know some of you have been waiting for this episode for ages, but it’s finally here *whew* with screencaps. I’ve had this blogged for a while and never had the chance to update it accordingly, go figure.

In sum: this is a backstory episode on how Sumire and Lucia met, good in terms of giving some character background. Interesting to also see how Sumire actually came into having her “powers” as well. Considering I wrote this entry a while ago, it retains the old format of reviews. So starting in episode 5, I’ll revert over. Just keep in mind this is just a detailed summary with some added thoughts intertwined.

Review beneath the cut and the picture of Sumire

Updates and other Random Things of Note

I’m working on fixing the Killers’ discography to display correctly on my blog, but I wanted to let you know a few more updates that will be coming, so this is a special update on my part just to handle some maintenance issues and say a few things about my blogging status.

I thought I would have a setback from not being able to capture screencaps from Venus Versus Virus episodes 4-6 due to formatting issues, but I found a solution to the problem: Windows Media Classic. Also, this program might solve my problem in terms of taking screencaps from my DVDs, but I haven’t tried it yet to tell. If it works, then expect to see screencaps for Infinite Ryvius in the future, probably not as much as what I’m blogging with VVV and Nodame Cantabile, but you can expect something of that sort.

I also decided I’d drop One Piece and Angel Heart in terms of my watch status, at least for now (haven’t seen episodes of them since ep 60 and ep 26 respectively). I think blogging 3 series, and an undetermined 4th is more than enough, in addition to blogging music entries as well. To note, I’m enjoying all three thus far, Venus Versus Virus is actually starting to grow on me a little since the story started coming in (still have to watch episode 6, but I’ve heard good things about that coming from a few others who are blogging the series as well, of course, I’m not spoiling myself before I have the chance to see it ).

I have DVDs of Crest of the Stars and Kino no Tabi (finally found a complete collective boxset, and I actually bought it for a good price: under $25) coming in soon, but those won’t be blogged, at least not for now for the former. I’ve already watched Kino no Tabi and consider it one of my favorite series. Crest of the Stars, however, I’ve yet to see, but I’ve heard good things about it, so I’m excited to see it.

I also went to a flea market this past weekend and found missing VHS episodes of Revolutionary Girl Utena, Nightwalker, and a DVD of Vampire Princess Miyu TV, all bought for under $10; I was very happy. I haven’t seen Utena in a long time, but I do remember it was one of the first series I saw dubbed (along with Sailor Moon, Cowboy Bebop, among others). Most of those who know me in terms of my anime ownership know that prior to the past year or so, my anime collection has been limited to VHS-no DVDs at all. I’ve owned VHS tapes of all 4 licensed seasons of Sailor Moon, Nightwalker, Outlaw Star, Cowboy Bebop, Shamanic Princess, Vampire Princess Miyu OVA, Bubblegum Crisis OVA and 2040, and Fushigi Yuugi (a few I sold wanting to upgrade to the DVD boxsets…now I wish I hadn’t since they’re so expensive ). But yeah, I’ve given my own to the anime industry in the past, just not as much as I would have liked. My anime collection is pretty small in comparison to the number of series I’ve seen, but I’m working on it. It’s an expensive hobby, as many have told me, and I only buy the series that I know I really like. As some of you can tell from my reviews, I’m selective, but I’m not overly critical unless I really think some series hit the bottom of the barrel, and I don’t like to bash unnecessarily. I like to be as fair as possible.

Same with music reviews. I don’t really give low evaluations unless it’s something that really doesn’t sit well with me. I may not have liked Yuna Ito’s album 100% as a whole, for example, but I found things to like in it. You’ll find when I make album reviews, most are what’s recommended to me, what I read about, what I buy or “acquire”, or what I have on queue to listen to (sometimes “New Releases”, sometimes what I consider to be “Classics”). Whatever the situation, I’ll usually write about it.

That stated (apologies for somewhat of a lengthy rant): I’ll probably update my blog with the following entries in the week or so to come, aside from the aforementioned discography:

-Venus Versus Virus 5-6
-Infinite Ryvius 5-8
-Nodame Cantabile 3-6
-Review of Poets of the Fall “Signs of Life”
-Review of High and Mighty Color’s “goover” and “Gou on Progressive”
-Review of Crown Jewels “Spitshine” and “Lineoleum”
-Updates to Blogroll, different sections/features of blog.

Considering my busy schedule with school, I don’t think I’ll get to all of these quickly, but it’s something for me to keep track of for now. I was really fortunate to have most of the others finished during a lax time, so I can’t say when each of these updates will arise or in what order, but keep tabs on this blog regularly, because I check it often enough to update each week.

That said, I hope all of you enjoy the new entries and the features to come.

Much love,
Rosepetals

Infinite Ryvius Serie 3-4: Beyond the Vast Sea and Ring of Ryvius

These episodes of IR represent the beginnings of the secrets beyond the Liebe Delta. It doesn’t really scratch the surface completely, of course, but it takes baby steps to get there.

This is the first of the reviews crafted in doubles, so beneath the cut I’ll leave an image and message between each of the episodes, so that if you’re reading to get an impression of only episode 3, you won’t be spoiled by episode 4.

I crafted this entry on Thursday evening, unlike the second episode, so I made sure I proofread it in full. For some reason, WordPress has been cutting off my entries (or parts of them) and I’m not entirely sure why. Even images on my site this morning were broken for no reason at all, but, ah well. I’m glad it seems to have resolved itself.

Reviews under the cut.

Nodame Cantabile: Lesson 2

I think the best way to sum up this episode in one sentence is: it’s all about Mine.

In the second episode of Nodame Cantabile comes another fresh faced character, who has more likenesses to Chiaki than a little bit. Nodame still seems like she’s on a sugar high on life, and Chiaki not only has to deal with her and the new “rockish” violinist, but also some confrontations with his past.

Still, if you think this series will start bringing on too much drama, think again: this episode is downright hilarious.

Curious? Read below the cut, not only for the new episode, but for the first entry that marks the recent review change for Nodame Cantabile. It’s not terribly different from the last entry, but I’ll gradually work it to where it isn’t simply a episodic summary. I think I’m just trying to get used to not simply summarizing, but adding my own flare to each entry. I hope you guys can bear with me as I get used to it.

Of course, I’m also providing this entry full of screencaps, so you needn’t worry about me omitting them completely, but I think I’ll start toning them down gradually.

[My Favorite Things] My Top 60 Anime Series

This entry was originally published March 24th, 2007, but considering how many anime series I’ve seen since then…yeah. Updated for all of you to partake.

This is the first in a series of entries entitled “My Favorite Things”, which is just to give you an idea of where my interests lie in terms of various media. This particular entry is just a compilation of some of my favorite anime series. I used to have a top 25 list in my reviewer’s profile at Animenfo, but I amended it as I saw more series. For now, this is my definitive list, I’ll probably add more series as I see them (or recall them, this list was composed primarily off the top of my head, save for looking up the year of each anime series). Some of these titles you may find in my reviewer’s profile at Animenfo, so if you want reasonings, I’ll provide a link to it in my blog roll in the near future, I’m still working on building a list of links for the site, so bear with me until I do. I’m still slowly building sections of my blog and adding entries accordingly, so it’s coming along in-between prepping for other things.

How this will work: I’ll start my way from 60 and work my way down to number 1, providing the anime and the year, same with the other category respectively. No more than that, I’d rather make it as brief as possible. I’d rather not get into extensive descriptions into why they are ranked as is, because it would make this entry longer than it has to be. Yet if you ask me per comment, I’ll add my two cents accordingly.

Note: this list does not include movies or OVAs, so examples like “Sprited Away” and “Vampire Princess Miyu OVA” won’t be here, those will be in another entry some odd time away. Also, I’m not including series that I’ve only half finished (or are incomplete) in the Top 40 because it wouldn’t be fair to assess them with those whom I have finished in entirety. The middle 10 however, will have some series I haven’t finished to date listed.

Okay…”let’s get started, Ready, Steady, GO”…under the cut (Note: yeah, I’m a L’arc~en~Ciel fan ^^….not a “fangirl”…big difference.)