[Maintenance] Major Updates

My first maintenance entry in quite some time, and I’m announcing a few updates in terms of Anime blog schedules, J-music schedules, blog updates, and other miscellaneous things.

I’ll have some time to update this in the next few days, so here’s a summary of what entries will be posted.

Higurashi Kai will be blogged up to episode 12.  Entries are written and screenshots are taken, just need to be put together which is something I can do tonight once I finish up with work.

Romeo x Juliet will be blogged up to episode 6.

Nodame Cantabile will be blogged up to episode 10.  (I’m currently rewatching the series and actually have a means to quickly blog it now and have more succinct reflections than in the past, versus episode summaries-which is something I’ve been trying to go away from on all of the anime entries.)

To reinterate: Code Geass is dropped.  I’ll also create a Tabbed page in terms of what series I plan to watch/blog, and which ones that are dropped so that it will be easier for you to see what I’m currently watching/not watching.
One update to the J-music entries will be Abingdon Boys School’s latest album, and My Top Anime List and other aspects of favorites should be updated as well, with a new entry for favorite J-Urban artists Female (Part III) and a new one with Male J-Urban artists.

Does it seem like a lot? Goodness yes, but I’ve actually had some of these crafted weeks/months ago.  The problem?  Being the person that I am and wanting to go over everything with a fine-tooth comb before I submit anything is the main issue, I’m a perfectionist in the wrong kind of ways XD  T_T  Same with all of the updates I have in terms of the anime series I’m watching.

The way this will work is this: each will be presented in sets of two episodes, similar to what I did with Infinite Ryvius, from now on. I’ve figured that the best way to blog on the series I’ve been watching up to a certain point and it also takes up less entries.  Brief summary of events before, episode reflections and spoilers under the cut.  I may try to do something for those of you who aren’t readily following up with the series or who may be interested in the series but haven’t seen it yet by incorporating more into the pre-description before each episode but no spoilers as usual. I’m also restructuring the screenshots and looking for dead links in any entries.  If you come across any, feel free to comment-I’ll also create a page for bugs, problems, etc in the tabbed area.

[aside note]I also realized I never put a review for “Shadow of Love” in the NANA music entry…I wonder how I missed that >.< [/aside note]

Also, in terms of structural changes, I’m going to change the layout and also add a new banner designed in the GIMP.  And as for the Maintenance entries, since it’s such a hassle to find in what context I’ve updated the site (since I usually do but I don’t always note it, I’m going to make it a page tab instead, so it’s easier also for me to track what entries I plan to upload and in what sections.  It also helps me organize in terms of what you guys can expect, and perhaps, in time, you may see more timely updates in between my schedule, which tends to be quite busy, but if you have any comments/concerns,  I do try to respond in 24-48 hours.

It seems like a lot but I try to put a lot into the blog as a hobby, just hopefully not take on more than I can chew.

Best,

Rosepetals

[Maintenance] A few blogging notes, and other things

Most of you know that Code Geass has been licensed, and since that’s the case, I’m dropping all blogging of the series. Previously crafted entries included. It’s just too much of a demanding task to try to do so, and I can’t really finish it since I didn’t get a chance to see the whole series collectively before it was licensed. Yet, I think when it comes to the states, I’ll pick it back up from the very beginning. Some of you who were keeping up with that may need to prep for a long wait, and for that-I apologize. But it will come, just not at this time.

Nodame Cantabile and Romeo and Juliet will pick up from where I left off with them. I decided that doing a whole review post for Nodame Cantabile would be taking the easy way out, and I’d rather refresh my memory in going through each of them episode by episode before I craft a full review. So since I have a little more time (not a lot unfortunately) to watch anime now-those entries should be coming within the next week or so.

Good news for some of you, once I finish blogging Nodame Cantabile I’ll start on the new Higurashi no Naku Koro Ni Kai series. It should be a lot of fun figuring the last two arcs, but we’ll see.  Since it just started not long ago, I’m not pressed to catch up with it as much as I was with Code Geass.

Expect music updates to be the same, and Favorites entries will only come as I can craft them. I’ll probably be updating my favorite Anime series list soon because I have to add in some of the more recent ones that came into my favorites list.

Best,

Rosepetals

Nodame Cantabile: Lesson 6 and 7

A few things before I start with this entry: I want to catch myself up to the point where I am currently in the seris in terms of watching, so I decided to combine entries for Nodame Cantabile. I may keep this format for the remainder of blogging the series, because it’s easier for me to do two sets of episodes at a time…also makes for less clutter in terms of entries.

I’ll still have screenshots for Nodame Cantabile up to the latest episode, so you’ll have to look under the cut accordingly. I won’t separate entries with large pictures/scans like I did for Infinite Ryvius, so be forewarned, while I’m designating reflections between each episode, it’d probably be better if you saw both episodes before reading this entry, unless you don’t mind being spoiled of course.

I said it once, I’ll say it again: I *heart* Chiaki-sempai. He takes the reins in Episode 6 as the assistant conductor for the group…taking stead while Stresemann decides to partake in *cough* other matters. Yet when a complication arises regarding that matter…Chiaki may find himself with more work to do than a little bit.

Episode 7 has the S and A orchestras practicing in preparation for a concert contest between the two, yet Chiaki finds that playing “by the book” isn’t as beneficial as incorporating originality. It takes a rather odd set of events to make him realize such though…serious yet still terribly funny episode in points, especially the latter considering Chiaki’s spars with Mine-kun. New character introduced in this episode as well, but…question is whether or not we’ll ever see that conducting student “conduct”…

Review of both episodes under the cut and picture of Chiaki conducting the S orchestra.

Nodame Cantabile Lesson 5

The last episode left with a rather abrupt “cliffhanger”: Nodame’s faced with a dilemma that teems on Chiaki’s successful transfer or not…but as this episode shows: it really doesn’t become too serious at any point, and Stresmann is actually more than just a pervert: he’s a likable guy as this episode pans out.

Chiaki also has his first chance to act as a conductor: yet he finds that he has a long way to go before he learns the art of orchestrating in full, especially since it’s more than simply pointing out bad notes and awkward plays.

Reflections beneath the cut, and the rather nice picture of Stresemann (yeah I know, he shared the limelight of the highlight picture in the last entry, but this really is his episode-as well as Chiaki’s).

Nodame Cantabile: Lesson 4

This episode was a riot. XD I have to say that each episode thus far we’ve had a character introduced in some modes who has something to do with Chiaki and Nodame in the scheme of music, and the entrance of a seemingly perverted old man and some of the situations he initiates take the cake….but I don’t really care for him, at least not from his actions in this episode.

Aside note: took me a little bit to realize that Chiaki’s VA is none other than one of my favorite male seiyuu’s: Seki Tomokazu. XD It explains why I find him so amusing. Nodame’s VA is Ayako Kawasumi, who first debuted as Melfina from Outlaw Star and has had a slew of roles ever since. Considering Tomokazu-san and Kawasumi-san have both worked in some of the same series together (a la Initial D), it’s no surprise that they have great chemistry here.

This episode will be explained in modes under the cut and picture depicting Nodame and the new character. Don’t say I didn’t warn you; this series is crazy. I somewhat feel sorry for Chiaki and Nodame over the rather domineering and perverted Stresemann, a famous conductor hailing from Germany.