Himitsu ~The Revelation that my brain is being picked at by the show I'm watching (shouldn't it be the other way round?)~

Oh yea, this show is all SRS BSNS

So I've finally caught up to the subs of Himitsu (a lowly 3 episodes anyways), and I suppose having the twist of the American President Assassination Arc (Okay, so I made that title up, but you can tell how important it was by how every first letter was capitalized!) spoiled by someone in the wide blogosphere (usagijen merely 'hinted' at it in her post, but what a big hint it turned out to be) somehow diminished the "ZOMG WTF YOU CAN'T BE SRS" factor and along with it the mystery of the arc. But my 'problem' with Himitsu really lies elsewhere...

Err, if by 'good-looking' you mean all girly and fish-lip-ey, then yea -_-"

I will agree on the most part that Himitsu is [meant to be] an emotionally deep show which in today's shallow pool of fanservice orientated and angsty teen dramas automatically gains this show a 'good if not great' status (assuming you're actually bothering to watch this besides your usual fanservice extravaganzas and teen angst). A show featuring a team of crime investigators literally picking through the brains of murder victims to solve crimes is just begging to be picked at and analyzed by, isn't it? It's the kind of show that's not only aimed at getting its viewers to start thinking by proposing your run-of-the-mill non-run-of-the-mill topics (*gasps siscon* *gasps BL... nyeh, wrong season to be surprised by that*) - plus it's a mystery show, so it has to be intelligent, amiright?

Sure, smart, intelligent, but not necessarily witty.

What these few episodes have shown me is that everything the show proposes, it proposes mostly through its main protagonist Aoki. Being a newcomer to his job and the 'sensitivities' that come with picking the secrets of the dead from their minds, he is often at odds with himself over the moral issues that come with the job, on several occasions being too quick to voice out these concerns to the chagrin of his co-workers. Of course, being viewers we also get a direct view of Aoki's monologues and thought processes as well, which combined with the brain picking element of the show, make this a thought-provoking show indeed.

But wait, isn't a thought-provoking show supposed to freely get the viewers to think for themselves on such issues that it proposes? Not that this is some definitive definition of what a 'deep' show should be like, but personally I am slightly disappointed that whatever 'revelations' that I feel I'm supposed to have when watching Himitsu aren't exactly revelations when they're been hand picked by the writers and fed to me via a somewhat morally confused protagonist and his often cheesy lines... Compare this to the train scene in Kure-nai where we're given a situation worth pondering about and both sides of the argument from Shinkurou and Murasaki, where we're neither told who is right or who is wrong and left to our own views on the situation. In Himitsu, we get a case and situation, and Aoki's thoughts of "This isn't right, this can't be right, can't we let the dead sleep in peace, can't we, can't we?" The result is a somewhat raw look at whatever issue we have at hand besides the usual brain picking morality ones that I somehow wish was displayed in a more refined manner (Hey, kind of reminds me of my blog posts OTL).

And yea, I have a low tolerance for cheesy lines unless it's in a show that I can't take seriously anyways in which case they're great fun to laugh at - only I'm pretty sure Himitsu wasn't made to make me laugh, and it would seem utterly disrespectful to try to cast this well-meaning show in that respect. Most of the lines so far have been blunt and unconvincing if not downright cheesily bad at some points, which make me grit my teeth in order to suppress them cynical remarks about the script.

Add to that the fact that despite Seki Tomokazu's presence in the cast I feel that his performance as Maki is somewhat flat and lacking that charisma I've grown to expect from him (but a facet of Maki's personality is to be silently strong so I'll excuse that for now) that I find watching Himitsu a bit of a 'chore'. Sure its a 'solid' show so far, but despite rants that this show is getting much less attention that it deserves, I can certainly see why Kaiba and Kure-nai steal the attention from it on the 'deeper' end of this season's scale (well, besides the fact that this show lacks funky art and lolis).

Despite all that, will Himitsu stay on my watchlist? Well if the subs come out at a competent enough pace, perhaps... I was quite nonplussed by the end of ep 3, but they just had to throw in that juicy little twist regarding Maki that practically guarantees me checking out episode 4 at least... Curiosity and the cat in me -_-" Hopefully the show works better when the mystery aspect is able to fully deliver the shocks, since the clumsy 'thought provoking' aspects are not working for me right now.

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Spring 2008 (Not-Exactly-)Bishoujo Rankings

I was about to do yet another post continuing the trend of my previous 2 ones in a continuous bid to alienate male readers from this blog, but it seems that someone else has beaten me to the chase. So instead of a 'Spring 2008 Princely Rankings' of sorts like I initially planned, here's something else to highlight the obvious lack of goggly-eyed moe-incarnates from Kyoto Animation in a season of plain-looking-girls-next-door and where feminism would rule if not for Kanokon and To-LoveRU! (there are still a smattering of bishoujo around, but they're mostly from the shoujo animes and are being outnumbered by the manservice machines of Code Geass alone)


11) Crystal Blaze girls (Crystal Blaze) - Only applies to the girl with the scratchy voice really. I might have remembered their names if I was still watching this.

Blurry and hastily cropped screenshots aren't doing them any favours

10) Jinko and... Satomi, was it? (Itazura na Kiss) - What's this, side characters that don't steal the thunder from the main characters at all? *coughsSpecialAcoughs* Well in the next episode they (and the rest of the F class) seem to be getting a bit more attention, so I'll forgive them for now for not being on par as Nobu and gang in Lovely Complex.


9) Amachi Nanako (Himitsu) - Who? I just remember Nonaka Ai voicing her :P If I hadn't started watching Himitsu and realized that Maki was actually a guy (and voiced by Seki Tomokazu no less OTL), she would be here instead.


8) Midarezaki Gekka (Kyouran Kazoku Nikki) - She's 'voiced' by Satou Rina, so she counts?


7) Irie's Mom (Itazura na Kiss) - Not at all MILF material (thankfully), but her schemey-ness in bringing Kotoko and Irie together is pure win. (Plus points for cross-dressing the bugger as a kid XD)


6) Miderazaki Hyouka (Kyouran Kazoku Nikki) - Oh, it's a trap? (Just needed an excuse to put more KKN characters in so that I can finally remember all their names!)


6) Maka Alban (Soul Eater) - Can't say much about her since I've not watched past the 1st episode (despite it being on a convenient time slot on TV for me on Mondays... If only I wasn't busy watching anime everywhere else but my room -_-"). On the list for being a female protagonist on a shounen show, but isn't higher up because I'm not a fan of her seiyuu (though some praise her flat-ness as fitting the character *shrugs*).

So sue me for reusing pics, she's only had one scene so far -_-"

5) Nina (Code Geass) - R2 has made her look years older really. Probably the only female on Code Geass who could qualify for this list (post table hump anyways, and only if you're not into the meganekko-psycho-stalker thing)


4) Ahmey (Tower of Druaga) - More GAR than moe, but then again we had a bunch of Claymores in Saimoe last year too (Ahmey isn't Claymore-class yet, though). At least she's not one of the air-headed/bitchy/loli female characters in the show.


3) Midarezaki Kyouka (Kyouran Kazoku Nikki) - I'm not sure what megalomaniac cat girls do for feminism, but she makes a surprisingly 'good' (if unconventional) mother for a very unconventional family.

I just couldn't bring myself to crop Shibasaki from the pic

2) Kasahara Iku (Toshokan Sensou) - Tomboy 4tw? A lot of Toshokan Sensou is about Iku being beaten down by the harshness of the Library Task Force Doujo who really just cares too much about her :P and how she has to eventually rise above all that - but almost always after a lecture from Shibasaki only, and thanks to the OP sequence we see her shed tears at least once per episode so far. Hence, she's not a Kou Shuurei (Saiunkoku) in terms of being a feminist beacon in anime just yet. Hopefully the next episode where she has to protect against the Media Communists on her own sees her showing her true stuff (Princes be damned!). Plus points for protecting books =P


And finally...

The pigtails make me think Yumi from Marimite... Perhaps that's why I first thought it could be Ueda Kana voicing her instead of Mizuki Nana -_-"

1) Aihara Kotoko (Itazura na Kiss) - Perhaps if Itazura na Kiss didn't look as 'retro shoujo' as it did, Kotoko would be considered a bishoujo no contest. But what I absolutely love about her character (and why she's my number one female character this season) is that even in terms of anime characters, she may be rather plain looking somewhat plain acting, yet her human qualities more than redeem her. Sure she's head over heels in love with the biggest jerk in anime male leads since the last one Hirakawa Daisuke voiced, but she's not blinded by that fact alone and acknowledges it as it is. Early on she understands the futility of her situation after being rejected by Irie, and despite acting for the best by trying to move on, she later acknowledges the fact that it's not going to be that easy to forget about a crush you live under the same roof with. What I really love though, is how Kotoko refuses to just be a doormat to Irie's douchebag personality and does manage in her slightly clumsy way to still hold her own and put him in his place. She's human to me in the way that she's neither very mature (as her homework habits show) nor too flawed a character, making her an easily understandable character and a major factor to the appeal of the show (Also, Mizuki Nana =P)


Well that turned out to be more fun than I expected, maybe I should do these lame excuses for gimmick posts more often XD.

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Spring 2008 Part 3 : It's like longer than Parts 1 and 2 combined

Ouch. Now I know why we're an endangered species -_-"

I think I've watched enough first episodes this season to last me... a whole season. There are still some shows I've yet to check out, but considering most of my classes will be commencing next week, I'll probably be giving Amatsuki (Fukuyama Jun again?), Blassreiter, Real Drive, Neo Angelique Whatever (There's probably enough bishounen here than in every other show this season combined. And that's no small number), xxxHolic Kei (sorry, didn't get past the 1st episode of the 1st season), Wagaya no Oinorisama and Nijuu Mensou Musume and Kyou Kara Maou (technically I'm only a few episodes short of finishing the first 2 seasons, but I have enough on my plate now as it is) a miss for now. Otherwise, there'll be a final(?) part 4 some time later. For now, this is it for sampling series this season as I move into the unpredictability of 2nd episodes...


Zettai Karen Children : It’s like Ground Defence Force! Mao-chan… with older lolis!

I've actually only watched 2 short episodes of Mao-chan before (the Love Hina homage episode). The show features 3 lolis whose task is to protect the world from 'cute' aliens. (Remove the inverted commas, they really are cute XD). Zettai Karen Children or Absolutely Lovely Children (WTH?) features 3 slightly older lolis with psychic powers who have to take down bizzare villains like a hard-gay wannabe in the first episode. Rather amusing really, with Hirano Aya basically reprising her role as an ero-jiji Konata and that other loli giving Kodomo no Jikan vibes in the way she looks at Konata...

Continue watching? Probably not intentionally, but I can still catch it on TV Sunday mornings.

The GARness... It burns!!!

Golgo 13 : It’s like James Bond. Supposedly.

I had zero intention of watching this. Then one late night while flipping channels I find an anime about plane hijacking and gratuitous sex. Was pretty stoned at the time and wasn't really paying atention so I booted out quickly. Wonder what the person next door thought of the static interjected moaning from my room *swt*

Continue: Nyeh. If I really want to watch gratuitous sex there's always Junjou Romantica XD

Wait till you hear the 100th. Then you'll be in despair.

Allison & Lillia : It’s like Sisters of Wellber… without the talking tank

Actually I couldn't really think of a show to compare Allison & Lillia with so the closest I could get is Sisters of Wellber that had a similar non-shounen good-feel adventure vibe to it.

Continuing? While I didn't continue Sisters of Wellber after the first episode, I certainly will (egads, unintentional pun) be with Allison & Lillia, no less because of Allison and Lillia Will themselves (Yea, so I love Mizuki Nana :P Also I need to clean my ears out for not recognizing her in Itazura na Kiss -_-" Will's voice was rather familiar too, and it turns out to be Shaoran from CCS) who make a decidedly 'normal' yet ragtag team of adventurers.

Nabari no Ou : It’s like 2X2 Shinobuden meets Loveless

What's this? Kugimiya Rie makes a more convincing boy than Noto Mamiko?? What I love about her performance in Nabari though is that it sounds much less of her usual Nagi/Shana/etc roles and more of her awesome Kagura from Gintama. And I wonder how many Nico users typed "Nii-pah!" during Tamura Yukari's eerie voiceover...

Continue? The rather funny BL-ish jokes (unlike the downright disconcerting ones of Monochrome Factor...) and fluid action in the first episode (it's a modern day ninja show after all, and the serious kind - unlike 2X2 Shinobuden or Ninja Nonsense in English) earn this Nabari no Ou a spot on my watchlist.

And speaking of Nico Nico and Tamura Yukari...

Da Capo II Second Season : It's like Da Capo II & Da Capo SS in one... Uh-oh...

Jeff Lawson isn't the only one with a 'soft spot' for the original Da Capo series. It was probably my first foray into an actual 'harem' anime of sorts - though the end girl was decided pretty much halfway through, I liked how they still gave the other haremette some sort of closure still in the second half. Unfortunately, the less said about the next two anime incarnations of the Da Capo the better (Aisia alone ruined DCSS, as for DCII, Koko is the prime example of why her shy girl archetype makes for a lousy lead heroine... There was potential for something different than your usual tsundere there, but it's like the creators didn't even try to make her unbland). What of DCIISSWTFBBQ (shouldn't acronyms be short?) then? Like it's 3 predecesors, it starts off in its usual decent non-offensive way that only non-fanservicey harem shows can that lulls you into thinking, hey, this may not be half bad... only it's from where the DCII left off (only the robot girl is nowhere in sight, yay?) and the SS suffix is sounding alarms off in my head already...

Continue watching? I suppose I'm somewhat invested into the series already, so yea . At best it may help reclaim the 'magic' of Hatsunejima lost in the previous installments, at worst, it'll still make good raw-watching practice.

Kyouran Kazoku Nikki : It’s like Rizelmine meets Kamisama Kazoku

It's hard to say anything coherent about this show. It's like the creaters just pieced together whatever idea they could get their hands on for quirky characters and tossed them together in what could be the funniest comedy this season... Or at least the second most bizzare (After Penguin no Mondai XD). And as far as shows employing the WTF ploy of Japanese government endorsed forced marriages, Kyouran Kazoku Nikki takes the cake from Rizelmine (and the downright awful Final Approach).

Continue watching? As a comedy junkie, I'm not missing Satou Rina's jellyfish ED for a thing XD

Kaiba : It’s like ??? (Err... the only thing I can think of is Cat Soup... and maybe Starship Troopers)

So called experimental anime isn't exactly my thing. Though I think there's a lot of good one can say about Kaiba's 1st episode which I can agree with in the most part (the rather short cast list on ANN isn't short on impressive btw), I'm not sure I'm personally ready for this kind of viewing experience since my thoughts after the episode was "That was one awesome ostrich... thing!".

Continuing? Thanks to Sat-chan Owen S for the summary/analysis which helped me with what I missed from watching the raw (I understood so far as the amusing yet slightly disturbing scene where the kid decides that his brother's memory is of no use to the world, lol/"..."). Though I do like the funky art and the deliberately bizzareness of the world, I don't think this show is for me after all. Those who loved the episode and plan to continue will probably be personally well rewarded in the end so I will recommend this episode out for yourself.

Crystal Blaze : It’s like Hataraki Man meets El Cazador de la NoirLax (the heroine, that is)

Crystal Blaze is rather intriguing really. I checked it out since it's labeled as mystery (which I love) only there's probably SF/supernatural elements in it (which I don't like so much). Of course if you want a superficial reason to check out the first episode, a good part of it has the mysterious female character running around nekkid and involving herself in unintentionally hilarious situations that only clothed people should (carjacking, gunfights, etc.) And yes, she reminds me Matsukata from Hataraki Man (with a lip reduction) XD

Watching still? I'm slightly curious, despite it being one of the less 'spectacular' looking series this season (there's freakin Code Geass and Library Wars after all), so I'll put this one on a sort of watchlist waitlist for now.

Vampire Knight : It’s like Zombie Loan… with vampires (duh)

Some people I know will watch any show with vampires, and some will watch anything with bishounen, regardless of anything else in it. Well this show has both, and I'm not in either of those two mentioned groups. But of course I had to check it out if only for Horie Yui and Miyano Mamoru (who could use at least as many roles as Fukuyama Jun IMHO... Oh shit, he's in here too???), and I have to say the episode tickled me for being so blatantly generic in so many ways - the cheesy character names (Yuki Cross and Zero - Zero!), the token gothic atmosphere of the setting, the grainy flashbacks, the emo bishie antics of the emo bishies... The only thing missing is an ALI PROJECT OP/ED.

Continuing? Despite myself, the first episode did entertain me to a certain extent (then again, so did Zombie Loan's), but methinks no. If it wasn't for Ryuu and Tajima (I can't even remember his actual name) in S.A., I'll probably watch the bishie vampires over the bishie anorexics this season.

Monochrome Factor : It’s like Loveless… without the Love (Har har. There'll probably be an inordinate amount of 'love' in this one actually)

This post already summed up my impression of Monochrome Factor. I'm not really sure why I watched it even despite since there's hardly a positive comment for the show around, but I guess curiosity killed the panda OTL. I could've sworn though there was a half decent high-school monster-killing romp somewhere amidst the (MJ class, LOL) WTF-ness that is Shirogane, but with Soul Eater and Junjou Romantica this season, who's going to watch this?

Continue? Dropped. Though will someone inform me if this was meant to be blatant BL (I wanted to say BL satire. Right...) and if Shirogane gets his way with that other dude in the end? XD

Kamen no Maid Guy : It’s like They Are My Noble Masters… only they’re not very noble at all

I think I enjoyed Kamen no Maid Guy's first episode more than I should have... It's hard not to, unless you're against erroneously placed frontal nudity *gasps, it's the new Shuffle!* or just find the concept of a maid GUY (actually when I first heard the title, I was convinced it's be another Kamen Rider type show -_-") too kimochiwarui or just plain lame. Though Kogarashi takes the cake with his utter disregard of the delicacies of male female interactions (Jason's post sums up his best lines in the episode), all the other characters join in the fun in providing their bit to the humour (It would be awesome if Fubuki was voiced by Tanaka Rie though :P).

Continue watching? YES. Kanokon and To-LoveRU be damned. Maid Guy 4tw!

Himitsu - The Revelation : It's like CSI with mind raep.

This show give 'mind raep' a total new meaning. It's another pseudo mystery show this season, more in the vein of CSI as the characters analyze the brains of murder victims to unearth their memories to unveil the killer. *Sigh* Whatever happened to the good old days of solving mysteries Sherlock Holmes/Hercule Poirot/Ms Marple style (I've not watched the kiddified Agatha Christie anime adaptation though. I'm sticking to the novels, thank you very much) instead of relying on the powers of science?? Maybe I should go back to Detective Conan -_-"

Continue watching? Ranting aside, I do love CSI and Himitsu - The Revelation is intruiging to me as Crystal Blaze is, though it looks to be episodic in nature so I'll probably forget to watch it anyways. On the plus side there's Seki Tomokazu and Nonaka Ai in he cast, so this goes into the 'pending' list as well.


(Extra) Tower of Druaga (alternate version of ep. 1) : It's like the first version of episode 1... without the tentacles.

Not much to say about this one. Had to watch it literally side by side with the actual first episode in the same video on Nico Nico and the conflicting audio made it rather confusing. It amused me though that every line Jil said in his sleep corresponded nearly exactly to the lines in the original episode.


*Phew* And that's about it. I'll post a firmed up watchlist sometime next week.

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