Basquash! episode 8 ~ The truth behind DESTROYs

Iceman asks you all to watch his amazing performance

While I’d admit that this wasn’t as good as the previous episode where it was all just gun-ho exciting to watch, this was still a solid continuation of the series and brought us some significant development for Iceman and quite a lot of foreshadowing to come for our little princess basketball player.

Straight Up Saturdays (Of Gods And Men: The Characters And Entity’s In Anime We Love To Deify And Why)

First off a what the hell moment:

The last time this happened was with my Code Geass posts, albeit on an even more perplexing scale of almost Top 10′s.  I didn’t get it then and I still don’t get it now.  What is it about this article that could have possibly warranted it being up there among the political musings that usually make the top 100?  Who is reading this stuff?  WHO ARE YOU PEOPLE?!  It’s like, the RNC is attacking Obama,  what are we going to do about Gitmo detainees…..oh and this guy talks about some TV show in Japan. :/

And now for something we hope you’ll really like.

MS Igloo 2 Episode 3 (Odessa Iron Storm)

Every story needs a beginning a middle and an ending. For MS Igloo 2 this is that ending

You know how the new episode of Haruhi was like an angel descending from on high to bless Haruhiist’s with a feeling of total bliss?  Well now it’s my turn.  It has been nearly 2 months since the last episode of Gundam 00 aired and almost 4 months since the last episode of MS Igloo 2.  I needed this like you could not possibly believe.  Our hero this time is Arleen Nazon, a female Guntank pilot who is out for revenge against….something.  Here’s the score on this episode that I can derive at the moment:

Well Played K-On……

Well Played Indeed……..

Bamboo Leaf Rhapsody And Haruhi “Season 2″ First Impressions

I’ve already said it elsewhere, but this still reminds of the Saki ending albeit less cracked out

Rather then go through all the motions of rejoicing and about how “thine goddess hath returned” and the fact that there’s a new episode of Haruhi, I’m just going right on in and straight up.  Here it is, my thoughts on the new episode of Suzumiya Haruhi sans hype and plus the humble expectations of a novel reader.  Besides those that know me know I don’t really do that stuff anyway…..okay except with Zeus.

Random Musing Of The Month (Are Solid Plot And Characters The Key To Making An Anime Successful?)

I used to think so, but hear this.  Lately it seems the level of regard and discussion a show gets is directly in contrast to the complexity of the plot and any interesting and multi-faceted characters it contains.  The more plot points working at once the more people pick it apart because of there being more of an avenue to do so,  The more characters that frequently do things that affect other characters and the overall plot, the more people pick it apart as well, because somewhere, someplace some character is going to get the short end of the stick in a big way when it comes to their role in the story.  Thus judging by the types of shows that seem to have been making it big critically in the past year or so, it’s starting to seem like the solution to dodging heavy criticism of a show’s premise and depiction has become to have as little of one as possible and to substitute it with arguably unrealistic depictions of people (and to some extent life and society in general) doing whatever that ultimately serves little more then the purpose of making the viewer feel good and relaxed.  This also allows a show the defence of it being possible to say that it is not really trying to be anything more than ”x” and thus to argue that criticism of a premise or character portrayal is unwarranted.  Very clever if this is indeed a trend on the rise in the anime industry….although like other times it’s highly possible I’m just imagining it all……….that is why I call this the random musing section though.

Straight Up Saturdays (True Gar: Moments That Define A Hero)

No taunting Hockey Fans this time, just a moment of openness that is relevant to anime.  I’ve been marathoning Kotetsushin Jeeg all night and have been waiting for this moment since the very second after the very first scene depicting Hiroshi’s heroic sacrifice in the pre-title sequence of episode 1…..the moment when Hiroshi and Michie meet again after 50 years.  And finally it’s happened and exceeded all of my expectations as well as providing an example of what I like to call True Gar, something different but similar to what ghostlightning describes here.  I differentiate this from the more popular and well known loud screaming male character beating things up in that it cuts right to the heart of what it means to be a true hero….that being the brave heart to stand against villainy and the compassion to protect and treasure loved ones and justice.  The ability to meet an antagonist who would unjustly rob others of the joys of life with the ferocity of a lion on the battlefield, but also the ability to treat the ones that you care for with the gentleness of a cub in the moments that the hero fights for.  This to me is one of those True Gar moments that defines a hero:

Michie is much older then the last time they met and initially Hiroshi is blind after having been reawakened from his 50 year slumber after having been sealed in a zone where time does not pass.  Soon the truth becomes apparent to him as his sight returns.  See if you can pinpoint the exact moment where Hiroshi shows how impossibly manly he can be

It’s moments of passion like this that are the reason I watch Mecha anime.

Basquash! episode 7 ~ and boy, you don’t know what you are missing out on if you aren’t watching this.

So three weeks and 120+ episodes later, I have finally caught up with the current series on my list for this season and have noticed a common theme amongst a lot of them that doesn’t speak well for the current titles being produced from Japan. There just seems to be a lot of series this season aren’t that good at all and while few of them have proved to be under average the majority just hovers around the average meter for me and that isn’t limited to only one or two genres (as I really am not a heavy genre favouring type of watcher). But with every new season, there is bound to be a series that flies under the radar of most people but turns out to be an absolute gem above all of the other bloated and indeed overrated series (just look at K-ON and you will know what I mean). Basquash! is one such series which completely surprised me as I unfortunately fell into the same mentality as a lot of people before starting the series. “Meh, it’s just a crappy looking sports anime with mechas in”, was my thought but the funny thing is when an anime turns such an unfair and generalising sweeping statement onto it’s head and presents you with something that is of another dimension. Basquash! is this type of series and I believe that you would be mad to miss it.

The colourful cast

In Nomine Patris…..

This is article is for the soul purpose of expressing my most heartfelt congratulations to my good friend ghostlightning and the most glorious news that he is soon to become a father.  For the first time in ages I shed tears, though it be tears of joy and I must propose a toast.  To this moment and the moments yet to come.  I wish all the good fortunes in the world upon you, your wife and you yet be born child at this moment ghostlightning. 

What The…..Slow Down Banpresto, There’s Enough Mecha Games For Everyone :/

The List:

Mazinkaiser
Mazinkaiser: Death! The Great General of Darkness
Shin Getter Robo: Armageddon
Getter Robo
Full Metal Panic
Full Metal Panic? Fumoffu
Full Metal Panic The Second Raid
Mobile Suit Gundam W Endless Waltz
Mobile Suit Gundam SEED
Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Astray
Mobile Suit Gundam SEED X Astray
Martian Successor Nadesico: The prince of darkness
The King of Braves GaoGaiGar
The King of Braves GaoGaiGar Final
Steel God Jeeg
Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Destiny
Overman King Gainer
Mobile Suit Gundam SEED C.E.73 STARGAZER
Fafner of the Azure: Dead Aggressor
Gaiking Legend of Daiku-Maryu
Combination Godannar!!
Combination Godannar!! SECOND SEASON
Dangaioh – Hyper Combat Unit
Gun x Sword
ZOIDS GENESIS
Cyber Troopers Virtual-On Marz
Super Electromagnetic Robot Com-Battler V
Super Electromagnetic Machine Voltes Five
Beast King GoLion
Dancougar – Super Beast Machine God
Project Zeorymer
Blue Comet SPT Layzner
Mobile Fighter G Gundam
Brain Powered
Detonator Orgun

The Scoop:  Yeesh, they just released SRW K and now they are on about a spinoff game?  I don’t know about this one, there’s literally no knew series, it’s just all of the units from the previous 3 handheld games (J, W and K) thrown into a story about a Super Robot pilot training school that uses simulations to train it’s cadets….possibly with sexy results.  Luckily if all goes as planned I won’t be having to pay to test it when it comes out.  Errrr…..yeah, that’s about all I’ve got.  Oh no wait there’s one more thing……..they bloody well put Prince of Darkness in there again but took Tekkaman Blade out.  Lame!  Yeah I know this is seemingly just a sprite rehash, but if I have to go through that awful storyline again I’m not sure I can play this game.  Then again Brain Powerd, SPT Layzner AND Shin Getter Robo: Armageddon are back in so it might even out a little.