...what are you watching...

Junjou Romantica S2 12! the end...though I wouldn't put it past them to stick more anime with manga releases or at least continue with the CD dramas. Not sure what prompted the anime production to strip this season of smut, but as long as it was fit-plot-in reasons rather than censorship reasons, I was okay with the lack of cartoon shadowed sex. In the last episode, Misaki takes a part-time job at Usagi's publishing company. He meets his favorite mangaka, and finally convinces Usagi's brother & father how serious their relationship is. It was the Valentine's story...they oddly skipped the Christmas story...oh well. ~7/10 rating for this season. The animation quality went down and there was only one measly cabbage episode. Despite that, there was just enough of the manga's comedy that was preserved in this show that it wasn't too boring.

Kuroshitsuji 9-10! been awhile since I've thought of this anime; maybe because the community seemed oh-so-enthused about the fillers. Episode 9 was a very random episode featuring Ciel's servants. Episode 10 featured an ice sculpting contest. The episodes were silly enough to entertain, but utterly forgettable.

Vampire Knight: Guilty 12! Looks like the anime is getting an original ending. Everyone is attacking each other.

Hakushaku to Yousei 8! Shoujo and cross-dressing go hand-in-hand.

Vampire Knight: Guilty 9! More flashbacks to when Harry met Sally or when the Kuran parents died. Kaname proves himself to be a wimp who wants a girl to do his dirty work. And this episode almost put me to sleep.

Kuroshitsuji 7! Despite their every attempt to create a dark atmosphere, the nyan chanting was just plain odd. Ciel and all investigate a demon-dog-infested town. Do they ever show the Queen in the manga? I'd like to see who Ciel is working for.

Kurozuka 7! This isn't living up to the hype created by the first episode, and it is mostly because the declining animation quality. In this episode, Kurou remembers a time when Kuromitsu sliced his head off; ah~ good times. Poison Ivy makes a guest appearance.

Vampire Knight: Guilty 7! The other vampire anime...what's a little vampire story without some incestual overtones. Pretty good episode even though the ever-present cheap animation kills the mood sometimes.



Junjou Romantica S2 7! Haven't mentioned this before, but I enjoy the internal letters-to-nii-chan dialogue that Misaki engages in. It's makes him more interesting than your standard uke. And likewise, in the manga I like the Usagi's memories-of-Takahiro omakes. In this episode Misaki receives presents from his brother in Hokkaido, meets Usagi's father, and tries to confess his feelings to Usagi. There are times that Misaki is really adorable, and this is definitely an adorable episode. No onscreen smut, but warnings for two-seconds of finger-fellating.

Hakushaku to Yousei 6! How often do they mention the fact that Edgar has ash-mauve eyes? Ash-mauve? Sounds like a goth rock band. The plot is stumbling along, but kelpie/chick scene was cute.

Skip Beat 7! Hey, I hear that this is licensed. I never watch anime on Crunchyroll. Their video quality is pretty bad for those who just want to watch for free, and their website design is pretty toilet-worthy. But hey, I suppose progress is progress. In episode 7, Ruriko and Kyoko continue to compete in the film, but Kyoko's injury makes her pass out. Kyoko is an engaging go-girl-power type character, but the story and the supporting characters are unimaginative. Gonna drop this show for now.

Hakushaku to Yousei 3! Man, the flowery dialogue makes me cringe. Are there usually brick fireplaces on ships? In this episode, Edgar and Lydia reach the island and continue to try to crack the riddle about merrows and spunkies. The bad guy, Gotham(?), is there to trap them. Lydia's father is also there. And a wolfy specter shows up...is he one of the other bishonen characters?


Kuroshitsuji 4! Ciel makes a lovely girl. In this episode, they investigate possible Jack the Ripper suspects. Gotta love or hate the yaoi factor.


Junjou Romantica S2 3! Darn, the Usami butler's name is not Sebastian. It must be a lack of smarmy smile. There was some funky bgm near the end of the episode. They cut the smut scenes in this episode. Maybe it'll be smut every other episode?

And a couple more...
Yozakura Quartet 4! Enjin, the bad guy with the fox ears, learns that his body's original soul, Gin, is still hanging around. Akina is not able to attack knowing that his friend is still there. The flashback was cute.

Vampire Knight: Guilty 2-3! I'm still wondering why everyone wants to eat Yuuki. Maybe the less intelligent you are, the better you taste? Episode 3 had some cute chibi Aidou moments. Kaname was still a creep back then. Maybe it's the only-child syndrome that makes him a creep. Or him being the almighty pure-blood vampire. Or having parents that committed suicide.

Vampire Knight 13! end of season one. Zero necking Kaname should have been a little smuttier. Anyway, Kaname is successful in manipulating everyone while Yuuki is still as dense as a brick wall. The show was amusingly bad; terrible animation, bland characterizations and plotholes the size of whales. ~6/10 rating~ for this season. Sexy vampires should have saved the show, but the bad visuals made them look clumsy instead.

xxxHolic Kei 12! almost the end. This wraps up Himawari's story really well. I'm glad the anime tied the whole anime up more quickly and logically without the Tsubasa crossover. I wonder why the last episode is the lightening-pokemon episode since this one feels more like an end.

Vampire Knight 11! The twins..um...something happens..there's angst...and really bad animation. Thus, Kaname is a horrible dancer.

Vampire Knight 9! introduces another annoying character. *yawn* There better be more action and gore later. Angst is getting old. Zero and Ichi...haha...creative parents almost like mine.



Nabari no Ou 9! Ah~ a show with interesting revelations. We see how Yoite is slowly dying. We get a clue as to why Aizawa might what to help Miharu (I think there's more in the latter parts of the manga). And a little bit of Kumohira-sensei's involvement with the Shinrabanshou. Anyway, none of that would make any sense unless you are watching. I like the comradery between certain pairings of ninja in this show. Ok...the potential boy-love...haha. Anyway, I find it very kind of Miharu to choose to use his potential power for Yoite who seems to be suffering the most.

Eep, I know gas is more expensive in plenty of places not here, but it is nearing the $4 mark...and I was playing chauffeur yesterday..blech. Still, it's nice to know the $1 menu at fast-food places haven't changed and amazon.com still has free shipping at $25. I did notice the preorder extra discount went away....and some normally discounted books aren't discounted.



Vampire Knight 6-7! If their heads would stay a normal size and if their eyes would stay in place, this would be a great show...at least visually. These were pleasant woe-is-me episodes as Zero and Kaname give each other the evil eye and lust after Miaka Yuuki. There are also some chibi-flashback woes in episode 7.



Macross F 8! Ranka makes progress in becoming a star by securing random jobs. Her carrot song is cute. She also makes it into Alto's school. I thought she was more than a few years younger than him, but apparently not. With both Ranka and Sheryl in Alto's school, I didn't think the episode would be as funnywas. The eye-catch was darn cute, too. The Pirate of the Caribbean music seems out-of-place...I wonder why it was composed like that. I'm still waiting patiently for Alto in his geisha outfit..if that is him in the opening.

Vampire Knight 3-4! had no real incentive for watching this since 1. all the characters are too angst-ridden and dumb, 2. the animation is bland and 3. there are much better shows to watch, but I figured I'd give this til episode 6 to hook me. In episode 3, Zero makes Yuki a midnight snack. Though there are bishies, their personalities are non-existent. Hopefully, Kaname, Zero and the other guys show a little less brooding and more evil or something amusing in the near future. On the plus side, the animation team has mastered the lengthy close-ups of angst-ridden faces with shiny eyes.

Vampire Knight 1! Half a dozen or so bishies who suck blood...muwha ha ha, lick lick.

- Studio Deen's trademark cut-corners-animation still makes it here,
+ but the design of the show and characters are still attractive.
+ Mamoru Miyano and Fukujun are in this one, too. Junichi Suwabe..too.
- Fukujun should have been Zero.
+ Opening by On/Off sounds ...like an angsty boy-love song.
+ The promise of incest and possible insanity...woot!



Quick summary ~ Day students drool over the Night students. Was Kaname in high school for 10 years? Well, using school to cover drug trafficking is a good excuse. Yuuki was saved by a vampire from a vampire when she was little. She is now some sort of guardian of the Night students along with her childhood friend, Zero, whose family was wiped out by vampires.

Quick opinion ~ The tiny bits of comedy remind me of Fruits Basket...or maybe that's because of Yui Horie or Studio Deen. *spoilers* Judging by the episode and op/ed visuals, Yuuki and Zero become one of the undead...c'mon, it's so obvious. Anyway, years and years ago, I had wished Anne Rice's vampires would be created into a manga or anime...there was a comic...a horrendously ugly one. I guess this can be a pretty substitute. I never made it through Hino Matsuri's lengthier works, but I like her artwork.



Special A 1! I also watched the first episode of Itazura no Kiss where the bottom of Class F girl falls of the aloof, arrogant No. 1 Class A guy. The anime was too old-school shoujo for me to say anything positive about it, so I skipped the usual review. Special A is about the No. 2 Class A girl who will undoubtedly fall for the arrogant No. 1 Class A guy.

- Decent animation may easily look bad if the animators are having an off-day.
- Uninspiring plot kinda made me sleepy
- Op/ed/bgm...all forgettable.
- Stereotypical cast
+ with Fukujun..who occasionally uses his Zero voice.

Quick summary ~ As stated, Hikari Hanazono wants to be No.1. She has to have sex with beat Kei Takishima to get there. They both are in the Special Ed A class at school where everyone drools at their feet.

Quick opinion ~ Couldn't make it past one volume of manga, though many people have said positive things about it. The anime doesn't seem like anything special considering what else is out this spring. Plus KareKano and Ouran Host Club made this plot and story much more funny.

and something I'm still watching...
Persona -trinity soul- 13! :( sad episode. Hopefully, he got the evil old guy...but since this is only halfway through the season...I'm thinking 'no'. boo hoo.