been watching...

[Teahouse Keeper]

For the past few days, I've been doing nothing except watch anime!! Yes, I'm going to be broke very soon at this rate...

Can't help it. I believe I'm currently anime-crazed. Even my dreams have anime characters inside. Hahaha. I saw Gene Starwind floating in my dream--he's the outlaw hero in Outlaw Star which I just finished watching.

Thanks to the interesting characters, Outlaw Star is pretty good! It did feel a bit long and draggy sometimes, but overall, it was good.

My favourite is of course, Fred Luo, voiced by my favourite Toshihiko Seki!! Ooh...I love that guy (Seiyuu/ Fred)! Every time Fred Luo appears, it's hilarious. His voice is so...sexily light and flirtatious. Hahaha! Fred has this distracting habit of stroking his right ear every time he talks to the guys Gene and Jim...heeheeheee.

It's amazing to think that Fred and Sanzo of Saiyuki are both voiced by the same person! How is it even possible that the gruff Sanzo has the same seiyuu as Fred? Can't help wondering how Toshihiko Seki does it! It's too damn amazing.

Then before Outlaw Star, I caught Angel Sanctuary which some people find disgusting because of the incest element between the hero and his sister. For me, it was ok, although slightly confusing, mainly due to the poor English subtitles.

The sibling love was interesting and sad at the end. I find I sympathize and fully support the couple since they are so much in love.

And then, I've also been watching Saiyuki Reload and Saiyuki Gunlock!! Fabulous! Damn cool! Although the other guys are sexy and cool (Koukaiji--ultra-cool!), I really like Son Goku.

My favourite voice here would be Cho Hakkai whose seiyuu is Akira Ishida. Extremely sexy voice, especially when he moans about something. Oooh...sooo sexy!!

Akira Ishida also voices Tatara in Legend of Basara which I also just finished. Although the voices of Tatara and Hakkai are not very different, I was not able to tell it was the same seiyuu.

And actually, Akira Ishida also voiced Yase in Outlaw Star but it was impossible to detect Hakkai anywhere within Yase! Without the seiyuu credits, it would have been impossible to tell that Yase, Tatara and Hakkai share the same seiyuu! It always surprises me how seiyuus are so miraculously versatile!

Basara is ok with some really great voices particularly Shiozawa Kaneto's (my all-time favourite!), except there's no ending. The company only made 13 episodes and the ratings were poor, so they just didn't conclude the thing. No sequel. Goodness! Hahaha...

And then in Basara, there's Nagi--doctor, teacher, prophet--voiced by none other than Hayami Sho who did Muraki in Yami no Matsuei!! There's an interview in the special feature of the vcd--he's quite handsome!

[HiLife]

Hmm recently saw two episodes of Scrapped Princess, think it's really interesting. And she is soooooo cool, yes I refer to Scrapped Priness aka Pacifica...so kaiwaii and yet so strong and so gentle. Sobs.

Why aren't real humans like her...sigh.

[Teahouse Keeper]

Oh? Scrapped Princess is good, is it? Hmm...*hand on chin* wonder whether I can get it...What's it about??

Ah, there's also another princess called Princess Nine. Haven't seen it yet. Don't know what's it about. And one more, called Sister Princess...

Hahaha...so many princesses ah...

[pippichan]

Just finished watching PRETEAR. Anybody has seen it? Pretty good anime! Actually, I've seen the title so many times before but only recently I watched it - that after someone told me it's good. Well, it is.

Himeno is a high school girl who can't really fit in her new family and its bourgeois life style. Most of times, she's alone but that doesn't make her a mourning girl. One day she learns that she possesses a power to be a pretear after meeting 7 Leafe Knights. A pretear is someone who can unite with Leafe Knight to protect Leafe (energy of life). Those knights ask for her help in fighting Fenryl and Queen of Destruction.

Hayate, the Leafe Knight of Wind, doesn't 100 % approve of asking Himeno to be a pretear at first. Though, with the passing time, he becomes more and more affectionate to the girl and always tries hard to protect her. Hayate's reluctance is based on a bitter incident 16 years ago. It turns out that Queen of Destruction was a pretear named Takako who changed to the dark side after her feeling for Hayate was rejected.

Another shock is finding out that Sasame, the Leafe Knight of Sound, is discreetly in love with Takako! 16 years ago he put his feeling aside ad helped the other knights sealing Queen of Destruction. He feels that he can no longer pretend so he finds courage to express his love towards Takako - by discarding his Leafe knighthood and becoming Queen of Destruction slave (Wow!) He's even willing to take Fenryl's punishment which is originally for Takako (ck..ck...power of love). But Sasame's love eventually can return the real Takako.

Himeno also has to save her depressed step sister, Mawata, who's prisoned inside of Fenryl tree by Queen of Destruction - lost in her misery and loneliness.

The most exciting part of the anime is the ending, I think. Himeno suceeded in saving everyone by sacrificing herself. But by Hayate's kiss (ehm..) she's brought back to life.

Yeah, I know that it sounds like a fairy tale - with everyone lives happily ever after ;D But it's quite entertaining. The story is easy to understood and we're indulged by Hayate and Sasame's gorgeous faces. *giggle* Hayate looks adorable when he's blushing!

There'll always be heartache and pain. But don't give up to hating. Because laughing and crying are proof that you're alive. Just carry on and you'll see a brighter day. And just remember this; you're not alone.

[Teahouse Keeper]

Whoa!!! I must see Pretear!! It sounds great! I saw it at the rental shop...

Ah...seeing the cover of the vcd box, I knew Pretear was pretty interesting with handsome guys. But I didn't know it was this good! Whoa!! I must see! Must see!

[pippichan]

Yeah, I had that same reaction when I first saw Hayate. ;D

Let's say that knowing there're some gorgeous guys in the anime makes me much, much more eager to watch it. Hehehe...

[pippichan]

Hm... been watching Detective School Q (Tantei Gakuen Q) for some times now. Another detective story, you may ask. Well, the answer is yes and no. Yes, it's a detective story with awesome deductions and criminal tricks. But no, it's not just another detective story for it has an interesting character's conflict.

Kyu, a junior high school student, dreams to be a detective after he's rescued by a great detective when he was a little child and kidnapped. That's why he decides to enter DDS (Dan Detective School), a prestigious detective school founded by Dan Morihiko, a legend in Japanese detective world and police force. After finishing some difficult test, Kyu becomes a member in Q Class (a class designed to select Dan Morihiko's successor) together with Megumi (a cute girl with photographic memory), Kazuma (a computer genius who's still in elementary school), Kinta (whose specialty in martial art) and Ryu (a very clever yet mysterious guy)

As the story develops, DDS has to fight against a crime organization known as Meiosei. If you want to murder someone but have no idea how to do it well, you can contact Meiosei and ask for their help. Meiosei members can't be identified easily for they're experts in disguise and plastic surgery. The only way to indentify them is a unique mark tattooed on their body.

And turns out that Ryu is a part of Meiosei. In fact, his grandfather is the leader of Meiosei. So, why he enters DDS? To be a spy? Well, maybe that's the plan (Meiosei's true plan hasn't been revealed yet) but I have strong indication that Ryu isn't really happy with his condition. He never favours to crime, instead he tries hard to solve every case, even if Meiosei involves in it. He even becomes a human shield for Kyu when he's about to be killed by a culprit who's under Meiosei member's hypnotize. I think he really wants to break free. Otherwise, he won't be so miserable inside.

The other Q Class students, even Dan Morihiko himself, however, haven't known yet that Ryu is a member of Meiosei. Hm... I wonder how will they react if they find out eventually. And there's also a mystery about Kyu. Who's his father? Why has he been kidnapped when he was little? Guess I have to be patient to know the answers.

Men can't run from their destiny. All they can do is hope and gamble in their lives, that's what Ryu's granfather said. Is it true? Personally, I always believe that we make our own destiny. God grants us brain, talents, creativity and feelings as proofs that we're nobody's marionette. So, wanna make your own destiny or surrender to the so-called fixed destiny, it's your call.

Ganbatte ne, Ryu!

[Teahouse Keeper]

Hahaha! I haven't watched Detective School Q but from your description, it's like I'm already watching it I like it!! I like the secretive and mysterious Ryu. Is he handsome?? Ah, must be the cool, silent and handsome type? Is it a new anime? Who're the seiyuus? Anyone I know?

[Sassy2021111]

....so angel sanctuary isnt any good....? I just bought a copy >.<

[Teahouse Keeper]

Hahaha....well, Krizia, since you've already bought it, just watch it!! It's ok overall. Quite sad. I suppose you already know about the brother and sister relationship? Well, tell me how you find it after you've watched it!!

[pippichan]

Yeah, you've got the correct picture of Ryu. Cool, silent, mysterious and handsome! ;D It's not a new anime, I believe (though I don't know the production year) and for the seiyuu, I don't know either! You know, I'm not very advanced in seiyuu thing.

Anyway, I watched the next episode last Thursday. Oh, it's soo good! Kinta and Kyu brings the wounded Ryu (he takes the stab which originally meant for Kyu) to hospital through hills and forest and rain. But they manages to save Ryu's life. Touched by the affection, Ryu begins to open his heart and even calls them 'his best friends'.

But the following day, come a stranger to visit Ryu. He's called 'Sir Anubis' in Meiosei (he's like an executive leader there, I think) and he brings a bouqet of black roses called Black Pearl. Ryu, even he hasn't met him, knows who he is instantly and tells him to go away. Anubis says he's very sorry because Ryu gets wounded and tells him how precious he is for Meiosei. Ryu will be the next 'King Hades' (in Greek myth, King Hades is the ruler of Tartarus - hell), the highest leader of Meiosei. Ryu states firmly that he's not like them - that he won't ever be their leader in the future. But Anubis just curls his lips annoyingly and before he leaves he says that the meaning of black roses is 'you're mine until the end of time'.

Ryu feels very, very miserable afterwards. His grandfather's words echo in his mind all over again - that he can't run away from his destiny and that inside of him runs a devil blood similar to his. God, please release me from this cursed fate. Or if You can't do that, please lend me Your power to deal with it.

Ryu then escapes from hospital and being in the edge of breaking down, he considers to jump off a bridge. But Kyu finds him. Somehow Kyu's presence makes Ryu calm and brings back his sanity. Finally, he decides to take a real action - breaking free. Ryu asks Kyu whether he can stay at his house for a while. And Kyu permits him. During his stay at Kyu's house, Ryu looks more cheerful
than ever.

Kyu hasn't known much about Ryu yet (neither have I ) but he's willing to open up a little. Ryu's parents died when he was little. Then he was taken care by a woman named Yurie who turned out to be a meiosei agent, acting on his grandfather's behalf. Ryu's childhood was terrible - he couldn't play outside, couldn't have friends and couldn't do what every other child did. Kawaisou ni!

So, for now Ryu is far away from Yurie, Anubis, his grandfather and meiosei. But the question is: for how long? Because neither Anubis nor his grandfather will let him go.

Oh, must wait for the next episode! Patience, patience...

[Teahouse Keeper]

Ahh!! Pippichan, the more you describe, the more I want to watch!! You've got me excited about it! You know, it can be downloaded from Animesuki 23 episodes!!

[pippichan]

Really? Just 23 episodes?! Well, I've been watching it on Animax. Gosh, it's been felt like a very long time - the first episode's premiere was on July, if my memory doesn't fail me.

[Teahouse Keeper]

Oh! The 23 episodes are those that can be downloaded from AnimeSuki. I checked again and there're actually 45 episodes!! I went to the official Japanese site and saw the characters!! So cute!! I like the drawings!! Ryu is handsome and the other characters are good-looking too!

www.tbs.co.jp/tantei-q/chara/index.html

The last episode aired in Japan last year. Are you watching it with the original Japanese dialogue or is it dubbed?

Also, I discovered that some of my favourite seiyuus are in there! Mm...yes, yes. Definitely, I'm seeing this. Ah...only problem might be getting episodes 24 onwards.

[pippichan]

Yeah, my Animax is in Japanese! I don't like watching anime in dubbed version, even if it's english! It sounds odd!

Ryu's drawing is better in the anime than in manga, I think. The manga's drawing is a little bit 'weird' (??) Well, if you see the manga, you'll know what I mean. ;D

Last Thursday episode, the Q class goes to Jinchuu village to investigate a threat letter sent to a politician who wishes to build a dam there. The politician is found dead and the villagers say it's because of the Mayahime curse.

For the next Thursday episode, there'll be Anubis there. I wonder what will happen...

[Teahouse Keeper]

Oh hey, you prefer the original Japanese language too!! Yeah, I don't like dubs, no matter how good the English voice actors are. It's just strange and flat. Also, the seiyuus took so much effort to do their work so beautifully, it's a pity to watch the dubbed version.

I've heard that people prefer dubbed versions because they find it hard to read the subtitles and watch the action at the same time. It makes sense. But I feel that watching anime in English is like not being a true fan...

Mm...Anubis. Seems the anime is using a lot of Greek and Egyptian mythology...

Ryu looks "weird" in the manga? Mm...I saw the manga at the rental shop but didn't flip through it. How "weird" is weird? Hairstyle? Clothes? Different face? I haven't downloaded the anime yet, so I probably won't be able to compare anime and manga.

[pippichan]

It seems to me that in the manga Ryu's head is bigger than his body. So, it's kinda weird. But, hey, maybe it's just me and my bad eyes! ;D

[Teahouse Keeper]

Head bigger than body? Hmm...now that is worth checking out! Should be easy to spot. I'll drop by the rental shop soon and have a look

[pippichan]

After solving the murder case at Jinchuu village, Ryu makes it clear to Anubis that he's not gonna go back to meiosei. In fact, he declares war with King Hades.

To make up his loss - losing Ryu - Anubis hires some criminals to kidnap Dan Morihiko. And thanks to meiosei's mysterious spy in DDS - I'm still guessing who's the spy is, Q Class is always late when they try to save their principal. The only clue Dan Morihiko left them is an old photograph of him and his passed-away assisstant. What does it mean?

Later on, it gets obvious that Dan Morihiko's assisstant named Satoru Renjou was actually Kyu's father. Hm... I wonder why he or Kyu's mom never tell Kyu about it. And why they didn't live under the same roof.

I think the anime's approaching its end. But I still can't believe if Anubis just let Ryu go like that. Does his kidnap plan has hidden agenda - beside killing Dan Morihiko, that is.

[Teahouse Keeper]

So Dan is the school prinicipal? Why would Anubis want to kill the school principal?

[pippichan]

Of course Dan's the principal (DDS=Dan Detective School). DDS and Meiosei are old enemies, see? But it turns out that Anubis doesn't intend to kill Dan, just hypnotizes him so that he's under Meiosei's control.

Yappari! The anime doesn't cover the whole story. The final episode of the anime is dissatisfied. No one ever known Ryu is King Hades' grandson and King Hades himself hasn't appeared. I read an article about Tantei Gakuen Q and it turns out that in Japan the manga still reaches volume 16. King Hades appears in volume 15. And there are differences in story, too. In manga, Anubis is Cerberus and he doesn't die. In anime (final episode) he dies in the fire on the ship where he keeps Dan in custody. And of course in manga, eventually Kyu finds out the truth about Ryu. Hm... I think the manga story is much more interesting. Should be patient, though, because I'm still in volume 6.

[Teahouse Keeper]

Oh......I see. So the manga ends at volume 16? Or is it still ongoing in Japan?

[pippichan]

Still ongoing, I think.

[Nader]

I've been watching Gundam SEED, and Robotech "New Generation"

I still have to watch Super Milk Chan, Ghost In A Shell 2, and finish Excel Saga.

Most of these I borrowed from a friend.

[Granzon]

ummm... currently watching gundam seed destiny, turn a gundam, inuyasha, detective loki, and initial d.

I have a few more, but i can't remember them all right now.

[Shoe]

Curretly, im watching Detective Loki, Sister Princess, and Dear Boys.. lol

my friend gave it to me..lol.,.not for keeps..

[Nader]

I managed to finish most of what I had but I still have to watch Robotech "New Generation" and Super MIlk Chan.

I'm starting to watch wolf's rain, and I just got the 4th volume of Getbackers. I've also been watching Peacekeeper.

On my comp I still have to watch SEED Destiny, Turn A Gundam, Naruto, Ah My Goddess, Xenosaga, Macross, Samurai 7, Gundam ZZ, Full Metal Alchemist, Shadow skill, Victory Gundam, ragnarok and finally the Gundam 0079 movies.

[Shoe]

oh yrh, im also watching Ragnarok the animation

[Teahouse Keeper]

*frowns* Nader is watching so much!!!! And Granzon has so many, he can't even remember them all. And Shoe.....he's watching Ragnarok. *jealous*

So how's Wolf's Rain, Nader?

Nader? *looks around* Nader?

[Shoe]

I finished watching Ragnarok and now im starting to watch Sister Princess