First of all, sorry for the slow anime previews. I'm still getting episodes together, picking groups, etc (and I just added another title to the list too). It's rather hectic for the first couple of weeks as I wade through this stuff. I'll likely finish up my Samurai Champloo summaries this coming week, and I plan on doing a review of Kure-nai soon, which I just finished. But for today - we went and saw Get Smart this morning.
Get Smart is (probably loosely) based on a 1960's television show of the same name staring Don Adams as Maxwell Smart/Agent 86, and Barbara Feldon as Agent 99. It's sort of a spoof on James Bond, or we can just call it Mel Brooks' James Bond, as he is one of the original creators. There were two previous movie versions, the first in the 80's titled The Nude Bomb, and the second a made for TV movie called Get Smart, Again! (both staring members of the original TV cast). This 2008 film stars Steve Carell as Maxwell Smart, Anne Hathaway as Agent 99, and Dwayne Johnson (aka The Rock) as Agent 23. For you Heroes fans, Masi Oka has a small (and humorous) role as a CONTROL analyst.
Get Smart centers on a secret agent group known as CONTROL, which was publicly disbanded after the cold war, but still operates in a secret base located below the museum for the "original" CONTROL. Maxwell Smart is the agency's top analyst, producing (ridiculously) highly detailed reports that are usually based on "chatter" he listens to via satellite. His basic motto is that villains are people too, and he makes it a point to know everything from their favorite band to their favorite food. Most of the Agents (except for Agent 23) find him dull and useless. Maxwell himself has been trying to make Agent status for years, and he thinks this will finally be his time to shine. Unfortunately the Chief refuses to promote him even though he passes his test because Maxwell is his best analyst and he needs him where he is. But the very next day CONTROL is attacked by their nemesis KAOS, and most of the Agents are put out of commission. Maxwell is immediately bumped up to Agent status as all the other Agents have been compromised, and is partnered up with Agent 99 who recently had facial reconstruction surgery.
Maxwell's intelligence has led them to believe that KAOS is making nuclear weapons, so he and Agent 99 set off for Russia to track down their leader, Siegfried, and get to the bottom of things. The fate of the world now rests in the incompetent hands of Maxwell Smart, who is, as his name says, very smart, but exceptionally clumsy and always getting himself into trouble (from which Agent 99 has to bail him out).
The movie is hilarious, and there's also plenty of action. Explosions, car chases, airplane and car chases, a sky diving fight scene, shoot outs, fist fights. All sorts of secret agent spy gear (cell phone shoes, radiation detecting watches, exploding dental floss). Lots of comedy - the jokes work. A touch of romance (critical to any sort of spy movie). Both Steve Carell and Anne Hathaway do excellent jobs. My fiancee also informs me that Anne Hathaway is "hot." And as a warning, the President in the movie has a lot of Bush...mannerisms. So if you're a fan, prepare to have him mocked, because it's very obvious (or rather, very specific). It's an all around good movie though. It has everything it should have, and it does what it's supposed to do - entertain you.
It was totally worth sitting through commercials I already see on TV, and too many previews for (probably crappy) movies. I miss the days when they played cheesy pop music and ran movie trivia on screen before a film. I hear they showed episodes from the original TV show before the movie at Alamo Draft House. I'm jealous.
Also, and it pains me to say this, I'm sort of interested in seeing The Dark Knight. If Christian Bale wasn't Batman I would be less ashamed of that statement.
On a side note, my wi-fi is getting a really low signal for some reason. The router is on the same desk as my computer, so it's not a distance problem. I don't know what could be interfering with the signal, as there doesn't seem to be a problem at the source (meaning the modem signal is fine); there's just something going on between the router and my PC receiver. If anyone has any ideas...because I sure don't.
ps - Still waiting for a valid, understandable reason why my worthless governor is a keynote speaker at E3 this year. The excuses so far have not been satisfactory.
7/12/2008
7/11/2008
Upcoming for Summer 2008
More reviews of the summer 2008 anime season! Anime News Network usually does this, but they haven't started yet. I assume because they've been busy with Anime Expo. I'd post about that myself, but I get all my news from them anyway, so it's easier to just go there. Though I will say the English cast for Ouran High School Host Club was announced; some of it looks good, and some of it looks dreadful (Vic Mignogna as Tamaki? I don't want Tamaki to sound like Edward Elric :( ). I'll be buying it of course (it's one of my favorites), but I'm perfectly happy with the Japanese voices.
So here's what's coming up. The rest of my reviews of the Samurai Champloo DVDs. I'm almost finished watching them, so the rest of the summaries will come soon. Then I'll be starting Last Exile.
These are the new shows I will be looking at this season, so expect reviews/summaries of them over the next few weeks as I get to them:
Chocolate Underground from Production I.G.
Natsume Yuujinchou (from the people who brought us the wonderful Kure-nai, Brains Base)
Mahou Tsukai ni Taisetsu na Koto: Natsu no Sora (Things that Are Important to a Mage)
World Destruction
Koihime Musou
Telepathy Shojo Ran from TMS Entertainment (who did the charming Itazura na Kiss)
Sekirei
And of course I've already looked at Strike Witches and Antique Bakery.
So here's what's coming up. The rest of my reviews of the Samurai Champloo DVDs. I'm almost finished watching them, so the rest of the summaries will come soon. Then I'll be starting Last Exile.
These are the new shows I will be looking at this season, so expect reviews/summaries of them over the next few weeks as I get to them:
Chocolate Underground from Production I.G.
Natsume Yuujinchou (from the people who brought us the wonderful Kure-nai, Brains Base)
Mahou Tsukai ni Taisetsu na Koto: Natsu no Sora (Things that Are Important to a Mage)
World Destruction
Koihime Musou
Telepathy Shojo Ran from TMS Entertainment (who did the charming Itazura na Kiss)
Sekirei
And of course I've already looked at Strike Witches and Antique Bakery.
7/08/2008
Samurai Champloo disc 3
Mugen kicks some butt for two episodes, Jin falls in love, and Fuu's privacy is invaded.
Disc three includes episodes 9-12: "Beatbox Bandits," "Lethal Lunacy," "Gamblers and Gallantry," and "The Disorder Diaries." In the extras section, there are some sketches and drawings of the main characters. Emotional facial poses and such, which is pretty common for this sort of extra feature.
Beatbox Bandits:
It's time to pass through the Hakone checkpoint. Unfortunately our misfit crew doesn't have the proper papers that allow passage through the gate. Conveniently they happen upon a scalper selling passports, but the gate guards immediately realize they're fake and all three are arrested. The official at the checkpoint has a tendency to execute...well anyone and everyone who isn't strictly allowed to completely legally pass through the checkpoint. In fact, this checkpoint has a reputation for not allowing anyone through who isn't supposed to go through. Mugen, Jin and Fuu are no exception. The officers receive a letter requesting a certain prisoner with a warrant, but he's already dead. In exchange for their freedom (after all, they were unaware their passports were fake), Mugen is asked to deliver the head of the prisoner by sunset. Mugen confidently sets off on this task, trailed by an officer named Yamane (who is narrating the entire event as a flashback). However Mugen quickly runs into a group of renegade warrior priests who are intending to start a revolution for peace with - believe it or not - their very large field of marijuana.
Lethal Lunacy:
Another Mugen centered episode. In exchange for food and lodging, the three constantly starving wanderers are coerced into cleaning and repairing an old monk's temple. Jin and Fuu seem adept at this, but Mugen grows restless and sets off after a rumor of a skilled swordsman who has been openly killing people in the streets of the town. He finds him easily, and, as usual, jumps at the chance for a fight. But this is not ordinary swordsman; he attacks not with his sword but with his inner Ki in a wind attack that slices his victims. The fight is interrupted (but they agree to continue another night), and Mugen returns, slightly injured and confused. When the monk hears the story, we find out that he is not who he seems, but indeed used to be a warrior and once taught the killer named Shouryuu. Mugen, clearly aware that he can't beat this guy at his current strength, begins to train rigorously until the appointed time when he and Shouryuu will meet again. It's Mugen at his best in amazing animation.
Gamblers and Gallantry:
In the next town, the party splits up to find way to earn cash. Mugen discovers beetle sumo wrestling, Fuu lands a waitress job, and Jin works at a kabayaki stand. It seems Jin didn't really think this through, as he appears to have no cooking talent what so ever. Fortunately for him a mysterious woman named Shino (whom he had met on a bridge moments before) appears and offers to help him. Jin is amazed by her cooking ability and her gentle nature, and is instantly taken with her. But at the end of the evening, Shino leaves Jin, explaining that tomorrow she will start work at a brothel to pay off her husband's gambling debts. When he gets back home, he finds Mugen boasting over his beetle sumo winnings, which he then "borrows" saying he is going to buy a woman. Jin, clearly in love and saddened by Shino's situation, declares that they should run away together. Shino refuses, believing that they will only be chased down until they are found. After seeing Shino's husband yell at her and smack her around, declaring she will always be a prostitute and he will live off her earnings, Jin decides that he must get Shino out of her disastrous marriage and comes up with a plan to send her across the river to a sanctuary for women.
The Disorder Diaries:
A very straight forward episode. Mugen and Jin come across Fuu's diary, and decide to read it in hopes of finding out some information on the Sunflower Samurai (which Fuu has refused to give them). Fuu's diaries chronicles their journeys up to this point, so the episode is basically a recap special. The boys note that certain parts of the story are excluded, but that Fuu is always certain to make mention of the food they ate that day. She occasionally makes comments on Mugen and Jin's uselessness, stating that she can't believe all the times she's been kidnapped. There's little more than that. Fuu's take on events and Jin and Mugen's reactions. But it's very well done and makes for an entertaining recap episode.
Disc three includes episodes 9-12: "Beatbox Bandits," "Lethal Lunacy," "Gamblers and Gallantry," and "The Disorder Diaries." In the extras section, there are some sketches and drawings of the main characters. Emotional facial poses and such, which is pretty common for this sort of extra feature.
Beatbox Bandits:
It's time to pass through the Hakone checkpoint. Unfortunately our misfit crew doesn't have the proper papers that allow passage through the gate. Conveniently they happen upon a scalper selling passports, but the gate guards immediately realize they're fake and all three are arrested. The official at the checkpoint has a tendency to execute...well anyone and everyone who isn't strictly allowed to completely legally pass through the checkpoint. In fact, this checkpoint has a reputation for not allowing anyone through who isn't supposed to go through. Mugen, Jin and Fuu are no exception. The officers receive a letter requesting a certain prisoner with a warrant, but he's already dead. In exchange for their freedom (after all, they were unaware their passports were fake), Mugen is asked to deliver the head of the prisoner by sunset. Mugen confidently sets off on this task, trailed by an officer named Yamane (who is narrating the entire event as a flashback). However Mugen quickly runs into a group of renegade warrior priests who are intending to start a revolution for peace with - believe it or not - their very large field of marijuana.
Lethal Lunacy:
Another Mugen centered episode. In exchange for food and lodging, the three constantly starving wanderers are coerced into cleaning and repairing an old monk's temple. Jin and Fuu seem adept at this, but Mugen grows restless and sets off after a rumor of a skilled swordsman who has been openly killing people in the streets of the town. He finds him easily, and, as usual, jumps at the chance for a fight. But this is not ordinary swordsman; he attacks not with his sword but with his inner Ki in a wind attack that slices his victims. The fight is interrupted (but they agree to continue another night), and Mugen returns, slightly injured and confused. When the monk hears the story, we find out that he is not who he seems, but indeed used to be a warrior and once taught the killer named Shouryuu. Mugen, clearly aware that he can't beat this guy at his current strength, begins to train rigorously until the appointed time when he and Shouryuu will meet again. It's Mugen at his best in amazing animation.
Gamblers and Gallantry:
In the next town, the party splits up to find way to earn cash. Mugen discovers beetle sumo wrestling, Fuu lands a waitress job, and Jin works at a kabayaki stand. It seems Jin didn't really think this through, as he appears to have no cooking talent what so ever. Fortunately for him a mysterious woman named Shino (whom he had met on a bridge moments before) appears and offers to help him. Jin is amazed by her cooking ability and her gentle nature, and is instantly taken with her. But at the end of the evening, Shino leaves Jin, explaining that tomorrow she will start work at a brothel to pay off her husband's gambling debts. When he gets back home, he finds Mugen boasting over his beetle sumo winnings, which he then "borrows" saying he is going to buy a woman. Jin, clearly in love and saddened by Shino's situation, declares that they should run away together. Shino refuses, believing that they will only be chased down until they are found. After seeing Shino's husband yell at her and smack her around, declaring she will always be a prostitute and he will live off her earnings, Jin decides that he must get Shino out of her disastrous marriage and comes up with a plan to send her across the river to a sanctuary for women.
The Disorder Diaries:
A very straight forward episode. Mugen and Jin come across Fuu's diary, and decide to read it in hopes of finding out some information on the Sunflower Samurai (which Fuu has refused to give them). Fuu's diaries chronicles their journeys up to this point, so the episode is basically a recap special. The boys note that certain parts of the story are excluded, but that Fuu is always certain to make mention of the food they ate that day. She occasionally makes comments on Mugen and Jin's uselessness, stating that she can't believe all the times she's been kidnapped. There's little more than that. Fuu's take on events and Jin and Mugen's reactions. But it's very well done and makes for an entertaining recap episode.
7/05/2008
Strike Witches
Strike Witches from Gonzo
I don't even know where to begin. The level of ecchi-ness in this show is off the scale. At first glance it appears that there's a bunch of girls (very young looking, though some are probably older than they're drawn, which tends to happen in these sorts of shows for...various reasons) running around in very, very short skirts. But in fact, many of them seem to be wearing shirts, and no pants at all. Although in the case of the really young girls, they appear to be wearing a sort of swim suit type thing under their school uniforms. In other words, there are an unnecessarily ridiculous amount of pantie shots during the show.
Now that that's out of the way....
A Strike Witch is a witch (they're all female, it seems) that the Britannian government uses to fight the war against the Neuroi. The witches' magical powers combined with a machine called a Striker Unit (that attaches to their legs like boots) allow them to fly and wield weapons ordinary humans cannot. But it's not all big guns and destruction (although there's plenty of that) - whenever the girls activate their magical powers, they sprout a pair of fuzzy ears and a tail.
Yoshika Miyafuji is a young witch and a powerful healer. Her scientist father disappeared some time ago after going abroad to Britannia, where he invented the Striker Unit. Major Mio Sakamoto arrives to recruit Miyafuji for the Strike Witches, but she resolutely refuses to participate in war. She would much rather serve in her family's clinic and heal people. However, soon after their meeting, Miyafuji receives a letter from her father that includes a picture of him and (a younger) Sakamoto standing next to a Striker Unit. Believing her father to have been dead, Miyafuji rushes off to find Sakamoto and insists she be allowed to travel to Britannia to look for her father, but still refuses to fight in the war (though she does express a desire to be useful on board the ship). Unfortunately, on their sea voyage to Britannia, the fleet is attacked by Neuroi units.
Watching the opening animation for the show gives you a pretty good estimation of just what sort of show this will be. The Strike Witches are shown flying around shooting down large planes with equally large weapons, their shirts flying open and their skirts blowing up to reveal pantsu and more pantsu. I don't know; perhaps their lack of pants allows them to jump into and use the Strike Unit easier? Maybe there simply isn't a realistic reason, but it certainly makes me feel a little better to think otherwise. The animation is good at least.
Miyafuji (center), Mio (left) and Perrine (I think) in the image above.
Antique Bakery
So the 2008 summer anime season is kicking off. I plan to check out several series to decide what I'll be watching this season, but to be perfectly honest, a quick over view of this season's shows didn't particularly impress anything upon me. But I like to do reviews of new series, so I'll be posting select reviews here for the next week or two (or three).
First up is Antique Bakery.
I'm not really sure what this anime's target audience is. It's shojo, but it's shonen-ai (boys love). I assume it's for pretty boy fan girls, but the animation style doesn't present the average "pretty boy" appearance (or it could be that I've seen too many Wallflower and Weiss Kreuz type shows).
I'm also having a hard time pinning down a genre, as in comedy, drama, thriller, etc. There's romance obviously, and it does have some funny elements, but there are some hints at dark pasts, some not-so-gay-friendly characters, and even some slightly creepy moments. I suppose it's a combination of several things.
So here's the run down based on the first episode.
Tachibana has decided that he wants to open a bakery. The chef that he hires is Ono, a (very much) gay fellow with "demonic charms" that cause any guy he fancies (whether they're gay or straight) to fall in love with him. The catch is that Tachibana and Ono attended high school together, and Ono confessed his love for Tachibana right before Tachibana graduated. Tachibana turned him down hard core style, saying that gay men (or at least the gay lifestyle) disgusted him, and telling Ono to die. Ono seems to have forgotten this incident, but Tachibana remembers clearly when he meets Ono again.
Ono, it seems, has not been able to keep a job longer than a year. Everywhere he goes, the employees he works with get into pretty vicious (and often bloody) fights over him, so he has to quit and find another job. Tachibana doesn't believe him, so Ono takes him out to 2-Chome, a gay bar district in Tokyo. At the end of the night he comes on to Tachibana, whom informs him of their previous encounter, and reminds Ono that Tachibana is the only man he hasn't been able to win over. Tachibana also assures Ono that there will be no problems at his bakery, as only the two of them work there.
However, we also meet Eiji Kanda, a top notch boxer. Unfortunately he has detached retinas, and can no longer fight. Tachibana's newly opened Antique Bakery seems like the place for him. Tachibana's perfect, drama free bakery will not likely remain so for very long.
The image above is a manga cover depecting (from left to right) Ono, Eiji, and Tachibana. The manga was also adapted into a live action drama in 2001, but the homosexual themes were almost non-existent. Ono is a straight man who simply has trouble with women, and he and Tachibana have no prior connections in the past. The anime on the other hand does not seem to be shying away from that particular characteristic.
7/01/2008
Samurai Champloo disc 2
The second disc of Samurai Champloo contains two of my favorite episodes of the series. This disc also includes more starvation, more of Fuu's troubling situations, and a glimpse into Jin's dark and mysterious past.
The episodes included on the disc are: "Artistic Anarchy," "Stranger Searching," "A Risky Racket," and "The Art of Altercation."
Artistic Anarchy:
A simple episode. The gang, once again, find themselves broke and starving in a new city. They split up to find ways to make money. Apparently there's an undercover slave trafficking operation going on in the city, which a detective named Manzou is in town to uncover and disband.
Fuu encounters Ukiyo-e artist Hishikawa Moronobu (an actual historical figure of the time period), and he offers to pay her if she'll pose for a painting. Mugen meanwhile does what he does best and picks out the toughest looking guys in town, and beats them up for their cash. Jin takes a quieter route, betting his life (in servitude) against an old man's bag of money in a game of shougi (a Japanese chess game). Unfortunately, it turns out that Moronobu works with the kidnappers - his paintings serve as a sort of catalog customers use to choose the woman they want.
Stranger Searching:
Again our unlucky trio is broke and starving. Lucky for them, the Edo town they have just entered is holding an eating contest. Unluckily, it is not free, and the group must forfeit their weapons as an entrance fee. Fortunately Fuu claims that she has a bottomless stomach for free food. Unfortunately, she's up against a strange looking foreign man with an equally voracious appetite. And she looses. The winner, a Dutch man calling himself Jouji, approaches the group, sporting all their weapons, and offers to return them if they give him a tour of the city. What he doesn't tell them (among other things) is that he's being chased by the Japanese police.
A Risky Racket:
Going off of Jouji's tip, the gang sets off for Nagasaki. But, as usual, the episode starts out with a lack of funds; this time they manage to win some in a gambling game(with the help of a certain squirrel). It's immediately stolen from Fuu by a pickpocket. Mugen and Jin manage to track the pickpocket named Shinsuke to his house, but only find his sickly mother. Shinsuku meanwhile is off getting into some serious trouble, having unwittingly stolen a bag of opium. It will be hard to sell, but he desperately needs the funds to buy his mother stronger medication. Fuu, set to spy on the house for Mugen and Jin, witnesses a conversation between Shinsuke and his mother, and the next morning she goes back to the house and has a long talk with the very ill woman. But when Fuu tries to confront Shinsuke later, she gets wrapped up in his attempt to escape the thugs whose opium he stole, and becomes his hostage.
The Art of Altercation:
A very flashy and showy samurai named Nagamitsu has been hunting down other samurai who wear glasses; specifically a glasses wearing samurai named Jin. He meets our wandering trio at a restaurant, and immediately takes a liking to Fuu. He flirts with her through his flunky Shinpachi, and eventually asks her out on a date for later that evening, and leaves when one of his other men comes in saying that another glasses wearing samurai has been found. Since Jin had just pawned off his spectacles for the money for the meal, Nagamitsu ignores both the men. But a very busty woman armed with drinks does not ignore them, and indeed invites them to her house for some better wine. Mugen's eagerness sets Fuu into a fury, and she decides to meet up with Nagamitsu out of spite. Poor Fuu; she just wants a little attention. Nagamitsu decides to tell her his life story, and describes his journey to find and fight a man said to be undefeated in 1000 battles. But when he got there, the man was already dead, so now he is on a journey to find the man's killer, whom he claims is named Jin. Fuu can't believe what she's hearing, and goes home for the night, only to wake up to a hungover (and recently robbed) Mugen and Jin.
The episodes included on the disc are: "Artistic Anarchy," "Stranger Searching," "A Risky Racket," and "The Art of Altercation."
Artistic Anarchy:
A simple episode. The gang, once again, find themselves broke and starving in a new city. They split up to find ways to make money. Apparently there's an undercover slave trafficking operation going on in the city, which a detective named Manzou is in town to uncover and disband.
Fuu encounters Ukiyo-e artist Hishikawa Moronobu (an actual historical figure of the time period), and he offers to pay her if she'll pose for a painting. Mugen meanwhile does what he does best and picks out the toughest looking guys in town, and beats them up for their cash. Jin takes a quieter route, betting his life (in servitude) against an old man's bag of money in a game of shougi (a Japanese chess game). Unfortunately, it turns out that Moronobu works with the kidnappers - his paintings serve as a sort of catalog customers use to choose the woman they want.
Stranger Searching:
Again our unlucky trio is broke and starving. Lucky for them, the Edo town they have just entered is holding an eating contest. Unluckily, it is not free, and the group must forfeit their weapons as an entrance fee. Fortunately Fuu claims that she has a bottomless stomach for free food. Unfortunately, she's up against a strange looking foreign man with an equally voracious appetite. And she looses. The winner, a Dutch man calling himself Jouji, approaches the group, sporting all their weapons, and offers to return them if they give him a tour of the city. What he doesn't tell them (among other things) is that he's being chased by the Japanese police.
A Risky Racket:
Going off of Jouji's tip, the gang sets off for Nagasaki. But, as usual, the episode starts out with a lack of funds; this time they manage to win some in a gambling game(with the help of a certain squirrel). It's immediately stolen from Fuu by a pickpocket. Mugen and Jin manage to track the pickpocket named Shinsuke to his house, but only find his sickly mother. Shinsuku meanwhile is off getting into some serious trouble, having unwittingly stolen a bag of opium. It will be hard to sell, but he desperately needs the funds to buy his mother stronger medication. Fuu, set to spy on the house for Mugen and Jin, witnesses a conversation between Shinsuke and his mother, and the next morning she goes back to the house and has a long talk with the very ill woman. But when Fuu tries to confront Shinsuke later, she gets wrapped up in his attempt to escape the thugs whose opium he stole, and becomes his hostage.
The Art of Altercation:
A very flashy and showy samurai named Nagamitsu has been hunting down other samurai who wear glasses; specifically a glasses wearing samurai named Jin. He meets our wandering trio at a restaurant, and immediately takes a liking to Fuu. He flirts with her through his flunky Shinpachi, and eventually asks her out on a date for later that evening, and leaves when one of his other men comes in saying that another glasses wearing samurai has been found. Since Jin had just pawned off his spectacles for the money for the meal, Nagamitsu ignores both the men. But a very busty woman armed with drinks does not ignore them, and indeed invites them to her house for some better wine. Mugen's eagerness sets Fuu into a fury, and she decides to meet up with Nagamitsu out of spite. Poor Fuu; she just wants a little attention. Nagamitsu decides to tell her his life story, and describes his journey to find and fight a man said to be undefeated in 1000 battles. But when he got there, the man was already dead, so now he is on a journey to find the man's killer, whom he claims is named Jin. Fuu can't believe what she's hearing, and goes home for the night, only to wake up to a hungover (and recently robbed) Mugen and Jin.
6/30/2008
Anime Tunes (I)
From a post over at Dannychoo:
What are your favorite anime theme songs?
I love the Ghost in the Shell songs. They make up some of my favorite openings out of all the anime I've seen (I love me some Yoko Kano).
http://youtube.com/watch?v=BYbxCygS-PU (SAC's Inner Universe)
http://youtube.com/watch?v=u8a-YSRv0ro (2nd gig, Rise)
Still going crazy over Still Doll, the closing theme for Vampire Knight. Wakeshima is just so adorable, and I love her voice:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Rkqcx6KfAA
Really love the Nodame Cantabile opening and closing pieces. Can't wait for the second season.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=0a-HV2wpeBw (OP, Allegro Cantabile)
Blood + also has some fantastic songs.
Inori - Lena Park's opening for the Romeo X Juliet anime probably makes for one of my favorite openings of all time. I get chills every time I watch it, and just that opening can sometimes bring me to tears (can't wait for FUNimation to make it available in the spring so I can finally buy it) :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VY7iXJyy1ys (anime opening)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Px2n_LrTG_8 (Lena singing the song in English)
Tank! from Cowboy Bebop of course
http://youtube.com/watch?v=T6zDfxZ4NcE
This brilliant song, The Garden of Everything, from the Rahxephon movie (you can't go wrong with Yoko Kano AND Maaya Sakamoto):
http://youtube.com/watch?v=PvHvxLBfhVw
Well...pretty much anything Yoko Kano's touched, honestly. And all the FLCL songs.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=GfsV6oZyFds (FLCL ending, The Pillows' Ride on Shooting Star)
Cruel Angel Thesis from Evangelion of course....
http://youtube.com/watch?v=XuqYeG3-M5k
Duvet from Serial Experiments Lain:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=jDf4bNiPYuE
Opening and Ending for Gunslinger Girl:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=xEMjq9VpBSE (Light Before We Land)
http://youtube.com/watch?v=p9JgMHDEKWE (dopo il sogno)
That's all I can think of right now, but that's plenty. :)
It's pretty much the only kind of music I listen to these days (along with show tunes). I don't understand anything they're saying, but I love the music and the way the language sounds.
What are your favorite anime theme songs?
I love the Ghost in the Shell songs. They make up some of my favorite openings out of all the anime I've seen (I love me some Yoko Kano).
http://youtube.com/watch?v=BYbxCygS-PU (SAC's Inner Universe)
http://youtube.com/watch?v=u8a-YSRv0ro (2nd gig, Rise)
Still going crazy over Still Doll, the closing theme for Vampire Knight. Wakeshima is just so adorable, and I love her voice:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Rkqcx6KfAA
Really love the Nodame Cantabile opening and closing pieces. Can't wait for the second season.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=0a-HV2wpeBw (OP, Allegro Cantabile)
Blood + also has some fantastic songs.
Inori - Lena Park's opening for the Romeo X Juliet anime probably makes for one of my favorite openings of all time. I get chills every time I watch it, and just that opening can sometimes bring me to tears (can't wait for FUNimation to make it available in the spring so I can finally buy it) :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VY7iXJyy1ys (anime opening)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Px2n_LrTG_8 (Lena singing the song in English)
Tank! from Cowboy Bebop of course
http://youtube.com/watch?v=T6zDfxZ4NcE
This brilliant song, The Garden of Everything, from the Rahxephon movie (you can't go wrong with Yoko Kano AND Maaya Sakamoto):
http://youtube.com/watch?v=PvHvxLBfhVw
Well...pretty much anything Yoko Kano's touched, honestly. And all the FLCL songs.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=GfsV6oZyFds (FLCL ending, The Pillows' Ride on Shooting Star)
Cruel Angel Thesis from Evangelion of course....
http://youtube.com/watch?v=XuqYeG3-M5k
Duvet from Serial Experiments Lain:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=jDf4bNiPYuE
Opening and Ending for Gunslinger Girl:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=xEMjq9VpBSE (Light Before We Land)
http://youtube.com/watch?v=p9JgMHDEKWE (dopo il sogno)
That's all I can think of right now, but that's plenty. :)
It's pretty much the only kind of music I listen to these days (along with show tunes). I don't understand anything they're saying, but I love the music and the way the language sounds.
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