Anime Infatuation

Hamtaro is not the best big-eyed hamster! EBICHU IS! Clearly the Assistant Editor knows nothing. “Shaaaaa.“

Evangelion the best figure? Pah! My Blame! Sana Kan is the best figure this year!

The T-Virus Antidote Resident Evil energy drink is red and shiny, I want one!

Anime to catch up on:

Black Lagoon - explodee action female shooting awesomeness = must see it all!

Galaxy Express 999 - need to see this classic space anime.

Ghost Slayers Ayashi - that Limited Edition DVD, manga, guidebook and artbox is really tempting. Also, really expensive!

Linebarrels of Iron - can’t remember what I didn’t like about the first episode apart from the scratchy blush marks which annoy me, maybe I’ll give this another look.

Moribito Guardian of the Spirit - about to watch this series, so I hope she really is the best heroine of 2008!

Mushishi - will the live action film have the same impact as the stand alone episodes?

Red Garden - I can forgive the singing moments for the bit when the girls see their real bodies lying in coffins. MARVELOUS. I have to know their fate. The big noses really didn’t bother me.

Simoun - must see this for the sci-fi action…not the fan service, clearly not the fan service…

The Wallflower - it made me giggle, I kept missing out episodes, wasn’t there a mad aunt who arrived in a helicopter or something, and lots of nosebleeds and goth-loli girls? *Gets bumped up the list of anime to buy*.

Welcome to the NHK - it made me aware of Hikikomori and I can still hear the purupurupurin song in my head!

Manga that must be read:

Blade of the Immortal - I bought the first 2 volumes, can’t believe it’s up to volume 20 now! I really want to read this, especially now I’ve seen a little of the anime and been disappointed with that adaptation.

Monster - I have about 35 episodes of anime to get through, and then no doubt I will be hungry for the manga.

Moyashimon - Thank you Del Rey, I need cute microbes in my life.

Reminds me to watch:

Cobra The Animation - I loved what I read of the sci-fi manga, so I can’t wait to see it animated!

Claymore - saw less than a handful of episodes, yay female warriors, hope they bring out a second series.

Death Note - I was gripped by the first dozen episodes, I know from the fandom surrounding this that it won’t disappoint me, ditto for the manga and films.

Detroit Metal City -  death metal madness! ROCK ON!

Devil May Cry - I vaguely remember being impressed with the stylish violence in the first few episodes, the trailer and has many, many, guns!

Ergo Proxy - I have a bad habit of refusing to watch the end of series that, to me, are masterpieces. Need to deal with things ending and finish this along with Monster, Blood + and Mushishi!!

Gundam 00 - I didn’t really get into it in the first part, but I do like the huge lift to space and Gundam fighting to stop all war whatever the cost. Now that Votoms Pailsen files is over I need to check this out, and watch all of FLAG.

Ouran High School Host Club - the episodes I saw were just so cute, adorable and funny. Need more! I love the cross dressing aspect, reminds me also, I want to see more Princess Princess.

Super Dimension Fortress Macross - I get the sneaking suspicion I’d enjoy it more than Macross Frontier. I need retro sci-fi in my life, and lots of it!

Reminds me to read:

Gankutsuou - I was interested in this when I previewed new manga, and after seeing the contents in a shop I’ll happily purchase this out of curiosity.

Ghost Slayers Ayashi - I loved the artwork in the anime, hoping to love the art in the manga too. The episode of the anime about the Mountain God was memorable, I wonder how the manga compares.

GOTH - another title I felt looked promising (anything horror-ish gets my hopes up!), and since Tokyopop recently sent it to me to review I can’t wait to read it!

GTO - I’ve read the first volume and was blown away by the random violence mixed with humour. Volumes 2-5 are sitting on my manga book shelves; it’s a crime not to read them really!

Black Jack - got the first two volumes to review, bought the dvd release years ago but never got round to watching it. Seems like I need a Black Jack evening :)

Speed Grapher - because I’m pretty sure I loved the anime, well, the part that I saw sober anyway…the rest is a bit of a blur.

If I was rich:

A Yoko Gurren Lagann figurine, there are so many, which is the best?!

I’d own a car with Junko Mizuno artwork on the side, or, Tsutomu Nihei, maybe get all artsy pretentious and stick on some Sengai Zen ink. Forget ugly handbags, It would be like the ultimate otaku handbag…but with wheels.

I’d probably get one of those Battroid Valkyries to see what all the hype is about and then customize it to make it very girly and probably glow in the dark.

Wants a cute vampire Thee 50’s High Teens outfit to wear! Meow.

(Image - Object of Desire published by Luv Luv)

This list only covers new manga series:

1520 - Udon

Akihabara@Deep - Media Blasters

Blue Sheep Reverie - DMP

Gaba Kawa - VIZ

His Arrogance - 801 Media

Object of Desire - Luv Luv

Princess AI - The Prism of Midnight Dawn - Tokyopop

Sea View - DMP

Secret Moon - DMP

Shards of Affection - DMP

St. Dragon Girl - VIZ

White Brand - DMP

Y Square Plus - Yen

You Will Fall In Love - BLU

Other manga/anime related books:

Genshiken Official Book - Del Rey

The Manga Guide to Databases - No Starch Press

Pokemon Creator: Satoshi Tajiri - KidHaven Press

Thoughts on releases…

Object of Desire, how about an 18+ josei manga to warm you up on a cold winter morning? Sounds good to me! There is a 10 page preview if you just can’t wait, I like the storytelling style.

Think Akihabara@Deep was out last month? Pretty sure I saw it in Orbital Manga; it seems to be an internet crime drama, intriguing!

Y Square Plus, looks like a gem for shoujo romance fans, more shoujo with demon slaying in St. Dragon Girl. Surprisingly there is yet more demon shoujo on offer in Gaba Kawa.

In 1520, 15 year olds fluctuate in age between 15, 10 and 5 in a fantasy world. A shounen title, should I get excited about this?

Princess AI is a fantasy for older teens, so perhaps it is amazing, (the font size on Tokyopop descriptions is a bit small and I’m too tired from work to squint). The artwork looks ok but doesn’t scream originality.

Fans of Genshiken can become excited over the Genshiken Official Book because there is a free poster, Kujibiki Unbalance trading cards, and enough knowledge to make you a new improved otaku!

The Manga Guide to Databases, it seems you now know exactly want to ask Santa for Christmas to rescue you from the deep dark void of database ignorance.

Yaoi fans have plenty on offer, Blue Sheep Reverie (revenge mystery), His Arrogance (Model Love) Sea View (university attraction), Secret Moon (vampire love), Shards of Affection (warriors, priests, scientists and monsters!) White Brand (cousins love in school), and You Will Fall In Love (love for a teacher in an archery club).

It’s one of the mildly depressing moments where I feel justified complaining about the ratio of new yaoi to all other manga genres. Sigh. At least there is one josei title aimed at me, and databases aimed at…someone.

Special Mention:

I absolutely adore the artwork and cyborg-ness of Battle Angel Alita, which reminds me I need to flesh out my odd random volumes I bought in a sale.

Maka Maka 2. You NEED this in your life if you are a yuri fan.

Reading Club 2, this cover artwork is just too awesome - I am going to have to check out this series!