Sword Art Online Anime

 Stepping away  from spirituality a bit I thought I share  a new anime that had recently  came out not too long ago which I  am actually hooked on now. Just so you know  one of my biggest hobbies is anime :)  I love watching  all sort of anime as I pretty  open minded. The  name of this anime is called Sword Art Online.  I actually like the concept of the story and its pretty  easy to relate to.   Are you into video games?  Have  you played MMORPG like Final Fantasy 11, Ever Quest  or WOW (World of Warcraft).  If so, you will be able to relate to this anime. I  love how creative they have gotten with the story itself.  Basically, the story starts introducing us in the world of 2022 where  we now take video games into a  different level, by using  our minds to play games.  The characters are introduced to an item Nerv Gear where to put it on their heads to interact with the game. In episode one, you see how everyone is excited about the new game coming out and  getting  into the game.  It's quite interesting because this anime takes you through learning what MMORPG is so even if you have no idea what   MMORPG is,  it does introduce  you to the concepts of it for a bit.   While it may seem its a bit typical story,  its not. I love the fact that  they get  stuck in the  game  and can't log out.   I love how they basically have to surrive in the game because if they die in  game  then they  will die in real life.

Character development  is  very much a plus because you really see the interactions  between the characters.  Fighting scenes for bosses are very epic. I like how its easy to relate  when you  need to  duel, Pvp,  do dungeons etc... and  yes you cook in the game to eat too. I guess that tricks your mind in thinking that you are full in some way lol.  Either way, this is something I  wanted to share  with everyone. I  am completely hooked on it. I will let the video do the talking here. :)

I also love the opening theme by Lisa. Funny thing is that i didnt even know this was part of Sword Art Online.  Lisa did perform  at Anime Expo this year and I was there  listienng to the  song and  watching the video.  It was one of my favorite songs  in her concert but Sword Art Online wasnt  airing yet back then.  This anime  didnt start up until  Anime expo was over.

If you want to check out this anime,   I recommend you watching the anime on  Crunchyroll  I don't recommend Anime that often so if you are curious about it or anime itself t take a chance on  watching this one. you just might enjoy it ;)

Steins;Gate

Steins;Gate takes place in the Akihabara district of Tokyo. On July 28, 2010, Rintarō Okabe and his friend Mayuri Shīna head towards the Radio Kaikan building for a conference, where Rintarō finds a girl named Kurisu Makise lying in a pool of blood.As Rintarō sends a text message about the incident to his friend, Itaru "Daru" Hashida, he experiences a strange phenomenon and the people around him disappear, with no-one else noticing anything had changed.After later running into Kurisu, who is strangely alive and well, and discovering the message he had sent to Itaru had arrived a week before he sent it,Rintarō soon deduces that the 'Mobile Microwave' he and his friends had been developing is, in fact, a time machine capable of sending text messages to the past.He and his friends soon learn that sern, an organization that has been researching time travel for some time, has actually succeeded in sending humans into the past although they seem to have all resulted in the test subjects' deaths. Rintarō begins experimenting with "D-Mails" (Dメール D mēru^?, short for DeLorean mail), which begin to cause major differences in the timeline. Kurisu also manages to create a device to send a person's memories through the microwave, allowing that person to effectively leap into the past.
However, SERN learn of the time machine and sends a group to retrieve it, killing Mayuri in the process. Using Kurisu's time leap machine, Rintarō travels back in time numerous times to try to save Mayuri, but to no avail. As Rintarō reaches wit's end, he is approached by Suzuha Amane, a girl from a future ruled by SERN due to their possession of a time machine, who tells him that he needs to return to a Beta world line in which Mayuri won't die. By undoing the effects of the D-Mails that caused shifts in the time line, Rintarō regains possession of an ibm 5100 PC that they lost earlier, allowing them to crack into SERN's systems and delete the evidence of Rintarō's original D-Mail. However, Rintarō realizes that by doing so, he would have to return to a world line in which Kurisu is dead. After realizing their feelings for each other, Kurisu tells Rintarō to save Mayuri.Reluctantly, Rintarō agrees and deletes the evidence of his D-Mail from SERN's database, returning him to the Beta world line.
Some time later, Suzuha appears before Rintarō, having arrived in a time machine from the future. She tells Rintarō that the only way to prevent World War III in the future is to prevent Kurisu's death at the hands of her father, Dr. Nakabachi, who stole her time travel theory to present to SERN.However, this operation ends in a disaster as Rintarō ends up killing Kurisu himself by mistake.After this failure, Rintarō receives a message from his future self, telling him that the way to save Kurisu without altering the events that led to him developing a time machine is to fool his past self into believing Kurisu had been killed^.Returning to the past again, Rintarō puts his own life in danger in order to save Kurisu's life, prevent Nakabachi from successfully escaping with the time travel theory, and fool his past self, setting him on his journey through time. Returning to a world line safe from the threat of SERN, Rintarō and Kurisu manage to reunite by chance (or by fate) in the streets of Akihabara

SAO Anime Trivia 1 - The Axe Dual-Wielder

You can dual-wield axe in SAO!? Seriously!?

There are 3 possibilities :

1. Dual-wielding axe in SAO is actually possible, it's just Kirito never mentioned it.
2. He's one of the players who own unique skills (there are ten of them after all).
3. The anime staff made an epic fail :)

UPDATE :
That man is fully capable of performing sword skill using his dual-axe, as shown by 2 pictures below.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is when he was about to strike

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And this is when he attacked Kirito in vain

Wonderful SAO Fanmade Videos

The first 20 seconds is epic! (and the rest is great)

 But, the truly epic one is this,

 

 

Simply put, I can't associate 'Ichiban no Takaramono' with Angel Beats anymore...

Anime Review: Cowboy Bebop

Genre:  action, sci-fi

Target age:   Teen 

Content:   Lots of sci-fi action with guns and spaceships, some adult language

Episodes:   26

Story:   Cowboy Bebop is mostly episodic in nature, meaning that most of the episodes are stand alone and have little to do with each other storywise, though this changes towards the end of the series.  The setting is in the far future, where space travel is common, though there are no aliens in the entire series (except for the food).  The show is about a small group of bounty hunters and their comedic quest for the next job, and something edible.  The entire series is confined to the Terran solar system.  The show carries the atmosphere of the Wild West in space, hence the "Cowboy" in the title.  There's even a television show that caters to bounty hunters whose theme song is a banjo solo.  "Bebop" references the name of the spaceship.  The story is mostly action based, but there is also some situational comedy at the characters' expense.
The story focuses on four bounty hunters and their dog.  Yes, even the dog.  The de facto leaders of the group are Spike Spiegel and his pal Jet Black.  Jet takes his job seriously, but is a tad philosophical.  Spike is more practical.  (The most important lesson he's ever learned is "don't leave food in the fridge" and for good reason.  An entire episode is based on this point.)  He's a former mobster and a highly skilled Jeet Kune Do practitioner.  His history is a source of personal torment for him.  Along the way they pick up Faye Valentine, an amnesiac woman who takes up bounty hunting and gambling to pay off an unbelievably huge medical bill for having spent 50 years in cryostasis.  She has difficulty putting faith in others and often tries to scam her way out of bad situations, though circumstances usually force her to rely on the team quite frequently.  Then there is Edward Wong Hau Pepulu Tivruskii 4th, a tween girl who is also a computer genius.  She is goofy and somewhat dysfunctional, but her computer skills are invaluable, as she's a top notch hacker.  The dog is a Welsh Corgi named Ein, short for Einstein.  His role is mostly to hang around in the background, but he comes off as the most intelligent character on the show.  After all, he was the only one capable of stopping a train once.  He is referred to as a "data dog," but the story never explains what that means.
Voices:   Both the Japanese and English dubbing are well done.  The English voices fit most of the characters, and the dialogue follows the subtitles closely.  The series is easy to enjoy in either language.

Music:  

• Opening Theme:  "Tank" by The Seatbelts
• Closing Theme:  "The Real Folk Blues" by the Seatbelts featuring Mai Yamane

The music was composed by Yoko Kanno.  She is highly regarded in the anime community, and anything written by her is almost guaranteed to be a smash hit.  Her music is very ambient and fits the style of the series very well.  The opening theme is a fast paced jazzy tune with a saxophone solo and even some bongos, but is also contemporary.  The closing theme is also jazzy, but is slow and moody.

Recommendation:  Cowboy Bebop is one of the most popular anime ever.  Almost anyone who watches it is sure to enjoy it.

Anime Review: Ghost in the Shell Stand Alone Complex

Genre:  action, sci-fi, cyberpunk

Target age:  Older Teen

Content:  Sci-fi violence, gun violence, some adult language, brief non-sexual nudity of an android in a factory in one episode

Episodes:  26

Story:  Ghost in the Shell Stand Alone Complex takes place in Japan in the year 2030.  While the series follows a story arc, known as "complex" episodes, there are breather episodes that follow a "stand alone" storyline.  In the world of Ghost in the Shell, it is commonplace for humans to be cyberdized; in other words, they may have their brains augmented with cybernetic implants.  Sometimes they may choose to have other body parts, or even their whole bodies, replaced with cybernetic parts.  They can access the internet with cyberbrains, or even communicate with each other over the net, which functions like telepathy.

The story is driven by the exploits of Section 9, a covert police force that does not officially exist.  All members have cyberbrains, though their levels of cyberdization vary.  The seven most important members are Kusanagi (known by her comrades as the Major), Batou, Togusa, Pazu, Saito, Borma, and Ishikawa; and each has a field that they specialize in.  For example, Ishikawa specializes in information and surveillance, while Saito specializes in sniping.  They are led by Aramaki, who does mission briefings and gives them their orders.  Though the episodes do feature all of the above eight, the episodes tend to focus mostly on Kusanagi.  A few of the others occasionally have episodes centered around them.  Though the Major is the only woman on the team, the men always give her due respect and follow her orders without question.  They are all very protective of each other, especially towards Togusa because his entire body, excluding his cyberbrain, is still flesh and blood, and he has a wife and children.

The team is supplemented by artificially intelligent tanks called Tachikoma.  Though they are machines, they can speak with each other and with the members of Section 9.  An ongoing subplot is concern over whether the Tachikoma are developing self awareness.  Batou in particular is very fond of the Tachikoma.  They speak with childlike voices and often inspire an "awwww" response.

The plot of Stand Alone Complex can get difficult to follow if the viewer does not pay attention.  Blink and you'll miss it.  There is much intrigue involving politicians, terrorists, and dishonest medical corporations.  Eventually, not even Section 9 is safe from politicians' ulterior motives.  The characters sometimes talk about the meaning of existence, what makes one human, and the nature of the "ghost."  Most of these center around the Tachikoma or the Major.  The Major's situation is especially powerful because she was completely cyberdized at a very young age to survive a terrible accident.  Learning to control her cyberbody was a source of emotional pain for her.  People who are easily turned offed by existential conversation may not be interested in the series, but they may find themselves intrigued by the storylines if they give the show a chance.

There is also a season two known as Ghost in the Shell Stand Alone Complex 2nd Gig.  Season two is 26 episodes long and delves more into the Major's history, as well as her coincidental connection to a terrorist group known as the Individual Eleven.

Voice:  Both the Japanese and English voices and dialogue are very good.  Some anime fans may recognize the Major's English voice actress Mary Elizabeth McGlynn, who has an extensive list of anime and video games she has been featured in, as well as performing on video game soundtracks.

Music:

• Season One opening theme "Inner Universe" by Origa
• Season Two opening theme "Rise" by Origa
• Season One closing theme "Lithium Flower" by Scott Matthew
• Season Two closing theme "Living Inside the Shell" by Steve Conte and Shanti Snyder

Another Yoko Kanno masterpiece.  Surprisingly, none of the music is in Japanese.  A lot of the music is instrumental.  Songs with lyrics are in English, Russian, Latin, or gibberish.  Origa is a Russian singer who is very popular in Japan; she performs in both Russian and English.  Yoko Kanno performs some of the songs herself under the name Gabriela Robin.  The soundtrack is varied with multiple musical styles, from R&B to rock and much in between.  Some songs, like "Inner Universe" are beautiful ballads, whereas others like "Lithium Flower" make the listener want to dance, or at least tap his feet.  Some, like "Stamina Rose," are easy flowing, while others, like "Get9," are fast and hard.

Recommendation:  If you don't mind a show that makes you think about life and the nature of humanity versus machine, then Ghost in the Shell may be for you.  You have to be willing to pay attention to the plot, or something that happens in later episodes will make little sense.  Be prepared for a few moments that may make you squirm.

Anime Review: Samurai 7

Genre:  steampunk, action, drama

Target Age:  Teen

Content:  sci-fi violence, some language

Episodes:  26

Anime/Manga Review: Yu Yu Hakusho

Author:  Yoshihiro Togashi

Genre:  action, fighting

Target Age:  Teen

Content:  violence, fantasy fighting, some language, some scary scenes and supernatural elements

Episodes/Volumes:  112 episodes, 19 volumes

Story:  Yu Yu Hakusho tells the story of Yusuke Urameshi, a high school delinquent.  Though he has a reputation as a troublemaker, the single act of pushing a child out of traffic gets him run over by a car.  On the verge of death, he meets Botan, the young and beautiful Grim Reaper who rides a broomstick.  She tells him that Koenma, the son of the king of the underworld, has given Yusuke the opportunity for survival; if Yusuke becomes a "spirit detective" he can eventually be returned to life.  Yusuke obviously takes the offer.

After his revival, Yusuke continues working for Koenma.  In the process he befriends his rival Kuwabara, another delinquent at his school.  After being sent on missions to capture them, he later befriends the demon criminals Kurama and Hiei, who join him to earn a pardon from Koenma.  Despite the circumstances of their meeting and the underlying animosity, the four quickly develop what the Japanese call "nakama" (a deep sense of camaraderie beyond friendship, a good Western equivalent being The Three Musketeers).  They express disgust and shock whenever enemies betray each other.  The character dynamics and rivalry can lead to some comedic moments, particularly between Kuwabara and Hiei.  Hiei often implies that he would betray the team if it were in his best interests, but when the opportunity arrives, it seems the "power of friendship" gets the better of him.  (I know that sounds goofy, but it makes sense in context.)

The anime and manga follow several story lines, but they are all just excuses for fighting.  Three of them feature tournaments, two on Earth and one in the Demon Realm.  The battles are flashy, with very little actual hand to hand combat.  Most of it utilizes energy manipulation, similar to the Dragonball series.  Typical of the genre in the 1990s, it may take several episodes to complete a single battle, and there is much dialogue during the actual fight.  The animation and artwork may seem goofy at times, especially during the comedic moments.

Voice:  The Japanese voice acting is good.  Opinions are mixed on the English dub.  Some fans like the English dub, others don't.  The English dialogue has many discrepancies with the English subtitles, often showing completely different lines of dialogue.  However, one reason the English dub is so popular is because it is often more entertaining than the Japanese dialogue and tends to evoke more laughs.  Viewers should sample both the subtitled and dubbed versions before deciding which one they prefer.

On a humorous side note, the Portuguese dub featured the character Kurama as a girl.  Granted, he does have a bishie look that is easy to confuse for female, and some girls in the story even confuse him for another character's girlfriend.  He is a demonic horticulturist, so his weapons of choice are plant based.  His favorite weapon is a rose whip.  However, a scene where Kurama had no shirt on revealed he was a boy, and the studio had to redo all his lines.

Music:
opening:  "Smile Bomb" by Matsuko Mawatari

ending:  "Homework never Ends" by Matsuko Mawatari

ending:  "Sayanora Bye Bye" by Matsuko Mawatari

ending:  "Daydream Generation" by Matsuko Mawatari

ending:  "Kissing the Unbalanced" by Hiro Takahashi

ending:  "The Sun Is Shining Again" by Hiro Takahashi

Manga Review: Nightmare Inspector: Yumeki Kenbun

Author:  Shin Mashiba

Genre:  fantasy, horror

Target Age:  teen

Content:  supernatural and horror elements

Volumes:  9

Story:  Nightmare Inspector is basically a manga version of The Twilight Zone, but without Rod Serling.  It tells the story of a young girl named Mizuki and a young boy named Hiruko.  Mizuki runs a shop called the Silver Light Tea House, but doesn't receive many customers looking for tea.  Most people who show up are looking for Hiruko.  He is a baku, a dream eater.  Those who suffer from nightmares ask him to investigate the dream and help them overcome it.  The price for his services is to allow him to eat the nightmare afterwards.

The stories are episodic in nature.  The series does not know the definition of "happy ending."  Some stories end better than others, but even those have an air of dread or sadness when all is said and done.  There are twist endings galore.  Over time, Hiruko realizes the nightmares are connected somehow, not just to each other, but to him as well.

Some backstory is revealed gradually through the first few volumes.  It is shown that Hiruko is not the first baku to work at the Silver Light Tea House.  Mizuki's brother Azusa was the original baku, but he disappeared after visiting a place called The Delirium, which allows visitors to live out fantasies.  When Azusa disappeared, Hiruko arrived in his place.  The relationship between Mizuki and Hiruko is that of brother and sister, but it is not until the final volume that this is explained.  Hiruko always carries around a mysterious briefcase, which Mizuki believes is connected to Azusa, but Hiruko allows no one to touch it.  Later, a man named Hifumi shows up on the pretense of seeking room and board, but he has an ulterior motive of his own.

The stories are dark, seriously dark, and some are pretty frightening.  The characters live in a bleak world.  The climax of the final volume gives the only true happy ending of the entire series, but it comes with a high price, and the final scene is heartbreaking.  When Hiruko's true nature, which even he was initially unaware of, is revealed, he resigns himself to it, but he knows that he has lost something valuable.

Recommendation:  Anyone who likes twist endings and dark foreboding tales may like this.

Announcement: Club on Hiatus

The anime club will be on hiatus for November and December.  This time will be used to clear the air and do a bit of restructuring.  Club meetings will resume on the first Wednesday in January.  We will use that day to discuss meeting formats, officer elections, behavior codes, etc.  We will resume Soul Eater and D. Gray-Man where we left off.