Otaku Forever

Dani and Gary Steven’s Picks for Top 10 anime

November 3rd, 2007

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Anime Insider Top 50

October 27th, 2007

From Episode 36
(see all episodes here)

50. Vision of Escaflowne
49. Saikano
48. Berserk
47. Kino’s Journey
46. Cardcaptor Sakura
45. Fantastic Children
44. Irresponsible Captain Tylor
43. Giant Robo
42. Twelve Kingdoms
41. Azumanga Daioh
40. Urusei Yatsura
39. Astro Boy
38. Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust
37. Fruits Basket
36. Night on the Galactic Railroad
35. Excel Saga
34. Trigun
33. Read or Die
32. Princess Mononoke
31. Gunbuster: Aim for the Top!
30. Samurai X: Trust and Betryal
29. The Place Promised in Our Early Days
28. Planetes
27. Samurai Champloo
26. Moblie Suit Gundam 0080: War in the Pocket
25. Princess Tutu
24. Serial Experiments Lain
23. Galaxy Express 999
22. Patlabor the Movie 2
21. Tokyo Godfathers
20. Gankutsuou
19. My Neighbor Totoro
18. Boogiepop Phantom
17. Paranoia Agent
16. Grave of the Fireflies
15. Haibane Renmei
14. Ghost in the Shell/Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex
13. Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind
12. Now and Then, Here and There
11. Fullmetal Alchemist
10. Macross Plus
9. Akira
8. The Castle of Cagliostro
7. Jin-Roh: The Wolf Brigade
6. Neon Genesis Evangelion
5. Revolutionary Girl Utena
4. FLCL
3. Millennium Actress
2. Porco Rosso
1. Cowboy Bebop

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I’m such a bad webmistress!!!

May 22nd, 2007

I can’t believe it’s been over a month since my last blog – isn’t this something I should be doing nearly every day???

It’s the usual… there are real world reasons why I haven’t been as on ball as I would have liked in keeping my various internet projects as nice as I would have liked; but at the same time, I haven’t been keeping things scheduled and prioritized as I should have been either.

Le sigh.

Still, I’m chugging along again now, and just in time to share all sorts of exciting news with you!

First, remember the contest!!! We are having a contest peoples, and you need to take advantage of it.

The prize is a year subscription to the Wizard entertainment magazine of your choice. Wizard publishes three magazines that deal with subjects very dear in the typical geeks life – toys, comics, and anime/manga. Respectively speaking, the magazines are called Toyfare, Wizard, and Anime Insider.

So how do you get entered in the contest?

You have to register on our site and post at least one (1) time on the message board. Just registering IS NOT ENOUGH! You must also POST on the message board. Please don’t forget that part of it. The contest ends on May 31, 2007, so you only have a short period of time to enter.

A link to all contest details and information can be found on our main page.

The other nifty neat thing going on is we are trying to get our first guest for the show! I don’t want to say anything, not because I’m trying to be mysterious, but because it is in the very very beginning stages, and I’m superstitious enough not to want to jinx anything. Still, keep your fingers crossed for us, and the second anything is final, it will be posted immediately.

Finally, for anyone who may listen to our talkcast live, we are going to a ‘Summer Schedule’ as it were. We will be recording later than usual, simply because we want to take advantage of those long summer days. Usually from now on we will be recording at 11pm Eastern/ 8pm Pacific on Saturdays, barring the occasional ‘just can’t help it must reschedule’ times. We record at the site Talkshoe.com, and all detailed information can be found on our home page.

Post on that message board, keep comments flowing, and I promise to update very soon!

Mata Ne!

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Samurai Deeper Kyo – Manga review by Dani

April 11th, 2007

Author: Akimine Kamijyo Published by: Tokyopop

We are otaku siblings, my brother and I. This has many advantages, the greatest of these being we are never at a loss at what to get each other for gifts.

The pain in the butt part of it is we never seem to be on the same wavelength on how we feel about different titles. I love it, Gary finds it totally mushy. Gary raves about it, I find it overly and pointlessly violent.

Thank above that titles like ‘Samurai Deeper Kyo’ come around so we can actually agree on something.

SDK starts out by introducing us to Kyoshiro Mibu, a wandering medicane peddler. He comes across a young woman in distress, and stops to help her. Little does he know that this woman, Yuya Shiina, is a bounty hunter, and was just setting a trap to capture him.
Well, the capture him part turns out to be a mistake. You see, Yuya thought that Kyoshiro was actually a criminal by the name of Demon Eyes Kyo. Kyo is rumored to have killed 1,000 samurai in one day, and is as vicious and bloodthirsty as they come, and his distinguishing feature is blood red eyes. He has a bounty on his head of 1 million Ryo, which Yuya really wants to collect.

Kyoshiro points out the fact that though he fits the description in every other way, his eyes are just a plain brown. Yuya, grudgingly accepting the fact that she has lost the 1 million ryo bounty, is about to let him go when she realizes he is indeed wanted, though only for a petty crime. Still, she decides to take him to the nearest town and collect the bounty on him.

Once there, she discovers that this town is having some trouble with thugs. Always wanting to make money, Yuya decides to capture these criminals for the reward on their head.

Of course, her plan doesn’t work, and the criminals end up capturing her and the rest of the towspeople. Just as they are about to destroy the town and kill every villager, Kyoshiro starts to go berserk, telling the thugs to go away, or ‘he’ will come and kill them all. When the thugs go to kill him, Kyoshiro finally draws his sword, and an amazing transformation takes place.

Kyoshiro’s eyes turn red and his manner turns into that of a heartless killer. Yuya realizes that before her is not Kyoshiro, but is indeed the infamous Demon Eyes Kyo. After the battle is over, Kyo turns back into Kyoshiro.

Kyoshiro doesn’t offer any explanations to Yuya, merely starts to go on his way. Yuya stops him, and says she wants to travel with him, and Kyoshiro seems happy to have a travelling companion. Of course, she doesn’t tell him the reason why she’s coming is because is she is determined to find out Demon Eyes Kyo’s weaknesses and turn him in for the reward. And so the journey for these two (or three) begins.

So what is so good about SDK? Most things, actually. SDK works on so many levels that it would be hard to find someone that wouldn’t find at least one part of it interesting.

There is of course the main mystery, how can Kyo and Kyoshiro be the same person? Kamijyo gives just enough clues as the story goes to keep you interested and guessing, but it doesn’t go into frustrated or bored territory. It’s a balance he handles well.

The book excels as an action adventure, and the fight scenes are well done and excellently layed out. In Kyo, you have a character who truly loves to fight, and if he fights you, it will be to the death. So guys, you don’t have to worry about any of that sissy sparing the enemy at the end of the fight stuff.

There is a strong current of humor in the book and it is used well. Kamijyo never lets it break the tension of the fights or reduce the characters abilities. As the book progresses, the characters backstories come into play, and many of them are not happy ones. While this dramatic tension isn’t strong enough to really impact the book to make it more than an action/adventure story, it is enough to make the characers real and give the book a little extra heft that really rounds the story out nicely.

And of course, for the ladies, we have romance. While the possible romances are not shoved down anyone’s throat, it is surprising, especially coming from a male writer, how strongly love and feelings are woven into the fabric of the story, that love is what set so much in motion and how it changes the story as time goes on. For example, we learn early in the series that both Kyo and Kyoshiro loved one woman very strongly, and she did something that changed all their lives.

Characterization is where Kamijyo shines. As SDK progresses, we are introduced to a large cast of characters. Usually this is where others falter, but not Kamijyo. Each and every one of these characters is distinct and memorable. You will not find any interchangeable characters, and with only one or two minor exceptions, you will not find a stock character either. Everyone will have their favorite, from the sly as a fox Yukimura to the gruff but gentle Bontemaru, but each has their own voice that comes across in the story.

The artwork is very good. While it might not be the most flashy and stylized, Kamijyo keeps everything crisp and in focus, with awesome fight scenes and well done backgrounds. Let’s put it this way, Kyo and Kyoshiro share the same body, so obviously the characters look alike. While reading the manga, you always know who is in the panel – Kyo or Kyoshiro – without having to read what they are saying or having another character call their name.

SDK does follow the Shonen formula of fight, barely win by tapping hidden reserves, discover an even tougher enemy, figure out some way to get stronger, fight, barely win… However, in SDK it doesn’t get tired as it can get in other series. Kamijyo manages to balance the formula with so many other angles, and makes the fights feel so different from each other and compelling in their own right, that the formula doesn’t feel so much like a formula.

There are, of course, flaws. After the first half dozen volumes, Yuya is pretty much reduced to damsel in distress status. While it makes sense why this is the case, and Kamijyo tries to balance that out with making her the emotional center of the journey, it still can get a little grating. Beyond that, the fan service in this book rates on the high side. I have no problem with fan service in general, as long as it is somehow served in the story and doesn’t get excessive. In SDK’s case, it continually treads a very thin line in this regard, and has a couple of times stepped over it. If you are someone that, no matter how good a series is, if it has fan service then no way no how can you get into it, this would not be the book for you.

Still, compared to how much it gets right, SDK’s flaws are manageable and forgiveable. This is one of those titles that can be enjoyed by both male and female, younger (in my opinion, I would say 13+) to older.

With this title, Gary Steven and I are in perfect agreement. This is a title you should go check out. Yes, we are talking to you. Get this title, and bring harmony to your otaku household.

Grade: A

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Sakura-Con!

April 10th, 2007

Sakura-Con, Sakura-Con, Sakura-Con, Sakura-Con…. SAKURA-CON!!!!!!

(Just imagine the above set to music with me doing jazz hands.)

What to say beyond holey moley… Well, I hope more than that, or else I really shouldn’t be writing this, should I?

The short of it was it was an absolutely amazing experience. I went last year, but I was only able to make Sunday. I didn’t do any panels, I didn’t see any musical acts. I had no clue what was going on or knowledge of what I should be looking for.

So this year was my big chance. All three days of the Con, plus my husband and I were staying at a hotel two minutes away, so we could pop in and out whenever we wanted.

Sakura-Con is a twenty-four hour event, with dances both Friday and Saturday night that go to the wee hours and gaming and anime always available anytime day or night.

I went to panels and saw Vic Mignogna, Spike Spencer, Katie Gray, Jonathan Klein (vice-president of New Generation Pictures), Kouta Hirano (manga-ka of Hellsing), Yasuhiro Nightow (manga-ka of Trigun), Hideyuki Kurata (manga-ka of Read or Die, and Script Writer for Hellsing Ultimate and GUNxSword), and a team from Dark Horse Comics. All impressions of them can be found on the Guests of Honor page. ~ coming soon ~
Beyond this, I spent hours in the sales room, saw the North American premiere of Hellsing Ultimate Vol. 2 (dubbed), danced the night away both nights with my hubby, saw awesome cosplay, and so much other miscellanea that to list every little bit would be a little on the tedious side.

Of course, it being my first Con, there were a few disappointments, some caused by my own actions, others unavoidable.

I should have gotten there earlier to pick up tickets. Since I pre-registered, I thought picking up my pass would be a breeze. WRONG! 1 hour and 14 minutes waiting in line. Because of that, I missed the opening ceremonies of Sakura-Con (and they were indeed a ceremony, complete with a blessing from a Shinto priest).

I didn’t get to see Monica Rial, who I was very excited to meet – her being the voice of some of my favorite characters. She was originally scheduled for Friday, which was put back until Sunday, which was ultimately cancelled. I don’t know what happened there, but I am sorry I missed her.

I didn’t get to see either concert I was interested in seeing – the first for the Japanese band m.o.v.e., the second for Piano Squall. I missed the m.o.v.e. concert because even though I thought it would be cool to see them in person, there was a panel I was really interested in attending. Since I’ve never been one to get over excited over bands playing live, I decided on the panel. I’m truly glad I did, because the panel was a blast. Still, this was my little lesson that sometimes at a Con, you will have two things you really would like to do happening at once, and you just gotta choose.

I didn’t see Piano Squall – who I was really looking forward to seeing, having heard much about him and all of it good – because on Sunday, I fell sick. While I did go to the Con for about an hour, trying to tough it out, it just became no good, and I felt I needed to get home.

And of course, as referenced above, the whole getting sick on Sunday and having to leave so early really stunk!!!!!

Still, even with all of those little things, I can still say with complete confidence that I had the best time there. I highly recommend that if you have the opportunity to go to a Con, get thee there. It is such an incredible experience.

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Good Heavens, too much anime and not enough time

April 1st, 2007

I never thought I’d have this problem – too much anime.

Sakura-Con is coming, and I have to organize my Anime group’s big pre con dinner, as well as all of the after hour room parties. Beyond the greatness that is running an anime group, I have other aspects of my life. Passover is here, and I’m responsible for making the Matzah ball soup for the entire Seattle branch of the clan. And I am trying to make this website more fun to visit. Seth put so much time into it, I feel so guilty I haven’t been as good on the content as I should have been.

Which brings me to my problem. I am the member of 2 online DVD delivery services. I belong to two for various reasons – 1 for their speed, the other for their wide selection of all things otaku. Both of these services have delivered to me my DVD’s.

And their they sit, waiting to be watched, taunting me because I have other things that really need done before I can sit and watch and enjoy.

Beyond the DVD’s, my husband and I have recently gotten digital cable. Ah yes, you say, I see where she is going with this. That’s right, we got a DVR – digital video recorder. In less than a month, I have that thing almost filled, most of it with anime. If I don’t watch things soon, I’m going to start losing the oldest stuff.

I haven’t watched the oldest stuff yet! If it starts getting rid of the oldest stuff, I’ll be missing episodes 1-5 of a series that I have almost entirely recorded. I don’t know how anyone else feels, but I absolutely can’t watch a series from the middle. I really need to see it from the beginning.

But I have no time to watch!!!

I could probably sleep less. A couple less hours of sleep in the service of anime doesn’t sound like a bad trade-off. Of course, my husband doesn’t like that idea, something about he would have to put up with my grumpiness the next day – silly stuff all around.

One of the things I have up is 3×3 Eyes, which some of you may remember as being recommended by my brother. I’ve been able to watch the first half of the first disc (there are two discs total). I’ll give a thourough review after I’ve finished the series, let me just say that so far, I’m not as impressed with it as Gary Steven is. I think it is a rather nifty story, but the execution is lacking. One of the things I have noticed so far is the voice talent. Because I’m not able to fully keep my attention on the screen, I’m watching the dubbed version. The dub seems to have a lot of screen actors doing voices, as opposed to voice actors. B list actors to be sure (this dub isn’t done by Pixar) but I did find that interesting.

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Welcome to my Otaku nightmare… it’s where you belong!

March 17th, 2007

…with all due apologies to the great Alice Cooper…

Holy moly, how far we have come in less than two months!

Gary Steven and I recorded our first Talkcast on January 28, 2007. It was something we had been talking about doing in a ‘Wouldn’t it be nice?’ sort of way for about, oh, pretty much all of 2006, but it was a spur of the moment decision that actually made it happen.

You see, after I left my hometown of Pittsburgh to move to the beauteous town of Seattle, I lost my bestest anime bud – that being my bro. Beyond anime though, my brother and I have always been close, and we are very much each others nearly best friend. We have always talked and dealt with life together.

So we talked about doing something together that – even though we lived now nearly the whole countryside away from each other – would allow us to create something together and that we would be able to develop energies into that.

The easiest answer was a podcast. However, it was not something we considered seriously for several reasons. First was our background. Neither Gary nor myself have any broadcast background. However, Gary does have some theatre training, and beyond that, has a nice voice. Me, I hate the way I sound (great thing to admit to my listeners, huh?). Secondly, everything you would have to do and get seemed sort of daunting, especially since as we had never done a podcast before, we weren’t sure we would even enjoy doing it. All that time and expense for something we weren’t sure we would like after the third show? Didn’t seem worth it.

Our answer came in a very unlikely form. We discovered a site called Talkshoe. As we read over everything about the site, it seemed like an answer to our problems (except for me not liking my voice).

Finally, I was just tired of talking about it. In my usual Oldest Bossy Sister way, I informed my brother we were doing this podcast thing, and he better get with the program. After hysterical laughing for several minutes, he was able to suck enough breath into his lungs to inform me he thought it was a good idea and he would have no problem doing it with me.

The first show was terrifying. The second show was only slightly less scary. The third show I thought I was going to faint in the middle of it (this is the one where Gary had a previous engagement he could not change, so I was doing the show by myself).

However, the sixth show, something just seemed to click. It truly became something fun and enjoyable. While we know we still have a lot to learn – and we are trying to get better with each show – now the shows are something we truly look forward to doing instead of something we are nervous about.

Less than two months since that first recording, and we have some dedicated fans, we have this website, we are starting the ball rolling on getting guests for the show. It really has been one heck of a roller coaster beginning.

I want to give special mention to my husband, Seth. Without everything he has done (and is, in fact, still doing) I don’t think the show could have gotten off the ground.

We are new at this, but we are doing are darndest to get better rapidly and get everything up to speed. Always feel free to contact me or Gary Steven with questions or comments or suggestions, we appreciate them. Please hang with us, and hopefully two months from now, I’ll be writing a blog about how kick ass we were less than 4 months into this thing.

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About

March 14th, 2007

This is the official Blog of the Otaku Forever website.

Do you like Anime and Manga? Do you know what someone means when they say ‘Sub vs. Dub’?

Do the words ‘Filler Arc’ fill you with despair?

Is the catgirl a sacred animal to you?

If so, this show is for you. Otaku Forever! is designed to celebrate everything you love – and that makes others fear for your sanity. The main focus will be on Anime and Manga, but topics such as Cosplay, J-pop, RPG’s/ Videogames, Japanese Culture, and other things that fit comfortably in the world of Otakudom are more than welcome. This show will try to be a nice balance for everyone, from the newbie who has only just discovered this amazing world, to someone so knowledgeable, all other Otaku bow in wonderment.

Mata Ne!

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Otaku Forever

Dani and Gary Steven’s Picks for Top 10 anime

Anime Insider Top 50

I’m such a bad webmistress!!!

Samurai Deeper Kyo – Manga review by Dani

Sakura-Con!

Good Heavens, too much anime and not enough time

Welcome to my Otaku nightmare… it’s where you belong!

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