Quote: Witch’s Magic

“The witch does not use the magic on herself because she knows the emptiness that follows when the spell breaks.”

- Kawai Maria, Akuma to Love Song

Quote: Witch’s Magic

“Why doesn’t the witch, who can use her magic to transform a shabby girl into someone lovely, cast a spell on herself?”

- Kawai Maria, Akuma to Love Song

Quote: Kotoko could

“Kotoko is incapable of doing 90% of the things that I can do. But as for the 10% I can’t do, she succeeds where no one else could.”

- Irie Naoki, Itazura na Kiss

Kotoko, the Ghost Whisperer?

Itazura na Kiss – Episode 25 “Hello Again” Review [6/10]

I watched up to 19 episodes of Itazura na Kiss, Special A, Code Geass, and Macross Frontier, before I stopped watching anime for around 2 months. By the time I found time to continue watching them, Itazura na Kiss was least on my list. But, oh well, I might as well complete the series and get it over with.

Actually, this episode entertained me enough, but I can’t really say the same for the other episodes (episodes 20-24).

Warning: Contains Spoilers

A safe Frontier finale

Macross Frontier – Episode 25 “Your Sound” Review [7/10]

Because I took a hiatus from watching anime (not by choice), I’m glad to have finally managed to finish this series with fair appreciation. (It took me a while to adjust from just experiencing the roller-coaster ride of episodes 20-25 of Code Geass.)

The ending was to my satisfaction (as I was not expecting much), but perhaps it could have been better.

Warning: Contains Spoilers

Code Geass ending – thumbs up!

Code Geass 2 – Episode 25 “Re;” Review [10/10]

Finally, I found time to finish this series, and although I was a little bit dizzy with all those over-the-top twists, I was very happy with the conclusion.

Warning: Contains Spoilers

Quote: Shallow Pride

“… They must be forced to understand the shallowness and foolishness of clinging to lineage and past glories..”

- Lelouch Lamperouge, Code Geass

Quote: Good or Evil

“…That is a good you are forcing on others. It’s no different from evil.”

- Lelouch Lamperouge, Code Geass

First-time jealousy

Itazura na Kiss – Ep 19 “Crazy For You” Review [6/10]

I can imagine some people would be satisfied with this episode, but I was not. I was bored. The issue was resolved too fast and it was too straightfoward.. I guess Irie is a robot after all :P

It’s funny that Irie only got to realize his jealousy at this point and I can imagine someone like him would have a hard time dealing with it. Unfamiliar feelings can be very confusing and irritating at the same time. At least Kotoko had a choice with what to do about her situation. Meanwhile, Irie had no idea what he was dealing with. Tsk tsk.

I have no comment about Kinnosuke’s spontaneous proposal and Chris’s concern over her scar.

I have no comment about Keita either.

No feel for classical

(this is mostly a personal post, not really about the anime, just related to it)

I just recently finished Nodame Cantabile and it was very entertaining. Nodame is a very unique character and I like her. I am also watching the live-action drama for this as well.

But it’s unfortunate that I failed to appreciate the classical music aura that this series offered. And I think I know why. I think it’s because when I was around 4 or 5 years old, my mother, who loves music and the arts, enrolled me and my sister for piano lessons. It was pretty structured and strict and I didn’t really have the passion for it.  Maybe I could have loved the music, except that before I ever could, it already felt more like a curse to me.

Actually, I found music interesting and fun at times, and we were also enrolled in voice lessons, but it was not something I was passionate about. And the teaching style was too structured for me, being a child, to enjoy it as much as it should be enjoyed. But I endured the biweekly lessons, daily practices, occassional recitals, and the classical tapes and cds my parents would play over the stereo during certain times of the day.

Also, the way we were raised were also pretty structured, our school was pretty structured (Catholic school), so everything was pretty structured that at times I felt like being trapped in a corner.

Finally, at the age of 11, I begged my mom to make me stop taking piano lessons, and although devastated, she eventually agreed. I can’t forget that day because I really cried a lot when I begged her. I knew she wanted me to finish until Book 7 (the last book taught by that school) and maybe I was very selfish for not attempting to accomplish at least that. But I was probably still in Book 3 or 4 at that time and Book 7 seemed so far away… and so was freedom. And I knew for a fact that Book 4 contained really hard and long pieces that I’m sure it will really take a while to master. I haven’t even started imagining what Book 5 was like. Book 3 already got me dizzy with all the Minuets and Sonatas.

Piano lessons were (and probably still are) not cheap, and my mom really invested a lot. So maybe I really was a selfish child for wanting to stop. But I really felt trapped with it and as I grew up, inside me, I kind of blamed my mother for having treated me that way. It may have been my right or I may have been immature and should have disciplined myself more. And I knew for sure her intentions were good, and she believed I had talent, but I didn’t regret stopping piano at all.

Until now, I think these things should be for people who had the passion and interest for it. Maybe by saying I had talent was just an attempt to fool me.. or herself. Or maybe I really did have talent. I think talent is a relative term.

My sister continued on but eventually stopped. I think she became lonely without me and it was now easier to tell my mom she didn’t want it anymore because I had already done it. My other sister (ten years younger than me) didn’t take piano lessons during her time, but she took violin (it was also my mom’s suggestion and I think her school offered it).  I don’t know if she loved it, but she took it for a while then stopped then took it up again. She recently had a recital :D What I know for sure about her talents is that she has a very good voice and a passion for singing and yeah, she took/is taking voice lessons :D and also, she plays tennis very well and she’s very sporty and alert and intelligent hehehe I’m already showing her off. Anyway, we’re proud of her. She’s the baby in our family. ^_^

Okay, that was off-topic.

Anyway, so classical music doesn’t really impress me that much, but I don’t hate it. In fact, there are some pieces that I like. There are times, though, when classical music brings out sadness in me because of my childhood days. I had always been so eager playing non-classical music. (By the way, I can play “Her Most Beautiful Smile” from Rurouni Kenshin.. ehehehe actually I haven’t memorized it so I’d need the music sheets.. which are now lost ever since we donated our piano..)

However, despite that, I really liked the anime Nodame Cantabile. When my friend told me to watch it I thought it was heavy romance (and I’m not much into romance) about classical music (and you know that doesn’t spark my interest). But I’m really really glad I watched it because the romance was not heavy and it was ultra funny and Nodame was just adorable :D Maybe if I had seen this show before, I would have had a whole lot of interest for piano.

Also, I learned a few things from the anime:

1.) Now I know exactly what a conductor was for (I was really wondering what the waving was really all about..)

2.) Classical music can be interpreted differently (uhh.. though sheets have fortissimo, allegro, etc to instruct you how to play that section).. our lessons were more technical I think, because I don’t remember being told while playing, “imagine a something something” though maybe I wasn’t listening, hehe. I thought the creative part in music was in creating it.. not so much in playing it.

3.) Wind instruments like flute, oboe.. I thought they were useless and pointless.. We had flute lessons during second hear high school and although I did fine, I really wasn’t interested because it really seemed pointless.. you just cover the holes and blow… it’s so basic and with the same melody, you can do so much better with piano or guitar.. and the sound was loud and hollow and it annoyed me.. we were using the bamboo kind of flute and another kind of flute (dunno what that was but it wasn’t bamboo). Anyway, now I realize it helps to add certain character to the music. Like, with the same chord or note, a violin sounds different than a piano would, etc. Same with flute. I guess I didn’t have enough artistic depth back then. See? I’m not the music-lover-type!

4.) I learned the term “timpanist”. But, what’s the instrument called? Timpany? I guess “drums” will do. Or something percussion-related.

Actually, I also write poems and as a consequence, songs. Piano and guitar are useful for that, but… my songs suck. NOPE, not that much talent there ^_^;

Still, I envy those people who found the love for classical music because of the anime. I wish I could feel the same.

The Itazura na Kiss in my life

I don’t like admitting that my life (or a part of it) has some similarity to some shoujo anime. But Itazura na Kiss may have some very minor similarities…

Am I the only one who does not hate Suzaku?

He’s not my favorite or anything, and I don’t particularly love him, but I understand him. It’s Lelouch who’s mentally messed up (though I love him :D).

Seriously, I would prefer Suzaku’s method of freeing Japan than Zero’s. He opted for less violence, while Zero’s way is to regain Japan through violence. Though Suzaku’s method may only have around 40% chance or less of succeeding, but with Zero’s method, chances are only around 60%, even with the Geass and the Black Knights. Britannia is a HUGE empire, they can’t possibly defeat them that easily and tons of people would be expected to die. Those lives don’t have to be sacrificed if there’s still another way. Besides, it’s not assured yet that Suzaku’s method won’t work. So I would opt for the non-violent approach.

BUT! That would make for a boring story. Code Geass is great the way it is, even if it’s not up to par with my personal ideals. It’s a good thing that isn’t happening in real life (or not where I’m at).

I’m just saying I have 0% hatred for Suzaku.

Zero goes solo?

Code Geass 2 – Ep 19 “Betrayal” Review [10/10]

Another great episode. Very impressed with Rolo here – I did not expect that at all. It actually touched me, I couldn’t believe it.

And yet again, we have more questions to be answered.

Warning: Contains Spoilers

A hug for Kotoko

Itazura na Kiss – Ep 18 “Ill-Tempered Triangle” Review [8/10]

Geez. I’m so tired of watching that girl mess up all the time. And being treated that way too, by her own husband. But…

Warning: Contains Spoilers

Itazura na Kiss new phase

Itazura na Kiss – Ep 17 “Enviable New Face!?” Review [8/10]

Kotoko’s finally starting Nursing and we’ve got new interesting(?) characters. The ending was a good one. And I thought this part of the series would just be all about Kotoko’s adventures (well, maybe “adventures” is not the right term..) while being married to Irie Naoki a.k.a Mr. Ice (I didn’t know anything because I didn’t read the manga, not so much into shoujo). Now I see where this is going. Ooh… Mr. Ice is about to melt…