Sora no Woto – 06: The Beer Barons

By Crusader | Published: February 9, 2010

Spending that first paycheck well doesn’t happen as often as it should…at least Kanata did not waste it on a first payment for a car she could not afford.

Funny how they decided to have a small part on pay problems on the same week I had to help process travel claims. While the 1121st being Beer Barons in their spare time is a fantasy, I think that every unit wishes they could distill their own booze. I have seen more than one of those Mr. Beer home brew kits at some garrison units so I think that the dream of being able to make your own liquor is alive but a far fetched dream nonetheless. Still even if they are living the dream it at least explains how they are rather well equipped for a unit, that by Kureha’s confession, is considered a joke. As making ends meet goes I am glad they didn’t turn to abusing their weapons to get what they needed and I can somewhat sympathize if I were not only paid late but in script as well… I can see why recruitment fell so drastically and it sheds a little light on why Claus was playing courier. I like how they hinted at some black market activity in previous episodes with Naomi having minimal business but lots of cash on hand as well as their possession of a sizable motor pool.
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Posted in Sora no Woto | 2 Comments

To Aru Kagaku no Railgun 18: Operation Widow Breaker

By Crusader | Published: February 7, 2010

Kuroko was sick of playing by the rules…

Well it was Super Bowl Sunday and it seems that Pizza Hut had some left over money to do some shameless self promotion in the days leading up to it. While this was a filler episode I enjoyed having more ofKuroko’s antics as she waged a campaign for love. It was wonderful to see how many lessons from Alphard and Liang Qi Kuroko applied when trying to help the Dorm Supervisor find true love. Kuroko demonstrated an aptitude for reconnaissance, and anticipating people’s intent and was able to manage the flow of the situation to create situations that she could capitalize on. Sadly it seems that no amount ofKuroko’s skills at manipulating the field for Dorm Supervisor could change the fact that Daigo liked old women, not just older women, so sad to see that Dorm Supervisor’s hope to emulate Katie’s success was all for naught. It was sad to see thatBiri Biri was not as enthusiastic when it came to promoting love, but given how it ended in failure she ended up better off. Still you have to giveKuroko credit for put aside past grievances and making a sincere effort to make her Dorm Supervisor marriageable. Next week seems to be more filler though it will be filled filled withmeido, which should make Kuroko happy. It was surprising to see how manipulative Kuroko could be when she hit the right buttons and got Dorm Supervisor’s compliance sine her clock to 30 was ticking and Daigo’s ineptitude sent out enough false signals to give an illusion of ULTIMATE VICTORY. Ah well I am sure Dorm Supervisor will have better luck next time, when she goes Yuri…
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Posted in To Aru Kagaku no Railgun | 13 Comments

Durarara!! Episode 5 – Monsters, Aliens and Gangs

By Shokkeru | Published: February 6, 2010

This week’s narrator is magnificent Kida-kun himself. As Mikado is getting more curious about the Dollars, Kida becomes more and more worried that Mikado will fall to the darkness of the city. Kida also crosses a few punks who claim to be from a colors gang called the Yellow Scarves.

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Posted in Durarara!! | 16 Comments

Kimi ni Todoke episode 17 – Mistakes of Youth

By ExecutiveOtaku | Published: February 5, 2010

SENSITIVE INTELLIGENCE REPORT – RESTRICTED DISSEMINATION

SUBJECT: 1. HUMANITARIAN AID MISSION TO FAILED STATE OF PIN’S APARTMENT.

……………2. CONFUSION PRIOR TO AND FOLLOWING ABORTED KISS OPERATION.

DATE: EARLY FEBRUARY 2010

1. FOLLOWING A REQUEST BY PIN FOR ASSISTANCE FOLLOWING AN OUTBREAK OF ‘PERVERT FLU’, THE SAWAYAKYAA ALLIANCE MEMBERS ARRIVED AT HIS APARTMENT TO DISPENSE AID. DESPITE THE APPALLING CONDITIONS SAWAKO BEGAN RESTORING THE ENVIRONMENT TO SOME SENSE OF ORDER WHILE KAZEHAYA ASSUMED RESPONSIBILITY FOR (FORCEFULLY) DISPENSING AID. ALL HAZMAT EQUIPMENT AND PROCEDURES WERE FOLLOWED AS PER SUCH A CONTAMINATED ENVIRONMENT.

2. ACTING OUT OF INACCURATE INFORMATION PROVIDED BY PIN, SAWAKO TOOK ACTIONS THAT WERE INTERPRETED BY KAZEHAYA AS THE START OF A KISSING OPERATION AND RESPONDED APPROPRIATELY. HOWEVER THIS WAS NOT HER INTENT AND WHEN THIS WAS REALIZED BY BOTH PARTIES SAWAKO BECAME FLUSTERED WHILE KAZEHAYA WAS SO EMBARRASSED AS TO START ACTING DEFENSIVELY. WHILE THIS DID NOT SEEM TO BE TAKEN BADLY BY SAWAKO, IT CERTAINLY WAS AN AWKWARD SETBACK FOR THE MISSION.

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Posted in Kimi ni Todoke | 5 Comments

Sora no Woto 05: Currahee

By Crusader | Published: February 4, 2010

Dang they got holoscreens on every station, I also like how they placed the commander right be hind the driver.

I have to hand it to this series it reminds me of tactics that drill instructors have used on recruits as well as offering some nefarious ideas of their own or simply ones I have yet to see. It’s oddly delightful how it maintains it’s place within the military genre by going into some places most military shows don’t go. Not for Sora no Woto the well trodden path of battlefield angst and cool explosions, but the seldom talked of realm of barracks pranks and comings and goings of garrison life. Nice to see that they have a hot weather uniform I wish I could wear shorts in theater and still be in uniform, I have to say I am quite jealous and I bet any poor foot slogger that has to wear full fatigues and battle rattle is too. I have to commend the 1121st on still conducting battle drills in what is now nothing more than a glorified simulator, stranger still is that they seem to have a very clear idea of how it should work despite the fact that Takemikazuchi has been in pieces for some time. I have no idea why a Major would be taxiing around E-1s, but maybe he just likes to ride. The mailbag portion was a nice way of giving a little hint on the families of Kanata, Noel, Rio, and it’s absence hints a lot at why Kureha is the way she is. You’d be surprised at how much letters from home mattered and even with globalization snail mailed care packages are still valued by those far from home or relatives. Kanata has a loving mother, Noel probably got all her know how from the Professor, Rio’s dad is actually taking the time and effort to write despite Rio’s refusal to respond, and Kureha has no mail… The last one is significant since it shows that Kureha either has no parents or is deeper into estrangement territory than Rio who still has a dad that is at least willing to talk.

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Posted in Sora no Woto | 28 Comments

Macross Zero episode 05 – Tori no Hito

By ExecutiveOtaku | Published: February 3, 2010

Macross Zero concludes with the excellent Valkyrie dogfights we would expect, along with a major contribution to the still limited knowledge of the Protoculture that humanity possesses. And on a more personal level the lives of figures who would make their mark later in life are further fleshed out. While Shin and Sarah and Aries and Roy are briefly reunited, they’re split up again as the Anti-UN forces attack and the head of the birdman activates, carrying off Sarah and Aries. As the ancient Protoculture artifacts begin activating events start to approach disaster while the human factions make their final plays for control over the alien technology. Some elements of the story will come to conclusion, while others are left as mysteries to the viewer. In the end the OVA doesn’t directly answer most of the questions it raises, but it does further enrich the Macross universe and shed a little bit of light on history of the Protoculture and it’s role in shaping humanity.

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Posted in Macross Zero, Retroblogging | 16 Comments

To Aru Kagaku no Railgun – 17: ANTI-SKILLS

By Crusader | Published: February 3, 2010

ANTI-SKILLSs is filmed on location with the men and women of the Academy Forces. All suspects are guilty, period.

I suppose that there was bound to be an episode that focused more on the Anti-Skills, I just never thought that it would come past the halfway mark. Still it was good to see them doing something with Tessou as up to this point she was was bumbling Anti-Skill that could barely operate her weapon within proscribed safety regulations. Still I guess she earns points too for being a reservist. In regards to the Big Four I was rather disappointed that Kuroko didn’t like video games though since she is proficient inf physical attacks I guess nothing beats the real thing. It was pretty much a fluff episode, but amusing nonetheless as Yomikawa was delightful to watch as she berated Tessou in her drunken state and then hitched a ride on Tessou in a yuri piggyback. Though I am surprised that Tessou could carry Yomikawa given the difference in size. Seeing Tessou obsession with her fighting game brought back old memories of SNES and Street Fighter, though I have to say that is one helluva way to secure a sequel for a game that hardly anyone remembers. Hell I am still waiting for Homeworld 3…
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Posted in To Aru Kagaku no Railgun | 14 Comments

Field Reporting: University of Pittsburgh Japanese Animation Club (PJAC)

By ExecutiveOtaku | Published: February 2, 2010


A lot of fans, at one point or another, have gone to their school’s anime club, even if only once or twice. As a social institution it brings together fans to meet, be exposed to different anime, and to share ideas, or less loftily, simply to get together with friends and fellow fans, watch anime, and make random comments out loud. I used to attend my university’s club regularly during the first two and half years of undergrad, and for part of my senior year, and now as a grad student I was curious as to what had changed, what was the same, and how the club was doing lately. So I decided to get back out into the local community and do some pseudo-reporting on the University of Pittsburgh’s anime club, both for my own interest and, hopefully, those of my readers.

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Posted in Field Reporting | 20 Comments

Durarara!! Episode 4 – Dullalalahan

By Shokkeru | Published: January 31, 2010

I’m beginning to think that Durarara!! might be following a specific pattern with these episodes. It seems that they’re alternating between episodes where Mikado is the main focus and episodes where they focus on a different character as well as their background. Episode 2 was focused on a minor character, the girl who was kidnapped and her past and it was an introduction to Izaya and a bit of Celty. This time it’s all about Celty and her doctor friend Shinra.
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Posted in Durarara!! | 10 Comments

Kimi ni Todoke episode 16 – After Action Report

By ExecutiveOtaku | Published: January 30, 2010

SENSITIVE INTELLIGENCE REPORT – RESTRICTED DISSEMINATION

SUBJECT: 1. REVIEW OF PAST EVENTS AND ACTION FROM FIRST YUUKA PROXY ATTACK TO CURRENT CEASEFIRE.

DATE: LATE JANUARY 2010

1. AS THE CURRENT SITUATION HAS STABILIZED SOMEWHAT, HEADQUARTERS HAS ORDERED PAST REPORTING TO BE CONDENSED FOR REVIEW BY SENIOR ALLIANCE MEMBERS TO PREPARE FOR FUTURE EVENTUALITIES. A RUN THROUGH OF PAST EVENTS MAY BE REPETITIVE, BUT IT HAS BEEN ORDERED AND THUS WILL BE MADE. THE EVENTS THAT BEGAN THIS FALL HAVE LED TO AN ENTIRELY NEW AND MORE FAVORABLE SITUATION FOR ALLIED FORCES, AND SURELY MANY CHALLENGES LIE AHEAD.

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Posted in Kimi ni Todoke | 7 Comments

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