my fandoms, let me show you them.
SNOW DAY! So, have a post I've been meaning to make for a while, featuring the openings of every fandom I'm currently into.
Anime Fandoms
Baccano!: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=81xNE3VrD0Y
Love this show. Opening song: Gun's and Roses by Paradise Lunch.
Bonus!: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W5iFD6LmKi4
Gun's and Roses mixed with the opening to the movie Snatch. It fits eerily well, to the point where I suspect the Baccano! anime opening was more than a little influenced by the movie opening...
Dulalala!:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8a8ziUmxHN8
New series by the creator of Baccano!, looks to be just as awesome. Opening song: Uragiri no Yuuyake (Sunset of Betrayal) by Theatre Brook.
Mononoke: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=98bUgrI3Mbk
Not to be confused with Mononoke-hime, it's a show about a decidedly strange apothecary traveling Old Japan in search of mononoke, beasts born of the thwarted desires of humans. The art in this series is something else and I dare anyone to watch the "Noppera-bou" episode without sobbing like a baby at the end. Opening song: Kagen no Tsuki (The Last Quarter of the Moon) by Ryouta Komatsu and Charlie Kosei.
Princess Tutu: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KsipExvcHgM
Who knew a show about a ballet dancing duck could be so awesome? Opening song: Morning Grace by Ritsuko Okazaki
Samurai Champloo :http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EUMbyDUWMhk
AKA the only series I've ever written fic for besides Naruto and Wild Arms 3. This contains both the opening and ending for Samurai Champloo: the ending is a favorite of mine, so I chose a video with both.
Opening song: Battlecry by Nujabes. Ending song: Shiki no Uta (The Song of the Four Seasons) by Nujabes, featuring Minmi.
Shoujo Kakumei Utena (Revolutionary Girl Utena): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xSfJ4dlSNkk
An oldie, but still one of the best. Opening song: Rinbu Revolution (Dance Wheel Revolution) by Masami Okui.
Soul Eater OP 01: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aX26MLlRfws
AKA "A shounen manga where girls are actually allowed to be strong, bad-ass and the main character."
Opening song: Resonance by TM Revolution.
OP 02: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zGEmhldSO_s&feature=related
Opening song: Paper Moon by Tommy Heavenly 6.
Umineko no Naku Koro ni (original sound novel): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fk11mQJID04
Opening to the fourth episode, Alliance of the Golden Witch. Opening Song: Umineko no Naku Koro ni (When the Seagulls Cry) by Akiko Shikata. Yes, the incredibly amateur artwork is intentional: Ryukishi7, the series' creator, draws everything himself, and while not technically the best, his drawings have their own charm.
Umineko no Naku Koro ni Chiru (original sound novel): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3lJQmHsRmdc&hd=1 (This is the HD version, so older/slower computers might not be able to handle it well).
This is the opening for episode 5, the first one in the "Chiru" arcs: I'm not using the opening for episode 6 because it contains a whacking huge spoiler for the series with the first few seconds of the video. Opening song: Occultics no Majo (The Witch of Occultics) by Ayumu (Zwei).
Umineko no Naku Koro ni (the anime) : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lSKXThy8Rew
This is the fourth and final version of the anime's opening, featuring every witch, every demon and every human character with the exception of characters who only appear starting in Chiru. Opening song: Katayoku no Tori (The One-Winged Bird) by Akiko Shikata.
Bonus!: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rgwQXlteeWc
The ending song to the Umineko anime, La Divina Tragedia ~ Makyoku (The Divine Tragedy ~ A Demonic Tune), aka BEST SONG EVER. There is something very satisfying about wandering around your house belting out "Yami no kirisaku OH DESIRE!" at the top of your lungs when no one else is around to call you crazy. Sung by Jimang of Sound Horizon.
Umineko is probably my primary fandom right now, though I mostly lurk: I might be able to write fic for it once the series ends and we know what the bloody hell is going on. It's far more satisfying than Naruto for a number of reasons, chiefly that, as the openings make clear, Umineko's cast is heavily female dominated, and each of the major female characters are not only strongly developed, they actually receive most of the plot focus and characterization, to the point where the male characters (aside from Battler, the male lead) could be said to be a little underdeveloped and under-used compared to them. Also, aside from the ridiculous outfits worn by the Stakes, Siesta Sisters and Eiserne Jungfrau and anime Shannon's overly-inflated breasts (which were entirely the doing of the anime design team), Umineko is very low on fanservice, though very, very high on graphic and unsettling violence. Ryukishi7 is some kind of psychotic genius and either an English major's greatest dream or worst nightmare: Umineko takes "meta" to a whole new level and story structure, as a concept, is a huge, huge influence on the plot's mysteries.
Plus, I love Virgilia and am so dressing up as her next Halloween if I can get the costume together.
TV Shows
Futurama: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F2wBGzCzv_E
I have probably watched every episode of this show about fifty times and I'm still not tired of them.
Metalocalypse: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q3uyq7YK4XI
So much is wrong with this show, yet so much is fucking hilarious. Also: Ofdenson. The fandom, btw, is terrifying, and not in a good way.
The Venture Brothers: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MzmoImm0kio
This parody of Johnny Quest keeps getting better and better with each season that passes. For some reason, the opening isn't available on Youtube, so have the 3rd season preview instead.
Video Games
Ar Tonelico II: Sekai no Hibiku Shoujo-tachi no Metafalica (The Girls's Metafalica that Resounds Throughout the World; known as Melody of Metafalica for the English release): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q_9m7tdb9os
Opening song: Utau Oka ~ Harmonics Frelia (Singing Hills ~ Harmonics Frelia) by Akiko Shikata.
I first got into this because I found out that Akiko Shikata, who is one of my favorite singers, was heavily involved with it and then Feinne did a wonderful "Let's Play" of the first game and has just recently finished his "Let's Play" of this game (unfortunately, it hasn't been archived yet, but it probably will be shortly). God, there is so much that is problematic with this series, and yet I continue to be fascinated by the world and overall plot. And the music, as appropriate for a series where songs are essentially "Magic", is fantastic.
Ar Tonelico II is probably the least "bad" of the series in terms of problematic plot elements: there's a lot of "Oh, for fuck's sake!" moments, but I honestly think this one is the best in terms of developed female characters: it's very obvious in the game that the focus is mostly on Luca and Cloche's characters and the development of their relationship. Croix, the male lead, definitely takes a backseat to the girls, unlike the other two games, where the female characters are developed, but also more focused around "which one do I pick to end up with the male lead?" Plus, Croix, in contrast to the usual male leads in these kind of plots, is quiet, intelligent and thoughtful, in addition to looking so feminine that I when first saw his character design, I thought he was one of the female leads. (He's the violet-haired one in the middle, as if it wasn't obvious). And this game has Jakuri (Jacqli in the English release), who continues to be the greatest character of anything, ever.
Odin Sphere: would be here, except it doesn't really have an opening.
Persona 2: Innocent Sin: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pr4NvMeHbmc and Persona 2: Eternal Punishment: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=In9FPHFg4jw&NR=1
These games are two halves of a whole, and need to be updated and re-released like now.
Persona 3: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kIoCp7GxZ-M
Can't wait for the new PSP version with the option to play the main character as female comes out. Opening song: Burn My Dread by Yumi Kawamura.
Persona 4: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cJPWdyL4p9A
GLASSES FETISH AHOY. Opening song: Pursuing My True Self by Shihoko Hirata and Tamari.
Wild Arms Advanced 3rd: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ezkMLIdE
This is the dubbed version of the opening. Female main character who is awesome? FUCK YES. And sue me, I still ship Janus and Virginia like mad. Opening song: Advanced Wind. Unfortunately, I couldn't find out who sings the English version.
Anime Fandoms
Baccano!: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=81xNE3VrD0Y
Love this show. Opening song: Gun's and Roses by Paradise Lunch.
Bonus!: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W5iFD6LmKi4
Gun's and Roses mixed with the opening to the movie Snatch. It fits eerily well, to the point where I suspect the Baccano! anime opening was more than a little influenced by the movie opening...
Dulalala!:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8a8ziUmxHN8
New series by the creator of Baccano!, looks to be just as awesome. Opening song: Uragiri no Yuuyake (Sunset of Betrayal) by Theatre Brook.
Mononoke: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=98bUgrI3Mbk
Not to be confused with Mononoke-hime, it's a show about a decidedly strange apothecary traveling Old Japan in search of mononoke, beasts born of the thwarted desires of humans. The art in this series is something else and I dare anyone to watch the "Noppera-bou" episode without sobbing like a baby at the end. Opening song: Kagen no Tsuki (The Last Quarter of the Moon) by Ryouta Komatsu and Charlie Kosei.
Princess Tutu: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KsipExvcHgM
Who knew a show about a ballet dancing duck could be so awesome? Opening song: Morning Grace by Ritsuko Okazaki
Samurai Champloo :http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EUMbyDUWMhk
AKA the only series I've ever written fic for besides Naruto and Wild Arms 3. This contains both the opening and ending for Samurai Champloo: the ending is a favorite of mine, so I chose a video with both.
Opening song: Battlecry by Nujabes. Ending song: Shiki no Uta (The Song of the Four Seasons) by Nujabes, featuring Minmi.
Shoujo Kakumei Utena (Revolutionary Girl Utena): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xSfJ4dlSNkk
An oldie, but still one of the best. Opening song: Rinbu Revolution (Dance Wheel Revolution) by Masami Okui.
Soul Eater OP 01: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aX26MLlRfws
AKA "A shounen manga where girls are actually allowed to be strong, bad-ass and the main character."
Opening song: Resonance by TM Revolution.
OP 02: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zGEmhldSO_s&feature=related
Opening song: Paper Moon by Tommy Heavenly 6.
Umineko no Naku Koro ni (original sound novel): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fk11mQJID04
Opening to the fourth episode, Alliance of the Golden Witch. Opening Song: Umineko no Naku Koro ni (When the Seagulls Cry) by Akiko Shikata. Yes, the incredibly amateur artwork is intentional: Ryukishi7, the series' creator, draws everything himself, and while not technically the best, his drawings have their own charm.
Umineko no Naku Koro ni Chiru (original sound novel): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3lJQmHsRmdc&hd=1 (This is the HD version, so older/slower computers might not be able to handle it well).
This is the opening for episode 5, the first one in the "Chiru" arcs: I'm not using the opening for episode 6 because it contains a whacking huge spoiler for the series with the first few seconds of the video. Opening song: Occultics no Majo (The Witch of Occultics) by Ayumu (Zwei).
Umineko no Naku Koro ni (the anime) : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lSKXThy8Rew
This is the fourth and final version of the anime's opening, featuring every witch, every demon and every human character with the exception of characters who only appear starting in Chiru. Opening song: Katayoku no Tori (The One-Winged Bird) by Akiko Shikata.
Bonus!: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rgwQXlteeWc
The ending song to the Umineko anime, La Divina Tragedia ~ Makyoku (The Divine Tragedy ~ A Demonic Tune), aka BEST SONG EVER. There is something very satisfying about wandering around your house belting out "Yami no kirisaku OH DESIRE!" at the top of your lungs when no one else is around to call you crazy. Sung by Jimang of Sound Horizon.
Umineko is probably my primary fandom right now, though I mostly lurk: I might be able to write fic for it once the series ends and we know what the bloody hell is going on. It's far more satisfying than Naruto for a number of reasons, chiefly that, as the openings make clear, Umineko's cast is heavily female dominated, and each of the major female characters are not only strongly developed, they actually receive most of the plot focus and characterization, to the point where the male characters (aside from Battler, the male lead) could be said to be a little underdeveloped and under-used compared to them. Also, aside from the ridiculous outfits worn by the Stakes, Siesta Sisters and Eiserne Jungfrau and anime Shannon's overly-inflated breasts (which were entirely the doing of the anime design team), Umineko is very low on fanservice, though very, very high on graphic and unsettling violence. Ryukishi7 is some kind of psychotic genius and either an English major's greatest dream or worst nightmare: Umineko takes "meta" to a whole new level and story structure, as a concept, is a huge, huge influence on the plot's mysteries.
Plus, I love Virgilia and am so dressing up as her next Halloween if I can get the costume together.
TV Shows
Futurama: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F2wBGzCzv_E
I have probably watched every episode of this show about fifty times and I'm still not tired of them.
Metalocalypse: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q3uyq7YK4XI
So much is wrong with this show, yet so much is fucking hilarious. Also: Ofdenson. The fandom, btw, is terrifying, and not in a good way.
The Venture Brothers: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MzmoImm0kio
This parody of Johnny Quest keeps getting better and better with each season that passes. For some reason, the opening isn't available on Youtube, so have the 3rd season preview instead.
Video Games
Ar Tonelico II: Sekai no Hibiku Shoujo-tachi no Metafalica (The Girls's Metafalica that Resounds Throughout the World; known as Melody of Metafalica for the English release): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q_9m7tdb9os
Opening song: Utau Oka ~ Harmonics Frelia (Singing Hills ~ Harmonics Frelia) by Akiko Shikata.
I first got into this because I found out that Akiko Shikata, who is one of my favorite singers, was heavily involved with it and then Feinne did a wonderful "Let's Play" of the first game and has just recently finished his "Let's Play" of this game (unfortunately, it hasn't been archived yet, but it probably will be shortly). God, there is so much that is problematic with this series, and yet I continue to be fascinated by the world and overall plot. And the music, as appropriate for a series where songs are essentially "Magic", is fantastic.
Ar Tonelico II is probably the least "bad" of the series in terms of problematic plot elements: there's a lot of "Oh, for fuck's sake!" moments, but I honestly think this one is the best in terms of developed female characters: it's very obvious in the game that the focus is mostly on Luca and Cloche's characters and the development of their relationship. Croix, the male lead, definitely takes a backseat to the girls, unlike the other two games, where the female characters are developed, but also more focused around "which one do I pick to end up with the male lead?" Plus, Croix, in contrast to the usual male leads in these kind of plots, is quiet, intelligent and thoughtful, in addition to looking so feminine that I when first saw his character design, I thought he was one of the female leads. (He's the violet-haired one in the middle, as if it wasn't obvious). And this game has Jakuri (Jacqli in the English release), who continues to be the greatest character of anything, ever.
Odin Sphere: would be here, except it doesn't really have an opening.
Persona 2: Innocent Sin: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pr4NvMeHbmc and Persona 2: Eternal Punishment: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=In9FPHFg4jw&NR=1
These games are two halves of a whole, and need to be updated and re-released like now.
Persona 3: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kIoCp7GxZ-M
Can't wait for the new PSP version with the option to play the main character as female comes out. Opening song: Burn My Dread by Yumi Kawamura.
Persona 4: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cJPWdyL4p9A
GLASSES FETISH AHOY. Opening song: Pursuing My True Self by Shihoko Hirata and Tamari.
Wild Arms Advanced 3rd: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ezkMLIdE
This is the dubbed version of the opening. Female main character who is awesome? FUCK YES. And sue me, I still ship Janus and Virginia like mad. Opening song: Advanced Wind. Unfortunately, I couldn't find out who sings the English version.