Ninja and supernatural
4. 24 episodes of Basilisk (バジリスク～甲賀忍法帖～, Bajirisuku ~Kōga Ninpō Chō~, Basilisk: The Kōga Ninja Scrolls). Quote: "To the one I love ... prepare to die."
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from IMBd
from Rotten Tomatoes
from Anime News Network
- it's a good thing that I've read the light novel.
- #2 is very intense. So far the anime is following the book very closely. Even though I knew what's going to happen next, it's still very intense.
- #3 is less intense action-wise but it's very emotional - this is when Oboro and Gennusuke are separated :(
- #4 everybody is on the road to Shuju (sp?) things proceed closely to the ln, except episode 16 - where we got a glympse into the 2 clans when the peace pack occurred and how Oboro and Gennusuke met. Chibis Oboro and Gennusuke are so cute. Gennusuke is a good guy through and through. It's a very sad and emotional episode to watch since we knew what happened to 12 of their 20 ninjas. Only 8 are left now. 4 on each side.
- #5 - more deaths.
- #6 - only 4 on each side. Gah, I knew the ending yet I still cried a lot. It's a nice touch that Hattori actually kept the scroll instead of throwing it away - it's such a terrible thing that the retired shogun just left it unnoticed. The fantasy wedding added bitter sweet to the anime. I wonder if Oboro could have done things differently. Meaning, if she had options other than killing herself. Gennosuke couldn't have lived after Oboro had died so he sealed his fate by writing that note. I'm still sad thinking about the ending.
I don't like bloody series and this one is based on the quote that I mentioned but it's a really good series. Highly recommended.
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11. 5 volumes of Omukea desu (お迎えです).
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Written and illustrated by Meca Tanaka
from CMX website:
Vol 1: You've heard of those who can "see dead people." But what if you could see dead people and a guy in a giant bunny suit trying to get them to the other side?
Madoka is a high school student who is recruited by Nabeshima - the guy in the bunny suit - to work for the GSG (Gokuraku So Gei, a transportation service to heaven). Nabeshima is just way too busy, and since Madoka seems to have the power to see lost souls, he's recruited to help lighten the workload. Madoka is given the job of transporting wandering souls to the afterlife - on motorcycle! But many of the dead are reluctant to leave this world, feeling they haven't accomplished everything they should have in their lives. Madoka must assist the deceased in performing tasks that will help them finally feel closure and make them willing to leave everything behind for good.
Vol 2: Hop on board with Madoka, as he shuttles more reluctant ghosts to the afterlife! This time, he assists the ghost of a stage-show "superhero" by giving him one last shot at a heroic performance. He also helps a beautiful high school English teacher, a friendless 11-year-old girl, and an old woman who lost something precious. And is a bunny suit about to be retired? Plus, two bonus stories by writer/artist Meca Tanaka!
Vol 3: Yuzuko is allowed a brief meeting with the boyfriend she had when she was alive. But if she tries to rekindle this relationship, she's finished with GSG. A ghostly girl stalks Madoka, and wait until you find out why. And the gang takes on Christmas, New Year, and Valentine's Day all in one volume!
Vol 4: Join in more adventures with Madoka, the boy who can see dead people. After a high school teacher dies before teaching her very first class, Madoka lets her take temporary possession of him so she can experience what it's like to actually teach. Then the ghost of a pretty but fatally frail high school girl enlists Madoka's help to take revenge on a former classmate: GSG agent Aguma!
Vol 5: Final volume! Madoka loans his body out to a boy who wants to date Aguma, Madoka's fellow G.S.G. agent. When his body steals a kiss, Aguma's not sure which guy actually made the move! Then Madoka finds he still has feelings for a ghostly girl who visited him before. He's given a chance to see her again, but with it comes the risk that he may end up permanently crossing over to the other side!
Some points:
- There seems to be a thread between the stories, but each of them can be a standalone, too. Currently reading 3, I think I'll finish this series this week.
- the first 3 books seem to be anecdotal. Poor soul can't leave because of some regrets, Modoka helps out, soul leaves.
- 4 and 5 started to have some plot development - with some angst - and love story or was it in the middle of vol 3. In any case, it's a gentle and interesting read.
Bottom line, it's a light gentle story 5 volumes is just a right size. I do wish there were a 6th one to develop the relationship between Modoka and his love interest.
12. Rurouni Kenshin: Voyage to the Moon World. First sentence: Sekihara Tae's arrival was met with sincere welcome by the trio at te Kamiya Kassin-ryu fojo, and with particular pleasure by the two young men, Himura Kenshin and Miyojin Yahiko.
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Written by Kaoru Shizuka
from Viz media website:
Kenshin's new life brings him to Tokyo, where he joins the Kamiya Kasshin-ryû dojo to learn the art of "swords that give life." The dojo is peaceful but never boring as Kenshin and his fellow apprentice Yahiko train under the demanding auspices of their kind-hearted instructor, Kamiya Kaoru. But all that changes one afternoon when Tae from the Akabeko restaurant arrives with a pot of beef stew and a plea for help. One of the regulars at the restaurant lost his master's precious book, and he'll be kicked out in the street if he can't recover it. The simple case of a missing book soon becomes a dangerous mystery as Kenshin and his friends are tangled in deep secrets and dark plots!
Some points:
- there are 2 stories. The first one is "Voyage to the moon world" and the second one is "Sanosuke and Nishik-e"
- The first story started a bit slow to set up the story, but now it's picking up with the actions. There was a semi-rival for Kaoru dono. Daigoro lost a book which he had wrapped in a cloth that he borrowed from his teacher at Tae's restaurant. So Kenshin was recruited to help him find it. Interesting premise and story. Of course, there were fighting, betrayal, kidnap, ...
- I already read the second story in the manga form so I skipped it.
Bottom line, I do like the first story but I'd rather read the manga so not a reread for me.
13. Middle March by George Eliot. First sentence: Who that cares much to know the history of man, and how the mysterious mixture behaves under the varying experiments of Time, has not dwelt, at least briefly, on the life of Saint Theresa, has not smiled with some gentleness at the thought of the little girl walking forth one morning hand-in-hand with her still smaller brother, to go and seek martyrdom in the country of the Moors?
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- I watched the BBC miniseries in 2007 and am always curious about the book. Now I've read it. It's good. It's a bit of a saga and a lot of characters involved but it's worth it.
- I like Dorothea, Landislaw, and Listgate. I can't stand Listgate's wife, though.
14. Gaba kawa (ガバ・カワ).
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Manga updates
Written and illustrated by Rie Takada
from Viz website:
Demons like Rara are supposed to cause mischief in the mortal world and draw humans to darkness. They're not supposed to help mortals and they're definitely not supposed to fall in love with them! But that's just what happens when Rara enters high school, where a hot guy named Retsu Aku calls her "Gaba Kawa"!
While demons gain power by causing mischief, the opposite is also true--if Rara uses any of her powers to help mortals, she'll immediately lose that very power. If she loses enough power, she'll disappear! Poor Rara. What's a "Gaba Kawa" demon to do?
Some points:
- Rara is just too cute.
- I didn't expect the ending at all. While reading, I kept thinking that Aku will turn out to be an angel. I didn't see the *real* crush turned out to be the way he is, though. That was hilarious.
- The art is cute. And chibis :D
Bottom line, probably reread.
Continuing series: After School Nightmare 10 - The end - Now that the series is complete, I need to go back and reread it again.