Kids on the Slope, Natsuyuki Rendezvous, the borrowers, and house of many ways
9. 12 episodes of Kids on the Slope (坂道のアポロン Sakamichi no Apollon, Apollo on the Slope).
from Wiki
from ANN
Crunchyroll
From Crunchyroll:
The story of Kids on the Slope really starts rolling when the classical piano-trained Kaoru encounters Sentaro and falls head-over-heels in love with jazz. One thing to look out for is the performance scene of an excellent jazz piece in every episode. Up-and-coming young jazz musicians are employed here, with Takashi Matsunaga (Kaoru) on piano and Shun Ishiwaka (Sentaro) on drums. Yoko Kanno produces the sessions, which are then used directly for the anime. Jazz standards like “Moanin’”, “My Favorite Things”, and “Someday My Prince Will Come” are played along with improvisational performances that reflect the mood of the characters at the time, whether they’re in high spirits, or feel lonely, confused, angry, and so on. How these occasional performances and feelings are portrayed and directed is one more highlight of the show. Director Watanabe’s “sessions” are a mix of images and music, so innovative and exciting visual expressions should be expected.
Epi 1: Moanin
Kaoru is sick about moving from Yokosuka to Kyushu, since it means living with relatives, being separated from his father, and starting at a new high school filled with students whose accent he can barely understand. And when Kaoru has a run-in with feared classroom thug Sentaro, it seems his life is about to get worse. But instead, he reluctantly starts to find out that there's more to Sentaro, like his passion for jazz.
Epi 2: Summertime
Kaoru seems equally mesmerized by jazz and Ritsuko. Regarding the former, he meets "Brother Jun", a college student and jazz trumpeter whom Sentaro idolizes. When Jun, Sen, and Ritsuko's dad start up an impromptu jazz session, Kaoru finally joins in on piano to make it a quartet. Later, Kaoru is thrilled when Ritsuko accepts his invitation for a "study date", little knowing that Sentaro is going to make this a "combo", too.
Epi 3: Someday My Prince Will Come
Sentaro falls in love at first sight with the beautiful and sophisticated Yurika, who's a year older than him. Noticing this, Kaoru arranges a double date with Yurika, ostensibly to help the lovestruck Sentaro, but really to get him out of the way so Kaoru can focus on wooing Ritsuko. The three of them and Ritsuko go on a picnic in a nearby mountain, but it doesn't go quite as Kaoru hopes.
Epi 4: But not for me
Brother Jun invites Kaoru and Sentaro to be part of a quartet for a Christmas gig at a jazz bar, but they've only got one month to get ready. Also, Kaoru feels pretty sorry for himself and jealous of Sentaro for "having it all", but comes to realize how paltry his own misery is when Sen reveals the secret of his birth.
Epi 5: Lullabys of Birdland
Kaoru gets an answer from Ritsuko about their possible romantic prospects, but is it what he wants to hear? Later, Kaoru goes on a trip to Tokyo to visit his estranged mother for the first time in many years, with Sentaro along for the ride
Epi 6: You Don't Know What Love Is
It's the start of the second year of high school and Sentaro is in the dumps because he's in a different class from Kaoru and Ritsuko. But when Sen starts to make friends with Seiji, a Beatles fan with music aspirations of his own, Kaoru gets jealous and fears losing Sentaro forever.
Epi 7: Now's the Time
Sentaro is busy practicing with Seiji's band, while Kaoru has been chosen as the class representative for the school festival, and the gulf between the two widens. But on the day of the festival, unexpected trouble occurs up on stage .
Epi 8: These Foolish Things
Epi 9: Love Me or Leave Me
Brother Jun is leaving town for good, but will he do it without saying goodbye? Sen still hasn't forgiven him about Yurika. Meanwhile, Yurika's parents forbid her to see Junichi and pressure her to marry someone else! And will Ritsuko be able to let Kaoru know how she feels about him or will she let him go quietly as she did with Sen?
Epi 10: In a Sentimental Mood
Will Kaoru and Ritsuko ever be honest with each other about their feelings? Will Sen flunk his second year of high school? And finally, how will Sen react when he gets the news that his stepfather is coming home
Epi 11: Left Alone
With his stepfather about to come home, Sen aims to run away, but someone is waiting for him outside... Later, as the school festival nears, Kaoru and Sen stress out over their competition with Seiji until they add a new member to their group! But then, on the eve of the festival, something happens that will change their lives forever
Epi 12: All Blues
It's graduation day at East High and Sen still hasn't returned. Will Kaoru and Ritsuko stay together or go their separate ways? And will Kaoru ever play jazz with his best friend again
- I watched episodes 1 and 2 when they were first streamed, but got too busy to keep up with the rest of the series.
- I rewatched 1 and 2 and marathoned the whole 12 episodes in 3 days. So good. I like it a lot and am glad being able to watch it. What a gem!
- What is the likelihood that the manga will be licensed? Maybe Vertical or Yen - sounds like it's up their alley: 9 volumes + 1 extra.
10. 1 episode of Natsuyuki Rendezvous (夏雪ランデブー).
from Wiki
from ANN
Crunchyroll
From Crunchyroll:
Ryosuke works part-time as a florist where he begins to fall for the owner, Rokka. Eight years ago, Rokka decided to give up on love but one day, due to circumstances, Ryosuke ends up in Rokka's apartment where he runs into a half-naked man. Having mixed emotions, he realizes that this man is her late husband's ghost. However, Rokka is unable to see him. Will Ryosuke be able to pursue his love despite the presence of her late husband?
Epi 1: Hazuki is secretly in love with his florist boss, but his chances of a successful romance seem slim when he not only has to overcome shyness, but also the possessive ghost of her dead husband
- Another Josei anime and a gem for sure - I'm glad to be able watch it.
- I can't wait for the next episodes.
- This series is only 4 volumes, complete, from Feel Young magazine. Please, Yen Press!
11. The Borrowers. Quote: "A Borrower is quiet, conscientious, and inconspicuous. We don't steal; we borrow.".
from Wiki
from Rotten Tomatoes
from IMDB
Some points:
- borrowed from BPL
- After watching Ghibli's Arrietty, I recalled about this one and was curious about it so I borrowed from my local public library
- Hugh Laurie :)
- The movie seems to have a 40's look to it with the outfit and color and decor, but there were cellphones, and 2 sided-refrigerator, so ...
- Too much comics violent for my taste.
----------
45. The Borrowers. First sentence: "It was Mrs. May who first told me about them."
wiki
Written by Mary Norton
Some points:
- borrowed from Bpl
- read by Rowena Cooper
- This is a first volume of the series.
- funny read. I find the voice for Homily annoying!
- overall, interesting book. I may listen to the sequels.
- I also watched The borrower movie 1998 - which had more actions than the anime version.
Bottom line, reread? maybe.
46. House of Many Ways - a reread.
Some points:
- Borrowed from BPL.
- Read by Jenny Sterlin.
- I read it a bit more than 4 years ago here
- Still enjoy it very much. I will borrow Castle in the Air.
- Continuing series: Manga
- Saturn Apartments 4
- Oresama Teacher 9
- Bakuman 11
- Rambling
- Announcements from Japan Expo, via mangaconseil, in 2013, Kana will release Deluxe Edition of Master Keaton by Naoki Urasawa (MU) - I have been eyeing the Japanese Deluxe volumes and planning to get them, now I'll wait for the French ones so I can read them or if English version is released, I'll wait for that, too. Kazé announced that they'll released Drug and Drop by Clamp the end of 2012 (manga updates) sequel of Legal Drug which has 3 volumes.
- Free Font and web design resources from How about Orange.
- In case you're collecting ES (Eternal Sabbath), Mars, and After School Nightmare, a fellow lj is cleaning out their bookshelves and selling them about $4 a volume, all complete series here. Disclaimer, I don't know them IRL.