Massive Update - Fandom
But first! Today is finally Election Day! About time, right? XD Don't forget to go out and vote if you haven't already! It's very important! =O I sent in my absentee ballot last Wed., so I'm set. Hopefully, we'll have a quick and definitive end to the election, and a new president, by tonight. ^^; Go, Obama! *waves flag*
Now for some fangirling! :D I'm still squeeing over the first half of Ouran! The English dub is almost perfect! XD Any concerns I had about the main cast's voice acting after the first two episodes are gone. Everyone improves from great to fantastic. ^^ The only performance I have a problem with is Renge. =/ Her voice is just too loud and grating. I know the character is pretty obnoxious and it takes awhile to get used to her and eventually love her, but Monica Rial's voice is a bit too screechy, even after I got used to it. Ah, well, everything else is lovely. =) The writing is just as cute and witty as the original. I actually laughed a lot, like real laughter, not just squeeful laughter. ;P There were only a couple of moments that I felt could have been better. (For example, why didn't they keep Kyouya's "merits"?!) I really enjoy the extra features, too, including fun commentaries and hilarious outtakes. (My favorite part was when Vic Mignogna [Tamaki] shuddered after J. Michael Tatum [Kyouya] said to him, "What is it, Daddy?" LOL. Vic was like, "Oh, come on!" and they laughed. XD I found a whole new level of amusement after reading on Tatum's Myspace that he's gay. XD') Anyway, I love this series even more now, and I can't wait for Jan. when the second half comes out with the mini-calendar! :D In the meantime, I'm going to pick up the manga again after stopping halfway through the series so far. =)
Hey, guess what? I've got a new major fandom: Vampire Knight! *bites* I don't remember how I got into it (dang it, I hate when this happens! >< maybe it was Mamoru<3 [Zero]?), but I started watching the anime a few weeks ago, and I was instantly hooked! I plowed through the first season, but then I was surprised to learn that the second season hadn't premiered yet! Usually, I'm pretty late to get on the anime fad bandwagon, so the shows I watch are already finished and I can watch them in weeks instead of months. But with VK, this is the first time I'm watching an anime as it is currently being aired in Japan and consequently fansubbed in English and uploaded on YouTube a few days later. 0_o The waiting is torture, man! XP So naturally, I went to the manga (gorgeous art!) and caught up with the series while I waited for the next episodes. 8D VK is an epic supernatural/school-life/gothic/shojo(girl)/romantic dramedy. @_@ I'm like obsessed with it now, its story, mythos, love polygons, and characters (especially the tortured soul Zero *swoon* and the cheerful vampire Ichijou *huggle*). For the first time, I fully understand the raw animal magnetism appeal of vampires and how sexy blood-sucking can be. =X (I kinda want to watch Twilight now. D: lol.) As of yesterday, there are only eight more episodes planned, and the anime is only a few chapters behind on the manga, so no one is sure which media will conclude the story arc first or if they'll be different or what. It's all very exciting... and swoon-worthy. ;D
Ooh, another great thing about VK is that it not only gave me a new anime and manga but also a new jpop love--ON/OFF! The first time I watched the show's opening, I got goosebumps. The song, "Futatsu no Kodou to Akai Tsumi" ("Two Heartbeats and Red Sin"), was perfectly dark and gothic and sensual, and I love it! *_* I thought it was sung by one guy, but it turns out, it's two guys, and not just any two guys, but brothers, and not just brothers, but identical twins (like Zero and Ichiru *squee*)! That's twice the sexy voice, twice the pretty face and hot bod, and twice the cute personality. (Actually, their total twin cuteness is greater than their combined individual cuteness, so bonus points for that. ^_~) I also like the song they did for the second season, "Rondo." =D Okay, so they don't play any instruments, they're jdorama actors, and they totally do choreographed dance moves and boy band music video "acting" and gesturing, so they're basically a Johnny's duo, but EEEE THEY'RE SO CUTE! <<33 XD Just try to resist this sexiness! I dare you! ;P
So now there's Nana, Ouran, and Vampire Knight on my current manga list. (RuroKen and FuruBa are still on my to-read list. ><;)