Remember the cut-off date is end of February 2012!

Title: Shukan Soine CD “Application for All” Service 週刊添い寝CD 応募者全員サービス
Exchange period cut off date is 29 February 2012.
Available: end April 2012
Info: http://www.blackbutterfly-cd.com/short/shortk1.html

A recap… cos I was so busy I nearly forgot ^^;; If you bought the First-press Limited edition of the new series of Soine CDs, you can collect the coupons inside and exchange for 2 different collection boxes to keep your CD collection.

1) Buy Vol. 7, Vol. 8 and Vol. 9 to get the postcard and 2 coupons to exchange for Collection box for vols 1-6
2) Buy Vol. 10, Vol. 11 and Vol. 12 to get the postcard and 2 coupons to exchange for Collection box for vols 7-12

What’s so good about this service is that you don’t have to attach a Japanese postal order in many other similar services to pay for the shipping and handling of the freebie… it is REALLY a freebie. Well, that’s if I understood the instructions correctly. We just have to mail the coupons back and they’ll send us the goodies in April. Please correct me if I’m wrong… but it’s too late for me since I’ve already mailed it out lol~.

IMPORTANT: What you need in addition to the coupons is a Japanese forwarding address because it is stated on the website that they do not ship international. I used Tenso.com and filled the back of the cards with the forwarding address given to me. You’ll have to pay for the service but I think the price is reasonable.

Match the coupons to the correct card, then glue the cut-outs onto the cards that came with 2 of the CDs

We are supposed to fix stamps onto the cards individually and post them like postcards within Japan. But since I have two cards and I’m mailing them out from overseas, I decided to put both cards into one envelope and mail them together.

Remember to write “Japan” in the address on the envelope, so that your local post office have no problems sorting them out.

I’m assuming it should be ok. ^^;; Hopefully everything goes well and I can get my freebie boxes in April :D

Ugly handwriting orz;;

The 30 minute animation will be released as a DVD/Blu-ray special, featuring all the Code Geass gang in an Alice in Wonderland setting! The Japanese audience really love Alice in Wonderland huh… I mean Kuroshitsuji, The Black Butler also has an alternate universe, “Ciel in Wonderland” OVA シエル・イン・ワンダーランド.

Title: CODE GEASS Lelouch of the Rebellion Nunnally in Wonderland
コードギアス 反逆のルルーシュ ナナリー in ワンダーランド
DVD version: 3,500 Yen (w/tax)
Blu-ray version: 4,500 Yen (w/tax)
Available: 27 July 2012
Description: Includes a 40-page picture book. Japanese audio with English subtitles.

Bandai definitely did the right thing to include English subtitles in the releases. I’m so excited! :D Planning to get the blu-ray version since it is supposed to be better quality, right?

Plot: While spending time with his sister one sunny day, Nunnally requests that Lelouch tells a story, like in old times. To grant his sister’s request, Lelouch uses Geass on the entire cast of the Code Geass series…

Miss you so much, Lulu and Suzaku \(;o;)/

Your hubby is a fun-loving, animal lover!

Title: Honeymoon vol.3 Mizunuma Daichi 水沼大地
Price: 2,000 Yen (w/o tax)
Available: 28 March 2012
Seiyuu: Fukuyama Jun 福山潤
Cover Illustrator: 珠洲原みつ

Description: After you married your beloved husband, both of you set out on a dreamy Honeymoon trip!

This time, you spend your honeymoon with your husband who is a veterinarian. Honeymoon destination is Australia! Both of you get to enjoy the country’s magnificent natural delights, like touching animals and water sports.

Mizunuma Daichi is in his mid twenties.

Unhesitating and active. Fun-loving. He is always optimistic. A positive thinker. He is friendly to people and gentle to animals. He has a good temper and rarely gets angry.

He refers to himself as “ore” 「俺」 and your as “omae” 「お前」.

He enjoys the outdoors, sports and playing with animals. No wonder the destination is set in Australia :)

Casting Junjun as a character like this is definitely spot-on. I’m sure it’ll be an enjoyable CD like the previous two.

The previous cd is Honeymoon vol.1 Hanamori Yuuto voiced by Hirakawa Daisuke and Honeymoon vol.2 Kousaka Otoya (Toriumi Kousuke).

fortissimo’s official
Link: http://www.otome-ff.jp/work/work09.html

Voice in Day & Night versions of Nura Rikuo to satisfy sleepyheads.

Title: Nurarihyon no Mago Voice Alarm Clock
ぬらりひょんの孫～千年魔京～ 音声入り目覚まし時計
Price: 7,140 yen
Release date: 22 September 2011

Size: approx. 175 x 120 mm
Materials: metal (clock), with full color print on paper (face)
Requires three AA batteries (included)

Currently only available from Movic and Animate in limited quantities.

Plot summary (from wiki)
Nura Rikuo (cv. Fukuyama Jun) is part human and a quarter youkai (demon). Because he is only a quarter youkai, Rikuo is able to turn into his youkai form only after sunset, when the moon is out; he turns back into his human self when the sun rises. He lives in a house full of spirits along with his youkai grandfather. Trying to escape his fate, he does good deeds in order to avoid becoming a youkai, despite his grandfather’s wish that Rikuo succeed him as master of the Nura youkai clan. Rikuo is a different youkai because he helps humans. He eventually comes to terms with his demon blood and decides to take up the position of Young Head of the Nura house. Multiple factions aim to stop him or usurp his position, and he must gather friends and allies, a new Hyakki Yakyou under his banner of “Fear”.

Description from Movic/Animate pre-order page.

奴良 リクオ (Nura Rikuo) voiced by Fukuyama Jun 福山潤

Six voice patterns in 昼 – Day version and 夜 – Night version

• Day:  「おはよう！目を覚まして！さっさと起きないと鴉天狗に叱られちゃうよ？ほら、ー緒に学校行こう！」 Good morning! Wake up! If you don’t wake up, you’ll be scolded by Karasu Tengu. Come on, let’s go to school together!
• Night:  「おはよう、最近疲れてるみたいだけど大丈夫？ボクがぎゅーってしてあげるから頑張ろっ！ね？」 Good morning. You look tired recently. Are you ok? I’ll hug you tight, so work hard, k?
• Day: 「おはよ~。もう朝？…ふぁ…昨日、鴆くんのところに行ってたから眠くて…ってもうこんな時間！？早く支度しなきゃ！」 Mornin’. It’s already morning! Fwa… Went to Zen-kun’s place yesterday, so sleepy now… oops look at the time! If we don’t prepare quickly…
• Day: 「ほら、早く起きてよ！はーやーくー！ Come on, hurry up and wake up! H-U-R-R-Y!
  Night: ……なぁ、起きないとどうなるか…わかってるよな？」 Hey… if you don’t wake up… you know what’s going to happen, right?
• Day: 「そろそろ起きないと遅刻しちまうぞ。え？起きたくない？…しょうがねぇな…あと３分だけだ。それまでオレがそばにいてやるから…」 If you don’t wake up now, you’ll be late. Eh? You don’t want to? Can’t be helped. Another 3 minutes. I’ll be right beside you until then…
• Night: 「朝だぞ。俺を目覚ましがわりにするとはいい度胸じゃねえか。ま、たまには目覚まし係も悪くねえな」 It’s morning. You have the nerve to make me wake you up huh. Oh well, it’s not bad to do that once in a while.

I dropped the series in the middle of season one cos the pacing was too slow. I was told that the manga and 2nd season is way better but it’s unlikely I’ll pick it up again ^^;; Even though I like Junjun, I’ll give this clock a miss I guess. If you decide to get this clock, please review it!

By the way, the Hakuouki voice clocks of Hijikata Toshizou, Harada Sanosuke (Review), Saito Hajime and Okita Souji are restocked at Animate Japan, so grab them while they last. I ordered Saito’s clock this time :D

Come, give us your money… hand… OTL;;

That’s what I actually see when I see their outstretched hands nowadays lol~.

So says each of the six men who are set to romance you in your bed every night come November/ December 2011

Title: Shukan Soine CD Series vol.7 (Sei) 週刊添い寝CDシリーズ　vol.7 誠
Seiyuu: Kuroda Takaya 黒田崇矢
Available: 18 November 2011
Character setting: Gentle but thickheaded, mature type boyfriend. (優しくて鈍感で大人な彼)

Title: Shukan Soine CD Series vol.8 (Ryou) 週刊添い寝CDシリーズ　vol.8 涼
Seiyuu: Okamoto Nobuhiko 岡本信彦
Available: 25 November 2011
Character setting: Timid but wholeheartedly thinking of you type younger boyfriend (気弱だけど一心にあなたを想う年下の彼)

Title: Shukan Soine CD Series vol.9 (Takahiro) 週刊添い寝CDシリーズ　vol.9 隆弘
Seiyuu: Morita Masakazu 森田成一
Available: 2 December 2011
Character setting: Always smiling, dependable, brotherly type boyfriend (笑顔の絶えないお兄ちゃんのような頼れる彼)

Title: Shukan Soine CD Series vol.10 (Yuki) 週刊添い寝CDシリーズ　vol.10 悠生
Seiyuu: Inoue Kazuhiko 井上和彦
Available: 9 December 2011
Character setting: Cheerful, fun and magnanimous (big-hearted) type boyfriend (明るくて楽しい器の大きな彼)

Title: Shukan Soine CD Series vol.11 (Touma) 週刊添い寝CDシリーズ　vol.11 透真
Seiyuu: Fukuyama Jun 福山潤
Available: 16 December 2011
Character setting: Blunt but shows his respect and love in small glimpses type boyfriend (そっけない中に尊敬と愛をのぞかせる彼)
If I’m not wrong OTL;; So he is tsundere? Hmm, but after listening to his voice sample, he doesn’t seem like a tsundere :3 Listened to the CD! He -IS- tsundere and an extremely cute one too :D

Order his Dakimakura Cover here!

Title: Shukan Soine CD Series vol.12 (Satoru) 週刊添い寝CDシリーズ　vol.12 聡
Seiyuu: Midorikawa Hikaru 緑川光
Available: 22 December 2011
Character setting: Earnest and strong sense of justice type boyfriend. (真面目で正義感の強い彼) Oh yea~ LOVE IS JUSTICE!* (*DGS quote)

Order his Dakimakura Cover here!

Official page: http://www.blackbutterfly-cd.com/short

This series is turning out to be Black Butterfly’s Honeybee Starry Sky equivalent lol~ but we definitely don’t mind. Keep the seiyuus coming! *sweatdrop* I just realised the double meaning there after finishing the sentence lol~

The character sketches look yummy! \(^o^)/ More opportunities to own expensive hugging pillows (dakimakura) of sexy 2D men OTL;;

October 2011 update! If you buy the First-press Limited edition of the new series of Soine CDs, you can collect the coupons and stickers inside and exchange for 2 different collection boxes to keep your CD collection.

1) Buy Vol. 7, Vol. 8 and Vol. 9 to get the coupon and 2 stickers to exchange for Collection box for vols 1-6
2) Buy Vol. 10, Vol. 11 and Vol. 12 to get the coupon and 2 stickers to exchange for Collection box for vols 7-12

Exchange period cut off date is 29 February 2012.

I am one-eyed dragon, Masamu-nya!

Title: Nyanpire, The Gothic World of Nyanpire にゃんぱいあ
Rating: Recommended-nya~

Summary (wiki):
Nyanpire is a Japanese doujinshi manga series written and illustrated by Yukiusa. In the story, a small abandoned kitten is rescued by a vampire (voiced by Tachibana Shinnosuke), who feeds him some of his blood, allowing him to be reborn as a vampire cat named Nyanpire. The series follows Nyanpire as he spends his days living with his human owner, Misaki, and meeting other cats.

Cast:
Koshimizu Ami 小清水亜美 as Nyanpire にゃんぱいあ
Sugiyama Noriaki 杉山紀彰 as Masamunya Dokuganryu 独眼竜まさむにゃ
Fukuyama Jun 福山潤 as Nyatenshi にゃてんし
Goto Yuko 後藤邑子 as Chachamaru 茶々丸
Hirota Shion 廣田詩夢 as Misaki-chan 美咲ちゃん
Tachibana Shinnosuke 立花 慎之介 as Vampire/Narrator

This short 3-min episodic anime turned to be surprisingly cute with clear shounen-ai themes as seen from episode 2 XD silly but true lol~ The following will contain SPOILERS so be warned.

It is epic to listen to Hetalia’s seiyuu for tsundere character UK, Sugiyama Noriaki voicing the proud Masamu-nya (parody cat version of historical Japanese samurai Date Masamune) nyaaaa-ing his tsundere ways in the episode.

Nyanpire is taking his usual walks and singing about yummy food he ate. There he is confronted by Masamu-nya who wants to get rid of this “demon” cat. But instead of being afraid, Nyanpire thinks the samurai cat is cool. Lol~

Unfazed by the open admiration, the brave samurai cat charges towards the vampire cat……. and trips on a stone OTL;;; Nyanpire asks, “Are you ok?” (^^;;; LOL)

Masamu-nya quickly picks himself up and tries to explain that the fall was nothing to a samurai. But Nyanpire only sees the yummy blood from the scratches he got from the fall. Instinctively Nyanpire attacks his lunch lol~

And licks him all over~~~~~ XD

Masamu-nya: STOP STOP… AaaAAaahhHhhhHhh~~~~ (felt so good lol)

Epic moan by Sugiyama Noriaki here.

Satiated, the two cats sit side by side and Masamu-nya became all tokimeki (love-struck) and deredere (sweet) because of how daring Nyanpire was. But like any proper Japanese cat, he wants to get to know Nyanpire better before they take their relationship any further (LOL)

Masamu-nya: So what’s your type?
Nyanpire: Long hair and big boobs. OH YEAH!

Are you a boy???

REALITY BITES lol XDD

Poor Masamu-nya <3 First love and first kiss stolen by a boy XDDD

FAREWELL…. trips and falls down again.

In the next episode Jun jun will show up as a white angel cat who was kicked out of heaven for his womanizing behaviour XD NYAAAA~

Check out these cute Nyanpire Color Collection Character Mascots! XD

Preorder sales figures for the DVDs must have been very bad.

According to latest news published on Togainu no Chi 咎狗の血 anime website, release of the anime in 6 DVD volumes when they’re clearly not even ready for prime time will be cancelled.

The first DVD containing 2 episodes was supposed to be released in 23 March 2011.

Instead, the 12 episodes will be released together in just one DVD Box set.

Reason cited as production issues and the production team is “remastering” the anime before releasing the final box set within one year. (Aren’t sure if that means reworking the anime)

After that incredible disappointment and abomination of Togainu no chi anime that was broadcast in 2010, this sounds like awesome news for fans of the game. But still, I’m not going to get my hopes too high up.

Official site: www.togainu.tv

Other information about Togaino no Chi here.

Starry Sky Series Episode 4, volume 2 of Aquarius. This episode was rather slow-paced. After last week’s chibi cuteness overload, I had higher expectations, so I was a little disappointed. Generally it is still enjoyable as a heartwarming insight into Tsubasa’s story. Too short tho. I also realised from reading general comments about this anime is that it is boring. It is a purely fan service outing with just 10 minutes of pretty animation each week, so if you’re new to Starry Sky, it’s understandable if you can’t really get into the story or characters. Just enjoy the eye-candy I guess :3

Anyway you can still watch this episode free at Animate TV for a limited period of time. Sign up for a free account there.

Register: https://licence.animate.tv/regist.php
Watch: http://www.animate.tv/anime/details.php?id=68

SPOILER SCREEN CAPS BELOW THE CUT. Wait for the English subs if you don’t want to be spoiled :)

Summary:

Aquarius boy, Amaha Tsubasa 天羽翼 (cv: Suzumura Kenichi 鈴村健一) is prohibited from making his inventions in the Student Council room because one of them exploded in the room. Tsubasa becomes depressed. The Student Council members, Aries boy Shiranui Kazuki 不知火一樹 (cv. Nakamura Yuuichi 中村悠一), Yahisa Tsukiko 夜久月子 (cv: Orikasa Fumiko 折笠富美子) and Virgo boy Aozora Hayato 青空颯斗 (cv. Hirakawa Daisuke 平川大輔) notice it and are worried about him. And then Shiranui comes up with an idea and the members decide to give Tsubasa a surprise…

Spoiler Screen cap + summary start:

Aquarius boy Amaha Tsubasa is feeling depressed because he is prohibited from his experiments at the Student Council room after the explosion in the last episode. Sagittarius boy Kinose Azusa checks on him.

Azusa thinks Tsubasa is acting strange because he spaces out in class and isn’t working on his inventions at all. He comments that it is the first time he sees Tsubasa not doing something to his inventions. Tsubasa explains that he can’t do that in the Student Council room anymore. But Azusa points out frankly that he can still work his inventions elsewhere, right? But Tsubasa kicks him out of his room and says that he wants to sleep. Before Azusa leaves, he comments that this probably means that Tsubasa loves inventing probably as much as he loves the members of the Student Council.

Shiranui and the other two Student Council members are discussing about accommodating the room to Tsubasa and his inventions. Tsukiko thinks it may work but Hayato still thinks it is dangerous and disagrees to the idea.

If I’m not wrong, at this point Shiranui is saying something like he needs Hayato’s support. He explains that he wants to do something for Tsubasa and that if Hayato is feeling down, he would do anything for him too.

Hayato sees through him and comments that Shiranui just wants to do something fun but he finally agrees to the idea and will do whatever he can to make it happen. Just then, Tsubasa arrives.

Shiranui tells him not to come to the Student Council room for a week. However, as he wants to give the boy a surprise, they cook up a lame excuse, saying that the teachers need the Student Council to prepare for exam papers. So all of them will take a week’s break from their activities. Thinking that it may be due to the explosion, Tsubasa can’t help but feel down.

Shirahui asks the other members keep Tsubasa away from the room while they prepare the surprise. Then we see Tsubasa spacing out and feeling down because he can’t go to the Student Council room and his friend Asuza’s look of concern for him.

More emo-ing from the Aquarius boy and looking cute in the process (lol~) Then one day he subconsciously walks to the Student Council room and…

… remembers the happy times with the rest of the members. Suddenly, the door opens and he sees Hayato and Tsukiko walk out of the room, saying that they’re looking forward to something. When they see one another, they try to explain that it is a coincidence but Shiranui walks out at that point. Upset that they lied to him, Tsubasa thinks that they don’t want him in their circle anymore and runs away.

It brings back all his painful childhood memories of being abandoned and the unkind words of the adults as he was shuffled from one relative to another.

Tsubasa feels rejected and upset.

The other three finally find him but when Tsukiko reaches out to him, he slaps her hand away. Shiranui then grabs Tsubasa and drags him away.

Shiranui is dragged inside the Student Council room and is shocked to see all the laboratory equipment.

It is then revealed that they have been working on the special laboratory room just for Tsubasa, so that he can work on his inventions as much as he likes. They even added reinforced walls in case there are explosions.

Tsubasa feels so happy and squeezes his eyes shut again. Shiranui wants to know how he feels. He reassures Tsubasa that happiness won’t disappear and wants him to open his eyes and see it. These happy times will continue to accumulate and they will have fun times together.

Tsubasa is surprised that Shiranui and the rest knows the reason why he always closes his eyes when he is happy. Right now, he feels so happy but scared at the same time because he is most afraid that this happiness will end someday.

Next is just some cute moments of the group. Shiranui calls Tsubasa a kid and is called an old man instead. He punches Tsubasa on the head and the boy leans towards Tsukiko playfully for comfort.

Hayato glides over and puts two ear plugs into Tsukiko’s ears. Then he calmly runs his fingernails across the mini chalk board. The screech terrorises the boys and stops their little tumbling fight. Everyone laughs.

Tsubasa talks to his grandfather in his heart. He feels that he is having a lot of fun now and for the first time he feels that he wants to be with somebody. He feels too that maybe something like new emotions is waiting for him. Although he is afraid, he also feels excited about it. He will not close his eyes anymore when he is feeling happy because it will be such a waste! He wants to see everything that is happening during happy times too.

Next week. Pisces arc ! :D

Title: Starry Sky vol.2 -Episode Tsubasa- Special Edition DVD
Price: 5,800yen
Release date: 24 March 2011
DVD includes episodes 3 to 4, pillow case, booklet and a special DVD with bonus 10 minutes footage.

Running time: 30 minutes

Starry Sky Series Episode 3, volume 1 of Aquarius. Yet another enjoyable volume with many cute shots and fan-service bromance shots! Loved it!

Yep you can watch it free at Animate TV for a limited period of time. Sign up for a free account there.

Register: https://licence.animate.tv/regist.php
Watch: http://www.animate.tv/anime/details.php?id=68

SPOILER SCREEN CAPS BELOW THE CUT. Wait for the English subs if you don’t want to be spoiled :)

Summary:

Aquarius boy, Amaha Tsubasa 天羽翼 (cv: Suzumura Kenichi 鈴村健一) is a boy who loves inventing things. During the first day of school at Seigatsu Academy, he runs into his childhood friend, Sagittarius boy Kinose Azusa 木ノ瀬梓 (cv: Fukuyama Jun 福山潤). Azusa notices that Amaha hasn’t changed the unique way he laughs and is filled nostalgia. During the entrance ceremony, the student council president, Aries boy Shiranui Kazuki 不知火一樹 (cv. Nakamura Yuuichi 中村悠一) goes on stage and unexpectedly appoints Amaha as the Student Council treasurer. There he becomes friends with Yahisa Tsukiko 夜久月子 (cv: Orikasa Fumiko 折笠富美子) and Virgo boy Aozora Hayato 青空颯斗 (cv. Hirakawa Daisuke 平川大輔)

Spoiler Screen cap + summary start:

Aquarius boy Amaha Tsubasa’s episode starts at the time when he is a child. Some women are gossiping about him being abandoned by his divorced parents. In another room, young Tsubasa is working on his new invention.

Another young boy enters the room and asks him what he is doing… Embarrassed, Tsubasa replies that it is an invention and it is near completion. When the other boy wonders what it can do, Tsubasa demonstrates its purpose at the garden.

It is an automated watering can! The other boy thinks it’s pretty awesome but the young inventor replies that it is a simple thing. However, the boy feels that it is not something that can be easily achieved by anybody but Tsubasa did it. Both of them look so adorable.

Tsubasa introduces his name shyly and the other boy asks him if he knows his. Tsubasa already knows. It is Azusa. The boys shake hands… (Bromance bromance~ ah~ so cute *hearts*)

Tsubasa accidentally lets out a laugh… “nuhaha” and stops himself. Azusa recognises the laughter and says it sounds like Tsubasa’s grandfather, Eisuke. Tsubasa is embarrassed but Azusa thinks it is nice… and funny (or strange). Tsubasa is upset and demands that Azusa should not say that his grandfather is strange. Azusa apologies for making Tsubasa angry but he explains that it is a compliment because he feels that it is unique.

Tsubasa then wonders why the other kids in school laugh at him when he laughs like that. Azusa thinks that a person’s laughter reflects his personality/individuality. If everybody are the same, it would be boring. He thinks that it is something that makes Tsubasa who he is and reassures him with a sincere smile that is more interesting this way. And the person who chooses to be with Tsubasa will be ok with him just the way he is.

Fast forward to the future… It is Tsubasa’s first day at Seigatsu Academy… in a corner, somebody has his eyes locked on him…

One of them took a picture of Tsubasa while the other seems to be plotting something, saying that he has found the one he is searching for… Just then, Tsubasa accidentally bumps into another student…

He turns out to be Azusa! The childhood friends meet again. Azusa holds out his hand like he did in the past when they were children and Tsubasa laughs his trademark “nuhaha” laugh. Azusa says that it’s nice that he hasn’t changed the way he laughs.

Tsubasa’s mind flashes back to the day they first met. Seeing that Tsubasa closes his eyes, Azusa asks if Tsubasa is reminded of his grandfather and is feeling happy. Tsubasa wonders why Azusa said so and the boy explains that whenever Tsubasa is thinking happy thoughts, he has a tendency to squeeze his eyes shut and this trait of his hasn’t changed too.

Tsubasa says that he wasn’t thinking about his grandfather but just as Azusa asks him what he was thinking, Tsukiko approaches the two and asks them to join the assembly quickly as the ceremony is starting soon.

During the assembly… the principal is giving a welcome speech (I think) After that, Tsukiko announces the next speaker, student council president, Aries boy, Shiranui Kazuki…

…who took to the stage like a rock star. Lol~ Then he announces that he is the president and he is like the ruler of the student body, so everybody has to obey him. Then he points at Tsubasa and says that he shall be appointed as a treasurer for the student council.

The spotlight shines on Tsubasa but he isn’t paying attention at all until Azusa elbows him. Then Shiranui announces that everything the president says is absolute, so Tsubasa must report to the student council room after class ends.

After class, Tsubasa is on his way back. Azusa catches up to him and asks if it is ok to skip the student council room. Tsubasa replies that it has got nothing to do with him and he is busy with his inventions. Azusa wonders if Tsubasa knew Shiranui but the boy says that he has no idea who he is. Azusa feels there must be a reason why he was chosen and that the president seems familiar. Just then, Shiranui jumps in and drags Tsubasa away. Tsubasa cries for help… Azusa seems to remember who Shiranui reminds him of and just smiles at the two.

Tsubasa is dragged to the student council room and introduced to secretary Tsukiko and vice president Virgo boy, Aozora Hayato.

Tsubasa is appointed as the treasurer from now on and is welcomed into the student council by the trio.

Tsubasa feels that during his time spent with the student council, he is surrounded by lots of laughter but it is also period when he often feels perplexed. When he is happy, he also feels a tinge of sadness. When something feels nostalgic, it also feels new. Assaulted by all these feelings, he can’t help but feel bewildered by it.

One day, Tsubasa is taking a nap. Shiranui gives him a punch and awakes him to the fact that his green tea serving robot is running berserk. Just when they’re wondering how to stop the robot, it starts to count down…

They realise that it is going to explode and demand that Tsubasa stop it. But before they can do anything about it, it explodes right in front of Tsukiko!

The room is a mess and the fire alarm is set off. Fortunately nobody is hurt. Tsubasa says that the robot wasn’t supposed to explode. He laughs it off and says that it would be ok the next time. However, Hayato is not amused.

Hayato says that “there won’t be a next time” for the time being. Although the other two try to speak up for him, Hayato reminds them that Tsubasa has his tasks to perform as a treasurer. If he must work on his inventions, he cannot do it in the student council room anymore…

What will Tsubasa do? Aquarius arc continues next week! :D

Title: Starry Sky vol.2 -Episode Tsubasa- Special Edition DVD
Price: 5,800yen
Release date: 24 March 2011
DVD includes episodes 3 to 4, pillow case, booklet and a special DVD with bonus 10 minutes footage.

Running time: 30 minutes

I just caught the first episode on animate.tv and I’m very happy to announce…. the quality is very, very good!!! :D Although the anime looks simple, with slow panning shots, etc, they made good whatever little animation there was in the anime, walking, talking, blinking, etc. The characters were translated nicely into their anime versions and came alive because of the sheer prettiness of it all. Beautiful backgrounds and lovely colours! Almost every shot and angle looked lovingly drawn and animated. Pacing was ok too.

Each episode is about 11 minutes long (with opening and ending). Yep I just found that we can catch the first episode FREE. Sign up for a free account there.

Register: https://licence.animate.tv/regist.php
Watch: http://www.animate.tv/anime/details.php?id=68

My connection was kinda slow, so I try to forget the fact that I just spent 1+ hour trying to watch a 11 minute broadcast by compiling the screen caps of the first episode! Before I knew it, I actually took over 150 of them lol~. There are just too many pretty images! :P

Updated with youtube video below the cut! English subs will probably be out soon. Don’t read on if you don’t want to be spoiled. SPOILER SCREEN CAPS + ENGLISH SUBBED VIDEO BELOW THE CUT.

The video cannot be shown at the moment. Please try again later.

Summary:

Yahisa Tsukiko is the first female student to enroll at Seigatsu Academy, a former all-boys school specializing in astronomy. She is closely watched over by her childhood friends, Nanami Kanata (Pisces boy) and Touzuki Suzuya (Cancer boy), who often protect her from the male student body. Throughout the story, she befriends other young men whose personalities are based on the Western zodiac constellations.

In the first episode, not long after Tsukiko transfers to Seigatsu Academy, a half-French boy named Tomoe Yoh (Capricorn boy) follows suit to pursue her. This action stirs up emotions from Kanata and Suzuya, both of whom had long loved Tsukiko.

Spoiler Screen cap + summary start:

The anime starts with Capricorn boy, Tomoe Yoh reminiscing the past… what a cute little boy.

One day he was gazing at stars. He dropped his telescope and couldn’t find it among the bushes. A girl found it and handed it to him.

They began chatting about why they liked star gazing and all…

Then the girl noticed that Tomoe Yoh had very different colour eyes. He was sad because he was teased a lot for it.

But she found them very pretty! And introduced herself as Yahisa Tsukiko :D Such a cute shot. Even I am won over lol~

Back to current time. Tomoe Yoh is thinking that he is finally going to meet Yahisa Tsukiko again. His mum enters his room. He apologies for making a selfish demand but she responds kindly to him. Next day he attends Seigatsu Academy as a transfer student.

Teacher Haruki Naoshi sensei gives Tomoe Yoh an introduction about the school and the subjects that they teach.

Giving us an opportunity to look at almost all the boys in their beautifully drawn anime form. Tomoe Yoh asks about the only female student in the all-boys school. He will be in the same class as she is.

Flash back to why he made the decision to join the school. His parents are planning to move to another country (I can’t remember… US? I think) for an astronomy research job his father is taking up. As he lived in Japan for a period of time when he was a child. He requests to go back to Japan because he has an important person to meet before joining them. It has always been his dream to be able to study astronomy (If I’m not wrong). They are very supportive and give him their blessings to find his important person because they found each other in Japan too.

Back to the class. Childhood friends Yahisa Tsukiko, Nanami Kanata and Touzuki Suzuya are chit chatting. Haruki Naoshi sensei enters the class and asks Tomoe Yoh to introduce himself.

Haruki Naoshi sensei asks Yahisa Tsukiko to take care of Tomoe Yoh since they will be sitting next to each other. Yahisa Tsukiko greets him and he reveals that this is not the first time that they met.

That catches the attention of Nanami Kanata and Touzuki Suzuya… and it concludes the first episode.

The ending animation is very pretty too. But… try to overlook the glaring spelling mistake of “DISTINY” (Destiny) and bad grammar ^^;;

Very nice in general. This is definitely THE bishonen/otome anime to watch out for in the coming year besides the BL anime Sekai Ichi Hatsukoi in 2011 :) I’m so glad!

Title: Starry Sky vol.1 -Episode Capricorn- Special Edition DVD
Price: 5,800yen
Release date: 23 February 2011
DVD includes episodes 1 to 2, pillow case, booklet and a special DVD with bonus 10 minutes footage.

Running time: 30 minutes

Anime based on mega popular otome girls drama CD series Starry☆Sky will begin broadcast on 23 December 2010.

The lucky people in Japan would have been able to watch the special free broadcast of the first episode of Starry Sky Capricorn at Animate Japan’s Ikebukuro store from 18 December till 26 December 2010.

Summary:
Yahisa  Tsukiko is the first female student to enroll at Seigatsu Academy, a former all-boys school specializing in astronomy. She is closely watched over by her childhood friends, Nanami Kanata (Pisces boy) and Touzuki Suzuya (Cancer boy), who often protect her from the male student body. Throughout the story, she befriends other young men whose personalities are based on the Western zodiac constellations.

In the first episode, not long after Tsukiko transfers to Seigatsu Academy, a half-French boy named Tomoe Yoh (Capricorn boy) follows suit to pursue her. This action stirs up emotions from Kanata and Suzuya, both of whom had long loved Tsukiko.

From the looks of it, the producers will be focusing on each constellation boy’s story with the heroine in short episodic formats and I’m guessing probably from the Starry Sky games? I think this will probably work well for a series like this. It helps to keep the story tight and will probably give each boy relatively equal screen time. Fans of different boys will probably be happier with this arrangement rather than having them try to create a main plot-line and then risk screwing up the whole thing.

Stills from the anime look pretty good :) I’m looking forward to it but keeping my expectations low in case I get disappointed. OTL

DVD of the anime is out for preorder too. There’s the special edition with goodies and the regular edition as well.

Updated with DVD cover jacket illustrated by Kazuaki-sensei (left) and pillow case (anime-version) illustrated by Fujimasa-san (right)

Title: Starry Sky vol.1 -Episode Capricorn- Special Edition DVD
Price: 5,800yen
Release date: 23 February 2011
DVD includes episodes 1 to 2, pillow case, booklet and a special DVD with bonus 10 minutes footage. Running time: 30 minutes

A PILLOW case??? I think it’s going to be a trend now for otome/fangirl targeted series. Can’t wait to see what it looks like. I’ll update when there’s more information :D

Characters from left: Capricorn, Aquarius, Pisces, Aries, Taurus, Gemini

Characters from left: Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius

Cast list:
Heroine: Orikasa Fumiko as Yahisa Tsukiko 夜久月子：折笠富美子

Capricorn: Midorikawa Hikaru as Tomoe Yoh 土萌羊：緑川光
Aquarius Suzumura Kenichi as Amaha Tsubasa 天羽翼：鈴村健一
Pisces: Sugita Tomokazu as Nanami Kanata 七海哉太：杉田智和
Aries Nakamura Yuuichi as Shiranui Kazuki 不知火一樹：中村悠一
Taurus: Hoshi Souichiro as Kanakubo Homare 金久保誉：保志総一朗
Gemini: Yusa Kouji as Mizushima Iku 水嶋郁：遊佐浩二
Cancer: Ono Daisuke as Touzuki Suzuya 東月錫也：小野大輔
Leo: Kishio Daisuke as Haruki Naoshi 陽日直獅：岸尾だいすけ
Virgo: Hirakawa Daisuke as Aozora Hayato 青空颯斗：平川大輔
Libra: Ishida Akira as Hoshizuki Kotaro 星月琥太郎：石田彰
Scorpio: Kamiya Hiroshi as Miyaji Ryunosuke  宮地龍之介：神谷浩史
Sagittarius: Fukuyama Jun as Kinose Azusa 木ノ瀬梓：福山潤
Ophiuchus: Miyano Mamoru as Kagurazaka Shiki 神楽坂四季：宮野真守

Suwabe Junichi as Shirogane Ooshirou

Production house: Studio DEEN

Official site: http://www.sta-ska.com/index.html

Another funny 4-panel comic by Nitro+Chiral illustrator Yu-pon sensei found inside CHiRAL CAFE BOOK :D Poor Keisuke doesn’t know what’s in store for him next hahaha~

Keisuke gets Rai’s death glare. It was Rai’s hair!!! Such a genius! XD I love how his tail is wagging so furiously lol lol.

Ooo~ Zenya having a good time with his pet Christine.

Lol~… Shiki isn’t going to be pleased to be called out for something like this :D I think the joke is also about Shiki and Zenya being the voiced by the same seiyuu Midorikawa Hikaru :3

These scary semes hahaha ^^

More information:
SWEETS SET: 1 disc CHiRAL CAFE e Yokoso Drama CD + CHiRAL CAFE BOOK
CHiRAL CAFEへようこそ
Price: 3,500 Yen (w/tax)

Official site: http://www.nitrochiral.com/special/dramacd/

Title: 誰が作ったの？
Keisuke: すいません! 毛が入ってたですけど。シェフ呼んでもらえますか?
Rai: 。。。。。。
Keisuke: 。。。。。。すいません
Zenya: ちょっと~このデザートすっこくおいしい~作った人呼んできて!
Shiki: 。。。。。。
Zenya: おいしいね。クリス~

Funny 4-panel comic by Nitro+Chiral illustrator Yu-pon sensei found inside
CHiRAL CAFE BOOK :D

Lol~ Konoe and his Kuim and Youji’s fish :3 So cute

Hahaha and Akira’s solid! (I bet it must be omu rice flavour)

Motomi WINS lol~

More information:
SWEETS SET: 1 disc CHiRAL CAFE e Yokoso Drama CD + CHiRAL CAFE BOOK
CHiRAL CAFEへようこそ
Price: 3,500 Yen (w/tax)

Official site: http://www.nitrochiral.com/special/dramacd/

Title: お祝いせよ！
Arubitoro: 明日はめでたく。キラルカフェ５周年である。 各自、私にプレゼントを用意するように！
翌日。。。。。。
Konoe: はい。
Youji: 。。。。。。
Akira: ん。
Arubitoro: 美しいくないものばかりだな。。。
Motomi: ほれっ。祝いのラーメンだぞ。
Arubitoro: 指が入っているぞ！汚らわしいッ！

As more visual novels are being ported to the PSP platform, BL games too are following suit. Some of the earliest to do so is Spray. They have so far ported two of their successful Boys Love game franchises, Gakuen Heaven 学園ヘヴン BOY’S LOVE SCRAMBLE! and Gakuen Heaven 学園ヘヴン おかわりっ！Okawari to the PSP platform.

However, since they are in the PSP format, don’t expect 18+ R-rated stuff that you can find on PC games ;) Even if they were originally R-rated/M-rated, the questionable bits would have been removed, as in Gakuen Heaven 学園ヘヴン BOY’S LOVE SCRAMBLE!

Other PSP ports include Togainu no Chi 咎狗の血, Hanakisou 花帰葬 and Cherry blossom~チェリーブロッサム. As Hanakisou and Cherry blossom were shounen-ai to begin with, there aren’t issues with porting over to the platform.

I wonder why they don’t make 18+ portable console games lol~ to protect the innocent bystander from bl smexy pr0n perhaps XD

Generally speaking, these PSP-ported titles have good reviews when they were first released as PC games.

No luck for Nintendo DS players, cos there are no BL games for it yet.

1) Gakuen Heaven 学園ヘヴン おかわりっ！Okawari
Publisher: Prototype プロトタイプ (PSP) / Spray (PC)
Available: 13 February 2011
Price: 5,460 Yen (w/tax)
Ages: 15+

2) Gakuen Heaven 学園ヘヴン BOY’S LOVE SCRAMBLE!
Publisher: Prototype プロトタイプ (PSP) / Spray (PC)
Available: 26 November 2009
Price: 5,460 Yen (w/tax)
Ages: 15+
Prototype official game site
Spray Official game site

Popular BL game that was also made into an anime. The 18+ non-voiced PC game was first released in 2003, and followed by two full-voiced flavours of PS2 ports in 2003 (17+) and 2004 (15+) Boys school theme.

Voice casts include: Fukuyama Jun, Sakurai Takahiro, Morikawa Toshiyuki, Konishi Katsuyuki, Kamiya Hiroshi, etc.

Cast List (Full-voice heaven indeed!)

伊藤啓太 Itou Keita – 福山潤 Fukuyama Jun
遠藤和希 Endou Kazumi – 櫻井孝宏 Sakurai Takahiro
丹羽哲也 Niwa Tetsuya – 小西克幸 Konishi Katsuyuki
西園寺郁 Saiyonji Kaoru – 神谷浩史 Kamiya Hiroshi
中嶋英明 Nakajima Hideaki – 森川智之 Morikawa Toshiyuki
七条 臣 Shichijyou Omi 坪井智浩 Tsuboi Tomohiro

成瀬由紀彦 Naruse Yukihiko – 三木眞一郎 Miki Shinichirou
篠宮紘司 Shinomiya Kouji – 置鮎龍太郎 Okiayu Ryoutarou
岩井卓人 Iwai Takuto – 野島裕史 Nojima Hirofumi
滝俊介 Taki Shunsuke 鈴村健一 Suzumura Kenichi
海野聡 Umino Satoshi 川上とも子 Kawakami Tomoko
(Twin) 小澤渉 Ozawa Wataru – 水島大宙 Mizushima Takahiro
(Twin) 小澤翔 Ozawa Kakeru – 武内健 Takeuchi Ken
松岡迅 Matsuoka Jin 成田剣 Narita Ken

I have Gakuen Heaven PS2 (17+ version of cos lol~ I’m a perv you see… but I haven’t completed the game yet ^^;;;) If I finally buy a PSP, it’ll probably during Christmas or something… hoping for sales. (Also heard rumours of a new console coming up?)

I’ve heard of a fan made-port of sweet pool into PSP but I don’t have a copy of that. Are there any other official PSP BL games that you know of? Have you played any of them, PC/PS2/PSP? Please share your thoughts ^^

Welcome to Chiral Cafe!

Akira, Konoe and Youji have started working at CHiRAL CAFE… Almost late for their first day at work, they meet their sempai (senior) work mates at the cafe who each possesses strong and colourful personalities. The thought of having to rely on these sempai-tachi (seniors) makes our boys feel rather uneasy.

More embarrassing challenges present themselves in the form of customers who cause problems at the cafe (^^;;; something along that line)

What else is going to happen today?

Sounds like a fun riot comedy in an alternate universe setting!

Information about the CD

1) SWEETS SET: 1 disc Drama CD + CHiRAL CAFE BOOK
Available: 31 October 2010

THE CHiRAL NIGHT 5th ANNIVERSARY
On sale: 5 November 2010
Price: 3,500 Yen (w/tax)
Available at: https://shop.digi-goods.com/item.php?id=719

Official site: http://www.nitrochiral.com/special/dramacd/

The book will be illustrated by Yukari and feature comments etc of staff and cast involved in the drama cd. Gaaa~ this is awesome news! You’ll so see me stalking Yahoo Japan auctions after that event.

If you want to buy just the drama cd, it will be available for general release on 5 November 2010 at 3,150 Yen (w/tax)

Stars main seme uke cast from Togainu no Chi, Lamento and Sweet Pool. How awesome is that? XD
A) Hall staff

アキラ 鳥海浩輔
Akira – Toriumi Kousuke

CHiRAL CAFE newbie. Hall staff.
He doesn’t like to talk much. Being in the service industry unsettles him.

コノエ 波多野和俊
Konoe – Hatano Kazutoshi

CHiRAL CAFE newbie. Hall staff.
Although he started work at the cafe because of Bardo’s recommendation…

崎山蓉司 春野風
Sakiyama Youji – Hatano Wataru

CHiRAL CAFE newbie. Hall staff.
Surrounded by “menancing” mature/adult-like seniors and customers…

リン 福山潤
Rin – Fukuyama Jun

CHiRAL CAFE senior. Hall staff.
He has years of working experience and is good at service. He is also given the responsibility of a hall chief.

城沼哲雄 鳩マン軍曹
Shironuma Tetsuo – Kawahara Yoshihisa

CHiRAL CAFE senior. Hall staff. Service chief.
Usually doesn’t speak much but behaviour changes when he greets customers.

B) Kitchen Staff (LOL)

シキ 緑川光
Shiki – Midorikawa Hikaru

CHiRAL CAFE senior. Kitchen staff.
He doesn’t cook much and usually goes out to buy ingredients.

ライ 森川智之
Rai – Morikawa Toshiyuki

CHiRAL CAFE senior. Kitchen staff.
He has first-class cooking skills but is a very scary senior because of the intimidating way he speaks.

バルド 舞幸運
Bardo 乃村健次 Nomura Kenji

CHiRAL CAFE senior. Kitchen Chief cum Manager.
He recommended Konoe to the cafe. Surprisingly, he can make very delicate dishes.

三田睦 空乃太陽
Mita Makoto – Kishio Daisuke

CHiRAL CAFE senior. Kitchen trainee.
He has a big appetite and is constantly eating secretly. His behaviour draws angry reactions. (I think)

C) Owner

アルビトロ 岡野浩介
Arubitoro – Okano Kousuke

CHiRAL CAFE’s owner.
He usually doesn’t appear at the cafe. The staff usually avoid him.

D) Guests

ケイスケ 杉田智和
Keisuke – Sugita Tomokazu

CHiRAL CAFE customer. Akira’s friend.
Felt lonely when Akira started working at the cafe. He wants to visit the cafe but feels anxious and scared… (probably cos he is afraid that Akira might get angry/irritated lol~)

アサト 春野風
Asato – Hatano Wataru

CHiRAL CAFE customer. Konoe’s friend.
He loves how Konoe looks while he works so he has no choice but to be there (so cute :3) No matter when and where, Konoe is always his priority.

翁長善弥 緑川光
Okinaga Zenya – Midorikawa Hikaru

CHiRAL CAFE customer.
Frequents the cafe because of Youji. His presence is quite overwhelming/ pressurising for Youji.

E) Noodle Shop

源泉 一条和矢
Motomi – Ichijou Kazuya

Runs the ramen noodle shop next to CHiRAL CAFE.
It’s the place where cafe staff hang out and chill out after work.

Track listing
1：ドキドキ初出勤、はじめてのCHiRAL CAFE
2：ワクワクランチタイム、メニューでドッキリ
3：かなえてオーナー、面接狂想曲
4：ぶっちゃけトーク、ラーメンはハードボイルド

Anybody also felt cheated after watching the first few episodes of Season 2? Lol~

The much-awaited second season of Kuroshitsuji, The Black Butler 黑執事II was broadcast in July 2010.

With a new cast and characters not related to the ongoing manga by Toboso Yana announced last December, I have mentally prepped myself to let go of Ciel Phantomhive and his black butler, Sebastian Michaelis in Season 2, since I felt that Season 1 had a good closure to Ciel’s struggle.

And so I welcomed the new butler-shota pair of Alois Trancy (v.o. Mizuki Nana) and Claude Faustus (v.o. Sakurai Takahiro)

Let’s see a quick summary of Season Two before we discuss further (Animenewsnetwork)

In late-nineteenth century England, one year and three months after the dramatic conclusion of the original series, Kuroshitsuji II introduces a new butler and young master. The sadistic yet cheerful Alois Trancy has faced some harsh times. He was kidnapped as a baby, and was forced to work in a village as a slave. Gradually, he lost his parents, his best friend, and everyone he knew. Alois eventually returned home and became the head of his mansion, but seemed to exhibit some strange behavior ever since. Even more curiously, he returned with Claude Faustus, an enigmatic, emotionless butler with unfathomable talent…

Now back to the discussion… Everything that follows here will be spoilers, so read on at your own risk :)

The beginning of the first episode of Season 2 was pretty impressive in terms of “BL-ness” for a mainstream anime.

****************** View SPOILER with BL-ish Screencap ******************

Right at the beginning we see a naked and bruised Alois climbing out of a bed where another naked old man was sleeping in. Judging from the visuals, you can definitely tell that the boy had had it rough. I liked how the anime conveyed the darkness that surrounded Alois, an angelic-looking, blond, blue-eyed boy who was probably sleeping with the old man for survival before making the contract with his own demon butler, Claude. Claude’s symbol (or mascot lol~) is the spider.

The keyword of their contract was Desire. I find it apt to show the seal of contract on his tongue. The tongue is quite an erotic organ, no?

We don’t know very much about current Alois’s real background but he did share the same eye and hair colour as the real Alois’s mother. The actual sequence of events about the boy’s return to the mansion with Butler Claude as well as Elder Trancy’s death from plague did not coincide as reported by his uncle, who suspected Alois’s real identity. However, I’m inclined to believe that Alois was picked up and brought back to the mansion as a sex toy by the old man/Elder Trancy, the real Alois’s father who finally returned after years of unsuccessful search for his own kidnapped son. But that’s just a guess.

Another reason why I’m guessing this is because the red-themed decor of the bedroom at the beginning definitely looked like the original Trancy mansion that Claude restored as shown in the above screencap. Alois had apparently redecorated the mansion after “his father”, Elder Trancy’s death because he hated the way it looked.

Oh more pics on why I think the old man was real Alois’s father.

****************** View SPOILER with BL-ish Screencap ******************

Alois’s uncle said that Alois’s father (on the left) used all sorts of ways to search for him.

White haired old man on bed. Notice the same hair length.

Officially, Alois’s character setting is very needy and clingy towards Claude. He has an abandonment complex and feels “filthy” because of what he has gone through. I think Alois wants to be loved and desired but I think the only way he knows how is by using his body for seduction. He doesn’t seem to think twice about doing anything just to attract Claude’s attention but Claude so far seems unaffected by his teasing. Alois is also incredibly jealous of anything or anyone who comes close to his butler. I’m a little appalled by the cruelty that he can display towards others as you will see in Episode 1.

However, I was also quite excited at the potential of melodrama and angst that this pair could create and wondered how the producers were going to pull off a story with an obviously twisted and not very likable character.

Anyway, the first episode felt like a full-on BL fan-service for all fujoshis and sets the general basis of their relationship.

****************** View SPOILER with BL-ish Screencap ******************

There are also other secondary characters who were kinda cute. The triplet young male servants, in particular. There’s also an emo-looking female servant who probably will serve some importance in the plot. Just a guess since she was given quite a lot of screen-time in this episode.

I also loved the opening animation cos I found it very sensual.

Just as I was beginning to get acquainted with our new pair, the producers dropped the bomb and gave us Sebastian in a top hat and high collars that hid his face. Oh well, I recognised him because of his voice of course. And what followed was a messy battle with Sebastian fighting with Claude to steal a tin of tea called New Moon Drop or Dance of the Soul. No prizes for guessing who the final recipient of that item was. And Claude seemed to know or recognise Sebastian for who he was and Alois was saying that he finally found Ciel ^^;;; doesn’t make sense? Well, whatever.

So the first episode concluded with Sebastian escaping with the tin and his suitcase. He carried Ciel out of the suitcase who still had the white rose from the ending episode in the previous season attached onto his coat. He took Ciel’s ring out from the tin and put it onto the lifeless boy’s thumb. As the ring glowed, Sebastian whispered gently to Ciel, telling him it was time to wake up…

Hrmm… well… seems that Sebastian did love Ciel quite a lot if you look at all the things he did in this episode. Anyway all shall be revealed in due time :3

Then I watched Episode 2, and the opening sequence has changed to focus on Sebastian and Ciel instead.

In the episode, Ciel woke up on a boat, reminiscent to the last scene where he was taken to Sebastian’s abode in Season 1 ending to have his soul taken away. And Sebastian hinted strongly that it was all a dream. I felt totally, utterly and seriously cheated. =_= Nevermind all the emotions we felt for the characters when they met their end previously. Those characters were all back… well almost…

I think they shifted the main focus back to Ciel and Sebastian to continue with the plot as this pair is probably easier to accept for a mainstream audience compared to the sadistic Alois. Either that or maybe they received too many complaints from fans about losing Ciel and Sebastian. Whatever it was, I can’t help but feel a little disappointed by the way it was handled.

Then comes Episode 3 and the anime seemed to go back to the mystery-solving theme that was so successful in the manga and Season One. However, this time it seemed that Alois and Claude were going to be on the opposite camp from Ciel and Sebastian and they were to be the main antagonists who would cause mayhem in the future. This was probably hinted on the main visual key art of the anime where the two pairs were shown facing each other on opposite sides (first pic on top).

I think manga fans will probably be pulling their hair out ^^;;;

I’ll keep watching anyway. Though I still feel kinda irked at the lame “It’s all a dream” way of trying to give continuity to the story.

Oh, I’ll keep watching too for this… It was mega-cute (in Ep.3) Probably Sebastian’s only weakness in all his demon-butler perfection (that even Claude couldn’t rival in Ep.1).

Update: 8/8/2010 – Episode 6 – BL SPOILER pic of Sebby x Ciel

A hint is given to explain the questions we have at beginning. Don’t see if you haven’t watched the previous episodes.

Sebby seemed to relish the thought of feasting on Ciel’s soul but he realised something which stopped him from taking it at the end. So Ciel is technically not dead. However, this short scene wasn’t enough to explain why our butler needed the ring to revive the boy and why he lost his memory. Watch this episode for the answers ^^ hehe

As usual, Square-Enix is quick to cash in on their successful franchises. These figures that were made for Season Two were rather cute! Who knows? Maybe we can expect Nendoroid of the new pair in the future too :)

Cast:
Sakurai Takahiro as Claude Faustus
Mizuki Nana as Alois Trancy
Ono Daisuke as Sebastian Michaelis
Sakamoto Maaya as Ciel Phantomhive
Katou Emiri as Meirin
Touchi Hirokias Bard
Fukuyama Jun as Grell
Suwabe Junichi as Undertaker
Yusa Koji as Lau
Paku Romi as Madam Red
Fujimura Shunji as Tanaka
Tamura Yukari as Elizabeth
Kaji Yuuki as Finny

Official website: http://www.kuroshitsuji.tv

But before we get to the action, please watch the video of these two
chibi voice i-doll figures that inspired my Suzaku x Lelouch photo shoot XD

Click here to view the video on YouTube.

**************************************************
And now… Back to Baka… Yamerou! Suzaku!
(Read right to left, but doesn’t matter very much)
**************************************************

Hope you enjoyed that! :D

Anyway, here’s a quick note about the figures. Apparently, they’re limited edition Code Geass figures that were offered to Newtype magazine readers in 2007 (2007年4月号ニュータイプ限定全員サービス 「ちびボイス猫耳ver．ルルーシュ＆スザク」). I found them on sale at Mandarake Japan and grabbed them for about 2000 Yen (+handling charge w/o shipping) Although they’re not new, they’re in perfect working condition. They’re powered by batteries and feature the voices of Fukuyama Jun (Lelouch) and Sakurai Takahiro (Suzaku).

These boys are my first chibi voice figures. I didn’t collect the rest of the Code Geass voice figures cos there were just too many to buy and if you add them up, seriously expensive.

However, when I saw the neko-mimi on this set of Lelouch and Suzaku, I couldn’t and didn’t want to resist… I love neko-mimi (cat ears)! And I really didn’t expect Lelouch and Sukazu to say something so moe for BL fangirls at all. It was a really pleasant surprise when I pressed their buttons lol~ If you noticed, on the stand, it was written. Newtype Romance! MEGA fan-service and it inspired this not very original manga lol~ (yeah as usual, yaoi cliches, lines stolen from BLCDs and I also repeated their BAKA! GOMEN! lines :3) While taking the photos, I realised how PERFECTLY their paws were placed and how they can be used to fantastic-BL-fangirl-mousou (妄想)-effect.

Oh well, this is definitely one of my BEST impulse buys ever! XD

Before we go, here’s another Sukebe/ecchi Suzaku shot lol~

Update: 28 December 2010. Hugely disappointing anime. It is something you have to see to believe (disbelief) and one of the main reasons I didn’t want to write my comments about it until I’ve watched everything… I was still holding to the hope that it would get better and continued watching because of loyalty and love for the series and the seiyuus. Anyway, you’ve been warned. Can the animators redeem themselves with the reworked DVDs? Let’s wait and see.

There are 12 broadcast episodes and a rumoured episode 13. I think it may appear as a DVD-only special, featuring Yukihito, a new character first introduced in Togainu’s PS2 port, voiced by Kamiya Hiroshi who was listed as part of the anime cast. Last checked, his name isn’t there anymore tho… so don’t hold your breath :-\

Update: 22 March 2010 Hyperventilate! XD

Togainu no Chi True Blood 咎狗の血

Official site: www.togainu.tv

Summary (grabbed from wiki)

After being devastated in the third World War (known as The Third Division), Japan was divided in two. Several years after the end of the war, a crime organization called Vischio has taken control of the destroyed city of Toshima (formerly Tokyo, Japan’s capital city), where they are holding a battle game known as “Igura”. The game’s main character, a young man named Akira, is falsely accused of a crime. Once arrested, a mysterious woman appears before him, offering him freedom if he agrees to participate in Igura and defeat Igura’s strongest man: the king, or “Il-re”. The story follows Akira’s life in the harsh, lawless Toshima as he fights both to survive and to unravel the mysteries developing around him.

Voice Cast:
Akira アキラ Toriumi Kousuke 鳥海浩輔
Keisuke ケイスケ Sugita Tomokazu 杉田智和
Rin リン Fukuyama Jun 福山潤
Motomi 源泉 Ichijo Kazuya 一条和矢
Shiki シキ Midorikawa Hikaru 緑川光
Arubitro アルビトロ Okano Kousuke 岡野浩介
Kiriwa キリヲ Konishi Katsuyuki 小西克幸
Gunji グンジ Taniyama Kishio 谷山紀章
Nano ナノ Yamazaki Takumi 山崎たくみ

Old information:

Promotion movie (PV) will be shown during their cafe party event on 22 March 2010.
(http://www.nitrochiral.com/pc/event/chiral_party/)

Thanks m for the youtube link ^^

Youtube link is dead visit Nitro+Chiral’s site for the official trailer

29 March 2010 Update (Thanks hammerhammer!)

Youtube link is dead visit Nitro+Chiral’s site for the official trailer

AWESOME LOOKING! I think we’re in for a visual treat, at least in the action animation bits.
I don’t think I’ll even mind it if there isn’t very much BL/fan-service ^^;;; as long as the story is told well.

23 March 2010 Update!

Screen grab of the trailer shown during Nitro Chiral’s 5th anniversary party

Well, we can only see Akira and Shiki’s heads for now but it sure looks promising :D

Source: journal.mycom.co.jp/news/2010/03/22/011/

29 March 2010 Update (Thanks hammerhammer!)

The video cannot be shown at the moment. Please try again later.

AWESOME LOOKING! I think we’re in for a visual treat, at least in the action animation bits.
I don’t think I’ll even mind it if there isn’t very much BL/fan-service ^^;;; as long as the story is told well.

Ah~… wouldn’t that be nice? But be prepared to suffer insomnia if that were to happen…

The realisation of this wish comes in the form of Lala’s limited edition Vampire Knight alarm clock ヴァンパイア騎士 ボイスクロック (by Hino Matsuri 樋野まつり)

And thanks to it, I didn’t sleep properly for the past few days I had it… Why? Cos everytime I set the alarm… (I chose Kaname‘s voice) I just couldn’t fall alseep. And when I finally slept, it would be just a few hours before the alarm was set to ring. And I would wake up in frustration, turn it off, curse myself for the stupidity and then try to go back to sleep. Zzz~

When I told my friend about it, she said that the anticipation and excitement of being awakened by the alarm kept me up. Maybe she was right. Anyway, it’s the weekend now, so I switched it off again. But I’ll switch it on later cos I’m want to wake up tomorrow for an early dip in the swimming pool before the crowd comes in.

To be honest, this is not on my priority wish list. I’m not a fan… yet. And I only watched the first episode of the anime ^^;;;  What I would really like to have is the Ouran clock and Kyou Kara Maou Conrad (v/o Morikawa Toshiyuki) voice clock (which is going like for more than US$200 bucks on auction. *dead*) But I figured I should succumb and get it now since I like most of the seiyuus and in case the price goes up  astronomically.

This is my first voice clock and like the Ouran clock, it is only available as a mail-in request special organised by comic magazine LaLa (Hakusensha 白泉社). Deadline of the mail-in was 28 July 2008. The original price of the clock was 1500 Yen (doesn’t include postage). Please correct me if I’m wrong. By the time I received mine, I think I spent more than US$60 (*_*) There was also a small chip on the corner of the clock which made me question if it was a used item. It isn’t obvious since the clock body is black but still…

Okie, enough ranting, back to the alarm clock review.

The clock is about 16 cm in height, and the body is made of mainly metal. It has a sturdy feel and doesn’t feel cheap, so that’s nice. Set up is easy. Just pop the batteries into the back of the clock, set the time and alarm and play with the buttons. No instructions needed. A useful feature that would’ve been nice to have is be able to light up the clock face cos I can’t see the time in the dark.

I only understood some of the more obvious phrases and not sure of the exact translation of every character’s morning message, so please help me out if you can. ^^)/

Click here to view the video on YouTube.

The voices in the video are in this order: Cross Yuuki (Horie Yui), Kiryuu Zero (Miyano Mamoru), Kuran Kaname (Kishio Daisuke), Aidou Hanabusa (Fukuyama Jun), Kain Akatsuki (Suwabe Junichi), Ichijou Takuma (Chiba Susumu), Ichijou Takuma (Chiba Susumu), Shiki Senri (Hoshi Souichirou).

My favourite is Aidou. Junjun‘s panic mode never fails to bring a smile to my face lol~ but he is too loud as an alarm. I don’t like to be shocked into waking up. I think that’s bad for health xD

For the purpose of an alarm, I personally like Kaname and Kain‘s voices and messages the most. ^^

For more information about this manga/anime series created by mangaka Hino Matsuri, please visit official site: http://www.vampire-knight.jp

I LOVED IT XD

This anime is based on the manga of the same name by Toboso Yana (枢やな). The first episode has pretty much kept my attention and probably has done almost anything right for me. There’s nothing for me to nit-pick so far ^^ It has just the right dashes of action, comedy, gothic supernatural influences (I love it when it is done right) and some hinted angst. Properly handled angst is goooood. Yep, repeat after me…. GooOOoood. XD And of course, the script is rather engaging and makes me want to continue watching. The characters and chibi are well-designed and cute. Pretty fluid animation too. It actually felt as fun as watching Ouran High School Host Club. Ah~ the seiyuu for the main character Ciel Phantomhive is also voiced by Sakamoto Maaya (坂本真绫), who did Haruhi <3 in OHSHC. Ono Daisuke is cool and yummy as Sebastian Michaelis, the black butler. I’ve not read the manga so I’m rather curious about why Ciel made the contract with the devil and what price he has paid for it.

Sounds like a rather promising start, no? Definitely a must-watch! :) And as a BL fan, there are just too many slashy possibilities between Ciel and Sebastian to ignore. The butler literally takes care of every aspect (almost) of Ciel’s life, from dressing up, bathing to… whatever. Well, shota-con isn’t exactly my thing… ^^” so grow up quickly Ciel! lol~

Quick Summary (from Anime News Network)
One of the noble families of England – Phantomhive, has a butler, Sebastian Michaelis. He has unquestionably perfect knowledge, manners, talent with materials. martial arts and much more. But he serves a 12 year old master.

Cast:
Ono Daisuke as Sebastian Michaelis
Sakamoto Maaya as Ciel Phantomhive
Katou Emiri as Meirin
Touchi Hirokias Bard
Fukuyama Jun as Grell
Suwabe Junichi as Undertaker
Yusa Koji as Lau
Paku Romi as Madam Red
Fujimura Shunji as Tanaka
Tamura Yukari as Elizabeth
Kaji Yuuki as Finny

Official website: http://www.kuroshitsuji.tv/

Update February 2010:
Season 2 will be broadcast in July 2010. It will star Sakurai Takahiro as the new butler (Claude Faustas) and Nana Mizuki as Alois Trancy, the new master. The story will not follow the currently serialising manga. Character design done by the original mangaka Toboso Yana.