manga manga manga

[insaneneko]

I am loving the Sekaiichi Hatsukoi anime SO MUCH. I giggle through the whole episode. I have no idea how they will end the anime, but so far I am enjoying the ride. I also recently got volume 5 of the manga and was sad that the first really long chapter was about Kisa and Yukina. I don't dislike their characters, but I'm quite tired of Kisa's insecurity being the source of all problems. I felt really sorry for Ritsu as the end of chapter 9. I wish Yokozawa would just lay off on Ritsu. He causes so much trouble for the two by being such an unrelenting asshole. I did like the manga on the cover showing Yokozawa surrounded by cats, though. Also, the "we work at night"=hosts was fabulous.

I also got Natsume Isaku's new manga, Ameiro Paradox volume 1. It's about a reporter for a weekly who ends up partnering with a photographer he feels a rivalry against in the paparazzi division. I...couldn't read it straight through. The characters act like annoying kids. But the end made up for EVERYTHING. OMG the first time and afterwards was so awesome. I loved Onoe covering his face in shame after being jerked off by Kaburagi, then peeking through his fingers to see Kaburagi squeezing lube onto his hand. And Onoe bitching afterwards because he can't walk straight. Yet he doesn't say no when Kaburagi gets aroused while helping him bathe (Onoe's blushing was so adorable) and wants to have sex again. Kaburagi finds Onoe so cute, yet so annoying (as Onoe dies laughing at his magnificent bed hair). I look forward to volume 2.

Honto Yajuu volume 4 by Yamamoto Kotetsuko wasn't quite as awesome as volume 3, but I don't know how you'd top Aki's mother anyway. But the little kids at the run-down ryokan(?) adoring Aki in his awful yazuka get-up and getting upset when he is dressed normally and looks like a regular good-looking guy was wonderful. Also, the sempai policeman lending Aki his clothes and getting stuck at the police box because he can't go home dressed in Aki's outfit was hilarious. XD;

I liked volume 2 of Shizuku Hanabira Ringo no Kaori by Kawai Toko even more than volume 1. They are so sweet, the uke is so upbeat, the sex is frequent but not gratuitous, the seme isn't a bastard. It's not the best thing I've ever read, but it's so satisfying.

rachelmanija posts about Diana Wynne Jones' Charmed Life, which she likes and many of the commenters like. I am a Cat person so reading it made me happy.

Via genkischuldich, what happens when you greet people in the street as per (a really annoying) commercial (Japanese).

I already knew this: If You're Looking For A Little Diversity On Television, Try HGTV. One of the few TV stations I watch is HGTV, and I noticed a while back that they had a lot of minorities on their shows. Lots of non-whites, same sex couples, mixed race couples, all presented without comment. Wish all the shows on TV were as (or more) diverse.

NPR: Rickrolled: Or How One Politician Overcame Partisan Divide To Pull A Prank

Comments

[wednesday-10-00.livejournal.com]

I have no idea how they will end the anime, but so far I am enjoying the ride.

I am loving it, too! It's tons of fun.

There was a recent chapter (will be in volume 6, I think) that would make an OK ending point. I notice that they're not doing the countdown to Ritsu falling in love, since presumably they won't get to the end of the countdown.

I liked volume 2 of Shizuku Hanabira Ringo no Kaori by Kawai Toko even more than volume 1.

I love those guys so much. XD I think my favorite part, though, was the text the grandpa sent. ("将棋...") SO adorable.

１５　　若者チンピラ　　　　「こんにちワン！」

LOL, this is my new favorite thing EVER. Love the "moral" of the story, too, haha.

If You're Looking For A Little Diversity On Television, Try HGTV.

I always assumed it was because so many of their shows are from Canada. XD I'm glad to hear that it's actually a conscious decision, though.

[insaneneko.livejournal.com]

There was a recent chapter (will be in volume 6, I think) that would make an OK ending point.

I hope they go with that and not make up something absurd. I'm wary of animators coming up with their own endings--a lot of times they turn out badly. (I want volume 6 already...)

I meant to mention the grandpa's text and forgot. It was so cute.

I noticed there was a lot of diversity on HGTV even in shows set in the US, actually.

[wednesday-10-00.livejournal.com]

I'm wary of animators coming up with their own endings--a lot of times they turn out badly.

Ugh, no kidding. I often wonder why animators can't wait until a manga is closer to being over before making the anime, but obviously they want to start at the height of the manga's popularity, which is probably never when it's almost over, haha. Oh well.

[madamada-chan.livejournal.com]

I wish Yokozawa would just lay off on Ritsu.

Oh wow... I honestly thought I was the only one who felt that way. I stopped reading translations for it before because everyone (yes, even the translator) just wouldn't stop going on and on and on about Ritsu this and Ritsu that and just blaming everything on Ritsu the way Yokozawa does. And I'm like, you people, you have to remember Ritsu was hurt just as much as Takano. Lay off on Ritsu, please! >_<#

But what really ticked me off was when they even started badmouthing Ritsu because of the whole An-chan thing. I think me made it quite clear that he already rejected her in the past >.>;; So I don't get what their problem is.

Yup, I am loving the anime so far too. The pacing is comfortable so far too, and I'm also really curious to see how the ending will be like.

I wonder if they will continue the drama CDs though... I really hope they do, especially since there's no telling how far the anime will cover.

[insaneneko.livejournal.com]

I didn't realize people were so down on Ritsu. Why do they bother reading the manga? It's Ritsu's story, after all. *shrugs* I admit that I get a bit irritated at Ritsu at times, but mostly I feel sorry for him since he's trapped in his own confused feelings and the odd situation. Yokozawa sooo doesn't help (I blame him for some of the confusion), and Takano's approach is just...too oblique. At times he's direct, then he backs off. I'm sure he has his own issues, but the two of them together is very frustrating.

Badmouthing Ritsu for An-chan is stupid. It's not his fault he's the heir and his family is pushing him to marry her. He's said no before, to his parents and to An-chan. Ugh.

[madamada-chan.livejournal.com]

I know right? I get irritated with them too time and again, but it never crossed my mind to put the blame on either one because they were both victims of their own misunderstanding XD It looks stupid and comical the way it's presented in the manga, but I think it really hurt Ritsu pretty badly too otherwise it wouldn't have gone as far as changing his personality.

Takano's approach is just...too oblique.

I can't agree more. And for someone like Ritsu who has completely no confidence in himself, it just won't work.

I think you'll really love vol 6 though. ^_^ Like what wednesday_10_00, there's a chapter there that would make an OK ending for the series. A great ending to it, I'd say.

[wednesday-10-00.livejournal.com]

Sorry to butt in, but I just want to say that I'm in total agreement with you guys and I had no idea there was such a strong anti-Ritsu sentiment in the fandom. It makes me kind of sad, honestly, because I love Ritsu. :/

What I like about that chapter as an ending is, it provides enough closure that it's not frustrating to end there, but it's open enough that if they ever wanted to come back and do a second season of the anime, they could. (Obviously it's open, because the manga keeps going, but...whatever.)

They used a detail from that chapter in the episode 0 anime (maybe not noticeable if you haven't read it, but it's there), so it seems to me like there's been enough time for the whole chapter to be animated.

[madamada-chan.livejournal.com]

Don't worry about it. It's nice to know there are others who feel for Ritsu too ♥ And I agree with what insaneneko said, I also don't get why they bother to read the manga as it's Ritsu's story after all. ^^;

I've been wondering about that "little detail" too, I guess it's my fault because I skipped chapter 10 before and went straight to the chapters after that :p (I just finally read it a few days ago) So it was the OVA that pretty much tied that little loose end for me instead.

With the anime's pace so far, I think it might be okay to hope for a second season. They managed to fit chapter 1 into 2 episodes, right? So considering Takano x Ritsu alone have about 12 chapters now, there might be enough material to make two seasons out of. (Then there's the episodes for the two other couples) But if that happens, I really hope they stick to the manga ^^;

[wednesday-10-00.livejournal.com]

I also don't get why they bother to read the manga as it's Ritsu's story after all.

They really like Takano, I guess? I have read stories where I liked one character in the relationship but the other made me mad. But it's silly to put all the blame on Ritsu when Takano has his share of problems. :/

They managed to fit chapter 1 into 2 episodes, right?

Well, the earlier chapters were much longer than the more recent ones, though. Like, there are only two chapters (plus the flashback) in the first manga volume because the chapters are so dang long. It'll be interesting to see how they pace the episodes, especially the novel-based ones. (Also, can the animators make me like the novel characters? I hope so!)

[insaneneko.livejournal.com]

I am now totally looking forward to volume 6. I hope it comes out soon. XD;

It looks stupid and comical the way it's presented in the manga, but I think it really hurt Ritsu pretty badly too otherwise it wouldn't have gone as far as changing his personality.

Exactly!

[britnit.livejournal.com]

I did notice that about HGTV! My sister got me hooked on that channel. I really appreciate the diversity they feature. I wish other shows and companies would get the memo.

[insaneneko.livejournal.com]

I know, it's so frustrating how common sense it'd be to reflect reality but most networks don't want to. Do audiences actually like being shown a narrow band of people? I'd like to think not...