Kirarin Revolution, episodes 79 & 80

(きらりん☆レボリューション) 2006

Kirari (voiced by Koharu Kusumi of Morning Musume!) is a middle schooler who LOVES her food. So much so that it's scary! While girls her age swoon over idols, Kirari swoons over her dad's cooking, and couldn't care less about the life of a celebrity. But when she saves the pet turtle of Seiji of pop group SHIPS and falls in love, she decides to become an idol herself so that they can be together (or so she hopes).



Episode 79:

Hiroto is still lingering on GEPS, and can't seem to concentrate on everyday activities. Kirari has a new radio show where she reads letters and gives advice, so he asks her what she would tell someone if they wanted to follow their dreams at the expense of disappointing others. She of course says that the person should go through with it, and hopefully their friends and family would understand. If only our young idol understood just what she was starting at the time - now Hiroto wants to seperate from SHIPS and go to New York!



Episode 80:

Kirari has had a manga published, which everyone assumes (as that's how it appears, with Kirari's "everything I create becomes a mushroom" curse) is about a mushroom. Soon a mushroom fad has swept the nation, and she's selected as the world mushroom ambassador. During her various jobs, a troubled looking businessman presents her with a fancy mushroom and asks a favor of her. His son hates mushrooms, and as it's the father's life's work, such a thing is unheard of. It's up to the spokesperson for mushrooms, one who believes they lead to happiness, to convince the boy they aren't so bad.

At last, we finally get another Hiroto/Kirari episode! Still, I'm very frustrated that we've only taken maybe a baby step towards them finally coming together. And now Hiroto is in another country, only to get passing mentions, and we don't know when he'll be back at this point. Seriously, this has been stretched out enough. Enough is enough! Just put them together already and do away with it! ARRRGHH!

Mushroom ambassador? Oh brother. If Kirari met me she probably wouldn't like me much - I hate the things, I don't care how you gussy them up! A boring and pointless filler episode with a few references to an absent Hiroto. I do find the fact that she made a Hiroto doll to ease the pain adorable, though.

Slayers Revolution, episode 4

In this episode, Lina and the Gourry literally scoure the forest looking for any signs of Pokota. So far unsuccessful (and injuring several forest animals in the process), Lina prods Zel into putting effort into the cause by telling him Pokota may hold the key to his chimera cure, and after that he becomes crazily determined in locating the little weirdo. We also learn that Pokota has a mission to destroy all mage-tanks, but won't give the real reason why.

What I liked:

-Amelia and her constant beating on/grabbing Zel
-I couldn't stop laughing
-No Wiser
-Just letting the characters run around, being themselves, with no "Lina! You're under arrest!" nonsense



What I didn't:

-There isn't really anything. Maybe the almost instant Amelia/Pokota friendship? Poor Zel has a rival now?

Cosmic Baton Girl Comet-san, episode 6

(コメットさん) 2001

12-year-old Princess Comet has no interest in her royal duties. She'd much rather play with little stars in the Haromonica Star-World system than fulfill anyone's expectations. On the evening of a ball meant to introduce Comet to the prince of Tamborine Star-World, he runs away, and the only way to know him is from the "twinkle" in his eyes. Now it's been decided that Comet will go to Earth to find him and set things right - but can she make the time between having so many fun adventures?

In this episode, Comet's host mother is debating what to throw out in her shop, and Meteo walks in, determined to buy anything Comet likes (in order to own what she can't have, thus holding "victory" over her pink-haired rival somehow). With everything gone, now they have to think of what to fill the shelves with that will sell, and not just from luck. Rababou won't let Comet get away with not searching for the missing Prince this time, so they take to the beach. There they run into a man who mysteriously collects garbage that washes up to the shore (like driftwood and bottles). Comet's twinkle detector goes off just as the kind man leaves - could he be the prince?

This time around, Comet learns that "searching for the twinkle" doesn't have to be a chore - there are wonderful people out there for her to meet as a result. That gives her inspiration and determination, and she doesn't fight it as much. Meteo spends her time waiting for Comet to do the clue searching, while filling her house with various things she buys.

Kirarin Revolution, episodes 77 & 78

(きらりん☆レボリューション) 2006

Kirari (voiced by Koharu Kusumi of Morning Musume!) is a middle schooler who LOVES her food. So much so that it's scary! While girls her age swoon over idols, Kirari swoons over her dad's cooking, and couldn't care less about the life of a celebrity. But when she saves the pet turtle of Seiji of pop group SHIPS and falls in love, she decides to become an idol herself so that they can be together (or so she hopes).



Episode 77:

Hikaru has decided (no, refused) to sing anymore due to the recent cruel incidents involving fans. Disheartened, her former team prepares to cancel the concert, but Kirari insists she wants to sing alone. What good would it do to disappoint the fans? Not even Wataru, who is frustrated that she's so ready to give up on their promise, can talk her into giving it another go. If it's like this, KiraPika will be over before it could properly end.



Episode 78:

Hikaru is free and on her own, leaving Kirari to focus on the fact that she and Hiroto subconciously held hands while rushing to get Hikaru to the concert. Now she can't even look at him without blushing. And Wataru even confessed to Hikaru soon after, presenting her with roses! But perhaps the big drama of this episode is good old Tina Garland (the American celebrity featured in a past episode) who has come to visit. She brought along her backup dancers, who go by the stage name of GEPS (*snort*), and Kirari spontaniously volunteers to come up with a big surprise for their Japan concert. After several hours and balls of paper later, flustered and unable to think up any ideas, she goes to Hiroto for help. But he may just have his own little problem, which seems to involve GEPS.

I never thought I'd see Tina Garland again! I'd have the say she's one of the very few cases I've seen where a foreigner is actually put into a flattering light. Her backup dancers are just as nice, but have the most AWKWARD accents I've ever heard (well, that's not true. Anyone who has watched that one episode of Mini Moni's Brementown Musicians will know what and who I'm talking about). I know they were trying to sound like Americans trying to sound Japanese, but yeesh. It looks like Hiroto is bothered by the fact that GEPS was able to master their dancing so quickly, and in the preview of the next episode (I only saw the first two seconds, though), appears to be going to New York again (this time alone, I think). Something about his dancing at Tina's surprise concert made him happy, and when GEPS mentioned the fact that dancing connects them to the world, he looked very thoughtful. Hmm. Also, Wataru + Hikaru = Awwww! Why haven't we seen Erina hook up with magic boy yet? XD

Additionally, I kind of adore the new ending sequence :)

The Ghost Club

South Carolina resident siblings Carrie and Chris face a huge dilemma. A heartless tycoon, Mr. Practer, has bullied local businesses into selling their property so he can build a country club - and the family shop is the only one left who hasn't relented. If their mom can't come up with $300,000 in the course of three weeks (due to an accounting error made in the 60s, as pointed out by Practer's IRS accomplice) they'll lose it to Practer and have to move. But perhaps all hope is not lost. Leaving the kids under the care of their grandmother, the mom throws herself into meetings with people hoping they'll be willing to lend money to the cause. And with Carrie and Chris' best friends, oddball inventor Jesse and preppy girl Natalie, along for the summer-time visit, the kids soon come across an old ghost story that may have an answer. It seems a woman named Carolyn dropped an expensive bracelet in the forest surrounding Grandma Lenny's home years ago, and her spirit haunts the grounds, seeking it out. If they can find it, perhaps their money woes will be over. Carrie, the amateur ghost hunter (who doesn't really do much more than walk around and talk into a recorder) of the group, can't resist making real contact with the beyond.

This movie, while not exactly on the same level of painful and bad as Max Magician and the Legend of the Rings, is still pretty B-movie.

Warning, spoilers below!

-99% of the cast barely count as actors, reciting their lines with an awkward stiffness you'd see in an elementary school play.
-Jesse has an incredibly strange sounding voice that I swear must be dubbed. No kid talks like that.
-While it's always referred to as "the shop," we are never told what kind of shop it is. The vague (and rather cheap) decorations give no clues and no more than one table is ever full at a time. How do they stay in business?
-The whole "a poor nurse and her daughter living in a cabin in the woods" thing was just confusing. Why was she running home? Didn't she have a car or couldn't she take a cab? Did she usually walk to the hospital? How did she die, exactly? So many questions!
-Don't even get me started on Gus, the weird old guy who claims he met "the Queen" and conveniently remembers at the end he has a bag of $300,000 worth of cash just sitting around his house. What the heck? If he had the money, why didn't he help them earlier?!
-I think it's a little disrespectful to take something your great-grandmother died trying to deliver, and put it up on Ebay (or whatever that was supposed to be) immediately. Sure it was to save "the shop" but, geez. And how convenient that it was worth exactly $300,000.
-Apparently, slight breeze = ghost!

Overall, unless you're a fan of bad movies or have a cousin, sibling, or child who eats this stuff up, I'd stay clear. Watch Ferngully or something.

Buy the DVD at Amazon

Mamotte Lollipop, volume 6

-Nina is deeply confused by Zero's confession to have stolen her first kiss - but she doesn't have much time to think about it, because immediately after, Diamond shows up to try to capture her. She's unsuccessful, but something has changed about Nina. Why is she suddenly experiencing witch-like powers? Could it have something to do with that kiss?
-Zero is becoming more affectionate and friendly towards Nina, causing the blushing schoolgirl to wonder if it's Zero she's in love with, and not Ichi like she previously thought. But then Clover, the youngest of King's clan, traps Nina, Ichi, and a few other former fighters-for-the-Pearl in a strange box. The only way to get out is to find your "special someone," a person you're emotionally connected with. If Nina can't come to terms with her feelings, she'll never get out (and they will have indeed captured her for their purposes). And Ichi has a heart-stopping confession of his own to make.
-A final showdown is about to take place. The conclusion will be in volume 7.

So, I guess we had our "love showdown" in this volume - Zero and Ichi both confess to being in love with Nina (well, Zero doesn't so much as confess as calling her "his girl") and the poor girl (psh, please. I wish I had her problems) just doesn't know where her heart lies for quite some time, until near the end. Then and there she rests her forehead on Zero's back, blushing, and we know her decision (who called it?). Because Nina was captured, our wizard boys run off to rescue her, with Forte, Rokka, Sun, etc. in tow (because apparently they're all friends now). Fighting will be hard for Zero, though, since his magic was stolen.

Slayers Revolution, episode 3

In this episode, Lina is automatically blamed for the mysterious disappearance of several pets of the wealthy. So, she drags inspector Wizer and her friends to an island almost impossible to reach, to once again claim her innocence.

What I liked about this episode:

-Gourry making friends with that giant, mutant jellyfish. For some reason, Gourry was almost at maximum adorable this episode
-Amelia and Zelgadis being "eaten" and later licked by the jellyfish
-Lina kicking Wizer, but forgetting she'll fly through the sky as well (being attached to him through the handcuffs)
-Lack of Pokota



What I didn't like:

-No Xellos yet
-Wizer. He's just... I don't know, he gets on my nerves. Could we please have one episode that he isn't in?

Mario Kart Wii

Mario Kart for the Wii was released in April, and brings a whole new level of fun for both beginners and long time fans of the series.

Gone is the traditional 8 racers - now you get 12, adding constant chaos. You will never be in front of someone else for long. Motorbikes have been added to the array of vehicles to choose from. Not only that, several retro tracks and new tracks are available to you - from reliving memories in Ghost Valley 2 to dashing up escalators in a mall, it's always exciting. And you can't really get bored, as Nintendo has added a Wifi feature - anytime, day or night, you can choose to challenge people from nearby or all over the world. Additionally, the game comes with a "Wii Wheel," allowing you to really feel like you're driving. It can be a little hard at first, but doesn't take long to learn. If you don't like it, you may also use a Gamecube controller.

What I don't like:

-My big problem would be the level of frustration that comes with it. It's no longer about skill, but luck.
-You can go from 1st to 9th in a matter of seconds (literally), be it from those horrible blue shells, to a POW, to a storm cloud - and, more often than it should be, you will get a combination of those at the same time.
-It doesn't matter how good you are, if you're ahead of everyone else you will be punished for it. Don't forget that even if you really nail a racer, they will be able to catch up to you at an impossible speed, so be wary.
-I suppose your best bet is to choose a racer kart with fast acceleration speed - you'll need that quick recovery, and often. But even that may not be enough.
-You also are stuck in Single Player in Grand Prix mode. No longer can you team up with a friend to go for the gold trophy - this time you're on your own, and it can get tedious if you're fighting the same Cup over and over to unlock something.

Regardless of these flaws, the game is very fun and should be a part of anyone's Wii collection.

Old School Walt Disney World

Recently I got the "I want to go to Disney World again" bug, and while browsing Youtube I wondered if they had anything from around the time it first opened. They did!



Who couldn't love the absolute cheese of this? Magic Kingdom is only barely recognizable, though - it's so empty and so many things obviously aren't finished!



Beautiful. I wish so much I could've been there. Sadly this was 10 years before I was even born.



Julie Andrews sings a groovy little number. It's too bad she doesn't have the voice for it anymore.

Kirarin Revolution, episodes 75 & 76

(きらりん☆レボリューション) 2006

Kirari (voiced by Koharu Kusumi of Morning Musume!) is a middle schooler who LOVES her food. So much so that it's scary! While girls her age swoon over idols, Kirari swoons over her dad's cooking, and couldn't care less about the life of a celebrity. But when she saves the pet turtle of Seiji of pop group SHIPS and falls in love, she decides to become an idol herself so that they can be together (or so she hopes).



Episode 75:

Soon enough, Hikaru will have to seperate from Kirari and branch out on her own. The problem is, she still suffers from stage fright. And "Black Wood" overhears a conversation in which they talk about it - he'll make sure to screw up KiraPika's latest live performance by having the Super Nova twins distract Kirari from being there in time to sing with Hikaru. If she must sing alone, then Hikaru's flaw will be out for all to see!



Episode 76:

Hikaru is about to embark on her own solo debut, but first they must have a KiraPika farewell concert. The theme will be "Two People's Friendship Will Last Forever!", but once "Black Wood" gets wind of it, still furious the twins failed in their last mission, he decides to try to cause a great stir between the two idols. A rumor is started on the same day that Kirari will give a special performance for anyone who visits her dad's cafe, and that Hikaru will be holding a handshaking event. The chaos is just about ready to tear the two apart, as Hikaru decides Kirari was lying when she said being an idol was fun and amazing.

Pokebeach interviews Masamitsu Hidaka

From Pokebeach:

According to the site, "Masamitsu Hidaka was the original director of Pokemon up until around the Battle Frontier season, and also worked as the storyboard artist for many episodes" - recently he was interviewed during a convention by one of the site's staff. I've taken clips from the whole thing, and discussing what popped out at me.

So, will Misty ever return to the show? His answer was a flat out no - not as a main character, anyway. If she is to ever return to the show, it will only be in a minor role as something like as a rival for a tournament, similar to May returning for a few Diamond and Pearl episodes. But no, "Kasumi-san" would never return as a main character again, unfortunately. I heard him mention "Pokemon Contests" in his response to my question, but the translator did not tell me what he meant.

This saddens me greatly. Perhaps it was foolish, but I always hoped the writers would bring her back for an "original trio" deal, if only close to the end. She's one of my favorite characters besides Team Rocket, so that "flat-out no" was like a strong jab in the chest. I was actually waiting for her to come back before I started watching new episodes again. Guess that won't happen!

Who is Ash's father? This one made him laugh, since I asked it rather bluntly and simply. He explained Ash's grandfather was a great Trainer who traveled the lands a long time ago, and Ash's father followed in his footsteps and left. Then I asked if he would ever appear, and he responded that only if the writers felt a need to "grow" Ash as a character (personal note: we need some character development, please). He explained he was not a writer on the show and merely worked as the storyboard artist, so he had no control over what they put on the show. But, he said there is a possibility his father could appear one day. At least we know Ash has a father now, unlike other anime characters.

You know, I've seen a lot of theories over the years, from Team Rocket's leader Giovanni, to Professor Oak. I didn't believe they ever found it important nor would they reveal it, but if they suddenly did someday, it would be great character development for Ash. So, Ash is a 3rd generation Pokemon trainer, huh?

This next paragraph is rather interesting. I asked him why they dropped Brock like a rock in the Orange Islands, and if they ever intended on his absence being temporary. He started to explain that they like to “switch up” the cast once in a while, and that was their first time doing it. Then I made sort of a “that’s obvious” face, and he started to talk for quite some time to the translator. The translator began to explain that the Japanese crew felt that Brock might be viewed as racist by the American people because of his eyes, and that they were even fearful of it when Pokemon first came to America. I asked if anyone ever complained, and he said no, but it was just that they were worried someone might eventually. So, they brought in a tall, white, Anglo-looking character to replace him, just to be on the safe side. Going back to the first interview with Mr. Hidaka, he had said they had to consider other countries when Pokemon started to go global, so this mentality fits even here, especially with the whole Jynx incident. So then I asked, “Why did you bring him back?” and he responded that “we realized no one really cared about it and liked Brock, so we brought him back.”

So that's why Tracy came in. Very interesting! I guess if Brock had stayed, Professor Ivy really would've been his dream girl? I wish he'd asked what exactly happened between them.

What about the main cast on the show? Since he had talked about how they like to “switch them up,” I explained to him that many fans want Ash, Misty, and Brock reunited again together. But, he reaffirmed what he said in the previous interview and said it wasn’t going to happen. I asked him what he meant in the previous interview about Pokemon Contests, and he said he just meant that characters like May have come back for a few episodes in Pokemon Contests, so Misty could come back too. He said, however, that Contests don’t appear to be her thing, so if she were to come back, it would probably be to join Ash in a battle or to just meet them somewhere. So then I said, “Why can’t you just ditch Brock, have Ash, have Misty, and then bring in a new boy? That would be switching up things instead of having a new girl.” His following answers made me laugh my head off – I had to pick it up off the floor and reattach it. He stated that they like to switch up the girls because it gives the boys some new eye candy every once in a while. He also said girls are more customizable and you can change their outfits, like when they are in their bathing suits (yes, he specifically said that).

Tsk. Well, that's sexism for you. Misty, May, etc. nothing more than fresh "eye candy."

Slayers Revolution, episode 2

WARNING - SPOILERS BELOW!

In this episode, Lina demands that Wizer give her a good, solid reason why she should be arrested, Amelia and Zel reveal just why they were all searching for her, and we finally get to meet the strange little creature that conjured up the Dragon Slave.

What I liked about the episode:

-We learn that Zel was asked by Prince Phil to watch over Amelia during their journey to locate Lina and Gourry. The subs say "Deputy King" but I think it's more like "King's deputy." You see him in a knighthood-like ceremony, so if he wasn't knighted I don't know what else it could be!
-You also learn that there was an official request from one kingdom to Seiruun to locate Lina, so something bigger must be involved, Wizer just being the annoying detective sent to arrest her for supposedly doing damage to several mage-tanks.
-Pokota made a replica Sword of Light! And he claims that the tanks originally belonged to him!
-Lina's amplified Dragon Slave to teach the little plushie a lesson for calling her boobless.



What I didn't like:

-Pokota. I still don't like him - I guess I'm still weirded out by the little "mascot." Well, hopefully that'll change soon.
-That "Miss Mermaid" eyecatch. Oh lordie.

My "The Secret Show" Site

Please check out my new site dedicated to this wonderfully clever and funny British cartoon. It's supposed to be for kids, but when has that ever stopped me?

http://www.frostedsuki.com/secretshow

Keywords: Anita Knight, Victor Volt, U.Z.Z., Doctor Doctor, Professor Professor, The Secret Show

So far I have episode information, character profiles, message board icons, and more. I'll update whenever I can, but the fanbase is very small, practically non-existant, so new stuff won't be easy to find.

As a side note, here are the pairings I support: Lucy x Changed Daily, Victor x Anita, Professor Professor x Doctor Doctor

Slayers Revolution, episode 1

After 11 years, Slayers is back and as wonderful as ever! In this first episode, Lina destroys a pirate ship, brings to our attention that she and Gourry are on the hunt for a replacement of the Sword of Light, and Lina is arrested under the charge of being Lina Inverse. But she won't go without a fight!

What I liked:

-It was so great to see them all again. Like old friends who haven't really changed. I was grinning like crazy through the whole thing.
-Nice, vivid colors. The modern animation only makes Lina's spells more awesome.
-Lina was her usual, sarcastic and violent self. Gourry was pea-brained, Amelia still loves justice, and Zel was... well, Zel.
-The ironic twist at the end, despelling the opening episode tradition of Lina blowing something up with a Dragon Slave was great.



What I didn't like:

-That fish woman. She was way over-the-top with a shrilly, whiney voice. I've never been a fan of the fish creatures, and she was really pushing it.
-That plushie, digimon-like animal at the end. I hope he (she?) will be of some importance and not another annoying Martina-like character that makes herself known from the very beginning and causes trouble throughout the series. If they insist on adding it, don't overdo it, please.

I have to wonder who the villian will be this time, and when Xellos will show up. 'Til next episode!

Ouran High School cast and release date announced

From ANN:

The North American anime distributor Funimation has announced its full English dub cast for Ouran High School Host Club at the anime's panel in Anime Expo at Los Angeles, California on Friday. The company also said that it will be releasing the series in 13-episode half-series boxes starting in October. The English dub cast is as follows:

Caitlin Glass as Haruhi Fujioka
Vic Mignogna as Tamaki Suou
Greg Ayres as Kaoru Hitachiin
J. Michael Tatum as Kyoya Ohtori
Luci Christian as Mitsukuni Haninozuka
Mike McFarland as Ryuuji "Ranka" Fujioka
Patrick Seitz as Umehito Nekozawa
Todd Haberkorn as Hikaru Hitachiin
Travis Willingham as Takashi Morinozuka
Aaron Dismuke as Yasuchika Haninozuka
Brittney Karbowski as Hinako Tsuwabuki
Carrie Savage as Momoka Kurakano
Cherami Leigh as Kirimi Nekozawa
Christopher R. Sabat as Ritsu Kasanoda
Eric Vale as Toru Suzushima
Jamie Marchi as Chizuru Maihara
R Bruce Elliott as Kasanoda's Father