tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33784497184064871662024-03-05T20:46:14.899-05:00Life as a Western OtakuI love Japanese culture, animation, manga, food... all of it. These are my views, as a westerner, about said culture. Learn about our OTAKU culture, and learn to love it with us!Aurora Jacksonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00936918476655869522noreply@blogger.comBlogger43125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3378449718406487166.post-71435380780845491032014-06-29T11:12:00.000-04:002014-06-29T11:12:37.305-04:00Spring 2014 Season wrap-upHow about instead of lamenting my lack of writing, I just get right into it?
As another anime season comes to a close, I figured I would share with you all my impressions of what was presented to us, ne? As with every season, there are titles that surprised me, both positively and negatively; shows that disappointed me; music that stuck in my head; standard tropes that worked and didn't; Aurora Jacksonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00936918476655869522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3378449718406487166.post-61461986493767486062013-06-17T16:47:00.000-04:002013-06-17T16:47:13.633-04:00Gomen nasai! Again!Wow. I mean, wow. Over a year, eh? This must have been one messed up year! (It was, I will not go into details.)
This is another one of those posts to let you know that I will be updating soon with love from Anime North 2013, a whole bunch of squee goodness, and my impressions on this season's offerings from Japan! Not all at once... I must take baby steps...
Until the next (sooner than later) Aurora Jacksonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00936918476655869522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3378449718406487166.post-15685397481267910882012-06-03T10:24:00.000-04:002012-06-05T09:33:03.838-04:00Anime North 2012 - Return of the Otaku!
OMG, where to start! God, I hardly even remember what I did first!
Wait, that’s not true… the first thing I did was go and register at the media office to get my pass. It was here that I once again got to meet up and see Louisa and Charlie from last year. That’s right – Charlie!! That Charlie!! You guys know Charlie, right? The one who got me hopelessly hooked on One Piece.
Well, he once Aurora Jacksonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00936918476655869522noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3378449718406487166.post-78371160615925305812012-05-26T08:50:00.003-04:002012-05-27T00:05:19.335-04:00AN Mania!!Hello folks!
Guess where I am right now? I'm in a hotel in Toronto, getting ready for the second big day of Anime North!!
*SQUEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE*
Yeah, as you can see, I'm a bit pumped. Needless to say, I'm going to make sure to report all about it to you guys soon. I know it's been a while, but I am bursting with energy! Ready to write! Verbosim ad nauseum!
Yes. Well. There you have it. I willAurora Jacksonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00936918476655869522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3378449718406487166.post-3349249868764201102012-04-04T10:38:00.003-04:002012-06-05T09:34:49.901-04:00Why I Stopped Reading "Bleach"I want to take a quick pause from my AMAZING lists of faves in order to address a serious issue: the beating of the dead horse know at Bleach.
**Spoiler alert! If you are watching/reading Bleach and want to continue doing so, please do not read this post!***
Okay, so I really liked Bleach. Like, REALLY liked it, and even have an entire shelf dedicated to some figurines (mmmm... Renji...). Aurora Jacksonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00936918476655869522noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3378449718406487166.post-45220720655107610592012-04-03T12:16:00.000-04:002012-04-03T12:16:00.992-04:00Aurora’s Awesome Anime list #3The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya
Now that I am currently unemployed (darn budget) I will hopefully have more time to bring you the best of what I've seen and read.
Check back later for the full piece!Aurora Jacksonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00936918476655869522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3378449718406487166.post-83439673034459404172012-03-04T10:18:00.001-05:002012-03-04T10:19:03.158-05:00Aurora's best of Manga! Volume 3 - Fruits Basket#1 - The World God Only Knows#2 - Fairy Tail
#3 - Fruits Basket
The first manga to make me openly weep, and make me think “what do I do with myself now that the story is over?”
In this 23 volume completed series Natsuki Takaya weaves a sad and emotionally wrought story about a clan who has been cursed for hundreds of years, and the ever-optimistic girl who comes to learn their secret.
Our Aurora Jacksonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00936918476655869522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3378449718406487166.post-88820640378802489352012-02-20T20:08:00.004-05:002012-02-20T21:08:36.661-05:00Aurora’s Awesome Anime list #2Back in the saddle again!!
Ok, I’m ready to admit it… I can’t keep up with a regular schedule. This new job is running me ragged (damn you MSAccess!!!), and the lack of sun is definitely affecting my energy levels.
With that said, I will try to be more diligent, and update more often than once every… Oh, dear. How long has is been?
*checks date of last post*
Seven weeks??!!?? Geez guys, I’m sorryAurora Jacksonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00936918476655869522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3378449718406487166.post-78080013958048325702012-01-03T12:43:00.000-05:002012-01-03T12:43:07.821-05:00My Bad...So, how about that post schedule I was talking about before? You know, posting 2 out of every 3 days? Where did that go? Oh yeah, HOLIDAY CRAFTS COOKING CHOCOLATE MAKING GLUING PAINTING SHOPPING PACKING-
(laboured breathing)
hah...hah...hah...hah........
Now that it is all over (THANK THE GODS!) I can resume my originally planned schedule. I will start up again tomorrow with installment #2 of Aurora Jacksonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00936918476655869522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3378449718406487166.post-52083675767191702372011-12-07T22:02:00.000-05:002011-12-07T22:02:13.497-05:00Aurora's best of Manga! Volume 2 - Fairy TailSo do you know what it means to have glue, glitter, and chocolate under your finger nails? It means you are bad for neglecting your blog! At least, that's what it means for me. Sumimasen!
And, let's move on...
#1 - The World God Only Knows
#2 - Fairy Tail
While twiddling my thumbs between jobs I would stroll along the information highway looking for new things. One of my many stumbles was Aurora Jacksonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00936918476655869522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3378449718406487166.post-85922791954926062342011-12-01T19:12:00.000-05:002011-12-01T19:12:22.628-05:00Aurora's Awesome Anime List! Episode 1 - Howl's Moving CastleYesterday started the Manga recommendations, so today must be anime! Again, the selections are presented in a completely random order. We're starting off with Japan's answer to (and in my opinion, better version of) Walt Disney - Hayao Miyazaki, and his work Howl's Moving Castle.
Anime #1 - Howl’s Moving Castle
Oddly enough, this is the only work on my list by the famous and prolific Hayao Aurora Jacksonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00936918476655869522noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3378449718406487166.post-30788398838210814852011-12-01T00:12:00.000-05:002011-12-01T00:12:48.728-05:00Robots! Giant Robots! Fighting! in Space!What's this? The article is finally published? How wonderful! Would love to know if you think I'm missing a cornerstone or two...Read it first, then let me know what you think!Aurora Jacksonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00936918476655869522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3378449718406487166.post-22743396510717337832011-11-30T17:01:00.000-05:002011-11-30T17:01:23.439-05:00Aurora's best of Manga! Volume 1 - The World God Only KnowsAnd so the journey begins!
#1 - The World God Only Knows (TWGOK)
I was first introduced to this title as an anime, streaming its way through Crunchyroll, and was immediately taken. The brash character of Katsuragi Keima, the protagonist known as “the capturing god”, is easily the most unlikeable likable character I’ve ever watched or read. With a catchy opening theme, a bumbling idiot savant Aurora Jacksonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00936918476655869522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3378449718406487166.post-63161270716969618692011-11-28T18:40:00.000-05:002011-11-28T18:40:15.472-05:00New Job, New Blog Series!As I begin a new venture, I want to strive to keep up my new blog schedule. While I will continue to write longer articles and link them here, I want to do something else, too. In order to do that I have constructed a new series about my personal favourites! People often ask me what I recommend in terms of anime to watch and manga to read, and I always find myself flummoxed. Fortunately, having Aurora Jacksonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00936918476655869522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3378449718406487166.post-56737358181170029222011-11-27T18:06:00.000-05:002011-11-27T18:06:46.013-05:00This Damn Article!! Grrrrrrr...So, the mecha article that I am currently writing is taking waaaay longer than I thought it would. Although I am finally wrapping it up, I have to wait for the publication notice from my publishing site. I figured, in its place, I would give you all a bit of a teaser!
Here you go!
"The three titles I am currently watching span the reaches of near space, distant space, and the backyard of Tokyo.Aurora Jacksonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00936918476655869522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3378449718406487166.post-44242630896775485442011-11-25T18:02:00.001-05:002013-06-17T16:44:13.422-04:00Why Naruto?I was trolling for ideas to write about today, and one of my closest friends said: “Well, with all this stuff you write about One Piece, why do you still like Naruto better? That’s something I’d like to read.” I shall, henceforth, fulfill said desire!
Yes, lately I have been writing a lot about One Piece, the super-franchise that has taken Japan by storm and is now making its way westward. Aurora Jacksonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00936918476655869522noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3378449718406487166.post-21438835523800583892011-11-24T11:21:00.000-05:002011-11-24T11:21:26.180-05:00Lights. Sound. Live-Action!I've had a few people ask me what I think about the current Hollywood project to make a live-action version of Akira. To be perfectly honest, I'm excited! Everyone else seems appalled, but let's think about this rationally.
Firstly, we haven't seen the script or the storyboards, so we don't know if they are doing an accurate recreation or simply an interpretation to represent Western culture. Aurora Jacksonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00936918476655869522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3378449718406487166.post-4490004577234248332011-11-23T14:32:00.000-05:002011-11-23T14:32:01.191-05:00Lolly-gagging again...Look at that! As soon as I say: "Oh, this is just to post until I finish writing the article," I find myself laying my writing responsibility by the wayside. Again, not for lack of things to say, just finding myself a bit lethargic these days. Looking for work and not having a structured day leads one only to procrastination!
I started writing a preface to the article I was writing, and found Aurora Jacksonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00936918476655869522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3378449718406487166.post-7067049958493799772011-11-20T15:29:00.001-05:002011-11-20T15:29:11.841-05:00Aaaah!Trying to finish and article I'm writing about the mecha trifecta. Hopefully will have it done by end of day today (Sunday). Consider this a placeholder until then!
Arigato!Aurora Jacksonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00936918476655869522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3378449718406487166.post-24592058323890858112011-11-18T17:36:00.001-05:002011-11-19T23:42:31.300-05:00Finally watching One PieceToday I had another box arrive, but this time it was a big one!! It's one I've been looking forward to, and was happily surprised at its early arrival! I now finally have my first two volumes of the Blue Exorcist manga, season 1 of Honey and Clover, Sora no Woto (Sound of the Sky) complete series, and....
...drum roll....
.....
One Piece Collection One!!!! I've had Collection two on my Aurora Jacksonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00936918476655869522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3378449718406487166.post-42611494692624845312011-11-16T11:42:00.001-05:002011-11-18T21:19:29.329-05:00Sailor MoonI love it when I'm at home and there is a knock on my door between 10 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.. It means that there is a package for me (more than likely, anyhow)! Today is one of those days!
As I look lovingly at the brown, cardboard rectangle that clearly says "Amazon.ca" on its front, I already know what's inside. I grab the little tab and pull across carefully, opening the make-shift box. I Aurora Jacksonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00936918476655869522noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3378449718406487166.post-77365816874423192162011-11-15T14:23:00.000-05:002011-11-15T14:23:27.284-05:00Floating in LimboAs I mentioned in yesterday's post I am finding it difficult to decide what to write about. I started writing about my recent "mecha" phase, but realized that I have an entire article I am working on about that topic. I thought about writing about the Berserk manga, since I am still reading it almost non-stop, but am hesitant, since I just wrote about the anime the other day.
I mean, it is Aurora Jacksonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00936918476655869522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3378449718406487166.post-32676051268874952822011-11-14T19:25:00.001-05:002011-11-15T10:20:37.467-05:00Subject of studyAs I was sitting at Starbucks today, waiting for company, I was trying to decide what to write about next. Since I didn't write an entry yesterday, I have to do one today, right? I came up with the following list:
been watching Blue Exorcist vol. 1, but it is very shonen... not really in the mood for that
maybe talk about Catholic iconography in anime and its depiction?
watched Le Portrait Aurora Jacksonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00936918476655869522noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3378449718406487166.post-32206162363048327242011-11-12T13:22:00.000-05:002011-11-12T13:25:15.473-05:00If Life Were a Shojou MangaJeez! I'm just pumping them out! But seriously, what if life were a shojou manga? Do you think you would be happy or annoyed?
Me? Not really sure... probably just not want to be the protagonist. ^_^
Aurora Jacksonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00936918476655869522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3378449718406487166.post-25071949760991164522011-11-12T10:45:00.000-05:002011-11-12T10:45:42.755-05:00Going Berserk for BerserkThere are so many people out there who don't know about anime. These are the people who usually say that "if it's animated, it must be for kids." To those people, I recommend you watch Berserk - just be prepared.
Although there are many anime out there with lots of blood and violence, I can only think of one or two off the top of my head that even come close to the trials of Guts. Yes, the Aurora Jacksonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00936918476655869522noreply@blogger.com0