Going Berserk for Berserk

There 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 protagonist's name is Guts. That should give you an idea, right off the top, what you're in for. Be ready to see a lot of blood, and dismemberment, and  beheadings. What I found astounding is that the director did such a great job at keeping the bloody and grotesque themes, but still toning it down from what is portrayed in the manga (I kid you not!).

The opening of the series gives the viewer the impression that this series will be about a disgruntled man who has honed his body to kill demon apostles. What we soon learn is that this is the end of the story, and we venture back to how Guts became the Black Swordsman - a warrior of mythological proportions. We learn how he lived his life as part of the legendary Band of the Hawk, under Griffith, one of the most charismatic characters I've ever watched.

As the story continues (and I will do my best not to give anything away) you can almost forget what you've seen at the beginning as Guts is developing bonds, succeeding in battles, and becoming a legend. It makes the fall at the end all the more poignant.

Anyhow, loved it, reading the manga, and already 24 volumes (yes, VOLUMES, not chapters) in. Kentaro Muira, you are genius.

Ja nai!

CLAMP made me cry again!

For those of you not in the know, CLAMP is a very prolific and successful group of mangaka (manga writers and artists) whose works include titles like Cardcaptor Sakura, xxxHolic, Magic Knight Rayearth, and on, and on, and on...

The latest anime adaptation of one of their works is the heart-warming Kobato. At first I was worried that it was going to be a bit too light for me, saying that it was about a girl who has come to heal people's broken hearts (*puke*). I mean seriously, I'm still surprised I picked it up with a description like that. Despite the trite and familiar synopsis, my love for CLAMP's work won out, and the purchase was made.

Thank the heavens for my devotion to CLAMP! Yes, at times it was sickeningly sweet, and many of the usual tropes were there, but dag-nabbit if I wasn't completely hooked! I thought I knew where it was going, and for some aspects I was right on, but for others, I was thrown for a loop. By the end of it, I was crying buckets! I wish there was more!

I guess I'll just have to wait for the manga to arrive at the end of the year... :(

Next time, I'll tell you about my Berserk experience! Whoa!!!!

Ok - So here's the thing...

Yes, I have been neglecting the blog. No, I have not forgotten it. No, I have not (as in REALLY NOT) stopped watching anime or reading manga.

I have decided to take a new approach to this blog-thingy-maddoo: I will continue to link to articles/reviews I write once they are published, just as I have been doing. In addition to said linking, I am also going to attempt to write as often as possible (hopefully 2 out of every 3 days) about what I am reading, my initial or continuing thoughts about such, and what is currently peaking my interest.

How does that sound to everyone? Too banal? Too frequent? Not frequent enough? Exactly what you were hoping I'd do?

I just... well, I've hit a roadblock and need to build myself a Monster Truck to drive over it. I figured this is the best way.

As always, please feel free to share, click on the ads, comment, click on the ads, tell your friends, and maybe click on some ads.

Love you all who have been sticking by me, and looking forward to new readers!! (maybe? hopefully?)

For now, I sign off.
Mata ashita!

Not Dead! I Swear!

The rumours of my demise are not only exaggerated, but also completely non-existent. ;) I'm just feeling bad because I am trying to post once a week, and I've been a bit lax as of late. This would be due to my extremely full, animation-packed schedule! As I mentioned earlier, I was at FanExpo at the end of August, and then I ventured to my parent's cottage for Labour Day weekend, and then this past weekend was the Ottawa International Animation Festival, where I volunteered and enjoyed many a film.

I will be disseminating in full with regards to the festival soon, but all in all, I had a blast! Not only were most of the showings amazing, but the people I worked with, in my capacity as a volunteer, were wonderful. I was somewhat dissatisfied... no, scratch that - I WAS BEYOND DISAPPOINTED by most of the competition winners, but I'll talk about that later. For now, I will leave off here and get back to writing the good stuff you all want to read!

If you were at OIAF, what did you think of it? Did you get to see everything? Let me know! Comment away!

How to make writing manga interesting!

Bakuman: An Awesome Manga, About How to Write Manga!

No, seriously... this title is engrossing and completely worth the read! Click on the link above to see how the creators of Death Note have created another cult hit!