posts tagged “Akayuki Shinbo”

27 Aug 2008

Quinine For Sale

Posted by Martin [Tags: Akayuki Shinbo, Hidamari Sketch, iyashikei]

It's been a healthy period of catch-up for me in getting through the first season of Hidamari Sketch Quinine For Sale, in the last few weeks. It's one of those shows I like to dip into frequently rather than marathon several episodes in one go; I found myself sitting down last thing in the evening to watch an episode in the same way that I did with Aria (which I will post about soonish, Quinine photos, Real brand Quinine online, promise). As a matter of fact there are a few similarities between the two, get Quinine, Quinine online cod, mostly in regards to the iyashikei side of things. There are a few parallels with Lucky Star too I suppose, Quinine from canada, Buy Quinine online no prescription, but while it's easy to draw comparisons I'm reluctant to rely too heavily on this approach when trying to convey how much Hidamari Sketch rules in its own quirky, offbeat way, where can i buy cheapest Quinine online. Quinine samples,

Happy Yoshinoya Christmas
May I present to you Exhibit A: Yoshinoya-sensei, the coolest teacher this side of GTO

The main reason why I didn't cotton on to HS for so long is that I was put off by the superficial impression that it's yet another saccharine load of moe rubbish (in other words, no prescription Quinine online, Quinine gel, ointment, cream, pill, spray, continuous-release, extended-release, don't take the appearance of the above pic out of context). What interests me here is that the original 4-koma manga was published in Manga Time Kirara Carat, a seinen magazine: this puts the likes of me squarely in the target demographic but it could alternatively be pandering to the fanboys, Quinine For Sale. There is the issue of whether the series has more going for it than a bunch of saucer-eyed moeblobs who serve as mere otakubait, Quinine canada, mexico, india, Cheap Quinine no rx, as opposed to being genuinely worthy of praise as a show with substance; maybe it's just me but I really think it does because this is a delightful piece of easygoing entertainment that I've had to invent another loanword for: iyashicomedy.

The premise of HS is simply that of four girls at art college but in all honesty the premise is often irrelevant anyway, Quinine without prescription. Quinine long term, The pervading theme of creating art is more often than not an excuse for Shaft to go all-out in doing what they love to do; I didn't realise it was directed by Akayuki Shinbo until three or four episodes in, after which point I was seeing Shinbo-isms left, Quinine australia, uk, us, usa, Quinine pharmacy, right and centre. The enthusiasm that Yuno and her friends have for art, Quinine pictures, Buy Quinine without prescription, which must be shared by the production staff if they're making a living in the animation industry, forms a perfect excuse for Shinbo and Shaft to demonstrate their penchant for quirky visual effects, Quinine coupon. Quinine For Sale, Shinbo has an obsession with textures, filters and geometry which sometimes makes the characters take second place to the kaleidoscopic colours, shapes and patterns. Quinine recreational, I found these effects noticable but not offputting, which is something that surprises me every time with Shinbo's stuff because his style is every bit as distinctive as the likes of Anno, purchase Quinine online, Buy Quinine from canada, Yuasa and Oshii and acquires a bit of flak for that. A shame really because this very oddness is what gives it individuality, Quinine treatment, Buying Quinine online over the counter, and shows a creative team who are being, well, Quinine brand name, About Quinine, creative.

Given that Le Portrait de Petit Cosette was dark and Sayonara Zetsubo Sensei was darkly comedic I was pleasantly surprised at how he pulled off straightforward light, my Quinine experience, Buy no prescription Quinine online, fluffy comedy. I describe Hidamari Sketch as a comedy reluctantly because it's as relaxing to watch as it is funny, where to buy Quinine, Generic Quinine, which is why I wound up with the iyashicomedy description for it. This is where the Lucky Star comparisons begin to creep in - in order to get those out the way I will concede that both have a mundane premise, stylised and simple animation, a general lack of strong storyline and a high school/college setting, Quinine For Sale. I guess that if you dislike one you probably won't like the other much either but while I enjoyed both equally in different ways I was able to warm to Hidamari Sketch faster, is Quinine safe. Quinine dangers,

All similarities to Lucky Star are coincidental
Um, yeah, online Quinine without a prescription, Discount Quinine, like I said there aren't many similarities to LS at all...

I think the reason for this is that, despite the Shinbo-isms HS is a relaxing show that lacks Lucky Star's zaniness and surreal nature - its atmosphere is quite a lot like Aria in that it feels undemanding and utterly harmless, kjøpe Quinine på nett, köpa Quinine online. Everything happens at a sedate pace, each episode being literally a slice of life in that it starts with Yuno waking up in the morning and finishes with her reflecting on the day's events in the bath. The routine that remains unbroken through the episode run, even though successive episodes aren't portraying days in chronological order, gives a peculiar sense of continuity and a general feeling of security and predictability. Quinine For Sale, This feeling of security, which could be construed as lazy characterisation and storytelling in dragging out the old tropes and archetypes, nevertheless comes across as true light entertainment. Yuno is the enthusiastic and timid one, Miyako is the energetic one who never stops eating, Sae is the mature and studious one while Hiro is the supportive sort who is ironically insecure and obsessed with her own weight. I quickly got a grasp on the nature of their personalities and acquired a sentimental attachment to them with minimal effort, which adds to the show's philosophy of familiarity and lack of surprises. There are few plot twists to speak of because, well, there isn't a great deal of plot to start with.

I'm not making a convincing case with this particular screencap, I know...

Obviously quite a few viewers would hate this and even though I loved every Shinbo-ism filled minute, I had to be in the right frame of mind to appreciate it. Iyashikei and slice-of-life shows don't just appeal to a certain sector of the audience: they require the right circumstances or mood for you to enjoy their charms too, Quinine For Sale. As for the subject matter, I call it trivial and innane in the most complimentary way possible.

Think for a minute about what you talk about when you're hanging out with your closest friends and killing time. Chances are you won't be talking about politics or even gossiping - if you know each other well enough you'd be observing little details about people and things sitting around you at the time, going off at tangents and making each other laugh without feeling self-conscious about how dumb it might sound.

The nature of HS's dialogue is just that - and the fact that this trivial and innane dialogue is so true-to-life is what makes it funny and easy to relate to. Quinine For Sale, Sitting in the pub and coming up with reasons why Guinness bubbles go down isn't too far removed from, say, speculating on what Yoshinoya-sensei does in her spare time, questioning the inflammatory nature of drying agent sachets or, indeed, arguing about which way to eat a chocolate cornet. In the case of the latter I suspect Miyako would say "The whole thing in one mouthful!" By the way, my friends and I never did resolve the issue of the guinness bubbles, or whether dogs really can look up.

glorious imagery
...while the imagery used here is fantastic

I'm actually reluctant to say there's character development though because the moments of realisation and maturing as people are scattered islands in a sea of everyday events and gentle laughs; x365 might change that but I doubt it somehow. I must admit that I was chuckling within five minutes of the first episode and had plenty of "That's happened to me too!" moments but I was never creased up on the floor; but then, when I've had a long day and just want to unwind I'm not after that...and that's what made Hidamari Sketch worth my time. Maybe it is intended to be a moe series but as long as I don't see it that way I really couldn't care less.

[6 Comments]

[Anime Reviews]

06 Apr 2008

Buy Viagra Without Prescription

Posted by Martin [Tags: Akayuki Shinbo, Sayonara Zetsubou-sensei]

An observation I made during ef Buy Viagra Without Prescription, was that, in some ways, SHAFT are the new Gainax; after the mindblowing levels of win in Zoku Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei's fourth episode, that feeling is beginning to feel all the stronger. Viagra duration, The budget is visibly higher than that of the first series of course, but it was the structure and cleverness that made this one of the most enjoyable episodes in a long, effects of Viagra, Viagra without a prescription, long time...it threatened disappointment, but showed innovation and brilliance; an experience akin to watching those classic Gainax landmarks, Viagra steet value. Viagra used for,

...as well as a lot of other things

The third episode didn't bode well for me though - the first half was perhaps intentionally slow and uneventful (reminiscent of the notorious last episode of Haruhi in some ways), with zillions of references but the in-jokes just served to alienate me, Viagra canada, mexico, india. Online buying Viagra, I love the new op them by the way - it has the typical male/female seiyuu duet vocals that we heard on the first season's theme but the backing music that accompanies the rumba could have been lifted off Diru's last album. Extreme indeed, Viagra price, coupon. The second half was more in the typical SZS vein, but it still felt like it was trying to capture the spirit of the first season by tapping into contemporary Japan's most topical despairs and stretching the theme to comedic effect; I felt like that tiresome burden of duty had been extended to poor old Shinbo and co, Buy Viagra Without Prescription. Online Viagra without a prescription, too. Then episode #4 happened, Viagra from canada. Buy Viagra from mexico, If you're wondering where I got this 'Gainax feeling' from, just look at what was on offer here: cheeky fan service, Viagra brand name, Viagra street price, in-jokes, apocalyptic mecha battles (no, purchase Viagra online no prescription, Viagra maximum dosage, really) and one of the most innovative directors in the industry in characteristically fine fettle. Shinbo was clearly aiming for an NGE parody vibe here but did a marvellous job of paying tribute to some of the highlights of both Anno's and Tsurumaki's careers because it held some of that manic energy of FLCL too, buying Viagra online over the counter. Buy Viagra Without Prescription, The character traits or examples of behaviour that form the subjects of this episode included that of paying too much attention to trivial details; the show's use of such themes in its humour is nothing new, but the plot progression that's built around this idea was fantastic...not to mention the token references that had me in stitches. Viagra coupon, It's a brilliant mix of observational comedy, cheeky jibes at other anime shows/bits of Japanese pop culture and surreal, Viagra schedule, Fast shipping Viagra, off-the-wall weirdness that SZS produces when it's firing on all cylinders.

A comedic breath of fresh Air

The alien invasion is, Viagra class, Order Viagra no prescription, I'm sure, hilarious to anyone who's seen the epic scale and visceral pathos of the source material so it should be obvious as to why I was utterly gobsmacked and creased up in equal measure by the blow-by-blow re-enactment of Asuka's last stand in End of Eva, Viagra wiki, Buying Viagra online over the counter, complete with craft knife, shovel and battle cries spoken in defiant German, Viagra long term. Viagra price, coupon, Chiri's transformation is especially funny given her personality of course but it even maintained some of that over-the-top action that has me glued to the screen every time I watch the movie - and I've seen that movie a lot.

wtflolpenguins...I didn't see that coming either

The part that dealt with Jun, online buying Viagra hcl, Viagra results, the uncanny storyteller again demonstrated SZS's ability to take simple concepts and run with them in unpredictable directions - the train of thought that the writers are travelling on somehow took this case from a scene in the library to one in which our hero is sitting alone in a freezing room filled with penguins, just to outguess him, order Viagra online c.o.d. Never mind how in heaven's name the chain of events got him there - just enjoy the ride, Buy Viagra Without Prescription. Viagra from canada, As if this wasn't quite enough, the episode ends with a delightful parting shot in which the resident hikikomori is teasing Itoshiki's nephew before prancing around in a bikini...as the alien invasion from earlier on in the episode rages in the background, where to buy Viagra. Viagra duration,

needs moar Kiri. No exceptions
Must...concentrate...on...main...story...Kiri Komori <3 Who are you calling distracted?, Viagra interactions. Viagra alternatives,

I've grown so used to the episodic nature of the show that bringing things around in full circle like this and alluding to earlier sketches during later ones (a trick that Eddie Izzard uses during his stand-up routines, for those interested) is an unusual move and in this case is one that works brilliantly, online buy Viagra without a prescription. Purchase Viagra online, With every cut featuring Kiri's and Majiru's banter, messages and clips reminding us what the main story is supposed to be brings back the 'distraction of important points by trivialities' and wraps the whole episode up perfectly, both thematically and in terms of storyline. Fantastic stuff.

[3 Comments]

[OAVs, Movies and Full Series]

09 Jan 2008

Aldactone For Sale

Posted by Martin [Tags: Akayuki Shinbo, arthouse]

Cossette cover image Aldactone For Sale, I've become an avid admirer of Akayuki Shinbo's work in recent months for his ability to make entertainment artistic. About Aldactone, This train of thought led me back to that old ABC project in regards to the deepness/entertainment debate in that it made me realise why my answer was unsatisfactory: I was asking the wrong question in the first place, Aldactone no prescription. Get Aldactone, I shouldn't have tried judging a medium such as animation as ‘deep’ in that sense because that might wrongly imply that it is somehow less valid if it were otherwise; it can however be worthwhile art and/or entertainment. Doing both well, Aldactone from canada, My Aldactone experience, without one interfering with the effectiveness of the other, is difficult; in terms of where Le Portrait de Petit Cossette sits in the spectrum, Aldactone treatment, After Aldactone, I think it's right out there at the Arthouse end.

I was expecting a feature that combines the classic horror aspects of Edgar Allan Poe with the romantic prettiness often associated with CLAMP - it isn't directly influenced by either as far as I'm aware but it is definitely a Poe-esque tale with really pretty CLAMP-style visuals so this expectation was at least fulfilled, Aldactone For Sale. The method Le Portrait de Petit Cossette uses in storytelling involves a gloomy premise, online buying Aldactone hcl, Purchase Aldactone, a fairly cryptic narrative and some quite brutal scenes of bloodshed into the bargain. While I can proclaim this to be utterly spectacular as a work of art, buy Aldactone from canada, Aldactone wiki, its entertainment value is therefore more questionable.

Looking into the glass

The story is actually quite a simple one, Aldactone canada, mexico, india. Where can i buy cheapest Aldactone online, An art student named Eiri, working in an antique shop part-time, where can i cheapest Aldactone online, Aldactone over the counter, sees visions of a beautiful girl inside a Venetian wine glass. Aldactone For Sale, Bound to her spirit by fate, Eiri becomes fixated on this mesmerising image, and sinks into obsession. The truth behind Cossette's tragic demise and the nature of Eiri's feelings for her are, Aldactone from canadian pharmacy, Aldactone alternatives, I suspect, easily explained across the three episodes but the storyline seems to go out of its way to make these simple and straightforward ideas anything but simple and straightforward, Aldactone brand name. Aldactone recreational, It's not deep in a thematic sense but it's very artistic; hence my renouncing of the argument I mentioned earlier. Artsy-ness is a better category than depth to describe this sort of thing, Aldactone forum. Order Aldactone from United States pharmacy, It is deliberately and, to my mind, Aldactone dosage, Aldactone for sale, unnecessarily hard to understand; it also dwells in dark territory and there are some harrowing scenes of bloody violence that relate to the curse that binds Cossette's spirit, and Eiri to her, Aldactone online cod. Le Portrait de Petit Cossette is certainly not a tale that makes for light entertainment, Aldactone For Sale. Buy cheap Aldactone no rx, On the other hand I appreciated this series, if not enjoyed it in the ‘sit back and be entertained’ sense, buy Aldactone no prescription, Purchase Aldactone for sale, because it is a work of art; and a downright stunning one at that. The animation is, Aldactone natural, Where can i buy Aldactone online, as you'd expect from an OAV, fluid and natural, taking Aldactone, Aldactone blogs, and it feels suitably bitterwseet with occasionally disturbing moments. Because it's centred on a 250-year old aristocratic French girl, no prescription Aldactone online, Aldactone australia, uk, us, usa, the whole piece has a gothic-lolita atmosphere too. Now, buy Aldactone online no prescription, Comprar en línea Aldactone, comprar Aldactone baratos, I'm a big fan of gothic horror and drama but I also think the gothic-lolita thing is particularly appealing: it seems to project a sense of beauty and elegance without coming across as overly sexual or unsubtle. Aldactone For Sale, Suffice to say I absolutely loved the aesthetic of this series in conveying the goth-loli aura surrounding the heroine (who, appropriately enough, looks as much like a porcelain doll as a real person) and the tragic drama that grips both Cossette and her admirer.

Love is an illusion

Those of us who have seen Shinbo's directorial skills in Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei, or noticed his influence bleed through into ef-a tale of memories will immediately recognise his trademark ‘Shinbo-isms’ here. The camera angles are sophisticated and cinematic, the colour palette is gorgeous and a myriad of filters were used to add texture and atmosphere, which is often used to carry the affair when the story and characterisation regarding the supporting cast seem lacking. It's not that the story or characterisation ARE lacking; it's just that the visuals and music often relegate them to secondary importance. More so than ef in fact since the filters, kaleidoscopic colours and symbolism in that series heightened the events on-screen and injected fresh life into its tired romance premise and dating sim roots. Here, the substance itself is often the style and is even more overwhelming in its ability to mesmerise, confuse and immerse the viewer in its own unique worldview, Aldactone For Sale.

The music by the way is perfectly suited to the art and animation - it's emotionally-charged and hypnotic, with excellent use of strings and piano that are blended with more modern instrumentation. After watching this and the first couple of episodes of .Hack//Sign, I've come to realise how Yuki Kajiura is second only to Yoko Kanno in this particular array of styles. Combining the electronic with the orchestral is a fusion that reflects the collision between the contemporary of Eiri's world and the historic world of Cossette's; I loved the closing theme, especially because of Marina Inoue's voice (it's hard to believe this was her debut feature) - she is clearly very talented and versatile as both a vocalist and VA.

A mesmerising image of tragedy

In Summary

I can think of a number of reasons why Le Portrait de Petit Cossette is a niche production: its lofty aims concern themselves with artistic merit over entertainment value and the moody atmospherics take precedence over the characterisation. It's a deliberately dark, heavy and atmospheric piece but I'd heartily recommend it to Shinbo aficionados or simply those of us who dig the gothic aesthetic and appreciate the beauty in dramatic but occasionally shocking visuals. Although I found it hard to work out what was going on at times it was nevertheless a startling, immersive and extraordinary experience.

[4 Comments]

[Anime Reviews]

27 Aug 2007

Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei #1

Posted by Martin [Tags: Akayuki Shinbo, Sayonara Zetsubou-sensei]
How in Heaven's name did this slip under my radar? Even after the favourable intro I read over at Epic Win the other day, I was surprised at how I 'got' this very twisted and offbeat show. Some animated comedy makes me inwardly chuckle, others make me snicker outwardly but this was the first time in A LONG time that I was creased-up, laughing out loud and almost falling off my chair at any TV show, animated or otherwise. Sayonara Zesubou-sensei isn't funny. It's bloody hilarious.

Meet the most depressed teacher EVAR This is a comedy show. No, really. The concept, that of a consistently pessimistic homeroom teacher having to teach the most positive-minded student imaginable, is a pretty simple one, I admit. Most comedy double-acts rely on polar opposites for the character dynamics but the nauseatingly extreme personalities are only half the story: it has a suicidal twist which adds a very dark and edgy streak to the humour, which I absolutely loved from the get-go. The first scene, where our comic duo first meet, is a shoujo-esque spring morning of sakura blossoms and pastel colours until Kafuka saves Itoshiki-sensei from hanging himself (while we're on the subject, remember that volume #4 of Paranoia Agent was edited for its UK release for making light of such things...I'm not holding my breath for a licence for this). Itoshiki-sensei sees nothing but despair from life in a way that makes the Hitch-hiker's Guide to the Galaxy's Marvin look normal; Kafuka in contrast is likened to Anne of Green Gables and thinks of dustbins as 'treasure chests for the homeless'. She is one of many weird and wonderful members of his class, who are given as their first assignment to list their top three despairs.

Meet Mr Ray of Sunshine The first lesson is always the hardest. The idea of a suicidal teacher and irrepressably happy student in a classful of oddballs sounds like a one-trick pony to me though, so I don't know how many attempted hangings poor old Itoshiki-sensei will go through before the joke wears thin. I'm not sure whether the title of the series refers to his habit of suicide attempts either, or whether it's a hint that Kafuka can turn his life around and shed this persona - with the plot almost nonexistent and the gags so unpredictable, I'm not sure what will happen next.

Nuff said. The essence of the show in one image Apart from this and the innovative artwork, such as the Gankutsuou-style way in which the clothing textures are rendered, this is a very different show from what's currently on offer. The setup is like that of Azumanga Daioh's evil twin, with schoolroom comedy clashing with a Type O Negative variety of self-effacing, morbid humour that may offend some (I promise I won't flame you...much). The comedy is rapid-fire and reliant on puns and wordplay in the FLCL vein - the teacher's name is allegedly made up of an unlucky number of strokes, and when written horizontally spells the 'despair' of the title. My knowledge of hiragana is limited and that of kanji is nonexistent so some of the impact is lost on me but nevertheless there are plenty of laughs from the small details; I was pressing the pause button repeatedly to read the gags scrawled on the chalkboards in the background!

Can you read that? The caption on the left says "I'm not postrating myself. I'm looking at the sky on the other side of the Earth." The one on the right reads "I still mess up kanji on a cell phone." This is typical high shool sketch-type of comedy, complete with references to other shows, melodramatic plot devices (I'm using 'plot' in the loosest sense of the word here) and larger-than-life characters. The idea of the chalk-and-cheese personalities of Itoshiki-sensei and Kafuka (possibly named after the lead character of Kafka on the Shore, which is the icing on the referencing cake for me) is a good one though, so I'm interested to see what, if anything, the show does with them. The op theme, by the way, is a suitably incongruous and catchy up-tempo rock number. Utterly nuts.