Anime Reign | Volume 2 | Issue 1 | 2014

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Anime Reign | Vol. 2 | Issue 1 | 2014

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Volume 2 | Issue 1 | Feb

Editorial

graphics

website

executive Editor Mukesh Kumar

layout and design Paras D. Singh

administrators Rahul Ramesh Pawan kumar

Senior Editor Sam Vankhaurr

Image Renders Zuleika Jacosalem

From the Editor’s Desk Dear Readers!

First and foremost, all of us at World Anime Club (WAC) wish you a merry Christmas and a happy new year 2014! We know we’re late, but still, we hope you enjoyed the festive season as much as we did. As some of you are aware, this has been a busy two months for us. There have been lots of positive developments which we want to gladly share with all of you. Firstly, you might have noticed that our website (www.worldanimeclub.com) has undergone a design makeover. Although we loved our old design, it was too slow and had a lot of bugs, so we decided to go for a

managers Sam Vankhaurr Aman Rastogi

interviewed some famous people in the field. As part of convention coverage, we have Vishesh Chopra from Mumbai sending in his report on the Cool Japan Festival 2014. You’ll see some more of our experiments in the next issue too (most probably April), which will hopefully have some very significant announcements. We’ve also decided to make the magazine a bimonthly (once in two months) release.

Keeping in line with our aim of uniting anime lovers under one hood, we’re also happy to announce that WAC is now successfully affiliated with Delhi Anime Club, New York Anime Club, Nagpur

simple, elegant and more organized design for the site. We hope you like it! We won’t guarantee that this design will stay though-

Anime Club, Orissa Anime Club and Hyderabad Anime Club! We would specially like to mention that WAC has been instrumental in

we’re too fickle for that!

the development and progress of Delhi Anime Club, and we have lots of plans and ideas which we will hopefully be able to share with you by the time our next issue comes out! If you’re interested in joining our enthusiastic (and WACky) community, please register here at www.worldanimeclub.com/join-club and join the respective facebook groups the links of which have been provided on the site.

Moving on, this Volume 2 Issue 1 comes with some new sections in addition to anime and manga reviews, which we are still experimenting with and they mostly have to do with Japanese culture. One of our team members from India, Gulika Datt, got the chance to visit Japan and we will be publishing her journal entries regularly. Many WAC members also got the wonderful opportunity to meet and interact with two eminent Japanese voice actresses at the Japan foundation, New Delhi. This issue also focuses on the beautiful art of Origami; along with a brief article explaining this traditional artform, our correspondent Tanya Kaushik has also

We hope you enjoy reading the magazine. Do check out our website and don’t forget to like our facebook page(s) (links down below) to stay updated!

El Psy Congroo!

facebook.com/animereign.mag twitter.com/worldanimeclub gplus.to/worldanimeclub worldanimeclub.tumblr.com

All materials, content and forms contained in this magazine are the intellectual property of their respective owners unless mentioned otherwise and may not be copied, reproduced, distributed or displayed by any means without the respective creator’s permission.

Anime Reign | Vol. 2 | Issue 1 | 2014

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Contents into Japan Art of Origami ..................................................01 - Tanya Kaushik

J-Pop Culture ...................................................04 - Farheen Ahmed

A Trip to Japan ..................................................06 - Gulika D. Bherwal

AR exclusives The Life of a Voice Actor ...............................09 Interview with Robert J. Lang .......................13 - Tanya Kaushik

Interview with Brian Chan .............................15 - Tanya Kaushik

Anime spotlight Magi: The Kingdom of Magic .......................24 - Rusty

Golden Time .....................................................26 - Swagata Mondal

Hajime no Ippo .................................................28 - Auro K. Datta

Kuroko no Basket ............................................31 - Abhishek Neogi

Ace of Diamond ...............................................33 - Abhishek Neogi

Yowamushi Pedal ...........................................35 - Abhishek Neogi

ar specials GITS Franchise Review ..............................17 - Miss Blunder

Sword Art Online Vs. Log Horizon ........19 - Tiberius S. Patterson

Festive Seasons ...........................................21 - Swagata Mondal

conventions Cool Japan Festival 2014 .........................23 - Vishesh Chopra

Anime Reign | Vol. 2 | Issue 1 | 2014

movie spotlight Fuka Ryouiki no DĂŠjĂ vu ............................37 - Sheldon Eyzenga

Be Forever Yorozuya ...................................39 - Tony Yao

wac art Event Flashback 2013 ....................................41 - Manish Prasad

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Art of Origami - Tanya Kaushik

O

Do you remember the days when we used to make paper planes and throw them in the air to see whose plane travelled further? Or those paper dogs and Paper cranes? Weren’t cranes difficult? Well, if there’s any consolation I still can’t make them. Those big colorful books with step-by-step methods for making Origami. Did I just remind you of your “good old days”?

rigami, another reminder of how creative the Japanese really are, is the traditional art of turning simple piece of paper into something really exquisite. It literally means “paper folding”. So no cutting or pasting is allowed.

If you have ever made something by cutting paper and then thought “Voila! Origami!”, sorry to disappoint, but you used the wrong word. You did use an art form, but not Origami. It is called Kirigami, art of paper cutting and gluing. Before you say “Voila!

Kirigami!”, I don’t think you even made that. Kirigami doesn’t only mean cutting and pasting. It is actually a variation of Origami.

There is a specific method to it.

The origins of Origami can be traced back to countries from all over the world, like China, Germany, Italy, etc. But the Japanese had kept the tradition alive. Raise your hands if you know the types of Origami. You don’t know? Then read ahead. There are several types, six to be exact. One of them is Kirigami, which I’ve mentioned already.

Tools used in Origami Every art form has a set of commonly used tools, so does origami. Let us take a look at some of the popular tools used in this Japanese art.

Bone folders, special type tools, create sharp creases cleanly. Why is it called “bone folder”? Because it is actually made from bones of animals such as cow. Even paper clips, tweezers, electronic lasers and other easily found objects like that can be used as tools.

Have I made you reach a sheet of paper? Mission accomplished!

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Action Origami: You must have seen or might have made an Origami that actually moves. The jumping frog? You press its back a bit and it actually jumps forward.

So that is called action origami or moving origami figures. http://youtu.be/rc9lVHvfzMY Modular Origami: In this type of origami, several or more similar pieces are put together to complete a model. This variation is tricky and requires an effort but the final product is always beautiful. This style is more developed in China. It is called Golden Venture and more commonly known as 3D Origami. http://youtu.be/Uchk33swNJc Wet-Folding: As the name suggests, the paper is moulded rather than folded, by damping it.

When the figurine dries, it keeps its shape and hence a stable moulded paper model is formed.

Pureland Origami: A restricted type of origami in which one fold can be made at a time and no complex folds are allowed. Though restrains are there, it is simple.

And many of you may have made something using this technique.

Origami Tessellations: A branch of origami that has recently grown frantically. As interesting as the name is, the technique is also amazing to see. I have tried and of course failed in creating a tessellation. In a tessellation, one or more geometrical shapes a.k.a tiles are put together with no overlapping and gaps.

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Into J

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When I asked Lang what origami means to him, he replied with a beautiful sentence, “Origami is a wonderful combination of art and mathematical principles that combines elegance, form, pattern, and the tangible shaping of beauty from the simplest and plainest of starting materials.”

The Sentinal II, Opus 627

A Miura-ken Beauty Rose, Opus 482

Dancers, Opp. 457 & 458 Aedes Aegypti, Opus 619 These are only some of his astounding works. For more visit his website www.langorigami.com

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Si

nce this is an anime magazine, without a doubt there will be a mention of anime. Who has seen “Sket Dance”. Yes? No? Anyway, read ahead. “Sket Dance” fans must know about Bossun. For those who have not seen the anime, simply watch Episode 55. It is all about Origami.

And who can forget “R.O.D the Tv”. It’s not particularly about origami, but now and then, the characters use this art.

And “Ghost in the Shell: 2nd Gig” also has an episode which involves a great role of origami (Episode 11). And of course you must have seen Origami in episodes of several anime.

Chang, fine craftsmanship and design teacher at the MIT, specializes in making Japanese swords, replica props and musical instruments.

He also loves to make paper anime figurines. Here is some of his marvelous work.

Sephiroth from Final Fantasy

Rei Ayanami from Neon Genesis Evangelion

Suigintou from Rozen Maiden

Origami is not just an element of Japanese tradition; it has become a vital part of everyone’s life. Even if it’s just that paper plane of childhood, it’s a part of our lives.

In fact after this article, I am going to pick it up as a hobby.

Hopefully I’ll be able to make that paper crane.

So have I made you fold a piece of paper?

Nicholas D. Wolfwood and Vash the Stampede from Trigun

For more of his amazing work, visit http://web.mit.edu/chosetec/www

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Anime Reign | Vol. 2 | Issue 1 | 2014

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J-Pop culture - farheen Ahmed

J-pop or Japanese pop is the musical mainstream of Japan. Both popular Japanese voice actors/seiyus and popular singers can be considered as J-pop artists. This musical genre originally came from traditional Japanese music but was greatly influenced by 1960s pop and rock music such as ‘The Beatles” and “The Beach boys” which resulted in the formation of Japanese rock bands like ‘Happy End’ which combined rock music with Japanese music in the early 1970s. It replaced “kayōkyoku” (Lyrics Singing Music), considered to be the popular genre of Showa era, which was also influenced by western music, but it was different from J-pop as J-pop uses a different kind of pronunciation which is similar to English.

The word “J-pop” was introduced by the Japanese media to separate Japanese music from foreign music. The term was only used for western-style musicians in Japan, after J-wave was established. It is classified into many different genres such as pop, rock, rap, soul, etc.

Origins of J-pop Japanese popular music is said to be traced from the Meiji period but it became popular during the Taishō period. Some western instruments were also introduced in this period. The Japanese people were greatly influenced by western jazz and blues and it became popular throughout Japan.

This led some musicians to adopt some elements of Western jazz in their works though the songs were often written

using the pentatonic scale of traditional Japanese. Ryoichi Hattori, a Jazz musician, attempted to produce blues by composing Noriko Awaya’s “Wakare no blue” which led Awaya to become famous and be called “Queen of blues” in Japan.

Under pressure from the Imperial army during World War 2, the government temporarily banned the performance of Jazz . After the end of the war, Ryoichi Hattori produced many hit songs which led to him being popularly recognized as the “Father of Japanese poppusu”.

During this time, many new musical styles were also introduced in the country. The Japanese musicians started singing covers of Western hit songs and slowly began to infuse it with Japanese music.

During the 1950s and 60s Kayōkyoku was popular and later in the 1950s, rock and roll was introduced, which was popularized by a country music group known as “Kosaka Kazuya and the Wagon Masters”. After this, many new Japanese rock and roll bands were formed. Some musicians tried to combine traditional Japanese music with rock and roll while some musicians just played cover versions of American songs. Meanwhile, the early 1970s and 80’s saw the emphasis being shifted from simple songs with a single guitar accompaniment to more complex musical arrangements known as “New Music”. In 1980’s the term “City Pop” was introduced to describe a type of popular music with a big city theme. Finally, in the 1990s, the term J-pop was used to refer to all Japanese popular songs.

some popular j-pop artists AKB48

B’z

A Japanese Idol girl group consisting of 89 members, where the members are divided as Team A, Team K, Team B and Team 4. AKB in AKB48 stands for Akihabara, which is the location of the group’s studio. It is really popular in Japan and has several sister groups throughout Japan.

A famous Japanese rock duo consisting of Takahiro Matsumoto as the guitarist, composer and producer and Koshi Inaba as the lyricist and vocalist. They are the best-selling artists of Japan and one of the bestselling artists in the world.

Arashi

Boa

A popular Japanese boy group consisting of 5 members (Satoshi Ohno, Sho Sakurai, Masaki Aiba, Kazunari Ninomiya and Jun Matsumoto). They are the first artists to get placed in the top two rankings in the Oricon weekly chart for 2 years.

She is a popular Korean singer or the Queen of K-pop. Besides being a K-pop singer, she is also a popular J-pop singer and has two albums selling more than one million copies in Japan.

Genre: Pop, Electro pop, Dance-pop

Genre: Pop, Rock, R & B, Hip-Hop

Anime Reign | Vol. 2 | Issue 1 | 2014

Genre: Hard rock, Pop rock, Blues rock

Genre: Pop, R & B, Dance-Pop, Electro-Pop

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Chemistry

Genre: Pop, R & B A Japanese Pop/R&B duo consisting of Yoshikuni Dōchin and Kaname Kawabata .They are well known for their single “Period” which was used as the 4th opening song of the anime Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood.

Crystal Key

Genre: Pop, R&B, Rock, Urban, Dance She is a Japanese-American singer who was born to an AfricanAmerican father and a Korean mother.

monkey majik

Genre: Pop-rock, Rock, Rap It is a popular Japanese-Canadian pop rock band consisting of Canadian brothers Maynard and Blaise Plant as the lead vocalists and guitarists. It also consists of two Japanese members, Tax (drums) and Dick (bass).They are also known as “Hybrid Band”.

scandal

Genre: Pop-rock It is a Japanese pop rock girl band. The members are Haruno Ono (lead vocalist and secondary guitarist), Mami Sasazaki (lead guitarist and secondary vocalist), Tomomi Ogawa (bassist and secondary vocalist), and Rina Suzuki (drummer and secondary vocalist).They are the representatives of Japanese girl bands and well known for their songs being used in many anime series.

smap

Genre: Bubblegum pop, R&B, Dance-pop, Electro-pop It is another popular Japanese boy band which consists of 5 members.

SMAP stands for Sports Music Assemble People.

Suga Shikao

Genre: Pop, Jazz, Funk He is a Japanese singer and song writer. His music has jazz, funk and soul influence and is considered as an anomaly in Japanese mainstream music.

yui

Genre: Pop, Pop-rock She is a Japanese singer-songwriter who is also a multi-instrumentalist and composer. She is one of the popular artists of Japan. She is also known for her songs used in some anime series

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Anime Reign | Vol. 2 | Issue 1 | 2014

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A Trip to japan - gulika d. Bherwal

Japan, Japan, Japan- The holy grail of the Otaku world, the place of origin of anime. Every single otaku residing outside of Japan wants to see this amazing land at least once in their lifetime and so did I. And this November, thanks to kami-sama and the Japan Foundation, New Delhi, my dream came true! And trust me when I say it, I had a hard time believing that I was going to Japan, till the time I actually put my feet on Japanese land.

First of all, I should let you guys know how this happened. There was a language and culture exchange program between Japan and other foreign countries, India being one of them. For 15 days, 26 people from 24 different countries were to stay together and study Japanese Culture and Language. I have been studying the Japanese Language for 2 years with the Japan Foundation. In the beginning, I just wanted to learn the language to be able to watch anime raw (without subtitles), but now, after this trip, I really want to study Japan as a whole!

Photography: Gulika Bherwal

Day 1: Nov 6 So the adventure begins. Just out of the Kansai International Airport, the cold gust of ocean flavored wind greeted me. I could smell the amazing adventure ahead (and the cold too, temperature varied from 21°13°C). I had to go to The Japan Foundation’s Kansai Japanese Language Institute, Osaka (where I was staying for the 15 days from 6th Nov to 19th Nov).

The feeling was excitement and happiness (70%) and nervousness *doki doki doki*(130% - First time out of country!). Although, we had thorough instructions on how to get the ticket and board the subway and then the bus to get to our destination, which were a lifesaver!

So I got out of the airport, after a little struggle with the ticket vending machine, help from a kind old lady, the supervisor at the train station and the Mall staff where I went and had to say “tasukete kudasai” (please save me! an anime dialogue we very frequently hear!) as I took a wrong turn and walked for 30 minutes straight.

I met such warm people who helped me to the fullest extent and guided me to safety *Respect*. So I got to my destination in one and a half hours which should normally have taken just 15 minutes.

But I was in JAPAN! Could not help but smile like an idiot even when I was lost! Everything, from the train, stations, general stores, roads, streets, bridges, everything felt familiar like I had seen it somewhere before. And when I saw The Giant Ferris Wheel- bam!

Honey and Clover; Cycle stand outside the Institutebam bam! Skip Beat, Busou Renkin, Tsukitte Inayou, Kimi no todoke; Baseball Field, Tennis Courts- bam bam bam Touch, Midori no hibi, Maison ikkoku and the bams continued. Anime backgrounds were all I could see around me. It was autumn and the Ginkgo trees lined up alongside pavements were all yellow. It was pure heaven to just walk around. The roads and road sense are worthy of appraisal indeed. The fine in Japan can be very expensive, starting from ¥30,000, so everyone follows the rules. And I met my first friend in a foreign land- Quen-san from Vietnam! A fellow anime fan!

Lucky!!

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Day 3: Nov 8 In the morning we had a very exciting cultural activityShoudo- the art of calligraphy. Our instructor Ninomiya sensei showed her amazing award winning work in the field and then taught us the basic techniques of calligraphy. And we all made our masterpieces (!) under her guidance. It was an invaluable experience to learn from her. The strokes she made with so much elegance and grace were just beautiful.

Well into the afternoon, we had our first trip- Osaka trip. Osaka is famous for being the city of bridges (801 bridges approx), merchants (it’s been a commercial port for more than a thousand years) and “the kitchen of the nation” (okonomiyaki- omelette X pancake, hakozushiflat sushi in a bamboo box, udon- thick noodle dish, takoyaki- round octopus fritter balls; I apologize - I could not taste pretty much anything being a pure vegetarian (Y_Y)). People of Osaka are straightforward, witty and funny. A large chunk of reputed Japanese comedians come from Osaka.

Day 2: Nov 7 Orientation Day was here. All the 26 members of the program introduced themselves and we met our teachers- Nakajima sensei, Katsuki-sensei and Miyurasensei. Azuma-san assisted by Shin-san coordinated the program. We got basic instructions about the rules and regulations of the institute. Our curfew time was 12 am. Upon uninformed violation, we could be handed over to the police! (good thing that didn’t happen with anyone of us :P) Orientation was so much fun! We did various activities and games together. We were shown around the whole of the Institute- Library, Classrooms, Self Study room, Cafeteria, Kitchen, Jim, Karaoke room, Washitsu (traditional Japanese room), Computer room, Hall, Dormitory Rooms, Lounges, Laundry- all spread over the 18 story building (Info- In Japan, the Ground floor is counted as the first floor). What I especially liked in Japan was the strictly demarcated smoking and non smoking areas. For people like me who have difficulty tolerating cigarette smoke, it’s a serious blessing!

My room was on the 12th floor and I could enjoy the beautiful ocean view from my window. The Osaka region is a cultural and educational hub. I found it especially peaceful, away from the car-honking and traffic noises all the time. That reminds me, even though I’m not that much into cars, at times I would catch glimpses of impressively sleek and silent models on the road.

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The first stop of the trip was Osaka Castle, located in Chūō-ku, Osaka. Almost 431 years old, constructed on the orders of General Hideyoshi Toyotomi, a warrior and feudal lord regarded as one of the main unifiers of ancient Japan, the Osaka Castle stands magnificent. It has witnessed many wars, political turmoil and numerous tragedies and has been rebuilt many times. Presently it has been restored to a modern functioning museum consisting of 8 floors. The Holographic exhibition of the life and achievements of Hideyoshi Toyotomi was simply exemplary. From there we went to the shopping district of Osaka-Namba, a lively and happening place. I saw Pachinko Palour for the first time, but couldn’t go in because of time constraints. The Namba district consists of various streets- Shinsaibashi area is all popular for trendy fashion labels- “Shop till you drop” fits so well here, Dotonbori is famous as a food joint and never closes completely, Amerikamura is all about teenage fashion, and Den Den Town is the otaku paradise.

Osaka’s counterpart to Tokyo’s Akihabara and much cheaper too! The sad part is that I didn’t know about it during this trip. The good part is that thanks to my otaku buddy from Brazil, I got to go to DenDen Town at least 2 days prior to leaving - could have missed it completely!

And we managed to find awesome treasure <3 (Saiyuki towels!! and figures from Naruto, Sket Dance, HunterX Hunter, FMA, DragonBallZ to name a few). Maximum number of anime figures and goods at one place and you can bargain!

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Day 4: Nov 9 As a part of cultural activity, we were divided in groups of 2 people and had to spend a day with a Japanese family. Me along with Inna-san from Kazakhstan (her Japanese is amazing!) were assigned to The Tsujisa sweet couple- Isao-san and Akiko-san; very kind hearted and caring people. We went to Mount Koya (Koyasan), an important centre of Buddhism. The main temple was so beautiful and peaceful that it cannot be described in words. As I entered the temple, it was like I had entered another world altogether (too bad they didn’t allow photography inside). The whole area is covered by more than a hundred temples. And being situated at a height, the scenic beauty visible was splendid. There were very pretty blood red maple leaves, the symbol of autumn in Japan. We shopped for souvenirs and headed to Okunoin, the mauloseum of Kobo Dashi (founder of Shingon Buddhism). It is a famous pilgrimage site, a graveyard. The graves ranging from smallest to largest were all very beautiful.

We paid our respects and returned. The day with the Tsujis passed by so quickly and we had so much fun.

They dropped us back and we presented them with the souvenirs of our respective countries. I hope they liked the Indian Tea.

Day 5: Nov 10 Sunday!! The first free day! We had all the day to ourselves, so I decided to go for Osaka Kaiyukan, one of the largest aquariums in the world. It was an hour and a half away from our Centre. So I took the Shuttle Bus to the Rinku Town Station, from there I took the train to Kansai International Airport and finally the Limousine bus to Kaiyukan. Being a Sunday, loads of families were there. Such cute kids I tell you! Just adorable!! Back to the aquarium, the entry was a short tunnel with colorful and various varieties of fish. My eyes widened with astonishment, although having seen on discovery; the real experience is always wonderful!

Little sharks swimming over your head- awesome! The aquarium is so constructed that you start off at the 8th floor and go down spirally, showcasing the Pacific Rim. Many tanks are 2-3 floor deep providing different views of different levels of life in the habitat. The whole idea was astonishing! The Penguins, the dolphins, turtles and many other tanks were so deep; like the penguins tank - on one floor there was ice and on the lower was the water where they could dive. Corals were also the same, running deep, inhabiting so many varied life forms. It was mesmerizing. I was lucky to have been at the Dolphin tank at its feeding time! The caretaker performed such cute tricks with it; made me want to snuggle that cute creature. It would rotate, nod, and play so cheerfully, but so fast that I could not capture an image! The next thing I can’t skip mentioning were the Jelly fish tanks! Pure beauty- you could just stand in front of them for ages! However the main star of the show was The Whale Shark! I was dumb founded to see the majestic beauty!!! Housed in a 9m deep tank, the view was just astonishing. The Mantle Rays, Sting Rays, Sharks so many species and when they just glide past you, you cannot help but move your head along! I loved every second I was there. However, the return bus was due to leave soon, so I hurried out after a few souvenirs.

It started raining and I missed my bus by 5 minutes and so, I went to get another ticket in the shopping complex of Kaiyukan. And Voila! As it was meant to be, I found the One Piece speciality story! My gosh the figures were amazing!!!! 2 feet long with intricate details and finishing.

I was smitten. Name a character and you’ll find it there!

Goods from small key chains to pillows, covers, bags; everything was there. T-shirts too! A bit expensive but I managed to get the 8 member crew collection (except Brook :(), Ace’s Bag, and Shanks and Ace attachments!

My treasureee! Well, time to head back. ~To be continued

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An Interview with Yukino Satsuki and Nami Okamoto

voice

the life of a

actor

Japan produces more than 60% of total animation in the world. Such a large anime database needs to be performed and presented by a consequently large number of voice actors.

We at World Anime Club had the wonderful and once in a lifetime opportunity to meet and interview two of the best voice actresses the world of anime can boast of. asha om Inu Y agome fr K f o e ic o atsuki, v

ukino S ing Ms Y

Introduc

and numerous others . . .

And, Ms Nami Okamoto

the voice of Ayumi from, again, Inu Yasha

How can one become a voice artist (seiyuu) in Japan?

Ms. Yukino Satsuki is one of the leading female voice actresses in Japan. She has performed in major Japanese anime, such as “Inuyasha” (charactor: Kagome ), “Gintama” (character: Tae Shimura), “BLEACH” (Yoruichi Shihouin), “Natsume’s Book of Friends” (Character: Hiiragi) and many more.

Ms. Nami Okamoto has performed in major hit anime, such as “Inuyasha” (character: Ayumi, a friend of Kagome), “Kekkaishi” (character: Ayano), “Space Brothers” (character: Kei Kitamura) etc. She is also active as a recitalist and a lecturer.

Following is an excerpt from a question and answer session with fans during the Workshop & Fan Meeting held at Japan Foundation, New Delhi on 13Th December, 2013.

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Okamoto-san: To become a voice artist, maybe when you first realize that you can speak in the same manner as a voice you hear in a game, then you have a chance to try to become one. However, it is difficult to carry on being a voice artist.

This job of doing a voice over for various commercials and various anime, in itself, is a particular type of work.

However, that doesn’t make you a Voice Artist already. You have to have a lot of chances for acting, you have to have good experience to become a voice artist. Which is why I say that it is not very easy. It is difficult to become a voice

artist. It is a long process of getting experience and becoming good at it.

Okay, now to answer this question on how one can become a voice artist, there are various training schools in Japan which nurture the talent in potential voice artists, where people can get training, they can get proper directions towards becoming a voice artist. Well, one step towards becoming a voice artist would be to enroll in such schools and study. And the clinching factor is that you must work very hard on your skills to become a voice artist.

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Yukino-san: Well my opinion is no different than what Ms Okamoto said. I would give the same reasons. I would like to add that because there are numerous anime being made/ produced all over Japan and there is such a conspicuous presence of anime in Japan, there are many people who want to become voice artists.

And people who are really serious about pursuing a career as a voice artist enroll

themselves in such training schools and debut as new voices at a very early age. This is the starting point. Now, in the corporate world, generally in companies, there is a certain age for retirement at which one must stop working. However, if you’re a voice artist, there is no such age of retirement. You can go on working as a voice artist for as long as you want to.

For that reason, there are not many people retiring and they keep getting experience, but there are a lot of new people who want to get into this field.

So, because of this reason, the entire population who are engaged in being voice artists is increasing. And, as you would now understand, the amount of competition, and the fierceness in competition is quite high. So it is difficult to sustain oneself as a voice artist in Japan.

Those were very interesting memories to get back to.

Thank you very much for your

question.

I reckon that being a Voice Artist is a tiresome job. But it is also a very interesting job.

Do you feel any tiredness/ fatigue doing this particular job?

Okamoto-san: Okay, I would like to come out with something that is very personal for me. You may not want to understand it as a general example.

I really like having various alcoholic drinks (laughs).

However, if I have too much of it, it affects my voice and as a result, it affects my work. So, in order to not have any adverse effect on the quality of my work, I really have to stop myself from drinking alcohol which I really like. Regarding fatigue, I’d like to say that, well, when I’m doing voice overs for certain movies, say like a movie is in some other language and I have to put Japanese voice over it, it is very usual for us to work from 10 am to 10 pm. So one is just closed up in a studio and it becomes very difficult for me to not have seen the day at all, not have seen what the sky looks like. And on such days, when I have to be on my toes to work, I feel very fatigued and tired.

Okay, I will just share one more difficult situation that I’ve come across in my career as a voice actress. It so happens that in my contemporaries there are friends who are voice actresses, and we are all eyeing this one particular role. All of us give it our best shot, but then there are times when, say my friend gets that role and I don’t. Then it is very difficult for me to put up a good

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face, saying congratulations, while I’m really sad about the fact that I didn’t get that role (laughs). So it is one of those very difficult moments in my career as a voice actress.

Also those times when I’m really not able to deliver my voice acting as well as I would like to (laughs). Those are also difficult times.

Yukino-san: But I find it difficult all the time (laughs)!

For voice acting, one needs to really get into the skin of the character one is lending one’s voice to. In certain ways, it is very relaxing, because, well, I just have to give my voice.

But sometimes, I feel stressed, because I have to be somebody who I’m not. To give you an example, when I was working on Inu Yasha, there was this love triangle between Kikyo, Kagome and Inu Yasha, and during this particular scene, things became grim and serious and it was difficult to act. And while acting out for the voices of these characters, the atmosphere within the studio was also, kind of, heavy for us (laughs). Because we are synchronizing ourselves with the life of a particular character that we are giving our voice to, it happens many times that if that particular character is feeling pain, it transfers to me and I feel that pain too.

foremost, I feel grateful for being able to work as a Voice Actor.

As I have mentioned earlier, in one of the previous questions, it is not like I wanted to become a Voice Artist, it just happened. So, um, it was not like I was aiming at this particular profession to which I am attached. I wanted to become an actor, and for that reason, I enrolled in a drama school. However, getting a chance to be a Voice Artist, I have realized that the possibilities are limitless.

One can act for any kind of character- say a character which can fly up high, far away into the sky. With just some modulation to your voice, you can change yourself into different characters. So, it has a lot of variety. So, differing from actors who comes out on the stage or on the screen with their face and act with emotions, Voice Artists can modulate their voice, change it and then act and do so many varying roles. And I feel really grateful for getting this opportunity which has much wider scope of possibilities.

Thank you very much for your question.

You both have had a long career in being Voice Actors. What do you think about yourselves? What is your self-image about being Voice actors?

Okamoto-san: It’s a very difficult question to answer (laughs)! Well, first and

Yukino-san: Since I always aimed at becoming a Voice Artist since childhood, I feel really happy in the fact that I have managed to become one.

And I want to continue being a Voice Artist for as long as I live.

Thank you very much.

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How is voice acting for manga based anime series different from voice acting for any other anime series, say an anime original series? Does it require a different kind of voice approach or is it the same for all of them?

character other than those you have worked on? Like mine is Kyon from Haruhi Suzumiya.

Okamoto-san: In case of certain anime, which already have a manga as a base, it is relatively easier for us because we can refer to that manga, get a hang of the entire flow of events in the whole story.

We can practice it and when there is an audition, we can always refer to the manga for preparing ourselves for the audition. In case of anime which do not have a manga as the base, which are individual stories, original stories, it is different- we have to create a world of our own. We have to imagine the entire thing. There is nothing that we can refer to. But it is enjoyable in many ways. We only get a particular picture of the anime character and we have to imagine various things about it. We can also ask about the character to the concerned person from the production house, and that is how, in such cases, there is scope for evolution, scope for creativity in our acting skills. However there are cases when we do not know what is going to happen further in the story, how it is going to unfold and that is something that we’re really excited about knowing ourselves.

In your personal opinion, who do you like more – Jun Fukuyama or Takahiro Sakurai? Which one is your favorite?

Yukino san: I also feel the same.

I have a question for Ms. Yukino. You are a very great Voice Artist and Kagome is my favorite character too, but I especially like your role as Kaname Chidori in Full Metal Panic. What is your favorite

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Yukino-san: Good choice! But I don’t have a particular favorite or a most favorite character.

Yukino-san: (Laughs) They are working together on “Phi Brain” right now…. It’s very difficult to make a choice! I think I would pick Sakurai because I’ve worked more frequently with him. For example, in Cyborg-009, Sakurai was 009 and I was 003. Well, if I think of that particular connection, I would choose Sakurai.

Okamoto-san: It’s a really difficult question to answer!

I have worked with Sakurai in “Gate Keepers” and at that time, because he’s tall and he looks so handsome, I

was totally floored! (Laughs) Regarding Fukuyama Jun, my first workplace was the same as his, so we were colleagues and we entered this world of voice acting at around the same time. And so, we looked at each other growing as voice artists. We have seen each other struggle a lot with our careers and if I’m asked

to make a choice, I think for this reason, I would choose Fukuyama (laughs).

What is your favorite anime?

Yukino-san: I don’t have one particular anime.

I have top 3!

The first one is Ribon no Kishi (Princess Knight)

by Tezuka Osamu.

The second one is Versailles no Bara (Rose of Versailles). The third is Maison Ikkoku, written by the same author who has written Inu Yasha, Rumiko Takahashi. These three are really close to my heart.

Okamoto-san: My most favorite is Ranma 1/2. And it also happens to be a series

by Miss Takahashi, who wrote Inu Yasha. I used to watch this anime when I was a middle school student. Yamaguchi Kappei who lent his voice for Ranma – I was so mesmerized by him at that age!

(Laughs) And Hidaka Noriko, who gave the voice for Akane, I thought of her as cute. And as fate would have it, when I became a voice artist. I happened to have a chance to work with him. When I first met them, I was really nervous inside.

I really wanted to express my delight, I wanted to go “Hey Kappei san! Hey Noriko san!”, but because it was our place of work, I had to maintain my decorum. These are some of my good memories.

Yukino-san: Rumiko Takahashi is one famous name; are you all familiar with it? Ah yes,

otaku (audience) would know all about her (laughs). There are many of her works which are widely liked and are very popular. But I think Inuyasha is one of her representative works which is loved

everywhere. It is followed by fans from all over the world and it is probably correct to say that it’s a powerful piece of work. Ever since Inuyasha concluded, anime like Bleach and Gintama have come along.

But the popularity of Inuyasha has remained the same.

Do you think that sometimes Japanese anime can be lost in translation? For instance, in Doraemon, Nobita and his father go “Hurray, Hurray!” without much explanation as to why they do so. And even in Inuyasha, when Sota proposes to his girlfriend, the characters go “BANZAI!” and non-Japanese speakers are left clueless. Things like these often confuse the nonJapanese speaking audience.

Do you think these things should be left as it is for the non-Japanese fans to look up on the internet or translated appropriately?

Yukino-san: I would like to explain this like this- if there is a particular manga series, the person who is reading it can give one’s own emotions to the characters.

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However in case of anime, for example, Kagome has my voice and I give all the emotions, all the dialogues in ‘my’ particular characteristic voice, but there is a certain limitation; because of that, that carries on to the character. This is different in case of manga, because the people who are reading the manga can have different variations and thoughts about that manga and its characters depending on what they interpret.

Okamoto-san: Unfortunately, our position is such that, we lend our voice to the original anime and we know what expressions, feelings we are putting in them; we just know those feelings and nothing else. As to how it gets translated, how those emotions get transferred in the translated version or in the voice over version, I’m sorry but we’ve never come across any of our works translated. So it will not be appropriate for us to answer.

It is very sad that a certain portion of the original could not be correctly translated. As you said, it is lost in translation.

However we would be grateful if at certain portions which are difficult to translate or need certain explanation, the person translating for us, looks up these details and then aptly puts it down in the translated version.

How do you manage the balance between different characters and keep the flow with the same character?

Like first you did a character in Inu Yasha and then jumped to completely different characters in Gintama and Bleach.

Okamoto-san: when I go to the studio to give my voice to a particular character, I

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become that character. There isn’t anything specific that I need to prepare like “Today I’m going to act for ‘this’ character, I’m must do ‘this’.

Tomorrow ‘that’ character, I must do ‘this’.” Nothing like that; like I said, it comes naturally to me.

I just enter the studio and act as a particular character.

As an example, however, I would like to say that when I know a particular character that I’m lending my voice to, I imagine them and I also take a look at the clothes that they are wearing and I imagine myself wearing the same clothes, like a long dress or kimono which the character is wearing.

Yukino-san: Generally, timings for recording the dubbing for the anime are from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm, then there’s a break and the next slot is from 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm. So, say, if I’m dubbing for Bleach on Thursday in the morning slot,

10:00 am to 2:00 pm; after this there is a break, then we have our lunch, some rest, basically get a change of mind; then from 4:00 pm, we can start a totally different recording in a totally different environment than the one we did in morning.

The morning environment is cleared out of the mind.

Is there anything you would like to say to your fans about upcoming anime series?

Yukino-san: I wonder if all of you anime fans are eager to watch the anime which are released in Japan around the same time because I reckon there is some gap.

Well, it is confidential because my director has requested me not to mention the name because this anime will be released in the rest of the world before Japan. I really want to tell you but I am sorry I cannot.

Okamoto-san: Same for me.

As much as I want to tell you, I’m sorry I cannot. But do look forward to our works. Thank you very much!

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interview

with

robert j. lang by

Tanya Kaushik

R

obert J. Lang, an American physicist, is an extraordinary origami artist. He is one of the leading theorists in the field of Mathematics of Origami. Lang has worked for NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Spectra Diode Labs and JDS Uniphase. Lang is recognized for finding real-world applications for various theories of origami developed by him. Some of his notable works are developing folding patterns for a German airbag manufacturer and those with the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory where Lang was engaged by the team to develop a way to fit a 100 m lens, known as the Eyeglass, into a small rocket in such a way that the lens can be unfolded in space and will not suffer from any permanent marks or creases.

We know what got you started in the field of origami, your teacher, but what aspects of origami made you passionate about it?

I started at the age of six, working from a book. I worked entirely from books for many years; it wasn’t until my 20s that I met another origami enthusiast face-to-face.

designs I’ve been working on for years that are still not complete. Most, however, take hours to days.

How did you come up with idea of using origami for the “eyeglass”?

Actually, it was the idea of the engineers who were designing the eyeglass who came up with the idea of using origami. That was why they contacted me.

Which of your works is the most favourite?

Why?

Which of your composition was the hardest to fold?

How long did it take you to complete?

I don’t rank or order them by difficulty. There are

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subjects, apply different design and folding techniques, and probably are motivated by different design concepts.

What is your most memorable moment related to origami?

Any advice for origami artist?

aspiring

Have fun!

Fold what personally inspires you, rather than what some external person might try to persuade you to strive for.

Nothing out of the ordinary comes to mind.

It’s usually my most recent. I haven’t done any new designs lately, so I don’t have a current favorite; “favorite” will probably be my next design.

What makes your work different from those of other origami artists?

We

choose

different

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interview

with

brian chan by

Tanya Kaushik

B

rian Chan particularly enjoys complex origami. With his decade long experience at MIT and Mass Art he is currently working on his Origami book. Chan is mostly self-taught and also has interest in other art forms like painting, metal sculptures, etc. His love for making paper anime figurines drew my attention. Aside from anime figurines he is also a master in creating Japanese swords, replica props, and musical instruments.

How did you begin origami?

What made you fold your first sheet of paper?

My parents got me some books, namely “Origami for the Enthusiast” by John Montroll.

He writes really good books that start with basic, easy designs, like simple fish, and as the chapters progress the designs are more complex and difficult What was the first anime character that you attempted? How much time did it take you to complete it?

What was the reason that you chose this character?

The first character I attempted was Rei Ayanami from Evangelion, but that didn’t go too well, so I put it on hold while I designed Vash from Trigun. It took a few weeks to design and fold, and I just chose the character because I think he’s well designed aesthetically and conceptually.

Later on (after a few years) I did try Rei again, and it turned out well.

How many different anime characters have you designed till date? And which was the most difficult one?

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I have about 6 different anime characters, and by far the most difficult one is Suigintou from Rozen Maiden.

It uses a technique called color changing, where I use paper that’s different colors on the opposite sides to create colored features in the model.

She took me about two weeks to design, and a full week to fold.

Which one of your creations is your favourite?

I don’t really have a favorite creation except for the one I am working on currently! I find that mentality is the best for focusing on creating new works.

How did origami convert from a part-time to a full time profession?

It’s not a full time profession; actually I work at the MIT Hobby Shop where I teach students how to build things.

I do origami and other design works on the side, mostly for fun, but occasionally as commissions.

What character are you working on or are planning to create also which anime series is your favourite? And

why?

I’d really like to make more Evangelion figures because that’s my favorite series. It has giant robots, and weird angels, which are beautifully designed, so they would look good folded in origami. The series also has a lot of cool spiritual imagery and psychological commentary. Each of the characters is flawed in his/her own way, in that sense I think they’re realistically written What would you advise novice origami artists?

I would give this advice to people trying anything creative - the most important thing you must remember is to NEVER give up on practicing the craft.

That is the main way that most people fail at any artistic hobby. It’s ok to take breaks

and work in small bits, as long as you’re practicing and forming a relationship with whatever medium you’d like to excel at.

As for origami, specifically, I’d really recommend starting with Montroll’s books, and then onto the more difficult but very rewarding books published by “Origami House Japan”.

Folders who want to design their own models should read Robert Lang’s Origami Design Secrets, and practice a lot always! The great thing about origami is that paper is cheap and accessible, so you can fold a lot without worrying about resources.

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Ghost in the Shell The Franchise

- miss blunder

H

ailed as perhaps one of the best anime of all time, the Ghost in the Shell franchise has garnered high approval rates not only in Japan, but abroad as well. In fact, the first movie, named simply Ghost in the Shell was the first anime to rank number one on the Billboard. Adapted from Masamune Shirow’s manga of the same title, the Ghost in the Shell franchise takes viewers on a thrilling ride set in a futuristic Japan.

First published by Kodansha as a serialization in the Young Magazine in 1989, Ghost in the Shell tells the tale of Public Security Section 9, an anticybercrime organization. In the future, cybernetics have become a crucial part of everyday life. In fact, some humans give up their entire bodies in favor of a prosthetic “shell.” In cases like that, their consciousness becomes a “ghost” that continues to exist within the mind of its cyborg body. Because of this advance in technology, the line between sentience and non-sentience – between human and robot - is ever diminishing; it’s also opened up the gate for an entirely new time of cyber terrorism: hackers are able to hack

directly into other people.

The franchise is, as of right now, composed of the manga, two films (three, if you count Ghost in the Shell 2.0), two anime, three games, and an OVA. Despite the fact that there are two different continuities in the series, fans have found a suitable order for watching the franchise for newcomers.

One continuity involves watching Ghost in the Shell, followed with Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence. Ghost in the Shell introduces viewers to the plight of sentient cyborgs: individuality and the lack of sexual identity. Major Motoko Kusanagi is, as far as the eye can tell, female. However, because she is a cyborg, she cannot reproduce. This flaw in the advancement of technology becomes even more prevalent when the Major and her team of law enforcement from Section 9 embark upon

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trying to identify the Puppetmaster, a cyber criminal who is able to “ghost-hack” the minds of others.

In the end, the Puppetmaster, a product of rival Section 6’s Project 2501, as we later learn, simply sought a manner of selfpreservation.

Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence, on the other hand, follows an entirely different story line. Adapted from the “Robot Rondo” chapter of the manga and taking place in 2032 (three years after Ghost in the Shell), this movie follows a series of murders at the hand of sex robots.

However, because of the presence of illegal ghosts within those sex bots, Section 9 embarks on an investigation to find the true cause of the murders, and in the process learns that the deaths resulting from the bots (or gynoids) was a direct result at an attempt of saving young girls who were being trafficked by LOCUS SOLUS, a company that sought to make their sex robots more realistic.

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A

fter these two films might be a good place to throw in Ghost in the Shell 2.0, which is simply a remake of the original Ghost in the Shell film. It features new audio and CGI.The second continuity would be that of the anime series, Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex, followed by Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex 2nd GIG (also known as the second season).

In SAC, our favorite Section 9 crew seek to get to the bottom of the Laughing Man Case. While they seek out the perpetrator, we also get a detailed look at what the Stand Alone Complex actually is, which leads to the question of whether or not the Laughing Man actually exists. During their investigation, they also bring to light the corruption of the Japanese Government. Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex 2nd GIG takes place two years after the Laughing Man incident, highlighting the effects of the Third and Fourth World Wars.

Here, another Stand Alone Complex has surfaced, this time in a terrorist organization known as the Individual Eleven.

Following the two seasons of Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex, comes a feature length OVA entitled Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex - Solid State Society, which once again revisits corruption in politics, only this time bringing abused children into the play.

In addition, there was also talk of a 3D live-action film – in fact, DreamWorks even acquired the rights to it in 2008.

However, there’s been no real updates on the status of the film, other than Steven Spielberg hiring a new writer for it in 2010 – an unfortunate bit of news for fans of the series.

ecchi, and some, like myself, prefer a darker theme. For those interested in a science-fiction anime that is thought provoking, Ghost in the Shell is definitely a franchise to sate your hunger. After all, what happens when the line separating human from machine disappears entirely?

When it comes to anime, tastes tend to vary. Some prefer light, romantic comedies, others prefer

The latest OVA in the franchise is Ghost in the Shell: Arise, which is a prequel set in the year 2027 – two years before the first film takes place. Along with a new voice cast, viewers will also find that their favorite characters don’t quite look the same. From this OVA, a new manga has also been adapted.

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Sword Art online VS A

C

o

m

p

a

Log Horizon

- Tiberius S. Patterson

Studio: A-1 Pictures Episodes: 25 + OVA Original Run: 07 July 2012 – 22 December 2012 Source Material: LN

At

one point or another, we have all come across a series that’s been a rip-off of another series; or at least, a really bad adaptation. The anime industry is no different and we’ve seen our fair share of shows that were obviously inspired by, or imitations of, another series.

More recently, we’ve seen a heated debate between the fans of Sword Art Online (A-1 Pictures) and Log Horizon (Satelight). The claim here by fans of SAO is that Log Horizon is a rip-off of the aforementioned series because it uses the same concept of being trapped in a game. The fans of Log Horizon counter that by saying that the series is very different from SAO and isn’t a rip-off at all.

After the requisite rounds of name-calling and flaming, the debate still hasn’t been solved. This is largely due to the fact that fans, on both sides, are blinded by the subjectivity and stubbornness that comes with defending one’s favorite series.

Let’s take a look at this objectively. For a moment, we’re going to pretend to be detectives and try to figure out where the truth lies.

As with any investigation, we need to look at the facts. First, we’ll take a look at what’s the same between them.

Both series have the following: Trapped in a game.

Can’t log out (thus, trapped).

People are split into factions (guilds).

Um…people are…stuck…?

As we can see, only the initial premise is the same, really. Both series revolve around being trapped in a game. Now, let’s take a look at where the series are fundamentally different. These are the key points that really separate them.

r

i

s

o

n

Studio: Satelight Episodes: 25 Original Run: 05 October 2013 – Ongoing Source Material: LN In SAO, players are told that they are trapped and why. In LH, players have no clue as to how they even got there.

SAO was a VR game that used a helmet (NerveGear) to intercept commands from the brain to move the character.

Therefore, if you can’t log out, it’s not possible to move your body. In LH, Elder Tale was played in front of a monitor like a standard game. At any point, it was possible for players to get up and walk away.

When the players in SAO were trapped in the game, they were already “physically” there in the sense that the game was in a VR environment.

In LH, players not only don’t know why they’re trapped or how they got trapped, they don’t even know how they got into the game world in the first place; Elder Tale was played in front of a monitor like normal.

When players needed food in SAO, it was easy to get and it had taste to it. Cooking was a simple process that used the game mechanic. Players that need food in LH have to utilize their environment to get food that has taste.

The goal in SAO was to beat the game so that everyone could escape and log out. There was even a frontline unit which was tasked with this job. In LH, the goal is to adapt to their reality and secure their means of survival before trying to find a means to log out. Since they don’t know how, or why, they wound up in the game, they don’t know how to begin to find a way to get out.

SAO’s environment was bound by the game mechanics. LH’s environment was also bound by the same but players had to use what was around them to achieve a result; basically the same as in real life.

The NPCs (Non-Player Characters) in SAO were what you would expect; they only did what they were programmed to do. The NPCs in LH appear to be like real people with personalities and a will of their own.

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I

could keep going but I think you all get the point here. Saying that Log Horizon is a rip-off of Sword Art Online based solely on the premise that players are trapped in a game is idiocy.

To drive my point home, I left out one, key difference that sets the two apart: if you die in Log Horizon, you just revive where you would normally; if you die in Sword Art Online, you’re really dead. I think, as someone who’s seen both series (well, what’s out of LH since we’re about half-way through at this point), this makes a difference. Something can’t be a rip-off if one of the key points is completely different.

We can take this even further back, too. Die-hard fans of the .hack// franchise say that SAO is a rip-off of .hack// for the same reason; trapped in a game. I’m not going to go into a comparison but the same thing goes; they’re completely different series. Heck, if you wanted to go down that route, all of these “trapped in a game/digital word” series are rip-offs of the 1982 movie Tron. I don’t actually think that but that’s where this all ends up leading to.

At this point, we haven’t really are going batsh*t crazy the answer is pretty LH aired at a time fresh in people’s TV, it airs in an

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gotten into why people over this rivalry. I think simple. It’s the timing. where SAO was still minds. On American on Cartoon Network English language

dub. If we look at the printed material, or source material, both series were originally light novels. The SAO LN started selling on April 10, 2009, and is still going (they’re up to 13 volumes now).

The latest SAO LN volume started selling on December 10, 2013, and is the second volume of the Progressive arc.

LH also started as a LN and was published one year and three days (April 13, 2010) after SAO first hit the shelves; though, it was first published online. Log Horizon didn’t get a paper printing until March 31, 2011; the series is also still ongoing with seven volumes currently out. The seventh volume of Log Horizon hit the shelves in Japan on December 20, 2013, and will come in two editions; regular and special.

Anyway, I don’t think this debate will end any time soon.

Personally, I’m the more understanding type. I can see both sides of an argument and come to a conclusion based on empirical facts and data. This is one of those times where it’s been made easy for me since the differences between the series are so obvious. For those of you that weren’t watching Log Horizon because you thought it was a rip-off of Sword Art Online, I hope this changes your mind. If you’re one of those fanatical fans of SAO that thinks anything with the same premise is going to be a rip-off, I think you might need to open your mind a bit and realize that, at some point, two people are going to come up with the same idea; even if they never meet or know anything about what the other is doing.

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T

Festive Season

- Swagata Mondal

he festive season has passed by leaving an array of peaceful and beautiful memories. Personally, I had a wonderful time with relentless shopping experiences (using mom’s credit card) and anime club meet ups. Now all of us otaku have started yet another year eagerly waiting for new anime seasons and explosive series finales. Well, here I’m going to allude to some of the best Christmas themed episodes and features from some popular anime that kept me entertained this past season.

The very first name that popped into my mind was “Love Hina Christmas Special”“Silent Eve”. I know it is too obvious (Of course it has to be! Don’t tell me you didn’t notice the “Christmas special” in the name!), but yeah, if you are in a jovial mood, you can definitely give a shot to this slightly ecchi-romantic (yeah yeah! Some panty shots are there) special episode. There is Red & White (aka Christmas colors) combo everywhere. Moreover, Christmas music, Christmas trees and embellishments (WAO!) - everything is just impeccable for the season. Keitaro buys a classy Santa chic outfit for Naru, and even Keitaro is dressed like Santa for almost half of the episode! It is a very convivial episode - believe me, you will definitely feel the liveliness!

I think you’re all aware of “Toradora!”(Well, if you don’t just DON’T MISS it! A MUST watch Anime!). Episode 17- “Mercury Retrogrades at Christmas”; Episode 18- “Under the Fir Tree”; and Episode 19- “Christmas Eve Festival”, these three episodes revolve around Christmas time. It delivers a slightly distinctive glimpse on Christmas - not everyone relishes the holidays and sometimes it can be very dispiriting. Being with loved ones is the true meaning of enjoying a holiday. These episodes are full of emotional scenes and Christmas cheer… a humongous Christmas tree, Christmas decorations, a Christmas bear and Yusaku’s semi-naked outfit!

Now I’m about to mention an anime that is quite unique and special in its own way…

It is none other than “Tokyo Godfathers”! If you haven’t watched it yet, PLEASE WATCH IT NOW! It is about three needy and homeless people in Tokyo encountering an abandoned baby and their earnest quest to find her parents. The whole incident takes place within the time span between Christmas and New Year. This anime is truly a masterpiece- an inspiring and heartwarming story. Not only for Christmas, but as a whole it’s a must watch anime. I think, this is the only anime portraying Western style Christmas i.e. Hopes, Happiness, Spending time with family etc. It is definitely a superb holiday classic.

Well, time for a funnier one (rather I would say a really weird one!)! How about “Itsudatte My Santa!”? This OVA depicts the story of a boy unfortunately named “Santa” as he was born on Christmas Eve. He really hates Christmas because his parents are always busy and he has to go through the festive season alone.

Everything just gets complicated when a woman claiming to be a Santa Claus, vows to cheer Santa-kun up, leading to a blend of Christmas fantasy and romance. This OVA is entirely focused on Christmas including decorations, Santa(s), a reindeer named Pedro and of course, it has “Fan service” (If you know what I mean!).

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I know many of you are still waiting like “What the hell is she doing? Where is “Cardcaptor Sakura”?” Well, here it is, Episode 35- “Sakura’s Wonderful Christmas”. This episode is not typically Christmas-themed!

But it has Christmas fervor in it - there’s a lot of talk regarding presents (though Birthday present!), “Jingle Bells” plays in the background, and a Christmas tree and bouquet are among the many decorative elements.

It is full of romance and presents and on top of that, the episode ends with a Snowfall (Ahh! Loved it!)!

Okay, let’s talk about some slice of life anime which have a Christmas touch! I would first like to mention “Honey and Clover” (One of my all-time favorites) ;Episode 4-“Actually, I don’t like Christmas all that much…/The boy and girl are swayed” Wao! I really don’t know how to explain this one! It’s ineffable! I suggest that you guys watch this Anime for yourself and find out what I mean. And Morita is one of the best (both whimsical and weird) ‘Santa’s I have ever seen. There are also decorations, a crowded street, stores full of Christmas gifts, a Christmas cake (yummy!), and a Christmas party. Honey and Clover is a pragmatic and realistic anime. Although the characters are suffering from illness, heavy expectations, broken hearts, unrequited love, death of loved ones and the effects of growing up in a single parent household, they still try to relish the moment, try to live life with whatever little they have.

In this genre, I would like to include another one named “Nodame Cantabile”. Some sweet and epic (truly a hilarious fight scene!) moments during Christmas were there between Nodame and Chiaki.

K-On’s

The list would be incomplete if I don’t mention “K-ON”. This is too obvious as episode 7 is named “Christmas”. This episode is mainly about the sisterly relationship between Yui and Ui, and about simply enjoying the holiday. Besides the jubilant tone, Christmas episode is filled with holiday music (What else do you expect from K-ON!), Christmas tree decorations, and revelry.

Even in space, holidays can be stressful! Yeah, I’m talking about “Vandread”, episode 10-“White Love”. In this episode, all the women are excited about Christmas, busy in decorating and preparing a meal for Christmas! On the contrary, the men are just too confused about the whole idea. Well, there are two intriguing aspects in this anime, the Hallelujah Chorus and a Christmas parade apart from the usual tree, decorations, foods, and the Santa factor.

Next is “Azumanga Daioh”, episode 17- “December,” “Incredible Santa,” and “Christmas Meeting”. This episode is not so Christmas-y. Apparently it hardly reflects on the proper significance of Christmas apart from snow, a funny drawing of a reindeer, and Chiyo’s father talking about being Santa. But the episode will make you feel positive and cheerful.

Well, last but not the least comes “RahXephon”, Episode 8-“Bitterly Cold Holy Night”. This episode probably won’t get you in high Christmas spirits as it is not typically Christmas themed, but it has Christmas shopping, gifts and party in it. If you’re feeling a little satiated on the eve cheer around this time of the year, it’s an admirably atmospheric episode to sit back and enjoy!

One thing I would like to expound is that I’m not implying any ratings for all these anime regarding the “Christmas” factor by this list. There are several others with Christm as vitality in them but it’s really not feasible to mention each and every one of them, is it? I just tried to present you all with a little festive flavor through the article. I just hope you’ve enjoyed this. Well, Happy New year to all my Otaku Readers! My heartiest wishes to all of you; enjoy to the fullest, savor every moment, and of course STAY BLESSED!

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Cool Japan Festival 2014

Convention

- Vishesh Chopra

T

he Cool Japan Festival was held on 17th, 18th and 19th January 2014 at High Street Phoenix, Lower Parel. This is their third consecutive festival sponsored by Maido India.

As is the convention there, Japanese companies set up shop in the Phoenix Mall courtyard for Indians to, as their tagline states, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Feel Japan like never beforeâ&#x20AC;?, with authentic Japanese food and products offered to the attending public.

Events: The 3 day event saw multiple performances by professional Japanese performers. The attendees witnessed Awa Odori, which is a classic Japanese festival dance form. Also making a return this year were the Wadaiko Drum performers and

Chadha Enka, who regaled everyone with their performances.

Mumbai Anime Club was back with a bang too, with a Japanese Mirror dance performance, an in-house band performance by Wasabi Vibes, and an anime fashion show to their credit. Last, but not the least, Mumbai witnessed a one-of-a-kind all-girl J-Pop band called Prizmmy perform on the Festival. They entertained the audiences with their catchy tunes and heartthumping moves, and by the third day the audiences were asking for encores.

Standalone events included a traditional Japanese tea ceremony conducted on stage with volunteers from the

audience itself, a dance and music performance by students of Mumbai Japanese School, a live Sushi making demonstration by Sushi and More, and screening of the popular anime Attack on Titan.

Stalls: The food stalls set up this time had various dishes to offer. Audiences were offered Sushi, Chicken Yakitori, Chicken Donburi, Udon Noodles, and Strawberry Milkshakes. Zesty cooks even had the opportunity to purchase official Kikkoman food products and ingredients, including their famous Soy Sauce.

IINE Toys made an appearance in Mumbai the second time during CJF, bringing with them their collection of Anime figurines, t-shirts and Japanese manga for sale.

Anime fans could also get their anime- styled caricatures, or get an anime tattoo made on the spot. Also available at CJF were Japanese electronics and hygiene products, in addition to a Kimono booth where people could get their pictures clicked in traditional as well as funny attire and an Origami stall where people could practice making animals and objects by folding paper.

Though the Festival wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t enough to make people come back for it every day, it was still enough to keep the public entertained for at least one day. Needless to say, MAC had a huge role in the Festival.

From dance performances to cosplay to band performance, MAC did their best to entertain the otakus from the city who flocked to the Festival. A few technical errors and mistakes aside, it was truly a memorable time.

Photography: Reetam Manjumder

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Magi

The Kingdom of Magic - Rusty

â&#x20AC;&#x153;My story is of such marvel that if it were written with a needle on the corner of an eye, it would yet serve as a lesson to those who seek wisdom.â&#x20AC;?- The Arabian Nights Anime as a modus of entertainment is exquisite in the way it explores a variety of themes expanding across various boundaries. The themes are often reused again in different settings but once in a while a gem shines out among the grains which is so unique it draws the viewer into its fantastical ocean and tickles their imagination. One such anime is Magi based on the manga

Magi: The Labyrinth of Magic written and illustrated by Shinobu Ohtaka. The manga targets a shonen demographic and the anime might seem to be your typical shonen at first glance. But is it really so??

The question answers itself when you consider the fact that the work is based off the Arabian Nights. What you have here is the magic of the Middle East woven together with your dynamic Arabian personalities to create something which is enthralling and mesmerizing. This is clearly seen in the setting and the characters. The viewer is thrown into a world of djins, magic vessels, old kingdoms and magicians brought forth in an artistic and unique fashion.

Magi draws from the

Arabian Nights its setting and characters. As far as the plot is concerned, it is entirely different from what one would expect and thus refreshingly original. We have our three protagonist Aladdin, Alibaba and Morgiana as they travel the world in search of their true purpose unraveling its mysteries. All the supporting characters are quite dynamic and have their own unique personalities. Be it the charismatic Sinbad, the vicious Judal or the gorgeous Kougyoku, each of them add a new dimension and add up to the vast list of people you see. Each has a strong purpose and no presence is wasted. But what is it that makes Magi not your stereotypical shonen?

One can attribute it to the fact that it does not contain as much action as one would expect out of a shonen anime.

Neither does it have the unrealistic power ups usually seen. Annoying main characters?? Dense heads??

No, out of the question here.

Magi is more centered on magic and politics. It may not seem like it as first glance but to an intelligent viewer politics would seem to be the main focus.

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avery, kinship and kingdoms are explored and presented in quite a realistic fashion.

Though you have the occasional gags shown with comical effects which reduces the seriousness, it still manages to retain its serious tone. The background music has its tinges of Arabian tunes and this serves to add to the Middle Eastern setting. The Arabic influence is also seen on the clothing of the characters.

The anime adapts the manga quite judiciously and has spawned 2 seasons with the latter ongoing and is being animated by A 1 pictures. Season 1 took its time to introduce us to the characters: Aladdin, our kawaii magi; Alibaba, his king candidate; Morgiana, slave turned bishoujo. What follows is an adventure to conquer dungeons and exploring nations like Balbadd,

Sindria and the Kou Empire. The 2nd season improves upon the first in addition to continuing the plot. The art is much finer and the music more pronounced. It also has a more serious tone now that the setting and characters are established.

You are introduced to the origins and wonders of magic in a more extravagant fashion. There is also a hint to an impending crisis about to follow which adds to its appeal.

The anime however has its shortcomings.

The occasional gags meant for comic relief sometimes seem out of place. The music might not seem to fit with the setting and some things might seem to be filler even though they should add up in the end. The overall presentation does leave one with a sense of emptiness. There is always a nagging feeling that some scenes could have been better in one way or the other.

But that is all for critics to muse over. The anime does well in its entertainment value.

There is never ever a dull moment. There is always something new happening, always a new purpose, always new characters in subsequent episodes and always a sense of goofiness.

could be considered female fanservice.

But it actually is not as the art is so vivid and enthralling, there is absolutely no question of any service bias. Shinobu very well knows how to make her girls quite charming and gorgeous. It might also appeal to a seinen demographic because of the politics involved.

One can argue that the anime is quite short to become a mainstream shonen now but it is a definite possibility in the future. The manga as of now is ranked 33rd and has over a million monthly viewers. Assuming the anime continues to adapt the manga, it definitely has the potential to go big and even has the potential to rival the big three.

So, in the end, the question is - who would like this anime?? Well, it would appeal to any shonen fan and quite surprisingly to a lot of females too, the main reason being that Shinobu, the author of the manga, is a woman. Thus, you have brilliant art for the male characters which

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Golden Time Romance

- Swagata Mondal

G

olden Time is based on a light novel by Yuyuko Takemiya, the very same author of the famous Toradora!(of course one of my favorites). The series is directed by Chiaki Kon with script by Fumihiko Shimo. It is a college based rom-com by none other than J.C Staff (It seems really cool to me!).

Well, before going into further details, I would like to affirm that the anime is not completed yet. So all I can do is to provide you all an overall idea or to share my thoughts over the episodes that have been aired till now.

Without revealing any spoiler, regarding the story/plot, I will say that the story revolves around college life (yeah! Finally a rom-com genre anime on COLLEGE LIFE after a long time!), love life, friendships, and personal life of Tada Banri, a newly admitted student at a private law school in Tokyo; Yanagisawa Mitsuo, another freshman from the same college; a perfect woman named Kaga Kouko, and many other characters like Linda (real name is Nana Hayashida), Chinami etc.

From the very first episode it seemed like it was going to be a super fun college life romantic series (Wait! Something more interesting is coming along in addition to this romantic touch). From the very early episodes like episode one and two, I couldn’t help but think that Kaga was an “Overly attached girlfriend”. Her schemes, activities, attitudes are like a crazy girl (which she actually is! I mean CRAZY!); she is very ignorant to what others have to say, she doesn’t want to accept harsh reality… up until the earlier episodes! But then we can see the other shades of her

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character too. Actually it’s a bit hard to describe her personality as sometimes she is very friendly, kind in nature, polite and sometimes she is very mean! And the same goes for Tada, except that he’s stuck in an arduous position. Boy1 likes girl1, girl1 likes boy2, and boy2 likes someone else etc. It seems there are multiple love interests, or at least they left the possibilities open ended with many female encounters. I see some wicked drama and romance going on in the near future.

Story: 8/10 The story seems simple, smooth and well developed (justified to the original novel).

Most importantly, it is not just an incidental romantic comedy. For some twists there is presence of a spirit! (Yes! We are going supernatural now!) The spirit officially shows up in the story and concedes it is the one who has memories from the past of one of the main characters. But the problem is it can neither be heard nor seen! (Well, isn’t it getting interesting?)

And from this point, snags, complications, confusions, obstacles, struggles begin.

Well, I’m really into where this story is leading.

in nature. They are more like a hiatus for the viewers for fun relief.

Art & Animation: 9/10 J.C.Staff, the name is enough I guess! And moreover, don’t forget it is a fall anime.

So, obviously the art and animation part has to be good and bright. Theme is really satisfactory, appealing and goes with the mood. It makes the anime alluring and charming to look at. The reactions, emotions everything is right on target. The characters are well drawn, colored, and fun to watch.

Music & Sound: 8/10 According to me, sound and music is not “awesome” but really good, and wellsuited to this genre. The opening theme is “Golden Time” and the ending theme is “Sweet & Sweet Cherry”. Both are going well with this anime.Voice actors have done a magnificent job. The voices totally suit their characters and portray them very well.

Characters: 9/10 What else do you expect from the famous Toradora! author? A crazy stalker girl, a literally less dense boy who can’t remember his past and endeavoring to unearth it, a boy who is beyond grieved (at least that’s what I think) as the girl (who claims to be his girlfriend) follows him to the end of the world, and he’s trying his best to escape from it. Moreover, there are consequential involvements of side characters too. The character development is really intriguing. They play off each other well. There are so many club activities along with several members having variety

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Overall: 8.5/10 I know we all have different penchants when it comes to anime or a particular genre. But believe me, this anime is really fun to watch. It has friendship, romance, college life, emotional conflicts, struggling, solid characters - everything needed, keeping the genre in mind. As it is an ongoing anime what I can say in general for the show is that it’s doing everything

complicated when Banri comes to know about his past with Linda, a senior of his college.

Kaga Kouko: She is a freshman law student at Banri’s college. She is kinda popular in her college due to her father’s high status.

EMO! However he falls in love with Kaga, a very popular girl of his college and soon they start dating. But t h i n g s start to become

right. The best thing perhaps that I can jot down about Golden Time is the way it’s pulling off the college slice-of-life along with some twists.

It is quite a relaxing anime. As this series is from the famous Toradora! creator, I have really high expectations! I know many of you are like “Oh! Really! Shit! It’s gonna be freaking awesome then!” But, if you ask me, I will say this don’t compare it or judge it on the basis of Toradora! Just let it be like it is, leading us towards its own journey. Watch and enjoy!

Previously she was in love with her childhood friend Mitsuo but later on, she developes feelings for Banri and they start dating. Her personality is a bit complicated to explain. She seems tsundere types! Sometimes she is so friendly, calm and kind but sometimes she is very mean! When she starts dating Banri her nature begins to improve.

Linda: She is a senior student of the same college.

She was Banri’s best friend in High School. Before the accident Banri confessed to her about his feelings but she answered “NO”! But now, Banri can’t remember any of these.

Character list: Tada Banri: He is the main protagonist of the series. He suffers from severe amnesia and he is unable to remember anything from his past (before the accident). He is followed by his own spirit! He seems very friendly kindhearted soft-spoken benevolent person, a typical

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HAJIME NO IPPO BOX I NG - auro k. datta

“I

want to know what it means to be strong,” was Ippo Makunouchi’s answer to professional middleweight boxer Mamoru Takamura when the latter asked him why he wanted to take up professional boxing.

An anime/ manga series that is unique in the sports genre, Hajime no Ippo by George Morikawa combines excellent storytelling, detailed art, intense action and character development making this series an unparalleled experience for boxing fans and anime lovers alike.

STORY - INTRODUCTION: A shy high school student, Ippo is constantly bullied at school by his upperclassman Umezawa.

Things get out of hand one day when they beat him up really badly. He is rescued

by Mamoru Takamura, a middleweight pro boxer who takes him to his gym, run by retired boxer Genji Kamogawa. Ippo is amazed by all the action. Takamura gives him two tapes containing boxing footage and tells him to go through them. After watching them, Ippo decides to give boxing a try. Takamura tries to dissuade him to which Ippo replies, “I want to know what it means to be strong.” One event leads to another and Ippo ultimately starts training under Coach Kamogawa in the Kamogawa Boxing Gym. Thus begins Ippo’s journey and rise as a professional featherweight boxer.

ACTION, GRAPHICS AND AUDIO: Although essentially a shounen series, Hajime no Ippo breaks the mould of the traditional shounen anime by concentrating heavily on the sporting side of boxing. No flashy fight scenes, no scream-at-the-top-of-my-lungs insane powerups, no superpowers. This series

portrays with detail and starkness the harsh world of professional boxing, with great emphasis to the sport in particular, exposing the brutal honesty and sheer dedication required by pro boxers to survive in this sport. Although in general the graphics are somewhat threadbare, making it easy to animate the daily life of the people, the greatest plus point of the series are the meticulously detailed fights, making the action a treat for the eyes.

Toned muscles bulging, bones cracking, punches exploding bombastically, blood flying, sweat dripping – all these seemingly excess details make this series realistic and lifelike, adding to the adrenaline rush one gets when watching the boxing bouts. Yet, despite such harsh visualization, nowhere does this series seem overly violent.

Music is not the strong point in this series but when it comes to sound effects, this anime is a cut above the rest. Various tracks of guitars, drums, piano, horns, and combinations of the instruments provide a wide array of background score in tandem with the mood and action of the scenes.

The sound of fists impacting on flesh and bone, and the consequent pain and reactions of the recipient, puts the viewer truly at the scene of the action. Add to that the top notch voices of the voice actors, combined with background music coherent with the drama, and you get a series that is a treat for the eyes as well

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as the ears.

Although a shounen series, it is not a mainstream battle series, and capitalizes on intense boxing action, while keeping in mind the other points of the art of storytelling, such as character development, drama, humour and emotion.

The animation is smooth, indicating the meticulous amount of research that has been conducted into how boxers move, ranging from the simple jabs to finishing punches, from ordinary hooks to knockout uppercuts. Although fight patterns get predictable after some time, the finer details make each fight stand out from the others, keeping the viewer glued at the edge of his seat, hooked to the action, thirsting for more.

CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT: In Hajime no Ippo, every character gets his chance to shine, and no specific person gets the sole attention, as is the general case in shounen series with a central character. Although the series is mainly based on Ippo’s career, we are in turn given glimpses into the life of each character, portraying their past, motivations, relationships, daily life and career.

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From Ippo’s rivals Ichiro Miyata and Sendo Takeshi to his love interest Kumi, from his gym mates Takamura, Aoki and Kimura to his worrying single mother, to his foe-turned-friend Umezawa, George Morikawa does a more than commendable job with character development, making the individual people as interesting to watch as the action itself. Nearly every opponent that Ippo fights is given a good, sometimes emotional, history and characterization. The unique point of this series is the absence of a true villain. All of the opponents that Ippo fights are just professional boxers themselves, with their own personal pasts to reckon with, and their own reasons to fight DRAMA AND HUMOUR: Consider this as the only drawback of the series; the drama is not as intense as expected of a shounen series, mostly because it is a series that banks more on action than on drama. Nonetheless, this fails to stop Hajime no Ippo from grabbing attention. Speaking of hilariousness, this anime utilizes the kind of humour common to everyday interaction between characters, with no need for sophistication. To some it may seem too simple and somewhat old school, but for those who can understand and appreciate Hajime no Ippo’s humour, there is no better way to tickle one’s funny bone and keep you in splits in places. When the trio of Kimura, Aoki, and Takamura get together, the viewers can expect antics that are bound to give them a good time.

MANGA: Having a count of close to 1040 manga chapters released till date, Hajime no Ippo is perhaps the most extensive manga series released so far. The greatest plus point is the art, with its

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detailing and uniqueness that conveys the action with thorough brutality and pinpoint accuracy. To be honest the manga is somewhat better than the anime in terms of the art. Trajectory of punches and their effects on the boxers, body movements, steppings etc. are too well depicted, making George Morikawa’s artwork a truly commendable venture.

Kamogawa’s friend and former rival Hama Dankichi. The connecting point between the first and second anime seasons, this movie shows Ippo realising the importance of being a champion and defending his place in the boxing world, and what it means to be strong.

ANIME: SEASON 1: THE FIGHTING SPIRIT:

Comprising of 26 episodes, this season shifts focus away from Ippo and shows Takamura’s venture into world level boxing. The animation and audio are much better compared to season 1, and fights are more intense. Takamura’s past is explored, and his family is revealed. A better watch than season 1, this season shows Takamura on his way to conquer 6 weight classes, beginning with his conquering of the Junior Middleweight class by defeating Bryan Hawk from New York.

Comprising of 76 episodes, season 1 kicks off the Hajime no Ippo anime franchise.

This season focuses more on Ippo and his rise as a p rofession a l featherweight boxer, although other characters are introduced and explored.

Despite the length of the series, nowhere does it get boring, and the length is needed for plot and character development. Strict training regimens and filler episodes punctuate this fight filled saga. The anime is a perfect adaptation of the manga to say the least. This season is full of fights at different levels, and gives an insight to the actual events and tournaments in the boxing world. Season 1 ends with Ippo becoming the featherweight champion of Japan after defeating Sendo Takeshi of Osaka prefecture.

MOVIE: THE CHAMPION ROAD This movie shows Ippo defending his title belt as Japan Featherweight Champion for the first time against doctor turned boxer Sanada Kazuki, who trained under Coach

SEASON 2: NEW CHALLENGER:

OVA: MASHIBA VS KIMURA A separate OVA was released along with the actual series.

This shows Ippo’s gym mate Kimura T a t s u y a challenging featherweight turned junior lightweight champion Mashiba Ryu, whom Ippo defeated on his way to being Japan champion. This OVA focuses solely on Kimura, on how he transformed from a high school thug, to growing up to challenge the Japan champ. This OVA is a must watch.

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SEASON 3: THE RISING: Finally the long wait after season 2 is over, with season 3 which started to air from October 5th, 2013 in Japan. This season starts with Ippo defending his belt against two ferocious opponents, Iwao Shimabukuro and Sawamura Ryuuhei, who have openly challenged Ippo’s deadly signature move, the Dempsey roll. These opponents, as well as others later on from the OPBF (Oriental Pacific Boxing Federation), threaten Ippo’s position as Japan champion, and this season somewhat focuses on these fights.

Also mention worthy are Takamura’s title defences and his conquering of his second weight class and becoming the Middleweight champion after defeating David Eagle. Downside of this season is the absence of the World War2 arc from the manga, which showed the past of rival boxers Genji Kamogawa, Hama Dankichi and Nekota Ginpachi, and the advent of boxing as an organised modern sport in Japan. With improved animation, action and sound effects, this on-going season promises greater entertainment than all previous seasons.

COMPARISON WITH ASHITA NO JOE: If the true calibre of Hajime no Ippo is to be tested as a boxing anime, then without a doubt arises the question of its comparison with the critically acclaimed boxing anime Ashita no Joe by Ikki Kajiwara.

Although several differences between the two can be tabulated, the major comparison can be summed up as follows.

Ashita no Joe has its events based during late sixties and early seventies, when the country of Japan was in deep cultural and economic chaos, and as a result the tone of the series is very dark. Joe, a slum dweller

turned boxer, served as a representative of the struggle of the lower class of the society, and his dedication and sacrifice of the sport reflected the will of the people he was representing. By the late 1970s Joe was already an iconic figure in Japan.

of real boxers like Thomas Hearns, Floyd Patterson and Jack Dempsey; and the various international boxing associations like WBC, WBA, IBF and OPBF; and this series seems more like a documentary on boxing rather than a work of fiction.

Hajime no Ippo, on the other hand, takes place in the early nineties and Ippo is seen as a bullied high school student who turns to boxing. In contrast to Ashita no Joe, Hajime no Ippo showcases boxing as a sport, and the struggles and hardships associated with it. Rather than painting a picture of societal struggle, Hajime no Ippo is an intense and brutal yet heart touching story about the harsh world of professional boxing, and an underdog’s rise to fame and glory.

For those who prefer hardcore mainstream battle anime with flashy fights, insane powerups, and intense interactions between protagonists and antagonists, this series may initially seem like a letdown. Quite contrary to the concept of shounen battle anime, Hajime no Ippo is brutally lifelike, depicting the characters as the flesh and blood humans that they truly are. Despite the fights being starkly realistic, they also carry the intoxicating allure of mainstream action. For boxing fans, this series is a much needed venture into the greatly misunderstood sport. Even for non-boxing fans, these series provides ample entertainment, and is bound to get any newbie truly interested in the sport.

MY REVIEW AND CONCLUSION: As for my review on the series, I begin by saying that Hajime no Ippo is a much needed detailed venture into the sport of boxing. Putting aside the drama, comedy and character development, this series takes a scientific and realistic approach to the boxing world. Full credit for this goes to the genius of George Morikawa, who had experienced the sport first-hand, being the cornerman for several professional boxers and later a boxing journalist. The author uses his extensive knowledge and experience of the sport to create a series which may also be interpreted as a beginner’s guide to b o x i n g .

Graphic explanation of boxing moves like the jab, cross, hook, uppercut; accurate depiction of actual body movements, and other finer details make it easy for even a layman to understand the sport, without feeling alienated. Add to that the mention

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The sad thing about Hajime no Ippo is that it is a grossly underrated anime due to lack of publicity, despite having over 1000 manga chapters and a successfully running third anime season.

Even so, this series shines with its own unique light that sets it apart.

For battle anime lovers, boxing fans or not, I recommend that they watch this series and I can guarantee they would not regret the experience.

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Kuroko no basket

B a ske t b a l l - abhishek neogi

2012 was an amazing year, a year where a prodigal anime emerged much to the surprise of anime fans. Never had we thought a basketball anime with a modern touch, amazing storyline, and gut-packing cliffhangers would emerge from the caverns of Japan – one that holds deep philosophical heart-wrenching encounters filled with twists of heartwarming rivalry. Kuroko No Basket, originally written and illustrated by Todatoshi Fujimaki, is yet again being produced by Production I.G., currently airing on a weekly basis, directed by Shunsuke Tada.

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Kuroko no Basket (“The basketball that Kuroko plays”) is all about Kuroko and his new high school basketball team, Seirin High, whose dream is to win the National Championships in the Winter Cup. Having suffered huge losses, Seirin changes drastically from the inside after Kuroko and his new partner

Kagami Taiga join. The highlight of the season is the introduction of many new characters, each diversified by their individual personalities such as the other 2 members of the Generation of Miracles and the shocking discovery of the Uncrowned Kings in the tournament, 3 of whom belong to a school called Rakuzan High. Initially, much is not known about Kuroko in season 1 but he develops strong feelings and a different perspective towards basketball by the start of season 2. From the frail unnoticed player who excels at making passes, he transforms into a quiet, monstrous player brimming with eye-blinding speed. He was also known as the Phantom 6th player of the

Generation of Miracles during his years at Junior High, a team of originally 5 players labeled as prodigies in the realm of basketball – all of who have now dispersed and joined top high school basketball teams in the show.

The Uncrowned Kings, nonetheless, were told to be on par with the Generation of Miracles had they played together as a team in the same school during their time. At first glance, to all new viewers of the anime, Kuroko is very frail and useless in shooting and scoring baskets in the first season, but here his personality develops and takes a turn for the good, namely the new arsenal of skills he’s acquired such as the Vanishing Drive and Ignite Pass Kai. The complicated mumbo jumbo names might confuse viewers at first but you just start loving the anime as time passes on. Kagami’s sworn brother who

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was not brought out in the open in season 1 is also revealed in the show which leaves viewers flabbergasted. A new season, a new tournament, new rivals, new enemies, unknown entities, many uncertainties and a mix of surprises and unexpected encounters in matches – what more could one ask?

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Like every anime, there are some pros and cons to every scenario. The beautiful part about Kuroko no Basket is the way it portrays basketball, clearly outlining the positions and rules of the game, thereby educating the masses and new viewers of the show about the sport, as well as bundling together a pile of entertainment and action with the anime.

The animation and layouts are absolutely flawless. The amount of detail is also stunning, just enough to present forth the action. The backgrounds and environment designs are also well done. The 3D CG animation is just enough to catch your eyes and the sound design is praiseworthy since the tracks fuel the intensity of the matches during the heated moments.

A noteworthy fact is that every character has a signature role in the show. It can be assumed there are multiple protagonists in one show. The only shortcomings of the anime are that the basketball matches are at times, slugfests in certain parts, like the battle with Shutoku High with Midorima against Kagami and Kuroko.

Not just that, but the action and intensity of the matches need be extended to quench the hunger of avid basketball fans and anime viewers alike. It’s not just the heartwarming moments that capture the heart and the

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eyes of the viewer but the intensity of the struggle between the characters unified together as a team to make ends meet for the sake of their dream which inspire all. The dialogues are well written and very easy-to-follow along. Although at first glance of Kuroko no Basket 2, viewers may be left in the dust, due to the sudden turn of events and introduction of new characters overshadowed in the previous season.

A recap or a short summary of the plot in that episode could’ve been done – a rather better one. The charm in the anime is about the characters’ personalities.

It’s the characterization of the players that we love the most; Kuroko’s cute nicknames, “Kurokocchi” and “Tetsu” – are terms of endearment given by his former teammates in his junior high years, Aomine and Momoi. Aomine’s cool demeanor, and his cold attitude towards competitiveness which is a result of crushing many players’ will to play the game with him in his past matches, Kagami’s hot-headed and hot-blooded, blatant attitude with an utmost skill in jumping and a useless skill in everything else, Kuroko’s skill in going unnoticed in the crowd (love that moment the most) just like a phantom or rather, a ghost, Ryota Kise, a masterful copycat who boasts he can copy any player’s skills as well as their signature moves, Hanamiya’s cruel ploys on injuring other players with sadism, Midorima’s superstitious nature about zodiac signs, good luck charms and also, his unbelievable long shoots from the center, Akashi’s eerie personality shrouded with mysteries

and his kingly behavior towards the sport where victory seems like breathing normally every day, just like any other regular bodily function, Murasakibara’s disinterest towards the sport and disgust towards losing and love for food, and finally Tetsuya’s sense of rivalry and chivalry which marks a sense of justness as a player. The coach is also amusing as her sense of measuring the players’ skills is astonishing, as revealed by how she can judge their strengths and weaknesses and their level of skill by just taking a glimpse at their athletic build. Her father

is also introduced in the show in the later stages who is then revealed to have been a national level basketball player in the past. Overall or rather, “summing it up”, if you have to decide whether to watch it or not then it’s definitely worth a shot though you will certainly be disappointed by your predictions after your first impressions since you have to expect the unexpected. As viewers of the anime, deep inside, we may have hoped for a match between Aomine and Akashi or Seirin facing Shutoku neck-to-neck in their very first winter cup match after the preliminaries. Like we said, you just can’t expect the feisty turnovers presented in this show – that’s the uniqueness. Just give it a shot and may the shoots of the show win your heart.

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Ace of Diamond

B a se b a l l - abhishek neogi

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ce of Diamond (also referred to as ‘Diamond no Ace’) is originally written and illustrated by Yuji Terajima and published by Kondansha magazine in Japan. The anime adaptation is produced by Madhouse and Production I.G. Animation studios and the show is directed by Mitsuyuki Masaharu. Music is provided by Frying-Pan. The anime started airing on October 6, 2013 and as such holds a lot of promise as it’s progressing further.

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Ace of Diamond (also referred to as ‘Diamond no Ace’) is the tale of Sawamura Eijun (main protagonist), a fast-ball-forlife pitcher, who dreams of going to the nationals with his team. The world of Ace of Diamond revolves around Highschool baseball where the hidden gems of Tokyo are unveiled via recruitment. Having his school, Akagi Junior High, demolished and humiliated, he seeks to join another school alongside his friends, secretly unaware of how hindered his true potential is. He seeks to represent his teammates.

Amazed at the facilities of Seido High School, famous in Tokyo for its baseball training, his true spirit is reflected on the field. With new characters being introduced in the show, each possessing high caliber in what they excel at, it’s a feast for the eyes to see

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players shuffle around the field in perfect coordination during the chain of innings. The spirit of sportsmanship is also revealed to be a huge weight to shoulder in the world of Seido, which Eijun embraces enthusiastically. With a never give up attitude, he turns the scene from gloom to glow. Even the viewers feel his energetic spirit flowing through their veins after watching the show. First impressions from watching the anime for most viewers will be the townie hero Eijun who aims high for the sky for bigger and better goals, one who is just horrid with patience but persistent with perseverance. But as the series progresses, things take an interesting turn for the viewers where Eijun’s personality

undergoes a change though still retaining that refined energetic feeling which emits from him. It is fascinating indeed, since it’s very hard to notice such minute changes.

Other characters like Furuya Satoru whose pitches are said to be uncatchable in Hokkaido, the region from where he hails and Kazuya Miyuki, a famous second year catcher and many more diverse characters alike, are introduced along the way.

Finally, Ace of Diamond, does a remarkable job of explaining the insights of baseball, one at a time. Introducing the pitcher first and by following it up with catchers and other player positions, those new to baseball find it easy to digest in their mind these tiny nuggets of sporty wisdom. With new characters, new rivals and with a grove of unbeknownst paths for every player in the team, Ace of Diamond is a treat for all ages of viewers alike.

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Ace of Diamond, for starters does an excellent job at explaining the sport of baseball, the struggles of players who deserted their homes to pursue their dreams and the crushed ambitions of the failed to-be prodigies. The main protagonist’s characterization is very refreshing to see for both the mind and the eye; it just instills so much energy within the viewers. Blending in with every scene, the sound tracks are remarkable in their own way. It gives off a dreamy feeling to the show and makes it a bit hyper-realistic and a bit out of the ordinary. The voice acting is also well done as it matches the persona of the players.

The animation is also well done as it packs quality in quantity. The closeups of the glorious moments of the baseball players in action is something noteworthy and amazing to see where one mostly expects to see a plan viewlike game or a game showcasing the ground on the whole. It almost feels like you’re right in the scene of the game the way the anime is portrayed, as the spectators feel blurred away at times. The anime overall looks very clean, almost as if it’s bathed in a heavenly light. The dialogues are well done. Besides that, the backgrounds are very well done too, especially the textures of the scenery and

the environment, baseball equipment and the mound and the field where players indulge themselves thoroughly in the game. That is probably one of the best parts about this anime – the backgrounds.

Bundles of comedic moments are also presented as your gut may burst from watching Eijun’s antics and the coach’s ploys. The characterization is also well done.

The cons would be that the high school baseball revolves mostly amongst the second to third string players in the beginning. Much is not revealed about the first string players besides a brief introduction of their abilities and a few shades of their power in matches.

However, contrasting personalities are present in the show which let sparks fly away on the screen. The way the characters are introduced might also be another con since their names and they themselves are introduced in the show a bit too fast where the pace should’ve slowed down a bit. Also, not much is talked about Eijun’s conquests or about his Junior High life since his loss at the very first official game of Junior High as Akagi Junior High’s representative.

His, “fastballs for life” motto, is very enticing a thing to hear.

episodes to actually be familiarized with the sport and get better acquainted with it which is in reality a delight. On a final note, Ace of Diamond should definitely be given consideration as it is worth the watch. Seemingly uncommon plot twists occur and by that, we can cite reference to instances of Eijun failing as a pitcher in the first few episodes where one would’ve expected him to overcome the invisible wall in his very first try like most protagonists of anime, or trail along somewhere near the lines of retrying a few times and later overcoming his limitations. The anime reveals the purpose of hard work coupled with optimism dominating pessimism. That’s what makes this anime stand out, till date. Summarizing so far, Ace of Diamond reveals the diamond in one’s heart, the hidden gem which needs be polished and set forth to bask in the open daylight where hard work coupled with optimism surpasses all, and raw talent, none.

On a rather contradictory note, the stages of the game of baseball are also explained bit by bit. As such an overall outline with all the positions and players’ roles are not explained clearly or rather, are too fast and short to understand. Viewers may in the beginning have to re-watch certain

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Yowamushi Pedal

CYCL I NG

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- abhishek neogi

owamushi Pedal is a manga originally written and illustrated by Wataru Watanabe and published by Akita Shonen in Japan.

Its serialization began in the 12th issue of the Weekly Shonen Jump Magazine. The anime adaptation produced by TMS Entertainment, began airing on October 7th, 2013. The show is directed by Osamu Nabeshima. Music is produced by Kan Sawada.

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Yowamushi Pedal revolves around the adventures and fun of cycling in the world of anime. The main protagonist is Onoda Sakamichi whose dream is to make friends who love anime and Akihabara, in other words – Otaku. With a love for Moe DVDs and with a humming tune of, “Hime, Hime, Suki, Suki, Daisuki” he cycles around town with a mommy bike (a very old bike with a small front gear), weighing a lot greater than a road racer bicycle.

He travels all the way to Akihabara, 90 km from school to buy capsule toys and Bluray anime DVDs which is an anime haven for all Otaku. Bearing a dream for reviving the anime club closed down due to lack of members, he strives to restore it to its former state, on the pursuit of which he indulges himself into the world of cycling. With his newly made friends Imaizumi and Naruko, Onoda embarks on an adventure of bicycling with them, facing challenges way harder than what his simplistic cheery

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mind can anticipate. He is exceptionally good at climbing steep slopes with his instinctive cycling skills. At first said to be a weakling, Onoda’s talent is discovered

much to the astonishment of Imaizumi’s observation, a quiet cyclist who is solely focused on bagging 1st place in every single race due to his one loss to an evil cyclist named Midosuji in his previous championship. Onoda’s motivation is mainly fueled by Naruko’s support, a red headed big mouth and Kanzaki the manager’s encouragement. He looks up to Makishima, his upper classman, as an admirer of his cycling style as well, even though he is creepy in some ways. Onoda now pursues his dream of making friends and cycling together with them down the lanes of Akihabara by joining the cycling club in Souhoku High, led by Kinjo.

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Many viewers of anime assume that a cycling anime, though being a fresh idea right off the frying pan, would be dull and bland. Yowamushi Pedal puts this myth to rest. Get ready to melt your heart away and knock your socks off by watching the life on an otaku being churned amidst the world of cyclists. A wimpy little otaku, poor at athletics, climbs his way up and proves he is good at something – isn’t that inspiring? Otaku are often scorned and scowled at in the society but he proves this wrong, and shows how they can make a difference. The animation is simply superb with splendid backgrounds soaring past the screen as the characters and the protagonist of the show cycle away up the hills, down the planes and across the lanes. The amount of detail is given a good eye at as

well. With gorgeous scenery and plush environments splurging with natural energy, the show absorbs the viewers into their world. The soundtracks blend in naturally with the anime and are well composed. The cons of the anime might probably be that it’s a bit fast paced in a seemingly slow manner in certain ways.

Though intense, it could’ve been made even better. Who doesn’t love crazy speed lines and crazy close-ups bursting with energy and insanity in an anime? The opening theme might impart a few with

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a low impression at first glance because of Onoda’s huge frown. But rest assured, the charm factor goes through the roof as the show progresses. The show also educates the masses about the culture and life of Otaku and cyclists which gives the viewers a deep insight on the subject.

A good deal of educational information is imparted about bicycles, riders and otaku alike which adds in a certain spice to the anime’s taste. If you’re new to cycling, you’re in for better treats. The voice acting is not an issue since it’s well done – so are the dialogues.

It all boils down to the fact that Yowamushi Pedal shouldn’t be brushed off as just another cycling anime.

It is worth a watch. The innocent charm, the optimistic attitude, a sense of monstrous rivalry with zero chivalry and the fundamental joy of cycling which is set forth makes one stare

gobsmacked with a complete loss for words. Just watch it and before you know it, your heart will crave for it.

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Fuka Ryouiki no Déjà vu

Steins;Gate

- Sheldon Eyzenga

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ow does one continue a story that has already wrapped up perfectly? The announcement of a Steins;Gate sequel film was inevitably met by both caution and anticipation. Like the concept of travelling backwards in time, Steins;Gate: Fuka Ryouiki no Déjà vu is a paradox. It does not need to exist, and yet it still has every right to.

It could have been an ordinary piece of fanservice, a throwaway story, and some would have been perfectly content with that. It could have been a forgettable prequel or even a retelling of the TV series’ story.

There were so many options available that you can’t help but wonder, why on Earth did they choose to make a direct sequel of all things? It’s almost as if they were asking, begging for a disaster.

The end result has proven to be anything but a disaster. This is a continuation every bit as compelling as it is justified.

Taking place exactly one year after the events of the main series, Fuka Ryouiki no Déjà vu depicts a seemingly blissful world. There is no SERN, no time machines, no unavoidable deaths-- but still something is amiss. Okabe’s memories are distorted. His experiences with time travel have made him an unstable entity. Perhaps it’s just a fit of emotional trauma, he thinks, but his worst fears are realised when he suddenly disappears from existence, trapped between multiple World Lines. Miraculously, Kurisu manages to remember Okabe’s

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existence through a steady case of deja vu - determined now to do everything she can to stop him from disappearing forever.

Kurisu’s role as the protagonist is the film’s greatest strength. While the TV series primarily focused on her intellect and relationship with Okabe, the film instead decides to show a more human side to her character. Kurisu’s emotional state takes the centre stage this time, her being subjected to many of the same horrors that Okabe previously experienced. Even when it comes to the light-hearted ‘moe’ scenes (and there’s quite a few in the beginning), Kurisu’s personality remains consistent and believable.

She acts flustered and embarrassed not for cheap pandering, but because she’s not used to having close relationships she’s dedicated her entire life to science. The term “tsundere” does not even feel appropriate.

Kurisu is simply a human being with her own

flawed personality... although, to be fair, she is pretty much the modern day Einstein.

Fans of Okabe will not be disappointed either. There is plenty of the usual banter and Hououin Kyouma shenanigans within the first thirty minutes of the story. It’s only after that point that Okabe actually begins to disappear, and the minutes after still occasionally see him appear. What makes Okabe stand out, however, are the moments between him and Kurisu. We see the romance explored in much greater detail than the TV series, which more or less ended it at a single kiss scene. One of the most powerful moments in the entire series (not something to be said lightly) occurs as Okabe painfully convinces Kurisu to forget him, content with disappearing in return for her safety. Without an episode number to constantly remind us that there’s more story to come, there is a perpetual feeling of anxiety not knowing what might happen. What if it actually ends that way? Nothing is for certain.

Also of note is a short scene near the beginning with a drunk Kurisu teasing Okabe and rubbing against his face. I may just nominate that for the cutest moment of the year.

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The rest of the cast is largely ignored, but it is mostly for the better. The side characters have never been the series’ strong suit, particularly with regards to

Mayuri, so scatterbrained that you would assume she has brain damage. The @ channel references are also kept to a minimum this time around, although there is still plenty of the ol’ Dr. Pepper advertising.

For as great as Kurisu’s and Okabe’s characterisation is, there are still some minor faults in the story. My main gripe is that there is a lot of build-up and yet very little climax. The entire story builds up towards something grand... and then it all ends within about five minutes of talking on a bench. Compared to the last two episodes of the

main series, it all feels a bit disappointing.

Perhaps it simply needed an extra ten or twenty minutes of screen-time, as the rest of the film never felt like it was being rushed. There is also a short instance of melodrama (Kurisu running and falling as she chases after Okabe) and the changes made to the sci-fi canon would have benefited from a stronger explanation, but neither of these are bothersome enough to dampen the overall experience.

Just don’t be expecting much realism from the science aspect - this is a story about time travel, after all.

Much like the TV series, the soundtrack of Fuka Ryouiki no Déjà vu is stellar all-around. The score mainly comprises of ambient sound and moody piano pieces, subtle enough to add to the atmosphere without being overbearing. In the one scene where the music is most noticeable (a piano version of the main theme playing in the background), it is genuinely emotional, never

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melodramatic. Kanako Ito also makes a return for the opening song of the film, effectively creating a sense of familiarity for fans of the series. Special props should also be given to Asami Imai for providing some of the strongest voice acting in years.

The visual quality is about on par with the TV series. While there is little animation and few scenes that strike the eye, it never quite feels like it needed more than that. It is consistent and plenty adequate for an animated film. My only complaint is that it lacks colour - the original Huke artwork from the visual novel was so much more interesting.

Steins;Gate: Fuka Ryouiki no Déjà vu is a veritable triumph. Rather than simply exist as a superfluous sequel (or worse - a bad one), it succeeds in enhancing the overall story. Kurisu is now as strong of a character as Okabe ever was. The relationship between the two has finally been explored with the attention and detail that it truly deserves. This is the definitive end to the story and it proves difficult to let go. Maybe it didn’t need to exist, but I’m still glad it was made. Some things are worth waiting for.

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be forever yorozuya

GINTAMA Movie

- Tony Yao

2013 may have been a moment where a certain wind rose, but one other movie had another wind rise and of the filthy kind. The massively popular series, Gintama, ended its 2013 anime run with a movie whose title parodies an anime classic and threw fans left-and-right with its trademark barrage of humor, drama, and action. “Gintama – The Final Chapter: Be Forever Yorozuya” highlights the possible end of the famous Yorozuya trio and gives a proper sendoff to the many fans that enjoy the series for its absurdist take on life.

The author has been an Anime fan since the early ‘90s. You can catch him talking about manga and psychology at Manga Therapy “www.mangatherapy.com”

The story of “Be Forever Yorozuya” highlights the main character, Gintoki Sakata, and his struggle to save a future where he doesn’t exist. He gets transported by a mysterious individual with a camcorder for a head to an alternate timeline where he is dead and Edo is in ruin. Gin is immediately targeted by punks who look like ripoffs of thugs from Fist of the North Star. He is saved by alternate versions of his Yorozuya comrades, Shinpachi Shimura and Kagura. Shinpachi has shed his image of being a weakling and become a glasses-wearing, tough warrior.

Kagura becomes a tsundere with her sex appeal going up. Much to his dismay, Gin becomes frightened at what the two have become as they have not moved on from his death. The two do not recognize him as his identity is protected by a mole that makes him look like a certain phallic body part. He later discovers that all of the major characters have changed for the worst. The Shinsengumi, long-time rivals of the Yorozuya, went from being cops to being rebels.

Katsura Kotaro, a war comrade of Gintoki’s, became mentally unstable. The list goes on and on. It is discovered that the Gintoki in this timeline disappeared 5 years ago trying to stop the White Plague, a disease that was responsible for the destruction of Edo. Gin remembers that he fought an enemy in the past called the Enmi, the being responsible for the plague. The Enmi is in the alternate timeline and it becomes a desperate attempt by Gin to

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confront it and save Edo, his friends, and himself from being wiped out.

What’s unique about Gintama is its attempts to troll its viewers. The beginning of the movie was no exception.

“Be Forever Yorozuya” pokes fun at the warning intro about recording in movie theatres by having Gin interact with the camcorder individual I mentioned earlier.

He tries to console the movie thief and it ends up being a near-15 minute segment where the Yorozuya end up talking about what makes good movie viewing etiquette. There were fun references thrown in throughout the movie. K-ON!! was mentioned in the etiquette segment with regards to the use of giving away merchandise as a promotional efforts.

Gintama is a series notorious for throwing all kinds of references out there and the movie continues that fine tradition.

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he movie also has a great deal of characterization. Gintama is known to have one of the greatest cast of characters in all of anime and manga. Every moment involving them talking to each other is funny yet heart-

warming. The interactions between the Yorozuya are as priceless as ever. It is hilarious to see when people try to talk seriously about stupid things. One of the best character moments was a scene where the Yorozuya had to rescue Gengai Hiraga, a scientist/mechanic known to create useless inventions, from being executed in public. What comes next is a whole bunch of character appearances and several punchlines thrown leading to an explosive, comedic end. The second is probably the most emotional moment of the movie and it involves Tae Shimura, the other female lead character and sister of Shinpachi.

In the movie timeline, she falls ill because

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of the White Plague and the hospital.

Three of the female characters come by to visit her and one of them yells at Tae for being sick. Ayane “Sacchan” Sarutobi, who looks the same, tells Tae to get back up and yell at everyone like she used to.

The scene is very dramatic as it reflects how much the cast misses Gin and that he was a big part of their happiness. It is very hard not to shed tears at that moment as we all reminisce about the good old days.

While the movie is good, perhaps the biggest flaw is incorporating time travel in its story. The plot became hard to track near the end as certain revelations were made, but weren’t made clear. It may take a second viewing to fully understand how things turned out the way they did.

The movie is also not very accessible to new anime fans. Its randomness and insistence to be in-your-face about certain things will throw viewers off. Then again, Gintama was never a series about subtlety. But sometimes in life, you can’t be subtle. It’s points like this that make a flaw a valuable strength. The movie reflects the nature of Gintama’s original creator, Hideaki Sorachi, who once said that he does whatever he wants with regards to writing the story.

Overall, “Be Forever Yorozuya “really does feel like the final chapter of a series that reflects how people can still get along despite their differences. This movie shows why it has won the hearts of fans worldwide. It has everything you want in a movie, period. While it may be the end of the Yorozuya in anime form, you can be a Yorozuya in your heart. May you be forever blessed with the glint of a dirty yet beautiful silver soul.

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WACArt Event Flashback by

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o make the time spent in the group enjoyable and fun, we held a couple of event this year as well. Coming up with fun ideas and interesting themes, admins offered the group members an opportunity to test their skills and improve their artwork.

The First Event of the year 2013 for the WAC ART group was the “Original Character Contest” which was held for first time. Since it was the first event in the 2013 Calendar, participants tried their best to impress the judges.

The second event held in April was the “Chibi Summer Contest”.

For those unfamiliar with the term, chibi stands for a certain style of art that involves characters of small body proportions, yet big eyes and is usually used in depicting scenes which are cute and/ or humorous. It can be translated as “little” but is rather used to refer to “little and cute”. From here, anime and manga artists have developed the style of small bodies and cute faces calling them chibis. In this competition, the participants’ goal was to illustrate a summer scene using their original characters, the group mascots, or anime characters as chibis. The event received great response from members who participated with their beautiful sketches, making the competition a success.

Manish Prasad

2013

Unlike the other events, members participated as a team, working together to become the top guild in WAC Art. In the first event for guild wars, members had to illustrate their favorite character from anime, manga or video games in either traditional or digital media. The first event gave the members a better understanding on how the points system and grading was going to be done. The Second event, though it did not involve artwork, instead required brain work. Guilds were given hints in the form of riddles and their task was to discover the hidden knight/knights. It created a little confusion at first, but in the end members who participated tried their best and gathered points for their guild.

The Third and last event for Guild Wars was the OC Friendship theme contest. Using their original characters, participants had to describe and illustrate how they viewed friendship.

Also, to make the theme more interesting and friendship oriented, every participant had to dedicate his/her drawing to a different guild than the one they were in.

The Event calendar ended with the WAC ART OC CONTEST Winter girl (based on the winter theme). The event was successful with the best talents taking part in it. The event went well, acting as a warm good bye to the year 2013.

In the end, the group hosted 5 big events in which members evolved their skills and ideas, learning from each other. Thanks to the guild system, they learned the importance of teamwork.

The third event this year was the sketching competition. In this event, members had to go back to basics, in other words, just pencils and paper. A particular theme wasn’t given, therefore participants had the opportunity to draw whatever their heart desired with the condition that it should be traditional and should contain proper shading to give their work nice effects.

All the events were made in such a way that they were fun and entertaining for members to participate in and easy for admins to hold and judge.

We will be looking forward to future events just as fun as these ones.

Afterwards, the group opened the GUILD system, holding 3 sub-events under this.

First was the “Fan Art competition”, second was “Find the Knight” and the last one, “OC Competition”.

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Mission Mascot Presenting native WAC Mascots representing the Philippines! Our plan is to create local WAC mascots for various countries. Some of our members will be cosplaying these mascots in local anime conventions in the future!

Original Artwork by: Aeronne Coronel