Thoughts on Kuroi Jukai

When her sister died in a car accident so suddenly, Kasahara Sachiko was left trying to pick up the pieces and uncover secrets her sister had been hiding from her. This plot makes it very enticing, which is why I picked up this title to watch. I admit that familiar faces of Kitagawa Keiko and Mukai Osamu also gave me the nudge to actually watch this drama special.

The drama was largely captivating in the sense that it keeps throwing bits and pieces of mystery and murders along the way before the final unveiling of the truth. In that respect, I’d say I enjoyed Kuroi Jukai. However, the way the story goes, I can’t help but wondered why some of the things happened the way they did.

Tamayura: A Full Circle

I couldn’t be more happier to finally see the end to one of my most favorite titles of all time. Yes, that’s right. Last week, I finally saw the final installment of Tamayura movies: Tamayura: Sotsugyou Shashin Part 4 – Ashita.

It’s really bittersweet to see this series ends. As I look back on all Tamayura episodes I watched since it first burst into anime scene with a four episode OVA back in 2010, I couldn’t help but to feel I grew with the characters as well. In literal and non literal sense.

Thoughts on Yowamushi Pedal: The Movie

For those who watched Yowamushi Pedal anime series and enjoyed the thrills of its inter-high competition might be disappointed with this movie as I did. This movie takes place after the inter-high competition and the different school teams once again gathered to participate in a smaller scale race. Here’s one fact: Not all characters from the series will make appearance in the movie.

Before I go on any further, let me warn you that I don’t attempt to not spoil it for you.

The Quest of Understanding NaruHina

I finally watched The Last: Naruto the Movie after it was released more than a year ago in December 2014. Well, it’s better late than never. I’m interested in this movie primarily because it’s marketed as the story that happened before the last chapter of Naruto manga. Also, Naruto mangaka Kishimoto Masashi plays an important role in the movie production. For the most part, the movie feels a lot like any other Naruto movie in the sense that there are events outside Naruto’s world’s norm.

Personally, I see The Last more of a love story between Uzumaki Naruto and Hyuuga Hinata.

It’s The K-ON Girls Again!!

Finally the K-ON movie has reached our shores, so to speak. After it was released last year in Japan, most K-ON fans outside Japan has been eagerly waiting for its arrival. I must say, I’m pleased with the movie. I won’t go so far as to say that it’s worth the wait, but it’s a movie worth considering. Especially if you’re already familiar with K-ON franchise.

Naruto the Movie: Blood Prison

Blood Prison revolves around Uzumaki Naruto and his sentence at Houzukijou. He was framed and sent into the prison facility. Being Naruto, he made a huge fuss about it and attempted to escape many times even though his chakra is already being limited by Mui’s imprisonment jutsu. While in prison, Naruto learned that his life is in danger and henceforth embarked on a quest to uncover the truth behind his stay at the prison.

My first thought – Impel Down? It really does feel similar. It was mentioned that once a person gets into Houzukijou, he or she could not get out. I imagine there’ll be powerful people who guard the prison and the whole plot will take place within the confines of the prison. I was half right.

Warning! This post contains bits and pieces of spoilers!

Thoughts on Professor Layton and the Eternal Diva

Dare I compare Professor Layton with Detective Conan? Sure, they’re both mystery-solving series but they’re actually based on different approach. Detective Conan relies more on serious crime cases to satisfy audience’s thirst for mystery while Professor Layton’s emphasis is on puzzle games and fun little adventures. Even though I said that, I can’t help but be reminded of Detective Conan’s Full Score of Fear when I finally watched Professor Layton and the Eternal Diva.

The only reason for that is music. The Detective Conan’s 12th movie revolves around stage performances with pipe organs and the Professor Layton movie had something similar. Rest be assured, they are nothing similar story-wise.

Paradise Kiss: Yukari

You don’t know who you are….Is there a road already laid out for you? Is there someone planning it for you? Do you want to take that road?

Paradise Kiss tells a story of Hayasaka Yukari, an ordinary high school student and her adventures with a group of fashion design students from Yazawa Academy. It’s an exciting encounter, one that changed Yukari’s life forever.

The Place Promised In Our Early Days: Of Friendship & Love

The story takes place in a alternate postwar period, in 1996, where Japan is divided. Hokkaido is ruled by the “Union” while Honshu and other southern islands are under US authority. A tall tower was built on Hokkaido, which could even be seen from Tokyo. In the summer of 1996, three middle-school students make a promise that they’ll cross the border with a self-constructed plane and unravel the tower’s secret, but their project was abandoned after the girl, Sayuri Sawatari, became mysteriously ill and transferred to Tokyo. Years later on the brink of another war Hiroki Fujisawa finds out that Sayuri had been in coma since then, and he asks Takuya Shirakawa to help him finding a way to wake her up.

– IMDB

From that storyline above, it’s hard to imagine how beautiful The Place Promised in Our Early Days can be. I’m not referring to just the artwork and music but also the story. It’s pure friendship and love between three friends.

Bleach Movie 4: The Hell Chapter

I haven’t been following Bleach anime for a few months already, and it was only fairly recent that I’ve picked up the manga series again after dropping it months back. When it comes to Bleach, the things I like most are the character style and overall vibe of the series – the modern feel, the coolness of some of the major characters. The story not so much. Anyway, I decided to watch the movie a few weeks ago. That should be fun.

Instead of writing about the movie, I’ll list down the thoughts I’ve jotted down as I was watching it. A different way of telling what I think about the series! By the way, it’s spoiler-ish.