Update On Life So Far…

Hey Guys!

It really has been a while since I last posted anything on here. I started a new job 2 and half months ago and since then it has completely taken over my life – to the point where I have had no time to indulge in some anime series.

But now that the Christmas holidays are drawing closer I’ve decided what better time to get back into blogging than now? I have a few series lined up to watch and review over the next few.

Aaand for any Avatar fans – I will have a comical post (pun intended) on Smoke & Shadows Part 2 very, very son after it’s official release off course [so my friends watch this space!!].

I feel like I have been out of the anime loop for quite some time but if there are any must watch animes out at the moment that you feel I need to see then let me know in the comic section below!

 

5 Anime series to binge watch this winter

Let’s be honest with the arrival of autumn and winter just around the corner all the fond memories of sunny evenings chilling on the grass with your friends becomes something of a distant memory. As we stay indoors wrapped up in our blankets, with our onesies we become glued to our TV’s, couches and searching for the most fattening comfort food we can find. It is hibernation season after all. Just me? No, didn’t think so… But to help us all get through the winter in one cheerful piece I have put together a list of anime series you can binge watch. You know, for those days when getting up, and getting dressed just feels like too much work.

Avatar the Last Airbender

Where do I even begin with this masterpiece? Some may argue this is not a typical anime because it was produced in the United States, that may be true but I think it still deserves to be in this category just as much as any anime. I became addicted to this series from the very first episode. It is incredibly rare to find a series that handles real world and adult issues such as politics, war and ideology so well. I have never become so attached and emotionally invested in the villains just as much, if not more than the main protagonist before – but this does become the case with ATLA. This series has so much to offer action, adventure, romance and some of the best character development I have seen in a long time. Not to mention it has some of the best martial arts and element bending I’ve certainly ever seen. Following the story of young avatar and the last Airbender of his kind Aang and his friends Sokka and Katara head out on adventure to stop the war. The only way peace and balance can be restored to the world is if Aang masters all four elements: water, fire, earth and air. I could go on and on about this show – but trust me if you are looking for a series that really stays with you ATLA fits the bill.

 

Death Note

If psychological thrillers are more your thing then you really need to check this series out. The protagonist/antagonist Light Yagami turns out to be a very interesting character when he comes across a special notebook that he discovers allows him to kill anyone by simply writing their names in a book. This is a series that is very fast paced and entertaining and I love the idea of the main character being a hero or villain depending on how you look at it.

Amnesia

The title pretty much spells out what this series is all about. It all begins when Heroine realises she has lost all her memories. She doesn’t know who she is, how she came to be where she is and who she can trust. The plot at time can be repetitive and the pacing is very slow. But this is fun for anyone who enjoys a good mystery solver. You should be able to get through this one pretty quickly as it only has 12 episodes. There is also a pretty interesting twist to look out for too!

 

Kanon

Anyone who enjoyed watching Clannad will enjoy this series. Why, because it has a similar feel and look to its predecessor. It’s also worth mentioning it has been created by the makers of Clannad. But what makes this series so enjoyable to watch is the light hearted and good humour this series has in a warm wintery setting (fitting for autumn/winter I know). The story is all about main character Aizawa Yuuichi who always used to visit his cousin when he was young. After being away for 7 long years Aizawa has little to know memories at all of his time spent in this small town with his cousin. He meets various amusing characters throughout the series all of which he realises he has a deep connection with from his past.

 

Naruto Shippuden

If you like anime with well thought out fight scenes, great character development; with each episode leaving you hungry to go on to the next one (except for the fillers, why do they even have these ughh) then Naruto Shippuden is for you! It carries on from the prequel series “Naruto” so if you haven’t seen that then I suggest you go check it out before watching this one. In this series it follows a number of characters each with their own unique past but mainly it follows Naruto, a yellow haired knuckle head ninja dead set on bringing his childhood friend out of the depths of darkness. The anime touches on many genres such as: Comedy, Action, Romance and brotherly love. Also its episode number count is over 200 and counting, so if you’re ever bored and want to indulge your mind into the world of anime I can’t think of a better series than this one.

What are some of your favourite anime series to binge watch?

If you could be a part of any anime series which would you choose?

In any anime fans life time there comes a point where we obsess about a series so much we either 1) wish it were real or 2) wish we could be a part of it. My mind flies back to when I was about 11 years old and all I wanted was to ditch school meet Professor Oak begin my very own journey and become a Pokémon master (don’t judge me guys it seemed like a fun idea at the time). Even now a massive part of me envies the world of Avatar the Last Airbender, I would love to experience what it’s like to become a waterbender, visit the air temples, fly on the back of a Bison and of course meet Zuko, ok there I said it.

But if you had the opportunity to visit the world of one of your favourite animes where would it be and why? Let me know in the comments below.

ef: A Tale of Memories Review

If I had to compare this series to anything I had seen before it would have to be Clannad and Kanon. Many of the voice actors from Clannad are used again in this 12 episode series. The animation and visual art style is also very similar to both series. If I’m honest my first reaction after watching the first episode was – is this some kind of experimental project? The pacing for the first 2 episodes were incredibly slow, we are introduced to a lot of characters at once and at times I felt a little bit confused as to what was going on.

Back to why it felt like an experiment and not an anime, the art style although familiar seemed more adventurous. The animators played around with different art concepts such as Manga style art and various visual effects throughout. It’s also worth mentioning there was not a lot of plot at first just large amounts of dialogue and to a certain extent character development.

The story begins on Christmas Eve when Hiro Hirono a part time Manga artist and student loses his bike after running into Miyako Miyamura, who takes it in hopes of catching a thief who stole her bag. After discovering Miyako has no keys and can’t get home they spend Christmas Eve together and discover they both attend the same school. Meanwhile Renji Asou meets Chihiro Shindou at an abandoned train station. After getting to know one another Renji finds out that Chihiro suffers from severe memory loss and can only retain up to 13 hours of her memory a day, consequently after being in a car accident a few years before. While Chihiro finds it incredibly difficult to live with her condition her new found friendship with Renji helps her in ways she never could imagine possible.

The show didn’t really kick in to gear for me until around episode 3, then I felt we were starting to understand more about the characters back stories, their motives and overall what this entire show is actually about.

I won’t add spoilers but there was a reoccurring theme present throughout the show which I felt was quite interesting. A tale of memories explores dreams, not just achieving them but how we feel once we have actually achieved them. At times it can feel a little depressing as they handle some sad life experiences but I think there is enough comedic moments to provide a balance.

I do prefer Clannad and Kanon to this series but I do think if you are looking for something to watch that has a similar feel then it’s worth checking out. As I mentioned before the pacing is very slow – but if you are a fan of characterization and well thought out monologues this should satisfy you. Not the best anime I have seen but it does improve and become watchable as the story progresses.

If you have ever watched A Tale of Memories I would love to hear your thoughts. Let me know in the comments below.

Never ending Animes: Are they more damaging than good?

Some anime series have been going for years and years – just when we think the chapter has closed a new series is announced. I’m sure most of you are familiar with the kind of shows I am referring to, series such as: Dragonball Z, Naruto, One Piece and Pokémon. But my question is how do you guys feel about having a series that is constantly being revamped or continued? Personally I enjoy watching Dragonball Z to this day and I am excited to revisit some of my favourite characters, but another part of me feels like it devalues the show and the more they add to the timeline the more confusing it gets. Other animes like Pokémon constantly press the reset button on their characters which to me personally destroys any value the series once had. That being said I do respect and understand that Pokémon is constantly targeting a younger audience.

So guys what are your thoughts are never ending animes a good or a bad thing? Love to your hear your thoughts in the comment section below.

When Marnie Was There: Review

Ratings: 8/10

Before watching this film I really had no idea what to expect. Hearing that this could potentially be the last Studio Ghibli film (sobs) my expectations were somewhat high. However, a small part of me did remain sceptical because if I am honest the last few films released by Studio Ghibli hasn’t always lived up to the hype of past films such as Spirited Away and Princess Mononoke. But, I was pleasantly surprised by this one as not only did the story provide an interesting twist but I thoroughly enjoyed some of the themes they explored throughout the film.

The story begins with Anna a young and aspiring artist who lives with her foster aunt in the busy city of Sapporo. Due to her suffering from asthma her aunt decides it best for her to stay with her relatives in the countryside. Anna’s character is extremely shy and she prefers nestling on the grass, taking in the landscape and drawing to socialising with her peers. All this changes of course when she stumbles across a mysterious mansion in the moors and a fair blonde girl called Marnie. Finally Anna finds someone who she can truly bond with and fill the void of belonging to someone she had been missing for so many years.

As mentioned before the film explored some really moving themes such as acceptance, death and a sense of belonging or lack there off. I watched this in Japanese dub with English subtitles as I am yet to find the English dub version. Another thing I loved about this film was how well Studio Ghibli capture the Japanese countryside – it might be animation but the landscape, the greenery and even the mansion looked breath taking.

I would highly recommend this film to anyone who is yet to see it. There is an element of mystery to it and the twist at the end is definitely one I had not seen coming.

Anyone who has had a chance to see this film I would love to hear your thoughts!

A reflection on goal chasing and dream making

So, todays post is very different to anything I have ever written on here before. Mainly because it is so personal to me. But today I started a brand new job and instead of having tears of joy I actually had tears of sadness. So many of my friends and family members have congratulated me and as much as I appreciate and accept it as a brilliant opportunity I realised something I think I have buried deep down for a very long time. I really want to become a full time blogger.

It’s not that I hate my job per se but I have noticed a pattern that every time I begin a job there is a part of me that has to force myself out of bed, drag myself to work and anxiously await home time. Working solely for money just seems too painful to me and life is just too short to spend your days daydreaming at your desk about what you could/would/should be doing instead.

I know even as I type this my inner voice is saying don’t be ridiculous, but it’s true. When I ask myself if I could do any job for a living what would my dream job be? The answer truly is to become a blogger/vlogger. I prefer being my own boss and working at my own pace to that of working for someone else in a 9 – 5 environment. It seems almost bizarre to me that we live in a society where it is the norm to resent the working week and look forward to the weekend.

There are so many things I would love to blog about and nothing makes me happier than coming up with creative and fun content.  It makes me immensely happy when even one person likes or comments on a post I have written. I have no idea what will become of the blogs I choose to make and whether they will ever be enough to allow me to have a steady income but I am going to try very hard to make this dream a reality.

I know there are many who want to become bloggers because of all the perks that come with the job (aka freebies) but if I am honest I couldn’t care less about that aspect of the job. I actually just want to do something for a living that truly makes me happy inside.

I guess todays post is basically about never giving up on your dreams and chasing them regardless of what others may think or how ridiculous they sound in your head (or out loud).

Thank you all for listening and for reading my blog. You have know idea how happy it makes me feel to know you are even remotely interested in my ramblings.

If there are any goals or struggles you are trying to get through right now and want to talk about it. Please don’t be shy – sharing and talking it out is what makes this blogging community so great!

Top 5 all time favourite anime ships

One of the things I love about being a fan of anime is the communities that are created. Today, I want to discuss a topic that can either bring fandoms together or rip them apart and that is the shipping. Now don’t worry guys I won’t be bashing any ones favourite ships or anything like that (so take a deep breath and relax). I just want to talk about 5 of my favourite ships and hear a bit more about some of your favs and why you love them so much. So let’s get started, shall we?

Mai and Zuko: Avatar the Last Airbender

Now these two get a lot of steam when it comes to the avatar fandom there are some who are loyal Zutarians (ship Zuko and Katara), those who themselves are fangirling over Zuko and hate the thought of him being with anyone and lastly the Mai haters who cannot stand her nonchalant lack of emotion. But I personally love this couple simply because they are not the stereotypical lovey dovey couple. I think it’s incredibly sweet that they had crushes on each other since they were kids and with all the drama of the war, taking different sides and years of being apart was not enough to keep these two apart. Many claim they do not suit each other because they are too similar but I beg to differ. Zuko wears his heart on his sleeves and Mai is very reserved basically they balance each other out. Not to mention we rarely ever see them smile without the other.

My favourite line: Mai “I love Zuko more than I fear you”

 

Harima and Aries: School Rumble

Ok, so maybe these two aren’t an actual couple but they have had so many funny moments and it is plainly obvious that Aries does in fact have a crush on Harima, she is just too embarrassed to admit it. As nice as it would be for Harima to eventually tell Tenma how he feels I actually think these two would have a more interesting relationship. Please correct me if I am wrong – but I think there is more chemistry between these two characters in comparison to Tenma and Harima.

My favourite line: Aries “So which is your favourite curry or meat and potatoes”

Bulma and Vegeta: Dragonball Z

Where do I even begin with these two? They are probably one of the least romantic and hot headed couple of all time but that is probably why I love them so much. I am still trying to figure out how this happened. The Vegeta we know and love is so proud and stubborn it’s hard to imagine him showing any real feelings towards another living thing. Without sounding creepy I think the appeal of this ship is how little we know about their relationship. How they ended up together is completely left up to the fandom (and thus begins endless fanfics). I highly doubt they will ever fill in the blanks or show us their wedding day (a girl can dream though). However, Vegeta has since the Cell Games showed more of his compassionate side and has even gone as far admitting he cares for Bulma when she is in danger.

My favourite line: Bulma “Unwind a little and see what life has to offer you, you’re actually kind of cute”

Chihiro and Haku: Spirited Away

Yes they are just children but hey I still ship them. I think they did both care quite a lot for each other and went to extreme lengths to look out for one another during the entirety of the film. Plus Chihiro helped him remember who he was. I don’t know about you but I see the early blossoming of a new romance. Spirited Away 2 any one?

My favourite line: Chihiro “You saved me, I knew you were good”

Sanae and Akio: Clannad

I know what you are all thinking – why have I not chosen Nagisa and Tomoya? Well, yes they are a rather cute couple in the making but I actually love the dynamics between the parents instead. I find it hilarious that Sanae runs a bakery for a living, yet she is so terrible at making bread and even after all those years of making horrendous food Akio still stands by her. Sanae is calm, loving and kind; whereas Akio is quick tempered, impulsive and protective the 2 make a lovely team. I imagine them to be exactly the same as they once were in high school. Maybe someday Nagisa and Tomoya will make my shipping list once they have gotten over the awkward getting to know each other stage but until then…

My favourite line: Akio “Sanae I love your bread”

Ships are such an integral part of anime fandoms, let me know some of your favourites in the comment section below.

The Infinity Dreams Award

Thank you Mathew for nominating me for the Infinity awards. Still feel a bit new to this blogging thing as I only really started it less than a month ago but thank you so far to everyone who has been reading, liking, commenting and subscribing it really is encouraging and means a lot to me.

Rules:

• List seven dreams. (They can be personal or website related.)
• Nominate seven other bloggers/authors/dogs for this award and notify them.

Ok so here goes with my 7 dreams:

1. I really want to pass my drivers test by early 2016
2. I would love to attend Comic Con and meet other bloggers, fans and some of the voice actors behind some of my favourite shows.
3. Buying my own home would be pretty nice.
4. I would like to see Anime bloggers taken more seriously, as seriously as fashion, beauty, tech and lifestyle.
5. Even though I have only been blogging for a short time I have enjoyed doing it so much. If I could become a full-time blogger that would be amazing.
6. My favourite ship in anime fandom has to be Mai and Zuko aka Maiko seeing them get back together would make me very happy.
7. Living in a world where everyone is kind and caring towards one another. No more hate, greed, wars and acts of selfishness would be awesome.

I nominate:

https://ramexabella.wordpress.com/

https://kurosamareviews.wordpress.com/

https://myfujoshilife.wordpress.com/

https://jinkobayashipleasehearme.wordpress.com/

https://mirrorpurple.wordpress.com/

https://animewithsky.wordpress.com/

http://theotakujudge.com/

Anime Loves: Best arrogant character

Ok, so I have decided to start up a mini-series called anime loves. What is anime loves you ask? Well, it’s a small series in which I look at some of my favourite characters from the anime world and simply discuss with you why I love them so much. Today, I thought I would start out with one of my favourite bad guys gone good.

If there is one thing I am a sucker for in the anime world it’s got to be complex characters. I find it incredibly rewarding trying to understand their motives and why they behave the way that they do. One of my favourite characters from the Dragonball Z franchise definitely fits the bill of complicated – that’s right I’m talking about Vegeta.

He is just one my most favourite characters from this franchise, probably because he has been given the most character development in the series. He started out as a merciless and arrogant Prince who worked for the big bad Frieza. His behaviour early on in the series can be viewed as understandable considering his past and what he has been through. He lost his entire planet and race – and as a result had to deal with complete abuse from Frieza. His arrogant and hot-headed behaviour also boils down to the fact that he is royalty, allowing him to feel above pretty much anyone he ever comes into contact with.

But what really makes his character interesting to me is seeing the development from being a villain to hero. It certainly does not happen overnight, we watch him team up with the good guys for a short while, simply just to defeat a common enemy. Even after having a son with Bulma it becomes apparent he is still as selfish and cold as ever as he puts defeating the androids and Cell before the safety of his new family. I think the struggle of his character coming to grips with his attachment to his new family and home is what I enjoy most about Vegeta. His pride has always been his downfall but the moment he puts his friends and family first and even manages to put aside his rivalry with Goku to save planet earth shows incredible growth in his character. I love that Goku and Vegeta are still considered to be rivals but there is an element of friendship now rather than enemies.

Who are some of your favourite arrogant characters? Let me know in the comments below.