Series Breakdown of Super Robot Wars Z

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…or at least the ones I know about.

Overman King Gainer
I never saw all of King Gainer, but this has always been a sought after title for Super Robot Wars. The highly unique mecha designs and inevitable “Monkey” following a dynamic kill are more than welcome.

The Big O
Big O made its debut on the GBA with SRWD. While the graphics for D were revolutionary as far as the GBA games went, it’ll be great to see it represented in the series proper, with something that can do justice to its clean art style. Also, the voices will really help.

The Big O Second Season
I look forward to this for only one reason: BIG O!! FINAL STAGE!!

Zambot 3
Ah, Zambot 3, one of my favorite giant robot series. Zambot 3 makes its long-awaited return to console SRWs, and just the thought of seeing how they tackle its battle animations has me giddy. I reviewed the show a while back, so make sure to check it out. I am very curious as to how they’re going to incorporate Zambot 3 into the overall plot, as the show itself is incredibly harsh. It also appears that they’re going to let Zambot 3 break off into its component parts, which is a very welcome addition.

Daitarn 3
Daitarn 3 was always a bit of a disappointment, as I watched it after Zambot 3, and knowing that they’re considered “cousins” of sorts, I wasn’t expecting the show to be about James (Bond) and the Giant Robot. In any case, the series is more or less episodic, which means it fits well into the cracks of the overall SRW plots. I hope to see all of Daitarn 3’s ridiculous attacks. For those who don’t know, Daitarn 3 had a translation error, in that its cross-throwing attack was called “Daitarn Web” and its capture net was called “Cross Dart.” They actually maintain this error throughout the SRW games, and I hope to see the tradition continue.

Xabungle
I know very little about Xabungle, only that it’s fairly light-hearted, which goes great with Daitarn 3…and not so much with Zambot 3. Oh, Tomino.

Z Gundam
Oh, Tomino indeed. I hear this is going to be based on the New Translation movies, so we really have no idea how this might tie into the greater SRW plot. The real question is whether or not they’re going to use the New Translation character designs.

Gundam: Char’s Counterattack
It’s going to be fun seeing Char completely surrounded by more Char-types than ever before. I love the Nu Gundam and Sazabi, and I look forward to seeing them in action once more. Char’s Counterattack, like with so many others, was the first Gundam anime to really show me the impact and power of Gundam. No one should be surprised, as it is rare that Amuro and Char don’t make their way into SRW games, but let’s still be happy.

Gundam X
A very conventional Gundam series despite being an alternate universe. I also have fond memories for this because the X and the Virsago were some of the first Gundam models I purchased. Gundam X is just one of many series in this game which hint at the fact that the moon will play an important role in this game. As long as they keep Tifa’s anata ni… chikara o! everything will be dandy.

Turn A Gundam
Speaking of the importance of the moon… Turn A Gundam is also a very, very welcome veteran. The best AU Gundam there is, I hope to see fun comments from Amuro regarding some of Turn A’s weaponry, and I really hope that the dynamic kill on Turn A’s ultimate attack is REALLY dynamic, like with up close camera angles and such.

Gundam SEED Destiny
SEED Destiny, one of the best shows of 2004 and one of the worst shows of 2005. I’ve been looking foward to this just so I can see how SRW manages to improve the plot. Cagalli will be avenged, that I will tell you.

Mazinger Z
It’s not really a Super Robot Wars if it doesn’t have THE super robot. Mazinger Z is the gold standard of SRW attack animations as well, so it’ll be a good indicator of how things go.

Great Mazinger
See Mazinger Z comments above, only a little less.


Getter Robo G
SHIIIIIIIIIIINE SPAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARKU!

Grendizer
My only complaint is that for some reason SRW has something against putting Grendizer and Mazinger in the same game. Still, this means we’re going to see an AWESOME Final Dynamic Special.

God Sigma
I like making fun of the song.

Aquarion
Kawamori at his craziest, this show only pretends to be serious but really isn’t. We’ve already seen that they’re going to include the Mugen Punch and the Getsumen Punch, but I also look forward to the ridiculous 3D Attack. It also combines in a fashion similar to Getter Robo, except all of the forms have really powerful finishers. Oh, and I hope people turn down the volume for this game, or they’re going to wake everyone up with the moaning of the Aquarion orgasm gattai sequence.

Eureka Seven
There have been two series I’ve really, really, REALLY wanted to see in SRW. Eureka Seven is one of them (and Godannar is the other). I am so giddy over its inclusion, and combined with the interview where they said they’re going to focus on backgrounds more for this iteration of SRW, I just KNOW that Eureka Seven is the perfect series to show this off. They’d better have the battle in the rainbow clouds. Also, Eureka’s cut-in during the Nirvash’s animation was so amazing it made me melt inside.

Orguss
I never saw Orguss, though I know it’s made by the Macross crew. I’ve heard good things about it, and as always it’s good to see new blood in SRW.

Gravion
Sort of like Big O Second Season, I don’t really care about what they do with the plot or whatever. I am just looking forward to the maid-powered rocket punches. I hope Gravion has a combination attack with Grendizer using the power of Gravity and Anti-Gravity.

Gravion Zwei
This mainly means we’re going to be seeing that saucy girl who works for the military. All right.

Baldios
The Heika meme will be revived full force. I’d like to take this show seriously but the term “Blue Fixer” prevents that.

I will not buy an anime if the opening has been replaced.

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Zeta Gundam, Kodomo no Omocha, and so on. I bet someone will call me shallow, but I have my reasons.

I’m not balls against any sort of changes, as I understand that it’s silly to want, say, original Japanese credits, and despite scrolling English credits often hurting op/ed sequences sometimes (in my opinion), I know and accept its existence.

Opening and ending themes (not to mention music overall) are different, though.

When I buy a DVD, it’s a one-time thing. I am buying this collection for archival purposes, and what I want from my archive is authenticity. OPs and EDs are very much a part of an anime’s identity, and to remove them is to make the product inherently flawed. I know there are always legal/monetary reasons behind these decisions, and I feel for the anime companies, but it doesn’t mean I have to like the result.

Introducing the Bratender: La Sommelière Volume 1

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Forgive my misogynistic title. I just couldn’t resist.

Araki Joe is a man who Knows Alcohol. Readers may know Araki from the anime adaptation of his manga Bartender, which tells the story about a man whose mixed drinks brighten the lives of his patrons. He’s also responsible for Sommelier, which tells the story about a man whose wine-serving abilities bri- well you get the idea. Don’t confuse Sommelier with La Sommelière, though, as there’s a world of difference between the two.

And by world of difference I mean the fact that the main character is a woman.

Itsuki Kana is a young woman with a passion for wine. Having studied the art of winery in college, Kana lives on a vineyard with a kind old lady and a group of orphans and spends her days growing grapes and making wine. When a slick city folk kind of hombre (omubure) appears with a message from a mysterious benefactor, “John Smith,” Kana sets off to Tokyo to find Mr. Smith, her only souvenir from home being a bottle of white wine produced by Kana and the orphans, a wine which she proudly labels as the “World’s Best.” Kana begins work at an upscale restaurant as a Sommelière, or Wine Waitress. Her love and comprehensive knowledge concerning wine allows Kana to (say it with me) brighten the lives of her patrons, but also learns a thing or two about wine herself.

The artwork in La Sommelière is incredibly clean, with sophisticated character designs, elegant if traditional panel layouts, and an emphasis on the beauty and versatility of wine. The most detailed drawings are always wine-related, and when it comes to tasting the wine, the characters are drawn with facial expressions that can be summed up as “a very sophisticated and high-class Yakitate Japan.” As for Kana herself, her devotion to wine, enthusiasm, and pleasant demeanor make for an incredibly endearing and attractive heroine.

At the end of every story is a detailed explanation on a wine featured in that chapter. I personally have very little experience with wine (or most alcoholic beverages for that matter), so I cannot verify the accuracy of the information given. It really doesn’t matter, though.

Going into this manga, I was worried that the emphasis on wine would be reliant on certain universal factors dictating which wines are better than others, but I’m glad to say that isn’t the case. There’s one universal truth in the world of La Sommelière, the truth that context is queen. The context in which the wine is made, the context in which the wine is served, the frame of mind of the drinker, everything contributes to the idea that any wine can potentially be the “best ever,” even a white wine produced by an intrepid Sommelière and a group of orphans.

La Sommelière is not out in English, and as a seinen title it’s not the easiest read for people beginning their Japanese studies. Even if you are fluent, French words are being thrown around constantly and it can become daunting to decipher the mysterious world of wine. Still, even though I hardly know the first thing about wine, I can recommend La Sommelière simply for its pleasant atmosphere and strong, elegant art style.

This is What You Would Call a Cut Back Drop Turn 04

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Sorry, I just had to say it.

I won’t review Code Geass R2 just yet. The show’s still in its initial setup stage. All I’ll say is that so far the show is quite enjoyable, though I don’t approach it like it’s some big bad mystery to solve. Code Geass is like Greek Theater, except I have no idea if it’s a comedy or a tragedy.

Nanoha Cannot Be the Best Magical Girl Anime

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I take issue with people who declare Mahou Shoujo Lyrical Nanoha (or one of its sequels) to be the best Magical Girl series ever. The magical girl genre is understandably focused primarily on relationships, the pursuit of love, and other similar themes. Nanoha, meanwhile, is noted for its magical girls engaging in earth-shattering battles with devastating laser barrages and bone-shattering impacts. The general impression I get from people who make the claim is that Nanoha is great because it’s a magical girl show without all the fluff and romance.

In other words, it’s the best magical girl show for being nothing like a magical girl show.

I don’t think this is a case of breaking genre conventions, though the thought occurred to me. It’s different from a show like Evangelion which turned the mecha genre on its ear because Evangelion did not go against what defines the mecha genre in the first place. The characters may have been emotional wrecks, but the common theme of humanity and its relationship with war and suffering is a long-running concept since even before First Gundam, and it’s present in Evangelion with a twist. Princess Tutu, as an example closer to the topic of Nanoha at hand, approaches the issue of meta-stories and the very nature of “story” itself, but it maintains itself as a magical girl series with, again, its emphasis on relationships.

I like the Nanoha series, but the appeal of it is more like a Sunrise mecha show than it is a magical girl series, and I think to judge it from that perspective is a little unusual. It would be like saying that a plate of spaghetti you just ate is the best yakisoba ever, despite tasting nothing like how a yakisoba should. The key word in mahou shoujo is shoujo, and personally I think the fact that Nanoha is basically only a magical girl show on the surface automatically disqualifies it.

PS: If you’re wondering what I consider to be the best magical girl series, Cardcaptor Sakura, of course.

Bounen no Xamdou Trailer: Thoughts

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Finally got around to watching the trailer for Xamdou. It’s very short, so there’s not too much to say. Check my previous post for information on how to view it.

The video focuses on a boy and his transformation into what I assume is the titular Xamdou. An object appears out of his forehead and causes him to transform into a white humanoid creature vaguely resembling the final form of the Nirvash in Eureka Seven.

And speaking of Eureka Seven, I got tired of people making FLCL references to it back when it first aired, so I’m sure I’ll be enjoying the comments about the vague similarities between Xamdou emerging from his forehead as compared to Naota and Canti.

The music is electric guitar-heavy (as in, that’s all there is to the music in the trailer), and from what little I can see of the environment, the world of Xamdou seems to resemble Eureka Seven in that parts of it are somewhat ravaged and there’s some kind of significant military presence.

I think there’s some hope that this might somehow relate to the Eureka Seven universe, based on just the look and feel of the show, but it’s really anybody’s guess and can probably just be chalked up to having the same team working on both shows.

…But man, Xamdou and Nirvash really do look similar.

Bounen no Xamdou Trailer Online

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Bounen no Xamdou has gotten a proper trailer at its official site

Unfortunately it can only be viewed in Internet Explorer, but it’s a small price to pay for a delicious taste of what’s to come from Bones and the Eureka Seven team.

I haven’t had the chance to really watch it, but expect an opinion and some screen caps (for those of you not wanting to deal with the hassle of IE) soon.

Honestly, I Decided to Watch It Because of Nazuka Kaori: Soul Eater

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Famous for her role as one Miss Eureka of the State of Gekko.

I can’t quite put my finger on it, but something seems a little off about the Soul Eater anime. I haven’t read the manga, so I can’t really compare, but it’s like all the pieces don’t fit quite right together. I can see where they wanted to go with the visual style and the overall light-heartedness of it all, but it’s just not jiving at this point.

But let’s cast that aside as we talk about Tsubaki the Girl Who Turns into a Chain Scythe.

I’ve only seen one episode with her so far, and though I can’t really call her my favorite character at this point, her gentle nature and excellent design make her a definite one to watch out for (not to mention the voice). I can back this up of course with visual evidence.

The Rational Male Companion

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Few characters can impress me as much as the Rational Male Companion. These are the characters who are frequently well-acquainted with headstrong women, and though they may not have the guts or the power to rescue damsels in distress, they seek to provide understanding and kindness for the women they hold dear.

When Yoko finds herself stranded in the land of the Twelve Kingdoms, betrayed by everyone she ever trusted, It is the half-man/half-rat/non-ninja Rakushun who proves to her through his gentle and inquisitive nature that there are still good people in the world. Linn Jinto is not the brightest or the strongest man in the Abh empire, but his close friendship with Lafiel exhibits his sincerity and empathy, as well as his subdued sense of humor. Dominic Soleil does not even have the benefit of an entirely sane love interest, but his persistence and use of his own personal strengths (intelligence-gathering as opposed to Giant Robot Fighting) are indicative of his complete devotion to Anemone.

It really doesn’t have to do with the Rational Male as much as it has to do with the fact that he is someone’s Companion. They forge deep bonds with their friends and lovers, a bond tempered by the kind of self-confidence one can only find by being comfortable with oneself, accepting one’s own strengths and weaknesses.

Why I Like Ogiue, Part 4, or Being a Man who is a Fan of Ogiue

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As I stated in my previous post, I spoke to the Ninja Consultants at New York Comic Con, and among the topics we discussed were of course Genshiken and Ogiue. Erin pointed out to me that, as far as she knows, the majority of Ogiue fans in the US (or at least in the New York area) are female, and being a male Ogiue fan is kind of an exception.

Ogiue being more popular among girls than guys makes perfect sense, actually. Female anime fans would of course relate to the fujoshi that is Ogiue. It’s all obvious, with hindsight.

And yet, this fact didn’t really hit me just how rare a breed I am until Erin mentioned it. And I know that there are other guys out there who like Ogiue, just not as much as me, which I’m sure is a huge shock. The real point though is that it seems like not many of them are big, big fans of Ogiue, at least not compared to the number of girls who are.

What makes Ogiue stand out to me so far above other characters is the fact that I’ve been very fond of her every step of the way. From her brash, one-armed introduction to the club, to the revelation of her psuedo-real-life fantasies and denial of such, to her gradual softening and then hardening, to her acceptance of herself and her relationship with Sasahara, I was pretty much a fan from day one as anyone who’s read this blog will know.

And all along, I’ve been evaluating Ogiue from the perspective of a male otaku, not that I can evaluate from any other. And of course, I’ve also been doing this with every character I see. I don’t plan on talking extensively on gender roles in anime any time soon, but it just leaves me thinking about my position among anime fans at large, half of whom are female.