life line by line

Long story short is I’ve decided to drop a lot of series I’ve had on blogging backlog hell.

• Futakoi Alternative
• Gokujou Seitokai
• Gundam SEED Destiny
• Ichigo 100% TV
• Magical Canan
• Peach Girl
• Tactics
• Yakitate Japan

Part of the reason I’ve finally decided to drop some series is I simply don’t have the time and effort. I honestly don’t think I can will myself to try to blog a good 100+ entries on various anime episodes when there are plenty of better reviews by my anime blogging peers. Another reason has to do with the fact I’ve either personally finished watching the series or dropped watching mid-way, so it’ll be very difficult for me to sit through them again to blog.

I’m sorry for my entire five people readership looking forward to me catching up on some dropped series. I just can’t do it. I feel really horrible about it too since I never honestly thought I’ll drop a series I’ve already started to blog no matter the rhyme or reason.

In a way though, my decision to drop the majority of my backlog will be a massive weight off my chest; an welcome one at that. I’ll be able to concentrate a lot more on the few series I’m still willing (and enjoying) to blog. No more chore in avoiding to blog.

Once again, I’m truly sorry for dropping the bomb out of nowhere but I’m only one man and only can do so much.

(more…)

Even more mis-understandings led to an daring stunt and hidden truths best left untold. The drama in Peach Girl gets 10x better every episode!

Momo and Kairi finally find Touji in the hospital, leading to Momo trying to convince Touji of some truths while Kairi keeps Sae busy from the two. A lot of high schoolish teen angst and mis-communication between Touji and Momo somehow makes Momo risk her own life to get Touji to listen to her! One somewhat daring “rescue” later by Touji, and he’s all ears to listen to Momo spill the beans about their relationship and Sae.

Meanwhile Sae and Kairi are up on the roof (if I remember correctly) talking about this and that. Sae convinces Kairi to team up with her to split Momo and Touji apart since their goals are the same (sort of). Just when I think Kairi isn’t the good guy I thought he was, we find out he was just playing Sae to find out some truths about her (I think) etc etc etc. Somewhere along the line he accidentally tells Sae about him and Momo kissing, making the rumors true the whole time! Too late realizing his mistake, Kairi chases after Sae before she tells Touji.

… Too bad he just misses her as Momo and Touji just made up, and Sae tells about Kairi and Momo kissing. Kairi tries to telll Momo to lie about it but being the honest girl she is when the face of her loved one, tells the truth. Touji’s reaction… was what one would expect. Some more arguing and Momo throws the thing about seeing Touji and Sae kissing, only to find out he was just practicing. A small shocked moment, that passes quickly enough as things only gets worse as their relationship goes down the crapper. More yelling about what guy would practice on another girl, not understanding what the other is thinking, etc etc eventually lead Touji and Momo wanting to break up. Ends with a very pissed (and probably sad) Momo running off after telling Touji off.

I want the next episode! That Touji bastard doesn’t realize the good thing he has in Momo and just goes ruins it himself. Sure I can understand believing Sae since no one knows her true self, but to doubt your girlfriend / friend? Touji, that’s just plain wrong man! Even with the slight jealousy of Kairi and Momo getting along, she confessed to you.. not Kairi. You fool!

I know it’ll probably work out at the end… but man, someone really needs to knock some sense into Touji. Blah… give me some more Kairi. He’s good for some laughs and has his serious moments when needed.

Continuing from the previous episode, Momo and Touji’s rocky relationship takes a slight turn for the worse thanks to Sae (again).

More mis-understandings, Sae’s evil tactics, and Touji going to the hospital pretty much sums up the episode nicely. I have to say the more you watch this show, the more you want to beat up Sae, root for Momo, and give Touji a good whack of common sense. The high school drama is just too addicting to watch!

If only everyone sat down and straighten things out….. then again, where would the fun be right?

Momo and Touji become an couple…. sorta.

I have to give props to Peach Girl for being one of the more “realistic” slice-of-life animes out there. It’s pretty cute watching Momo make her way through her first relationship with Touji and the problems that come about. Even if 90% of those said problems are all Sae-related ones Also having Kairi as a type of comedic relief doesn’t hurt either as he’s always great for a few Momo-induced beatings.

I guess the biggest issues in this episode boils down to Momo and Touji trusting one another while dealing with the b*tch that is Sae. Only Momo (and to some extend Kairi) know of Sae’s true nature so it makes it next-to impossible for Momo to convince Touji of Sae’s evilness. And what’s worse… Sae moves into Momo’s territory and tries to take Touji! That evil evil bitch! One thing leads to another, and eventually Momo sees Touji and Sae kissing totally destroying her love-love world. Ironically, Kairi does the right thing for once and acts as an true friend comforing Momo in her time of need (though it’s not to say he doesn’t act like his normal player self at times). Episode ends with some mis-communication thanks to Sae, Touji and Momo thinking the wrong things about each other, and Touji trying to force a kiss from Momo at the same spot he got kissed by Sae!

Even though I totally hate Sae, I have to give my respects to her seiyuu Megumi Nasu for doing an 200% excellent job portraying the role. She makes Sae just so deliciously bitchy evil that one cannot but hate her (in a good way?). Sae’s type of “evil” is rarely seen in anime nowadays, so it’s an refreshing change from the normal. I’m also hoping in future episodes we learn that Sae as other reasons for trying to be #1 other than petty popularity…. because otherwise, I just can’t forgive such bitchy-ness and the terrible things she has done to Momo. That ain’t right yo!

I downloaded this raw having no idea what to expect. I knew there was an manga with the same name but didn’t really know what it was about. After watching the first episode however, I must say Peach Girl is a refreshing change from all the other new/continuing anime out there and will be one I’ll continue watching without an doubt!

For now, I’m not really going to review the episode but just give my general impressions of it. You have no idea how long it takes me when I do an actual review, and as much as I would like to unless I get some responses to do so will currently not. =P

Anyway, I can best sum Peach Girl as an slice of life anime taking place in your typical japanese high school, with your typical and normal bunch of students. What makes Peach Girl, and really any “slice of life” series, really good are the cast of characters. So far, we have four of them:

- Momo Andachi: voiced by Saeko Chiba (Natsuki from Mai-HiME), Momo isn’t your typical looking japanese high schooler. With tanned skin and orangish hair, one would think she’s an kogal (I think that’s the term I looking for). In reality, she is your typical if not slightly better looking average japanese school girl. The hair is natural and her tanned skin is simply because she’s in the swimming club/team, though she’ll have to once in awhile deal with perverted men thinking otherwise. Momo has the same typical hobbies and whatnot like the other girls, and like those girls she has an crush on her sorta childhood friend Kazuya Toujikamori (hereby known simply as Touji). Only problem is she doesn’t have enough courage tell him, which results in her usually blushing every time they talk. It’s pretty cute watching her just go through everyday life and her reactions to various things, but all that changes when her friend Sae Kashiwagi asks her if she has a crush on anyone. Too embarrassed to say it’s actually Touji, Momo randomly spots a guy and points to him. The guy? Kairi Okayasu, and doing this simple act of hiding her true feelings leads her to a lot of trouble.

- Kairi Okayasu: voiced by Kenichi Suzumura (Shinn from Gundam SEED Destiny), seems like your typical good looking easy-going type of guy. Decently popular with the girls, Kairi doesn’t seem to have a care in the world. Heck, when Momo pointed to him and he noticed he playfully winked back at her surprising Momo. Eventually rumors (thanks to Kairi himself) spread about the two, leading Momo into an conformation with some of Kairi’s “fans.” Momo handles things no problem, but is pretty pissed at Kairi for all of this. His solution? Kisses her on the spot! Momo is shocked.. and none to happy about this (totally kicks his ass for it)! Looks like Kairi actually has a thing for Momo (she saved him before when he almost drowned at the beach) and goes about trying to court her. Kairi’s great strategy? Go at it 100% and literally throw himself at Momo! Figures, with his easy going personality and all. Momo isn’t too happy with the current situation and wants to be rid of him ASAP, especially more so so Touji doesn’t get wind of their “relationship.” So what follows is what I can only say is Kairi’s “style” of getting things, and all one can do is watch his antics and the results from them.

- Kazuya Toujikamori: the sorta childhood friend and love interest of Momo. Tall, decently handsome, somewhat quiet, and on the swimming team (I think) Touji is the man. Touji apparently cares for Momo, but to what extend we don’t know though it’s hinted at the end of episode. He defends her when the other guys were talking about random girls and has an one-on-one talk with Kairi about Kairi’s seriousness for Momo. An pretty good guy all around, he doesn’t realize Momo’s feelings for him until he overhears Momo’s and Kairi’s conversation where she admits to Kairi she likes Touji but never had the courage to tell him. By the end of the episode, Touji hints that he likes Momo too so we are left wondering if their relationship will suddenly change!

- Sae Kashiwagi: last but not least, one of Momo’s (only?) friends and very popular among the guys. I still can’t get a good read on her yet, but from what I can figure seems like Sae “uses” Momo. I don’t necessarily mean “use” in a bad way, but Sae is definitely not an really good friend. A good example is when she steals Momo’s idea of buying this cute bag, even though she told Momo not to spend the money to get it. Or getting Kairi and Momo to meet up, and to make Touji jealous of the two and maybe steal Touji from Momo (though that backfires). We’ll have to wait and see what kind of person Sae really is but I don’t think she’s all sweet and sugar with everything nice…

The dynamics between these four people work out so well, especially the comedy between Momo and Kairi that I can see Peach Girl becoming an classic. There are no strange plots, mechas, powers, etc (so far) but is just a simple straight high school drama. With Touji semi-confession of him liking Momo, what will happen between the two? Does Kairi even stand a chance of getting Momo, if he’s actually serious about her? Who is that in the picture we saw Kairi was about to rip up? And what kind of “evil” plots does Sae have for everyone involved? Already I’m addicted to the show and can’t wait to see what will happen next! Added to the fact that Peach Girl has good art style and a good cast of seiyuus, it might become one of my new favorites for the season. Now just got to wait a week for the next episode…. or go out and buy the manga. ^_^;;