Sakura con 2015 late late blog

I know it has been a while since I have posted and I am sorry about that. Also I have noticed that I have forgotten to post my report of the last convention that I went to and I am even more sorry about that. So I have what I have written and I will post my next Sakura con report in a much more timely manner.

Like a good anime fan I went to at least one anime convention per year and for someone that lives where I live that means I go to Sakura Con. I live close enough to the convention that I can go to the convention site by bus, and given the nature of downtown Seattle it is better that I go to the place via bus rather than pay thirty dollars a day to park a car. I woke up early and was able to make it to the convention center at around eight thirty in the morning, and the convention wasn't entirely up in running and preregistration lines were very short, to the point of being non existent. I had a sandwich after that so I wouldn't have eat lunch at around noon when the lines are crazy. Over my time at the convention I went to several convention panels and learned several things along the way. Here is my list.

1. I had my first taste of Taiyaki on Saturday morning of the convention. Now I understand what Ayu was talking about although it most Japanese deserts it is lest sweet than American deserts. Although it might be hard to get I think that I would totally want to put Azuki paste on my Eggo's (for those who don't know what Taiyaki tastes like image said Eggo waffle with a slightly sweet jam in the middle.
2. I learned the rules to Japanese Mahjong. This is important because various countries have their own rules to Mahjong and Japan has one of the most complex sets of them all. It took about an hour to learn and I probably should have played some games to further set the rules in my mind. At least I think I understand the whole flow of Saki the next time I watch any of it's three seasons.
3. I saw the Jojo's bizarre adventure panel. I only learned a little about the series but if they ever make an anime of Diamond is unbreakable I will totally be all over that show.
4. I saw one of the Idolmaster panels. I won't be getting too much further into the fandom than watching the current anime but I got some more appreciation of idol fandom and how there is a whole format of the glowing sticks you see when there are concerts and how there is an interplay between the idols and fans.
5. There was plenty of cosplay this year. I found there was no truly dominant show like Attack on Titan was last year although there was a sizable Fate Stay Night contingent.
6. I played a couple of games. The most interesting of which is a drawing game called Mangaka which is available on kickstarter. I found it quite interesting and one that you can play with just about anybody.
   
   
   And here is the cosplay photos I took 
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

top ten anime shows of 2015

It's that time of year again and since this blog isn't entirely dead I am making another list of my favorite anime of the year.

My rules again is that I will only choose anime shows that I think are finished airing. However since a new season can be announced at any time, I am announcing a new rule, a show can only be on my list once, thus Tossing out Oregiru from my list. Other omissions from my list include Shirayuki with red hair and your lie in April which I am only part way through.

1.Shirobako
The anime show about making anime. The show is unusually complex and adult (with an actual adult cast) without being needlessly convoluted.

2. Log Horizon
The show which I call the thinking man's Sword art Online. and one that has been a favorite since I started this blog.

3. Aldonoah Zero
A slick show with innovative and interesting battle scenes. One of the best Mecha shows in the past few years.

4. Sound Euphonium
Imagine K-On with stuff actually happening and while still having a relatable cast and you have a recipe for success.

5.Kuroko's Basket
A high intensity sports series that is all the rage with the Fujoshi but still very fun if you are not one.

6. School Live
Take cute girls and zombies and together you find a show that manages to push the boundries of both genres.

7.Fate Stay night Unlimited Blade Works
This show has lovely animation and is a wonderful fantasy and action show to view.

8.Yuri Kuma Arashi
Even at it's weirdest I found this show to entertaining as well as artistically fulfilling.

9.Prison School
This show is something that really pushed the boundries of what an fan service laden show could be and for that it deserves a place on my list.

10. One Punch Man
Simple, short but eminently entertaining, this show is one that I felt lived up to it's hype.

Review Kaiba

There will always be giant robots

In the distant future it is possible to download someone's memories into a chip and then either alter then or transfer them to another body. In this future a man with no memories awakes. The two things notable about him are a giant hole where his heart should be and a locket with the blurred picture of a girl that he can not remember.

Sometimes you just can't explain the scene

For a long time I thought that Kaiba was one of those artsy shows that only snobs like. After actually watching it I found that this show is actually interesting. The most obvious thing about the show is the art style which hard to describe but is rather unique to say the least. However if you consider yourself a fan of animation as a art this is a show you simply have to watch.

Strangely animated ice cream at that

However as a conventional show I found the plot to rather impenetrable. A lot of this has to do with the fact that at least for the first few episodes the protagonist has all the charisma and motivation of a lobotomized slug. However by the midpoint of the show the plot actually starts to pick up and the characters start to develop in earnest.

Overall I found Kaiba to an interesting science fiction show although if I know if you think this show to be too artsy for your I will totally understand.

Rating The silver broom (Maho Shougo Tai) for being a rather interesting show that's strongest point is it's constant phantasmagoria.

Review Nichijou

Dog is there for you

This is the story of the everyday life of three high school girls, Mio, Yuko and Mai. This is also the story of the everyday life of Nano the robot with a clock screw on her back, the child professor she takes care of and Sakamoto the talking cat. There are also some other characters that show up from time to time and it's their daily life as well, no matter how strange it is.

Obligatory shoe joke

To put it simply  Nichijou is a collection of show comedy skits (most of three minutes in length although a few are longer) stacked end to end until it is the length of a regular television show. Although the show is suposedly about daily life the can easily do something absurd (like deer wrestling) or break the laws of physics just because the show feels like it for a sketch.

Like I said not only school girls in this show

Quality in comedy is something that is almost impossible to judge but I found that in the case of Nichijou the comedy changes gears enough that even if the comedy is a bit hit or miss at times there should be some nice solid hits most of the time for most people.

Be careful not to rust

Overall I consider Nichijou I decent time waster of a comedy anime show

Rating the bronze Mesousa (Pani poni Dash) for being a decent slice of life show where anything can happen. 

Review Lord Vanadis and Marksman

Eleonora wants you

As a nobleman in the country of Brune Tigre followed his sovereign when it waged war on the country of Zhcted. Although he fought valiantly, his side was defeated and he was captured. He did manage to impress his captor, the powerful war maiden Eleonora, to the point that he managed to convince her to help him save his homeland. This is the beginning of their adventures together.

The question just had to be asked

Vanadis and lord Marksman is a twelve episode television show based off of a series of light novels. This show is set in fantasy world meaning that the show promises several sword fights, court intrigues but unfortunately no elves.Actually it is different from traditional western fantasy in that most of the main cast is supernaturally proficient in fighting.
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This show has a heavy helping of the fan-service. However the female characters of the show (namely the Vanadis) are all strong willed and self directed so I have a hard time calling this show sexist despite the fact that they run around in pretty much their underwear. The show is also has a fairly decent plot that doesn't get bogged down and also one that manages to end at a good stopping point.

Overall I found Vanadis and Lord Marksman to be a short and fun fantasy action show

Rating the bronze Mini Maya (Tenjo Tenge) for being a fun to watch action show with a decent amount of fan service.

Fall 2015 season overview part three Warzones are a battlefield

Such a Shiro title and no Fate Stay Night anime to talk about. However things are looking up with three shows that are at least decent although none of them look like they are show of the year material unless they somehow change in the middle but sometimes you just need a cat girl or giant robot more than some introspection on the nature of being.

Asterisk war

A guy named Ayato is looking to see what happened with his sister and goes to a special battle school to find out about her. Magical battles will ensue.

This show feels like it is a somewhat generic light novel adaptation but I would give this show the benefit of the doubt.

Utawarerumono

In the middle of a snowy field a girl named Kuon finds a strange man with no name but eventually calls him Haku.

I was a a fan of the original Utawarerumono  anime show and I am hopeful for this show as well. It doesn't have big signs of being the Romance of the three kingdoms with cat girls and replacement for Arslan but I will give it time.

Comet Lucifer

One day a boy named Sougo fell down a hole and found a strange girl in a crystal and gets involved in some struggle.

This show reminds me of  the mecha shows made by bones (even though this show is made by 8-bit studio) and seems well animated enough even if the doesn't entirely make sense in the first episode. I may continue to watch.

Fall 2015 season overview part 2 There will be blood

Now that I have gotten the chance to watch some more shows I am slightly catching up on the pile of new shows of this season. However with just one exception I haven't seen any good shows yet. I think part of the problem with that short shows have been half of the shows I have seen this season yet few if any of them are created with the promise of being just tolerable. Hopefully this season will be better in the end.

Kagewani

In the world there are monsters that haunt the corners of the world and Sousuke Banba is a scientist who wants the find the truth behind them.

This is a short show and one thing I remember is that short shows do a poor job with horror. The cheap looking animation style is the final nail in the coffin. Dropped.

Lovely Muuko san

Muuko is a lively little dog who lives in the mountains with his owner, a single man who makes glassware for a living.

This show is a short comedy about a dog who talks but acts like almost every dog you know. It's not high art but I believe that this show will be enjoyable to the right audience.

Young Black Jack

In the 1960's there is a young medical student named Hazama Kuro with remarkable talent and a patched body. This show is the beginning of his legend.

Black Jack was one of the more famous works of the foundational manga artist Osamu Tezuka. I am not sure how faithful this show is but I can say that it;s style has been updated to look nice and the show still feels relevant. I will continue to watch this one.