Sailor Moon R #20

This week’s episode is: Usagi’s Motherly Love? Triangle with Curry.

So Chibi-Usa’s class is having a curry day with their parents. Unfortunately, Usagi’s parents aren’t available. At first Usagi has no interest in helping, but when she sees Chibi-Usa crying Usagi’s better nature prevails. She decides to invite Mamoru as well. Since it’s for Chibi-Usa, he actually agrees. Only one problem – both Mamoru and Chibi-Usa have doubts about Usagi’s cooking abilities. So Usagi agrees to do a preview dinner. First, she gets some curry lessons from the Scouts^^;

Meanwhile another crystal point has been found by Rubius – a grocery store. Calaveras and Petz go to take it over. Yeah, those two don’t get along too well. Their strategy, sell dark fruit at the store infecting everyone who eats it, and they in turn infect all the goods in the store. So when Usagi, Mamoru, and Chibi-Usa arrive there is hardly anything eatable left. Mamoru and Chibi-Usa leave and run into Rei. At first Chibi-Usa thinks Rei would be a much better person to come to her class activity, but it just isn’t the same without Usagi. Rei is actually quite happy Chibi-Usa realizes this, so they go back for Usagi.

Usagi stayed behind in the store on Luna’s insistence – something is going on in there. The monster with the two sisters starts draining energy from everyone. Luna distracts the monster while Usagi transforms. Rei then arrives as Sailor Mars as well. Then Tuxedo Kamen shows up to help as do the other Scouts. Usagi defeats the monster and surrounded the sisters retreat.

And how did Usagi’s curry turn out? Well, minus points on presentation but as far as taste goes pretty good actually. Who knew?

Howl’s Moving Castle – Manga

Yep, they actually have four volumes of manga of Howl’s Moving Castle. Many of Studio Ghibli’s works have gotten the manga treatment. This is just the one I like well enough to get. Now if they had Whisper of the Heart . . .

Aham. Anyway, it is very interesting. Basically it looks like they took tons (and I mean hundreds at least) of screenshots  and added speech bubbles to the appropriate shots. The effect is you really are reading the movie. There is nothing new added to the story or any difference. Still it was a very interesting experience. This method also lets you slow down and admire Miyazaki’s art if you so desire. I will recommend the manga for three groups of people in particular:

1. If you loved the movie so much you want everything related to it (this would be my category).

2. This would be nice to take on a long trip or a vacation in the middle of no where with no way to watch movies.

3. If you have a reluctant reader who enjoyed the movie, this might be something to try with them – especially since reluctant readers learn better visually.

 

Otomen #4

So our favorite girlly man is back. This time, Asuka and Ryo’s father try to make a good birthday for their favorite girl. The results are interesting and not what anyone planned. Then we meet a guy who loves flowers as much as Asuka loves girlly things. Then Asuka’s kohai who really looks up to our hero asks Asuka and his friends to help his grandfather’s beach stand. Not exactly what Asuka had in mind for summer vacation. Things go from bad to worse when the grandfather is injured and has to go to the hospital. Still, our heroes persevere, but when Asuka’s kendo rival who loves make-up and hair as much as Asuka loves girlly things shows up will our heroes be able to save grandpa’s beach stand?

Full Metal Alchemist: Brotherhood #31

This week’s episode is: The Promise Made for 520 Cenz.

I forgot one part last week. In the end Mustang wants to turn the country into a democracy and go after war criminals from the Ishbal rebellion. Of course he realizes that he himself and Hawkeye would be included in that category.

Well, May Chang (and Shao May) leave the doctor guy. They find Scar, who it turns out didn’t kill Marco – he killed a chimera transmuted by Marco to look like a human. Scar still has questions and he thinks Marco may be able to help him with this brothers notes, which said there was something odd about the alchemy of Amestris. It will be interesting to see what that was, because only Scar and May Chang were able to do alchemy after Father did his thing. After disfiguring Marco’s face, the group is off to where Scar hid his brother’s notes.

Meanwhile, Ed tells Al what Hawkeye told him. When they get where they’re staying, Fu is there, apparently back from Xing. They take him to Lan Fan. The two decide it is time to leave the doctors as well. Their goal is to get Ling back to normal. They don’t want the Eldric’s help since that could endanger innocent people. Then Ed and Al go off looking for May Chan, wanting to learn her version of alchemy. They don’t find her. What they do find is Mustang. Mustang’s group has been dispersed, but he’s still making his plans to become Fuhrer. Apparently Ed owes him money, but Ed refuses to pay until Mustang is Fuhrer. (Then he’ll borrow money again and refuse to pay again until Amestris is a democracy.)

Elsewhere, Kimberly is freed. It seems he wasn’t killed because when he refused to return his philosopher’s stone, he swallowed it. But now Envy frees him and gives him another philosopher’s stone. It seems Kimberly is wanted to go after Scar to kill him and then bring back Marco if he is still alive.

Aria Manga #5

So after much waiting and anticipation the next volume of Aria is finally out! In it Akari helps out the mailman when his gondola needs repairs, we meet Alice’s trainer Athena who has a gorgeous voice but is even more of a klutz and spaced out than Akari, Akira puts the girls through tough training, Aika and Al (and Akari) find the perfect spot to see a meteor shower, and Akari finds and enjoys a new, unusual cafe.

This volume reminds me exactly why I love this series so much! The visuals are lovely as always, especially the backgrounds – which is a good thing since Aria itself is as much a character as anyone else! This is such an optimistic series, where the best is seen in everyone and in every situation. I love our main characters too. Please TokyoPop, don’t let the release of the next volume take quite so long, but whatever else you do, please don’t drop this series!

Hikaru no Go Manga #17

In this volume, Hikaru finally realizes that Sai still exists – through all of the Go moves Sai taught him. With this encouragement Hikaru jumps back into the Go world with a vengeance. Everyone is happy about this, especially Akira. Akira and Hikaru finally have their first complete match – no Sai involved at all. Izumi finally passes the pro exam:) With all these new players with potential the Go world in Japan is starting to look more interesting. They’re even talking about having a junior game with younger pros from Japan, China, and Korea. Toya Mejin (okay so he isn’t the Mejin anymore, but I doubt anyone will stop calling him that) has signed up with a Chinese league which is probably an interesting change for him.

One of the many things I really like about Hikaru no Go is at this point it’s been about two and a half years since Akira and Hikaru last played, and probably another year since the series started as far as the story goes. And it looks it. Akira, Hikaru, Akari, Toya Meijin, they are all looking older. And while I miss Sai, it is nice to see Hikaru standing completely on his own now. And just because he hosted Sai’s soul for a while and had the benefit of his teaching doesn’t mean that Hikaru doesn’t still have a lot to learn.

Kimi ni Todoke #5

First a quick note. I haven’t even seen raws up yet for Kobato episode 5 so that one will be up when it is up.

This week’s episode is: Determination.

Sadako is so sad about things at school Yano and Yoshida notice. And no wonder Sadako is sad. She fears her new friends are being hurt by the rumors going around. Fortunately, Kazehaya is quite a forthright person so he confronts Sadako on this and she can’t bring herself to say what she things she should. With his encouragement Sadako agrees she won’t hide from people who want to be her friend and she will straighten things out with Yano and Yoshida. Meanwhile, Yano and Yoshida are still worrying about what Sadako really thinks of them. It is Pin of all people who tells Yano some advice about not blaming others for her problems. Ryu tells Yoshida that it would be hard for Sadako to spread rumors considering how many (or rather how few) people talk with her. He also says if there is any question they should talk and clear everything. Yoshida and Yano meet that evening and agree to do just that. The next day before anyone can talk with anyone else, Sadako hears people saying the ugly rumors in the girls bathroom. She tries to straighten things out, but I’m not sure these girls want things straightened out.

Hikaru no Go #12

This week’s episode is: You Are The Third Board.

So Hikaru drags Mitani back to the Go club and give him his money back. Mitani is fine with playing there for now since he doesn’t feel he can go back to the Go salon but Tsutsui isn’t happy about this and Mitani shows little interest in playing in a tournament – until Tsutsui makes it sound like Mitani can’t stand against the Kaio Jr. High Go club. Mitani then agrees to go to the tournament, but Tsutsui still worries he will cheat again. Meanwhile at Kaio, the Mr. Yun (the teacher in charge of the club) tells Akira that Haze’s Go club has signed up for the tournament and Hikaru is third board. Akira wants to play third board so he can go against Hikaru, but the teacher says he’ll think about it. Usually the strongest player is first board. The president of the Go club plays Akira and Akira beats him without too much trouble. So the only one surprised that Akira is first board is Akira. Akira throws a bit of a tantrum. Actually, as his father tells Kuwabara, this is the first thing Akira has really gotten passionate about and the first real challenge. So Mr. Yun gives in. The day of the tournament arrives and Mitani actually shows up, though Tsutsui is still worried about him. Hikaru is startled when he finds out Akira is Kaio’s third board.

Daddy Long Legs #13

This week’s episode is: Sallie’s Courageous Challenge.

Well, school has started again and Judy is happy to be back. Julia has decided she wants to graduate top in her class and go to the university. Judy spots a short story contest with a cash prize and wonders if she can do it. Sally wants to be motivated like Julia and do something, but she doesn’t know what. This sort of gets decided for her. It is time to pick the class representative and Julia is an obvious choice, but Julia doesn’t want to diminish her study time so before anyone can speak she nominates Sally. Sally doesn’t want to do it, but agrees to it anyway. Judy offers to help, and she does, but Sally wants to do the main part herself and she does. Unfortunately, Sally is rather timid and isn’t the writer Judy is. Still, she keeps going back to the drawing board again with Judy’s encouragement. The night before their speeches Sally stays up all night to rework her speech. Too bad she faints! Judy gets up and says how she admires Sally for working so hard and trying even though this was not her choice. Sally ends up getting elected and this motivates Judy to enter the writing competition.

Sailor Moon R #19

This week’s episode is: Love Dispute! Minako and Makoto Square Off.

Maybe it’s the heat that is making Makoto and Minako a bit snappy because before Usagi arrives to join them they are going at each other about guys. Minako is still pining for Alan and Makoto is still pining for her sempai that spurned her. Things naturally escalate when Chibi-Usa (who Makoto and Minako saved earlier from some bullies) declares she is going to marry Mamoru. Usagi overhears and is not pleased. Well, this is pretty typical for Chibi-Usa and Usagi, but Minako and Makoto aren’t speaking. Usagi draws them into a shop that sells charms. Unfortunately, you guessed it, it is a crystal point and Perez and Calaveras are selling charms that in reality make you fall out of love. Usagi is interested in a love charm, and fate does lead Mamoru there, at which time Chibi-Usa also enters the shop. Mamoru makes a hasty retreat. At this point Minako and Makoto admit to each other they really wish the other the best in finding true love, even better than the love they lost. This sickens Perez and Calaveras and they attack along with a monster. Minako grabs a fire extinguisher which is enough for Minako and Makoto to transform while Usagi grabs Chibi-Usa to get her out of there. At first the two Sailors are caught. Fortunately Ami and Rei were coming to join them and Rei frees them as Sailor Mars. Then we see some new attacks. From Sailor Jupiter we get Sparkling Wide Pressure, and from Sailor Venus we get Venus Love Me Chain. This is enough to make Perez and Calaveras retreat, but they leave their rather sticky monster behind. By the time Usagi fins a place to stash Chibi-Usa, transforms, and gets back the others are all trapped but Usagi acts quickly and destroys the monster, freeing the others. So it’s back to normal with the Scouts, although Usagi is still trying to jug a huge thing of liquid to get Mamoru’s love back^^;