Harrysuke Periodical

We recommend a few cool websites to help you combat boredom in the workplace.

ON days when time seems to stand still and we can’t wait for the end of another long work day, we just can’t help but take advantage of the office Internet connection to relieve stress.

Here are some of our favourite time ­wasters but bear in mind that they can be highly addictive.

I Can Has Cheezburger

LAUGH AWAY: Ticke your funny bone as you browse through I Can Has CheezBurger's huge picture gallery of cats gone wild.

THERE are many weird websites on the Internet but one of the craziest sites has to be “I Can Has Cheezburger?”

The website is dedicated to the posting of LOLcats images — pictures featuring cats captioned with idiosyncratic sentences in broken English.

It has a large base of visitors who often submit and share their favourite images.

You can easily spend hours browsing through hundreds of hilarious pictures of cats doing all sorts of weird, funny things.

The site also has a LOLcat builder that allows users to create images using their own picture or from its database of stock photos.

If you are interested in joining the madness that is I Can Has Cheezburger, log on to www.icanhascheezburger.com.

Alternatively, you can visit I has a Hot Dog! at www.ihasahotdog.com if you prefer dogs to cats.

1980 games

GAMES GALORE: Try out hundreds of old Super Nintendo games on the 1980 website.

The game arcades may be dead but this does not mean that gamers can’t relive the glory days of the 1980’s.

Featuring hundreds of arcade games, consisting mainly of Super Nintendo titles, the site is an arcade lover’s dream come true.

Visitors to the site can play numerous ­classic games such as Super Mario Brothers 3, Donkey Kong, Mega Man, Metroid, Contra, Ninja Gaiden and many more.

Aside from the tons of classic games, you can also play some modern remakes of classic games such as Sonic, Metal Slug, Space Invaders and such.

Games on the website load relatively fast so you can try out many games in a short space of time.

We have doubts on the legitimacy of the site but you can get your videogame fix at www.1980-games.com/us.

Digg

DIGGING UP THE INTERNET: Scan through some of the most interesting stories around the Web on Digg.

THE Web is populated with all sorts of ­interesting stories but the problem is that you have to wade through lots of nonsense to get to the good stuff.

Digg.com saves you that trouble as it is one of the best at highlighting interesting stories on technology, videogames and ­entertainment news on the Web.

Digg works on a simple system where users get to vote the stories up or down, also known as digging or burying the webpage.

So, only the most popular stories, videos or pictures get highlighted on the front page of Digg.

There’s simply a lot to do on the Digg site — be it browsing through popular submissions, commenting on stories or submitting your own.

Also, Digg is highly customisable and allows automatic filtering of topics and hiding of unwanted stories.

Users can even pick the type of media they would like to view such as news, videos, images and podcasts.

Crunchyroll

IF you are a big anime fan, there are few ­places on the Net where you can get your daily fix of Japanese animation.

Crunchyroll is one of the largest video/music hosting sites that brings the latest and greatest Japanese anime to your computer.

Visitors to the website can watch all kinds of anime ranging from the classics to clips there were just aired minutes ago in Japan.

There’s a lot to do on the website other than viewing anime, as there are also music videos, TV dramas and game videos to watch.

The site also has its own community where users can comments on recently viewed ­videos, upload their own movies, play games and much more.

Surf over to www.crunchyroll.com for anime and J-Pop videos.

TV.com

Surf over to TV.com to get the latest ­information on your favourite TV programmes.

TV.com is home to millions of fans who continually update the site with new and interesting information.

You can read episode guides, cast and crew listings, synopsis, trivia, quotes and more.

It also offers exclusive contents such as interviews, sneak-peek videos, and behind-the-scenes footage.

Also, head over to the forum where you can post comments, ask questions or share your view on your favourite shows with fellow fans.

CUTE: Grow games are simple yet addictive puzzles that involve picking a combination of items and making them interact.

Eyemaze

Eyemaze hosts a number of highly addictive Flash games made by a Japanese game ­designer known as ON.

Most of the games are called Grow games and the rules are simple — players need to add various items into a scene in a ­particular sequence and watch them evolve.

Depending on the order, the items will “grow” and interact with each other.

To complete the game, the player must discover the correct sequence to make all the items reach the maximum growth level, at which point the player is rewarded with a cute animation.

The developer is constantly coming out with innovative games to keep you visiting the site for more at www.eyezmaze.com.

ShoppingNsales

Are you looking for the best bargains in the Klang Valley? Look no further than www.shoppingnsales.com which caters to the bargain hunter in all of us.

The site claims to have the latest ­information on upcoming sales. If you are unsure whether a sale is worth the hassle of going to, you can read the comments of other bargain hunters to help you make up your mind.

Samorost

Samorost is a simple but pretty adventure game that will get you hooked right from the start.

Created by Jakub Dvorsky, the game has a surreal look and music to match the ­gameplay.

A giant rock is on a head-on collision course with the home of the hero and you have to help avert the disaster.

You mainly solve puzzles by clicking on various items and creatures which usually results in something funny or just weird.

The puzzles are mostly logical and easy to solve, and thankfully the game is short so you won’t be stuck on the website for long.

But once you are done with Samorost1 (http://amanita-design.net/samorost-1 ), don’t forget to play the equally captivating Samorost 2 (http://amanita-design.net/samorost-2 ).

Also, Dvorsky’s Amanita Design company is working on a full-scale adventure game called Machinarium, which is scheduled to be released late this year or early 2009.

YouTube.com

No article on time wasters online is complete without at least a mention of YouTube.

YouTube is the biggest depository of ­videos on the Web — it is estimated that the site hosts 62 million videos as of early January. It would take at least several ­lifetimes to go through the material.

YouTube can be whatever you want it to be — whether it’s a nostalgic walk through your favourite TV experiences (The Donny and Marie show, anyone?), a political tool for a presidential campaign or just to watch the Ramly Burger advertisement.

Also, YouTube is a site where you can upload and share videos with your friends and the rest of the world.

It doesn’t matter if it’s a camcorder ­recording of your newborn baby or your third marriage. All is good on YouTube, even if you were intoxicated in Las Vegas when you filmed it.

And it has made some of the people who have posted up videos into bona fide stars.

You can find almost anything on YouTube, from anime episodes to (not strictly legal) old TV shows — just search for it.

Head on over to www.youtube.com.

Hideyuki Kikuchi’s strong, silent 121st-century (yes, you read right) hero has captivated readers for 25 years.

Dis a man who, as his one-letter name suggests, is not inclined to reveal much about himself. The strong, silent type, D rides his horse alone across a desolate frontier, pausing here and there to help decent folk defend themselves against marauding villains.

It may sound familiar, but consider that D’s horse is “an old-fashioned cyborg” and that the villains he hunts are even more old-fashioned: vampires.

Hideyuki Kikuchi has penned 17 novels about the character known as Vampire Hunter D, who has proven popular enough to appear in two anime films, a video game and a recent manga. The first D novel appeared in Japanese in 1983, and there is now a growing shelf of foreign-language editions available.

Fortunately, Kikuchi, 58, is more outgoing than his taciturn creation. He cheerfully discussed D in a recent interview with The Daily Yomiuri at his home in western Tokyo.

With its white siding and a small ornamental lantern hanging in the portico sheltering the front door, the author’s house looks more like something out of a sunny American suburb than a dark Gothic nightmare.

Inside, however, books and videos cram floor-to-ceiling shelves running down the front hall and are stacked in neat profusion all over the spacious living room. A plastic sports bottle in the shape of a Lugosi-esque Dracula stands on one end table (with a drinking straw coming out of his head), and a figurine of Christopher Lee as the Dracula of Hammer Film fame stands on another. This is more like it.

Among the books in his collection are some by or about American horror writer H.P. Lovecraft (1890-1937). “H.P. Lovecraft had a very big influence on me,” Kikuchi, who spoke through an interpreter for most of the interview, said in English. “In my high school days, I read (his story) The Dunwich Horror.”

D is a quiet hero who saves the weak from vampires and monsters. From the 2000 animated movie Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust.

The story’s half-human, half-monster main character was described with sickening realism, and Kikuchi, who at the time had never read such a description in a Japanese novel, said he found it very shocking.

Inspired, he resolved to write his own specific and detailed monster descriptions. His Vampire Hunter D novels include not only bloodsuckers and werewolves, but also a scaly dragon with three seductively beautiful siren-like heads, and plankton genetically modified into “huge ravenous monsters that could take a big school of seven-foot tuna right down to the bone”.

Such monstrosities are possible because the books are set in the 121st century. After a nuclear war destroys human civilisation, an even more high-tech vampire civilisation rises in its place, only to be destroyed in turn by an uprising of human slaves. D thus lives in a double-post-apocalyptic world, characterised by a bizarre mix of high and low technology with plenty of legendary beasts thrown in.

But Kikuchi described the books as “character novels” and said D himself, rather than just the monsters he fights, is the key to their success.

DH Press and Digital Manga Publishing printed the eponymous first volume of the series, Vampire Hunter D, in English in 2005, and the 10th English-language volume, Dark Nocturne, was out last month.

Asked about feedback from his American fans, Kikuchi said that teenage girls had written to let him know they found D very cool and attractive.

Vampires terrorise the 121st century in the Vampire Hunter D novels.

“I wrote D as an ideal male character. He’s very tall and he’s muscular. He doesn’t speak much but he’s still kind ... Those ideal characteristics may be very attractive to women,” the author said.

As translated by Kevin Leahy for the English edition of the first book, our initial glimpse of D reveals “his thick, masculine eyebrows, smooth bridge of a nose, and tightly drawn lips that manifested the iron strength of his will. Set amid stern features shared only by those who had come through the numerous battles of a grief-ridden world, his eyes harboured sorrow even as they sparkled ... (But there was) something vaguely ominous lurking in the depths of his gaze”.

Much later, we learn that D’s left hand has a mind and personality of its own. The autonomous appendage, which sometimes criticises D, even has a face that is described in English as a “weird countenanced carbuncle”.

Leahy’s prose can get more than a little purple, which makes for a fun, silly, entertaining and quick-flowing read, but does this reflect Kikuchi’s writing style in Japanese?

“Probably so,” Kikuchi said. “The Japanese version is as fun as this one because the translation is very precise.”

While the author’s description of D has a note of hard-bitten ruggedness, artist Yoshitaka Amano had other ideas when he did the books’ cover art and interior illustrations. Kikuchi described Amano’s work as “a fantasy illustration. I wrote the first Vampire Hunter D novel not as fantasy, but as horror and science fiction. I imagined the style of D as someone who carried a Japanese sword, not the Western-looking one Amano drew. And no cape like Amano drew, either, just a long black coat. I complained to the editor about the book cover, and he said it should become popular among women, so don’t worry.”

Strange and dangerous creatures populate 121st century Earth in Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust.

Amano’s artwork became more fantasy-like as time went on, with D evolving into a pale, bejewelled, stringy-haired androgyne. Kikuchi said the pallor reflects some of Amano’s other work on kabuki (traditional Japanese drama)-themed illustrations.

Now, Kikuchi has come to like the design. “The novels may not have been so popular on their own, but Amano’s illustrations helped make them very popular in the United States,” Kikuchi said.

In fact, the artwork became so popular that in 2006 and 2007, DH Press released two slipcased collections of it for the US market. The earlier of the two, the 200-page Coffin, is nearly coffeetable-sized at 31cm by 38cm.

Meanwhile, for Kikuchi completists, Del Rey books has just published Mini Eda’s English translation of his historical novel Dark Wars: The Tale of Meiji Dracula, a standalone book in which real figures from the history of Japanese martial arts face off against the Transylvanian count in 19th-century Tokyo.

Surprisingly, there was no Vampire Hunter D manga available until late last year. More surprisingly, it came out in English first. Though drawn by a Japanese artist, Saiko Takaki, the book was translated and first released in the United States by Digital Manga Publishing to build on the novels’ recent success there.

Other editions do include Japanese, along with Finnish, German and Lithuanian, Kikuchi said. He added that French and Italian editions are being negotiated.

After 17 novels, Kikuchi does not seem to be tiring of his popular creation. There are more books to come. “If I wanted to keep going, I could keep going forever, but I already have an idea for the series’ ending,” he said.

He declined to say whether the ending would involve killing D off, but he did hint that he will eventually explain the mystery of D’s strangely independent left hand.

Seventeen novels later, Kikuchi now has an idea for the ending of Vampire Hunter D.

“That’s crucial to the story. The personality of his hand has a lot to do with his birth and background,” he said.

So, while Kikuchi has a clear idea of what he will eventually reveal, his fans will just have to wait.

his year’s spring anime season in Japan brings a bumper crop of which many have the potential to be classics.

Shojofans will appreciate the delicious dilemma of Aihara Kotoko (girl) and Irie Naoki in Itazura na Kiss.

1. Itazura na Kiss
(itakiss-anime.jp/index.htm)

Aihara Kotoko has a big crush on Irie Naoki, the smartest guy in her school (and according to some people, possibly the entire Japan). Fearing that she’ll never have the chance to declare her undying love for Irie, Aihara writes a love letter ... only to have Irie summarily reject it in front of everyone in school!

Poor Aihara, not only has she been crushed by her crush, she is now the laughing stock of the school! Apparently, Irie is not interested in “stupid girls”, and since Aihara isn’t anywhere as smart as Irie (she’s in Class F, the “leftover” class where the not-so-bright are relegated to), it appears that she doesn’t have a jot of chance.

But her bad luck doesn’t end there – her house is destroyed after an earthquake, forcing Aihara and her father to live in a family friend’s house. Now, as luck would have it, her father’s friend is Irie’s father! And, no, Irie’s manners do not improve when she moves in.

Oh, what a delicious situation, especially for shojo fans who will lap it up eagerly. This anime is based on a 23-volume manga of the same name by Kaoru Tada. The manga, however, is unfinished as Tada died in an accident in 1999 at the age of 38. It’ll be interesting to see if the anime will resolve what is most assuredly an interesting romantic dilemma. The manga (Mischievous Kiss) has also been turned into a live-action TV series.

Ikko Aoki (right) and Tsuyoshi Maki are part of a special unit which ‘scans brains’ to solve mysteries in Himitsu: The Revelation.

2. Himitsu: The Revelation
(www.ntv.co.jp/secret)

Ikko Aoki has just been transferred into the National Research Institute of Police Science’s 9th Forensics Laboratory unit (wow, that’s a mouthful). In a futuristic Japan where brains can be “scanned” so that one can retrieve memories to solve crimes, this unit peers into the minds of murder victims to figure out who their murderers are.

The team is led by moody Tsuyoshi Maki, who apparently has a bit of a death wish. He keeps a gun in a hollowed-out Bible – just in case, says a colleague of Ikko, he needs “to blow his brains out”. Hmm, so we have our requisite broody bishonen with a difficult past. Check.

Ikko, besides being an investigator and an efficient lip reader (necessary to decode what the people in the memories are saying – curiously, the brains don’t provide audio), also has the charming task of transporting brains in boxes, something, we’re sure, everyone is dying to do.

Based on a manga by Reiko Shimizu, Himitsu seems like a very typical anime. But bloggers who were lucky enough to have seen Himitsu are already raving about its excellent production quality (it’s animated by Madhouse) and intriguing storyline. The distinct lack of teen heroes is also a breath of fresh air.

At first, one may think that the team has a really easy time solving mysteries with the availability of the brain-scanning technology. But many a time, a victim’s final moments are not as cut and dried and the investigators have to unravel the mystery from the bits and pieces they put together from the deceased’s memories.

3. Macross Frontier
(www.macrossf.com)

Produced in conjunction with the 25th anniversary of the original Macross TV series, Macross Frontier is set in 2059, approximately 50 years after the time period in the TV series. The Human-Zentraedi alliance under the New UN Spacy has sent out colonising expeditions throughout the Galaxy. The Macross Frontier fleet is the 25th of its kind.

Macross Frontierhas astounding production quality.

Living on board the ship are Alto Saotome, who yearns to be a pilot, against his father’s wishes, and Ranka Lee, a quarter Zentrandi who aspires to be a singer. Ranka’s chief inspiration is pop idol Sheryl Nome, popularly known as the “Galactic Fairy” for her beauty and singing ability. She arrives at the start of the series to Macross Frontier as part of a galactic concert tour.

However, when the fleet is suddenly attacked by mysterious biomechanical aliens known as “Vajra”, the fleet is thrown into chaos and Alto is forced to pilot the VF-25 “Valkyrie” variable fighter, unwittingly intertwining the fates of our three protagonists.

This anime is an eclectic mix of mecha battles, romantic drama, and has an emphasis on song and culture – specifically the power of pop idols. Macross Frontier has been given a modern facelift, but it has all the elements that made the original Macross a legend. Macross Frontier has gained a huge young fan base (most of whom have not seen the original), proving its accessibility to audiences.

The production quality is astounding; Studio Nue and Shoji Kawamori employ fantastic fight sequences, and the character designs are top-notch.

“Princess” Alto, however, has gained an infamous reputation with fans because of his androgynous looks. But Ranka has been stealing many hearts with her cuteness while Sheryl scores with her elegance and brilliance.

The show’s music is handled by legendary composer Yoko Kanno. Triangler (the opening theme) sees the reunion of Kanno and Maaya Sakamoto. The former also composed Sheryl’s songs with Diamond Crevasse and Iteza Gogo Kyuji Don’t be Late becoming instant hits.

4. Code Geass R2
(www.geass.jp)

The highly anticipated sequel of 2006’s Code Geass continues from where the first series left us all hanging at the end: the Lelouch Lamperouge-Kururugi Suzaku face-off following the discovery of each other’s real identities.

The much-anticipated Code Geass R2 – fans are hoping that it’ll tie up the first season’s (Code Geass) many plot threads.

R2 begins a year from that moment; Lelouch is leading a seemingly normal student’s life with no recollection of his alter ego Zero. However, the façade soon crumbles when it is revealed that his memories had been altered and he was being used to capture C.C., who returns to restore his memories. Now, with his real memories back, Lelouch vows revenge against the Emperor of Britannia and to find his missing sister, Nunnally, who has been replaced by a fake brother, Rollo.

Code Geass R2 is undoubtedly the show with the most buzz this season and it does not disappoint. The most surprising aspect of R2 is the “reset”. Indeed, viewers have branded it “Code Geass + Death Note”; Lelouch’s continuous plotting and scheming while avoiding the detection of his captors to his reawakening is reminiscent of Kira’s moves in the Death Note series.

Despite a series of episode leaks, the show’s popularity continues unabated. Code Geass R2 is also the second show to be natively aired in high definition by Sunrise, after Gundam 00. But its biggest bragging right has to be the time it airs, 5pm on Sundays in Japan, a prime-time slot that only few anime titles have enjoyed.

5. Kurenai
(www.samidareso.com)

Kurenai Shinkurou, 16, has a surprising part-time job: he’s a dispute mediator, which means he gets his fair share of scrapes daily. Despite his youth, he is approached by his boss Benika Juuzawa to become the bodyguard of seven-year-old Murasaki Kuhouin, the daughter of a plutocrat. He takes on this assignment, and now has to juggle between school, his job and the demanding little girl under his charge.

Kurenai is considered one of the best anime of Japan’s 2008 spring season.

Adapted from Kentarou Katayama’s light novel series, Kurenai has been receiving raves for its director Kou Matsuo. With a narrative that is lauded for its elegant subtlety amidst a solid story flow, it keeps the audience curious and mesmerised. The characters and the snappy exchanges between them all add to the overall quality of the production by Brains Base. Not forgetting, too, Aoi Yuki’s lively portrayal of Murasaki – another oft-praised aspect of the show. Kurenai is voiced by Miyuki Sawashiro (Shinku in Rozen Maiden).

6. Kyouran Kazoku Nikki

One thousand years ago, Enka, the god of destruction, nearly destroyed the world. However, mankind managed to defeat him – but only after he left a curse which said that his work would be continued by his “children”.

Kyouran Kazoku Nikki is the wackiest anime this season.

Fast forward to the present. The “children of Enka” have been found and to prevent the curse from happening, Operation Cozy Family is initiated. The eight-member team behind the operation consists of Midarezaki Ouka (the father), Kyouka (a catgirl and the mother) and children Ginka (transsexual), Yuka (abused child), Teika (lion), Hyouka (biological weapon), Gekka (jellyfish) and Chika (Yuka’s real sister). Will this motley family be the key to saving the world?

Adapted from a series of light novels written by Akira (pen name), Kyouran Kazoku Nikki is this season’s most screwball show, and its name literally means “Crazy Family Diary”. Even the producers are crazy! They have produced eight different ending sequences for the eight TV stations in Japan that are airing it. Crazy? Definitely.

7. Vampire Knight
(www.vampire-knight.jp)

The Cross Academy is divided into two classes: the Day class and the Night class. The Day class consists of normal humans but the Night class is for vampires. To maintain peace in the academy, two Guardians are appointed: Yuki Cross and Zero Kiryuu, who work hard to protect the students of the Day class from the blood-suckers of the Night class.

Popular shojo manga Vampire Knight gets animated.

Based on the popular shojo manga by Matsuri Hino, Vampire Knight has everything that shojo lovers will like: supernatural elements, a dark and twisted plot, and most importantly, handsome male characters – a dime a dozen in this show, such as Zero and, erm, nearly all the male members of the Night class.

As if that’s not enough, the cast list contains the crème de la crème of male seiyuu: Mamoru Miyano, Daisuke Kishio, Jun Fukuyama, Junichi Suwabe, Hoshi Souichiro and Susumu Chiba.

8. Wagaya no Oinari-sama
(anime.webnt.jp/oinarisama)

Noboru and Tooru Takagami are the only heirs of the Mizuchi family. Their family has had Water Priestesses for generations. However, the power of the Mizuchi family was weakened after the death of their mother Miyako, who was the last Water Priestess. As a result, Tooru, the youngest child, is targeted by demons for his high spiritual power. In desperation, the Mizuchi family unseals their guardian deity, a fox spirit known as Tenko Kuugen, to protect them. Tenko takes a liking to the brothers and volunteers to be their guardian.

Wagaya no Oinari-sama is about a fox spirit who is recruited to be a family’s guardian.

This and another anime, Kanokon, both have fox spirits as their main characters. Unlike Kanokon’s heavy emphasis on fanservice, Wagaya has a more spiritual focus and features traditional concepts such as yin and yang, and the “five basic elements” in its story prominently.

Tenko’s gender-bending ability is an interesting factor; two seiyuu were actually hired to voice Tenko – Yukana (C.C. in Code Geass) and Yuuichi Nakamura (Okazaki Tomoya in Clannad) as the female and male forms of Tenko respectively. Takahiro Mizushima (Rollo in Code Geass R2) is the voice of Noboru while Tooru is performed by Yu Shimamura. Animation is by Studio ZEXCS.

9. Kamen no Meido Guy
(www.maidguy.com)

Siblings Naeka and Kousuke Fujiwara are reluctant heirs to their grandfather’s huge fortune ... simply because when Naeka reaches her 18th birthday, they will be targeted by assassins!

A muscleman in a French maid’s uniform? That’s attracting droves of fans to Kamen no Meido Guy.

Intent on preventing that, their grandfather assigns them two maids: the beautiful and graceful Fubuki and ? big, burly Kogarashi the Meido Guy. How will Naeka deal with the sudden intrusion in her life, and will she safely celebrate her 18th birthday?

Totally hilarious. Try imagining the wrestler The Rock in a French maid uniform with a mask (a la Gundam’s Char Aznable), and you have Meido Guy.

Despite the less-than-tasteful selling point of the show, the sheer absurdity of it is attracting a lot of fans to it, especially after seeing the no-holds-barred treatment of Kogarashi towards his master, and his many talents – most notably, the ability to plug a USB printer to himself!

Featuring the vocal talents of Yuka Iguchi (Haruka Amami in Idolm@ster Xenoglossia) as Naeka, Megumi Toyoguchi (Revy in Black Lagoon) as Fubuki, and Rikiya Koyama (Hakuoro in Utawarerumono) as Kogarashi. Kamen no Meido Guy is animated by Studio Madhouse.

A Japan that turns reclusive after a technological ban by the world sets the background for this futuristic tale.

VEXILLE
Distributor: Innoform
Running time: 109 minutes

THIS science-fiction number by Appleseed producer Fumihiko Sori has ingredients that anime fans will appreciate: a dazzling hybrid of 2D and 3D animation, heady action scenes and jaw-dropping images of a futuristic world and the brilliant technology that drives it.

Well, all except for a gripping, original story, that is.

Vexille, a commando from an elite military unit, infiltrates Japan, which has closed its borders to the world, in order to find out what secret technology it’s developing.

Vexille takes place in the late 21st century; Japan is a major manufacturer of high-tech robots. However, when Japan crosses the line by combining robot technology with human biology, the world steps in to ban this act. Japan retaliates by closing itself from the world in 2077. The country is even covered by a barrier called RACE that renders it invisible to sensors and to the naked eye.

Ten years later, the international community decides that it is time to investigate what’s really going on in Japan, especially after an alarming form of robot technology is found in the United States.

A special force called SWORD proceeds to break through RACE. With their robotic suits, they manage to enter Japan ... only to be ambushed on the other side. The team is split up, and SWORD soldier Vexille ends up stranded in a Japan now rendered unrecognisable by years of isolation.

Leon, Vexille’s love interest and leader of the commando troop sent into Japan.

Thankfully, she is taken in by the underground rebel force led by an enigmatic woman called Maria. But something far more sinister has happened in the country, something that the rebels will not tell her....

Vexille’s story is refreshingly straightforward. So used am I to mind-bending anime like Karas and Ghost in the Shell that it’s almost a relief to let my brain cells relax for once and just enjoy the gorgeous animation.

There’s a bit for everyone to enjoy – some giant robots for mecha fans, enough bishojo to appeal to guys and bishonen to attract the girls. There’s even a tale of unrequited love sandwiched in there, and a love triangle to worry over. And the action sequences will wow you.

But the story, which is essentially about the tragic effects greed has on people and civilisation, is not what I call original. You can see elements borrowed from other sci-fi tales – the giant mechanical worms in the deserts of Japan, for one, are straight out of Frank Herbert’s Dune and there’s also a little bit of Ghost in the Shell because the characters struggle to define what it really means to be human – is it the sum of our parts?

The enigmatic Maria, a resident and rebel leader in Japan, has a history with Leon.

Still, when one discovers the truth about what happened to Japan and her people, it’s difficult not to be unmoved. The enormity of the tragedy hits you in Vexille’s last scenes.

The characters are not the anime’s strong points, either. Vexille, for one, is a bland character – an unfortunate trait for a main character to have. Methinks that the seiyuu who plays her isn’t a very strong one (this is, after all, Meisa Kuroki’s debut role) ... or wasn’t given much to work with. Maria, at least, is more interesting but we do not get to discover much about her, except that she was involved with Vexille’s current beau, the taciturn and equally bland soldier, Leon, who also went into Japan with Vexille.

If there’s anything going for Vexille, it is its animation.

Vexille employs a procedure that is reminiscent of the rotoscoping animation technique, where live-action sequences are rendered into animation. It’s very refreshing to see this style (which was featured in the Keanu Reeves starrer A Scanner Darkly) in an anime. Unfortunately, the cool effects are disrupted because for some reason, Fumihiko decided to render Vexille and Maria in a more conventional anime style: spiky hair, big eyes, tiny lips.

However, although the animation is stunning, the characters’ expressions are curiously stiff and emotionless (especially Vexille’s!), which aren’t helped much by the “just okay” and unimaginative voice acting.

Still, Vexille is a nice piece of animation. You’d probably enjoy it, but not think of it as very memorable.

BLOOD+ Vol.1
Story and art: Asuka Katsura
Publisher: Dark Horse Manga; 208 pages
(ISBN: 978-1593078805)
For ages 14+

SAYA Otonashi has no memory of her past beyond the last one year. The teenager, whose nightmares hint at a dark past, is deeply torn between wanting to discover her true identity and continuing with the present life of peaceful ignorance with her adoptive family.

To aggravate matters, she is developing certain feelings for her older brother, the school’s No.1 “bad boy” and babe magnet.

One day, Saya notices a stranger in the park playing a cello with bandaged hands. This handsome cellist makes her heart race, and his music stirs some unknown buried memories, bringing tears to her eyes. Does this man hold the key to her past? And if so, why does she feel like running away from him?

The above description sounds like an intriguing drama in the romance genre and may not be how Blood+ fans would summarise the manga (and the anime that it is based on).

What probably come to mind immediately are the horror/fantasy elements like bloodthirsty shape-changing creatures, the mysterious organisation that combats them, and Saya’s role as a Japanese “Buffy the Vampire Slayer”.

Oh, no doubt there is blood-drenched action that accompanies Saya’s gradual “awakening” to her warrior destiny. Yet it is the portrayal of Saya’s inner conflict, not her external battles with the Chiropterans, that elevates this manga above the rest in its genre.

Writer/artist Asuka Katsura fleshes out wonderfully the characters of Saya (vulnerable, insecure) and her protective brother Kai.

In fact, Blood+ has one of the best portrayals of a sibling relationship that I’ve seen in a comic book. The warmth between Saya and Kai comes through convincingly via their conversations and gestures.

While Kai can be insensitive at times, he would go all out to comfort an upset Saya – he takes her on a scenic motorcycle ride, offers her soothing words of wisdom and, when she still harps on her insecurities, gives her a few “brotherly” head-butts!

Mangaka Katsura is adept at conveying emotions through facial expressions and body language. And her artwork maximises the dramatic elements of each scene.

At its core, Blood+ is really a character-driven, well-executed love story. Saya’s biggest triumph in Vol.1 is not in beating some monsters; it is in getting an affirmation of unconditional love that she has yearned for.

DOKKOIDA?! Vol.1
Story: Taro Achi
Art: Yu Yagami
Publisher CMX; 194 pages
(ISBN: 978-1401217266)
For ages 13+

THE subject of a novel as well as an anime, Dokkoida is a superhero parody that satirises everything in the genre: from evil mad scientists to little girls with magical powers.

At the centre of the story is a young chap called Suzuo Sakurazaki who, despite his best efforts, remains jobless and homeless after moving to the big city. Just as he is about to throw in the towel, a bizarre little girl in a superhero get-up offers him a job: as field tester for a “transformation” belt. Thinking that she – Tanpopo – is a few cards short of a full deck, Suzuo declines.

However, following further unsuccessful job-hunting, and after half the city is wrecked by an evil alien mad scientist, Suzuo accepts the post. And as soon as he dons the belt, he miraculously transforms into the white-diapered superhero Dokkoida!

His debut takes off with flying colours, but he soon has to contend with supervillains, and intergalactic toy companies. As a bonus, Tanpopo’s employer allows Suzuo to put up at a quaint apartment block called Cosmo House. His neighbours are super-powered people too ... but that leads to a whole new bunch of problems!

The first volume focuses on Suzuo’s interaction with his oddball neighbours. It’s hilarious to see the supervillains and superheroes (who often end up as his nemeses and allies) attempting to maintain their alter egos and act “normal” with each other while still trying to do their “superhero/villain” thing.

The humour in the book is highly tongue in cheek; it satirises almost everything in the superhero genre and contemporary pop culture without devolving into crass slapsticks. While the manga for the most part follows the anime, it does diverge slightly on several minor plot points. The lovable, wacky characters and amusing storyline make this a light-hearted, highly recommended read.

Listen up people!  Chiba-sensei is looking for student for her Japanese group lesson and she only have three student at the moment. she need at least four student to start a group lesson.

So what i'm about to do know is try to help Chiba-sensei. So if you interested in learning Japanese, please call Ms Chiba Maiko at 07-2226802 or 012-3139878 or email admin@atozlanguage.com or visit A To Z Language Center, JB, M'sia. Please spread the word.

For Group Lesson, the new intake hasn't been confirmed as of yet so I can't answer as to when exactly it will be but at the moment they have 3 choices of time for group class:
? Tue : 10:00am-12:00pm
? Tue : 8:30pm-10:30pm
?  Fri  : 7:00pm-9:00pm

If you're really interested, they can place your name under the waiting list. The new class will be opened if they have a minimum of 4 students and they will contact you for the details. Their Japanese group courses are all standard, with basic and intermediate being covered from Level 1 - 8. Anything beyond Level 9 is considered as advanced. The total duration of each level for group class is 24 hours.

The fees breakdown:
Course Fee = RM480 per level
Registration fees = RM30 (one-off)
Textbook = RM20

Besides that, they also have Private Lessons. Private class are more flexible in terms of timing and more effective if you have set goals.  However, once it is
fixed they suggest not to change it. However, classes may be postponed if a 24 hour notice is given.
The rate for private lesson will be RM80 per hour (excluding registration fee and textbook)

They have a package private course which is called Total 24 Hours Private Lesson.
For this package they have some conditions which are you need to pay the total of 24 hours amount of fee in advance and the course must be completed within 3 months. The 24Hours Private Lesson fee will be RM1800 (registration fee and textbook are waived)

Here is my latest craze, Oresukabando:

If i died this morning i might be in hell right now. It happens again, with all the commotion they just leave me behind...

It happen around 10 AM, i was sleeping on my bed until i was woken by a sound of people talking and screaming (i swear i heard a woman screaming). I get my lazy butt to the window and there i saw a bunch of human being; chinese, malay, indian (mostly chinese) looking at something and there even a FIRE truck! *gasp*

I saw fire fighters running around SAVING LIVES 0.0;;. I ask myself what the fuck happen here? I rush to the sink, wash my face and running down the stairs trying to save my ass.

As i reach outside i saw smokes coming out of an auto mechanic shop just near by. I don't see any fire (i was expecting something worst). Just like the rest of the bystanders i just watch. Today is the biggest event happen since the earth quake last year. Should i write about the earth quake?

Sure, it was late at night around 12; I was sleeping until i was woken by a sound of footsteps running down the stairs just like a stampede. I look through the window and i saw a bunch of people trying to abandon the flat. *panic*

I open the door and i saw a malay woman holding her child. She ask me what's going on (i just woke up the hell should i know) I shooked my head and she left. I locked the door and start running down the stairs; I can't use the elevator at a time like this. As i'm running down the stairs i met a chinese woman, i ask her what's going on but she didn't answer she just look at my face (maybe she doesn't speak english).

As i reach downstairs i saw a bunch of people looking up at the flat. I do the same thing but i didn't see anything unusual. I ask an indian guy what happen and he said that there was an earth quake and only people who lives at the 20th floor and above felt the vibration. I was rather dissapointed listening to that. Hours past but everyone was afraid to go back to their flat they just keep standing there gazing up the flat.

I was rather excited that night and even this morning, i should be afraid cuz i could loose my life but i didn't know facing death can be this exciting. Am i weird? Should i write about other death experience i had?

Sure, in 2004 my friend and i was planning to go the sea side but something came up, the trip was cancel the next day we was shocked by the TSUNAMI news. Hundred of people died and we could be one of them. Thank God we didn't go.

When i was six i almost drown in a lake near my house. If it's not my mother who heard me screming for help i should be in heaven. (I blame her for saving me back then, now i don't have a chance to go to heaven T.T) That was the scariest moment happen in my life.

When i was in my senior year of high school i was in a motorcycle accident. I don't wear helmet and i don't even have license. I was lucky to survive the crash, since then i was afraid to ride motorcycle.

I almost died 2 times and escape death 3 times if this is my last blog it means that i'm already dead x.x

I create a comic character at ugo.com yesterday. i thought of naming her Airi-chan X3. as for her superpowers, she has a genetic memory, eidetic memory, reflexive memory and omnilingualism.

I thought of creating a mascot for this blog, maybe a moe girl like mikuru asahina wearing a sailor uniform but as for now i think this will do.

Airichan

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