Hoopla! - Episode 26: If this be... Anime???

Hello and welcome to Hoopla!

As you know, it's June Month Madness and that means no comic-book reviews or discussion or anything for the whole month!!!

Insane, but true!!!

Of course, this raises the eternal question: If you can't talk about comic-books, what else is there to talk about???

And the answer, of course, is anime!!!

Now, lemme tell ya... I have steadfastly avoided anime all my life. It simply doesn't appeal to me.

The big eyes, the speed lines, the whole thing. I don't like anime and I don't like manga.

That said, a couple of weeks ago I suddenly--for no particular reason--decided that I wanted to try out the best that anime has to offer.

So, I searched that world wide web that the kids are always going on about and looked through various anime review sites to see which shows/movies might be of interest to a non-anime-lover such as myself.

[Incidentally, I feel I should point out that if you have any interest at all in anime, or simply want to see how well-organized and user-friendly a web-site can be, I strongly recommend that you check out THEM Anime Reviews.

I visited a lot of anime review sites, but this one definitely impressed me the most. For one thing, they have their reviews cross-referenced so that you can look them up by genre, by alphabetical order, by the year that the anime came out, or by the rating. Besides which, their reviews are very well-written; they give a good plot summary but without giving away any surprises-- which is key to good review writing, I think.

Also, the reviewers are extremely articulate about why they like or don't like various anime, so that I could easily figure out which reviews I would most likely agree with and which I wouldn't.

I can't help thinking that it's too bad there isn't a site of similar quality for comic-books. If I were a newcomer to the wonderful world of comics, where would I find out which series are worth looking at and which genres are out there? I can't think of a single place that comes anywhere near the THEM Anime Review site in terms of being easy to navigate and full of good information.]

[That was a lengthy parenthetical aside, wasn't it?]

[Other excellent sites include The Anime Review and Akemi's Anime World. These two are also super easy to navigate, feature extremely helpful reviews, and just plain rock!]

As it turns out, there is quite a world of anime out there.

On the negative side, roughly 90% of it can be put into one of four categories:

1) Mecha - big robots fighting each other.

2) A girl falls down a well or some damn thing and ends up in a fantasy world of dragons and magic thingies and she discovers that she's a princess and... oop... I just threw up.

3) A teenage boy finds a robot girl or an alien girl or some kind of not-human girl and she's really beautiful and she falls in love with him. Hijinks ensue.

4) Samurai. Lots of swords. Takes itself very, very seriously. People use the word "honor" a lot.

So, I tried very hard to avoid all of the above genres because none of them particularly appeal to me.

[In all fairness to anime, however, it's worth noting that more than 90% of all American comic-books can be placed into exactly one category: Super-heroes.]

Anyway, the first one I decided to try (through the magic of Netflix!!!) was:

1) Texhnolyze

It's hard to spell, hard to pronounce, and ultra-hard to understand.

Every review I found about this show talked about how totally incomprehensible it is for the first several episodes. Those who liked it said that it all comes together brilliantly toward the end. Those who hated it said it was too artsy and slow.

I figured this was as good a place to start as any.

I've only seen the first four episodes of Texhnolyze so far, and I'm just beginning to get a sense of what it's about. It's sort of a dark sci-fi story about a futuristic society where they can create amazingly real prosthetic limbs.

One of the main characters is a boxer (Ichise) who, at the very beginning, gets on the wrong side of the mafia and so gets an arm and leg chopped off.

Ouch.

Another important character is a guy (Yoshii) who spends most of the first episode climbing down this vast stairway to visit the world of Texhnolyze (from where?). When he arrives, someone asks him how the journey was and he says it took him four days longer than he expected.

So, we're talking about a lot of stairs.

Also, while he's climbing down these metal ladders he's wearing a gas mask. It's kind of creepy looking.

Upon arriving in the world below he encounters a young girl wearing a fox mask (Ran) who leads him to her father's house/castle. They drink tea and are attacked by mobsters. Then the girl with the mask (who barely speaks) and Yoshii take a very long train ride together into the city (I think the train ride lasted about two episodes, if I remember correctly).

None of this probably sounds terribly interesting, but the art is absolutely beautiful in parts and the music is very creepy. If you look at their web-site, you'll get a sort of sense of the thing, although even that doesn't quite capture it.

Texhnolyze definitely isn't for everyone. It's probably not even for 1/4 of everyone. It's long and slow and in the first episode (each episode is about 25 minutes long) there are maybe six lines of dialogue in the whole damn thing.

But...

If you're willing to put a bit of time into it, this looks to be a very intriguing series. After I finished the fourth episode, I went back and watched the first two again. And they started to make some sense.

There are art sequences that are simply amazing. At times, it's like looking at a Dave McKean cover... sort of. I don't know. I don't really know what to compare it to. It's not really like anything I've seen before.

And that's part of what I like so much about it.

Anyway, if you're up for a challenge, I highly recommend Texhnolyze. It's not quite like anything you've seen before.

2) Gunslinger Girl

Gunslinger Girl has a terrible title. There's no getting around it.

It's frequently described in the anime review sites as a sort of cross between Luc Besson's Le Femme Nikita and The Professional. That is absolutely true. And I would argue that it actually holds its own against either of those movies.

Gunslinger Girl is about a government "welfare agency" that's actually a training ground for assassains. The catch is that each of these assassains is a young girl.

Sounds absurd? I know. But it's actually incredible good. And uber-melancholy.

One facet of the series it that these girls are "conditioned" to become assassains. The conditioning involves cyborg parts and a bit of brain-washing. Each time they get conditioned, they lose a little bit more of their personality and their memories. Oh yeah, and it shortens their life-spans, too.

By all rights, this series shouldn't work as well as it does.

But the stories are superb and the series really sucks you in quickly.

Of the anime I've watched thus far, this is the one that I'm very seriously considering buying a copy of. I highly recommend it to anyone who doesn't mind a bit of action and a whole lot of tragedy.

[Here's a link to a trailer for Gunslinger Girl. It's dubbed in English, which I hate, and it doesn't totally capture the mood of the thing, but it'll give you a sense of what the show looks like.]

Azumanga Daioh

Azumanga Daioh reminds me of Charles Schultz's Peanuts. Only, the characters in Azumanga Daioh are all girls.

And Japanese.

And instead of being sort of slow-paced, Azumanga Daioh is completely hyper-active.

If the Peanuts is heroin, Azumanga Daioh is crack. Japanese crack.

Azumanga Daioh is a slice-of-life kind of story about six girls in high school. There's not really much in the way of a storyline; the series just follows them through their four years in school.

Parts of it are super-cute. Other parts are hilarious.

And other parts simply make no sense at all.

If you hate things that are cute, this anime will probably drive you insane. The girl you see above, Chiyo-Chan, is almost painfully cute. Even the other characters can't stand it at times.

But my favorite character is Osaka:

[There's a better picture of her at the top of this column; it's the second from the top.]

She's sort of spacey and... well, you really just need to see it to understand.

If you like your humor with a very surreal/cutesy edge, Azumanga is the real deal.

Here's a link to a pretty good trailer (though again dubbed in English) and this is a link to a very short cartoon (about five minutes?) of Azumanga Daioh that is a perfect sampler of the series.

As a matter of fact, if I have accomplished nothing else with this particular installment of Hoopla!, I hope I can persuade you to click on that link to the five minute cartoon because, really, I think it's hilarious.

You may not agree, of course.

But then you'd be wrong.

Anyway, if you like what you see at these links, you will love Azumanga Daioh. If you don't like them, however, I can't do nothin' for you.

[Note: If you're planning to watch Azumanga Daioh with young kids, which I highly recommend, I'll just caution you in advance that the one kind of icky thing about the show is the one male character, a lecherous male teacher who is always staring at the girls. I guess in Japan, that's considered funny, but I found it disturbing and I certainly wouldn't want to have to explain to a young kid why the man teacher wants to watch the girls swim in the pool.

Fortunately, he's hardly in the show at all. So, just skip the fourth episode, "Pool, pool, pool" and you should be safe.]

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Still to come:

My, how the time does fly! June Madness Month is almost over and I still haven't done my reviews of the Republican presidential candidates, the Employee motivational tips, and oh so much other good stuff!

Well, be here next week when I try to get to as much of it as possible before June is over and we are once again legally permitted to discuss comic-book related stuff.

In the meantime, go watch some darn anime!!!

- Paul

Hi, while i was searching for a anime picture, i found your blog... I overfly your text and i was surprised if you don't like anime, that's fine, just leave it alone, why force your self to watch it, and even to write a blog about it.

Big eyes,speeds lines represent animes.without it,it's just not mangas anymore, get it?
I agree that not all animes are good, but you should choose which one to watch.
Azumanga Daioh....how old are you? My 10 years old sister would love to watch it with you.
animes are not always for kids, some animes are made for young adults, which had more serious messages in the story. like -EVA- and -Ghost in the shell-

If you have watched -EVA--Ghost in the shell--full metal alchemist- and other GOOD animes, you'll be surprised.

If you still simply just don't like animes and mangas. fine. but please don't influence others, thank you.

article taken from hoopla-comics.blogspot.com/2007/06/hoopla-epi...

STUDIO GIBLI FILM`S

The Cat Returns

by: Roarkiller

The latest movie from the production line of Studio Ghibli, Neko no Ongaeshi is a light-hearted movie as digestible as chicken soup. Directed by Morita Hiroyuki, the movie is based on the manga Baron, Neko no Danshaku by Hiiragi Aoi, who is also the author of Mimi wo Sumaseba and its sequel Mimi wo Sumaseba: Shiawase na Jikan.

Neko no Ongaeshi is similar to the critically-acclaimed movie Sen to Chihiro no Kamikakushi by Miyazaki Hayao in the sense that it begins in normal Japan and shifts to a parallel world later in the story. There, the similarity stops and a whole new adventure begins.

The story is about a typical Japanese girl Haru who seems to have a nack in getting into mishaps. One day, she saves a cat from being run over by a truck. The cat turns out to be the prince of the Cat Kingdom and, in return of the favor, the king has decreed that the whole kingdom tries its best to repay her kindness. Unfortunately for her, none of the 'gifts' were fitting for a human, and to add to her troubles, she was also decreed to be married to the prince that she saved.

The movie in general borders along humor and fantasy, leaning more towards the former. Haru's naiveness and the antics of the cats will definitely put a smile and a laugh into your mouth. No one is evil and there are no bad guys. In fact, the worst character is simply an over-eccentric father whose acts seem to be more on the naughty side than evil.

The storyline is simple yet entertaining, the animation splendid as is the trademark of Studio Ghibli. The music is enlightening, although one might notice, if observant enough, that some of the music pieces are recycled from the movie Mimi wo Sumaseba. The theme song, done by Tsuji Ayano, has such a great feel-good factor that it will remain playing in your head long after you come out of the theatre.

It's hard not to like this movie, and although it is definitely not in the same level as movies like Kaze no Tani no Nausicaa and Tenkuu no Shiro Laputa, you definitely would not want to miss this movie either. If may not be a Miyazaki movie, but it is still a Ghibli movie, and that alone is reason enough to watch it.


Grave of the Fireflies

Heartrendering, moving masterpiece from Isao Takahata, and a triumph for animation.
by: Jon Turner

Truly one of Studio Ghibli's greatest crowning achievements, GRAVE OF THE FIREFLIES is a brilliant masterpiece fully deserving of a place in any of the best movies ever made. Not just an astonishingly great (and, at the risk of coming off as clichperfect) work of art, this is a moving, thought-provoking, and ultimately heartbreaking tale about the loss of innocence and the tragedies of war.

Based on an autobiography by Akiyuki Nosaka, the film, set during the bombing of Japan in --of all times-- World War II, centers on Seita, a loving, headstrong Navy soldier's son and his innocent little sister, Setsuko. Their fatal struggle for survival begins right at the start, when both are bombed out of house and home by American B-29s. Mom is seriously wounded and found wrapped in bandages at a hospital, where she dies shortly after. The children move to Nishinomiya to stay with their aunt. Auntie, a cold, bitter, self-serving woman, has no patience with Seita or Setsuko, especially when they would rather chase after fireflies at moonlight, play by the beach, or lounge around the house instead of helping out. After butting heads with Auntie long enough, the children decide to run away, setting up home in an abandoned cave by the lake. Both try by all means to live off of vegetables or whatever food they can afford to trade and/or steal, to no avail....

The outcome of the story is actually showcased at the opening of the movie, where we see a ghostly specter of Seita watching a more malnourished version of himself die a painful, lonely death at a train station. Indeed, as we see how these events came to pass, we find ourselves rooting for Seita and Setsuko to find a way to stay alive, but alas, it is not to be, given Seita's stubborn pride. The overall tone of the movie is of a very tragic nature--even such lighthearted moments as the aforementioned sequences involving Seita and Setsuko playing around the house or gathering fireflies as lights for their cave are all tainted with a touch of sadness, for we know that these brief scenes of happiness will not last.

Who is to blame for the plight of these children? The movie never addresses this question to the audience, nor does it really care to. It would be easy for director Isao Takahata to make this an anti-American movie, but he does better than that. Instead, he aptly conveys that war can spell serious--and deadly--consequences for victims. He also eschews casting any character as a hero or villain, and instead makes this a very human story, with no clear-cut "good" or "bad" characters. The aunt, for example, is not evil; she is merely an angry, desperate woman who is only struggling to survive just as much as Seita and Setsuko are. Atrocious as her treatment of the children is, we somehow never see her as a true baddie, but a very flawed, multi-faceted human being.

Normally one would think of this kind of story as suitable for live-action, but GRAVE OF THE FIREFLIES proves that it can be told through the art of animation as well. This is no mindless showcase of gorgeous visuals--although the artistic merits of the movie are, as with Ghibli productions, sumptuous and at times breathtaking--but a display of real characters struggling with very tangible emotions. And the most amazing accomplishment about this movie is how much we grow to care for Seita and Setsuko--their inseparable bond of love and companionship is the heart and soul behind the movie.

There are long stretches of silence on the soundtrack, with music used very sparingly, yet the movie is all the more powerful for it. The most effective moment is where we hear a scratchy rendition of "Home, Sweet Home" over a montage of Setsuko playing by the shelter. It's a simplistic, sweet, yet very saddening moment that not only works in the context of the movie, but on its own as well.

I don't normally say this in my reviews, but I would definitely recommend watching this movie in its native language of Japanese for a truly powerful and memorable experience. That's not to imply, however, that the English dub is inferior; on the contrary. It is, in fact, surprisingly good, with an effective lead in J. Robert Spencer and noteworthy cameo appearances by Anime voiceover actors Veronica Taylor, Crispin Freeman, and Dan Green. Rhoda Chrosite's Setsuko is the one voice that doesn't fare so well; she sounds more like an adult pretending to be a young girl, and comes across as strained during most scenes (save for when she is sick from diarrhea). Still, for those who can't read subtitles, the dub is more than adequate (although not as high-profile as others that I've heard).

Even in a genre as multi-faceted as Japanese Anime, there are few films that literally everyone really MUST see. GRAVE OF THE FIREFLIES is one such movie.

Howl's Moving Castle

by: Johnny Du

While computer animation is kicking hand drawings to the curb in the U.S., it's nice to see that the classical animation form still thrives in Japan. What strikes me about Howl's Moving Castle is just how colorful it is. Studio Ghibli shows no signs of slowing down When it comes to creating gorgeous panoramic scenes, diverse character designs and finishing things off with a flourish when the colors are applied. It can't be underestimated how the wide range of colors used in this film really help things stand out even more and accentuate the fantastical aspects of this film. Yes, the mood for the most part is grim throughout the movie.

Though the title suggests otherwise, Howl's is really about Sophie, a young woman working in a hat shop who encounters a mysteriously handsome stranger in the streets one day. This encounter sets off a long chain of events and encounters, as Sophie encounters a witch (whose curse on Sophie ignites the rest of the film), a talking flame, an apprentice, a scarecrow with a turnip head and of course, the enormous moving castle. The storyline is vintage Studio Ghibli, weaving normal settings with magical elements to create a hybrid world where you know some of this stuff is implausible in reality, but you could not care less because of this amazing imaginative world that the filmmakers have created.

In addition to the beautiful colors, the strong and wonderfully diverse cast of characters is this film's greatest strength. The characters are more or less stereotypical, yet their physical appearances and interactions with each other ensure a unique feel to it all. Sophie is your vintage vulnerable protagonist, Howl is the brooding guy with a heart of gold, Calcifer is the spastic sidekick, Markl is the curious assistant, the Witch is evil but not as cruel as you would think. These characters are both easily identifiable in the roles they fill, while charmingly original in the flair they bring to those roles.

I won't go so far as to proclaim that this is the Best! Ghibli! Ever! - but this is a visually spectacular treat that shows Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli are still chugging along.

Panda! Go Panda!

by: Grace Lin

Synopsis
The movie Panda! Go Panda! is composed of two episodes, "Panda Family!" and "Circus in the Rain", starring the little girl Mimiko, Panny the baby Panda, and Papa Panda. The three characters go through a series of fun and silly events which lead up to a happy ending in each of the two episodes.

Review
The movie was produced in 1972 with Takahata Isao as the director and the story, scripts, and layout by Miyazaki Hayao. Panda! Go Panda! was made for young children who are oblivious to the troublesome details in life. From the opening credits of dancing pandas to the ending credits of shots from the movie, everything is delightfully simple.

Accompaniment music is limited to variations of the few tunes introduced in the beginning of the movie. However, different moods are conjured by the different tempos and instruments used to perform the tunes. Music to happy moments have a carribean feel to them due to the light percussion, displays of cuteness by Panny and his friend Tiny the tiger in the second episode are presented with the same tune played on the xylophone.

Most of the characters and events are quite impossible in real life. But these are the things which make the movie appeal to the younger audience. Older viewers may first be baffled by the appearance of talking pandas Papa Panda and Panny, then the family formed between Mimiko and the two pandas with Mimiko as Mama to Panny and Papa Panda as father to Mimiko and Panny. But if one can get past these abnormal phenomena, the rest of movie becomes very fun to watch.

The artwork is very elementary with mostly solid patches of colour. This plain colouring adds to the air of childhood when everything is fun and easy. Objects in the movie are also formed of basic shapes, such as the clouds which are ovals of varying sizes most of the time. Most of the things in the movie are from the western culture, for example, the house in which Mimiko and the pandas live in are mildly similar to 16th century Dutch houses.

In addition to the art, the movie has a few plot and character references to the western culture. There are references to the Goldilocks story, with Tiny playing the role of Goldilocks and Panny being similar to, of course, the baby bear. However, with Tiny and Panny becoming fast friends, the moral of the Goldilocks story is not present in Takahata's film. The character of Mimiko can be seen as a reference to Pippi Longstockings without the mischief and with all the energy.

Panda! Go Panda! is a wonderful movie to watch when one wants to leave everyday troubles behind. The simple animation, music and plot are easy on the eyes and mind. There might be people who dislike how simple everything is and how easily situations resolve themselves, but the silliness with which everything is done balances it out to make the movie very lovable.

My Neighbor Totoro

by: Julz

Two young girls, Satsuke and her younger sister Mei, move into a house in the country with their father to be closer to their hospitalized mother. Satsuke and Mei discover that the nearby forest is inhabited by magical creatures called Totoros. They soon befriend these Totoros, and have several magical adventures.

This is a gentle, and enchanting movie which is easy to fall in love with. Children and anime fan anime fan alike will be swept away. The theme is mystical and imaginative. One thing that really attached me to this movie is the freedom, sincerity and variety of emotional expression the characters use (especially the two young girls and Totoro, their furry forest friend). There are lot of magical adventures to be found in this movie, from flying with umbrellas to catching a giant living (and "meowing") cat bus that leaps from tree top to tree top to get around. Although the girls' mother is in the hospital, and the youngest girl, Mei, gets lost (and found), there is nothing dirturbing about this movie. It is very gentle. The animation is colorful and expressionate, and the characters are youthful, lovable, and free spirited. All in all it is an enjoyable, lovable, and imaginative adventure.

This movie will make you feel like a kid again, thanks to all the lively characters!


Princess Mononoke

Review
by: Julz
A masterpiece, not just an Anime. An original modern fable. It ranks up there with other Anime classics such as Akira and Metropolis. For anyone interested in the genre this is a must see.

Princess Mononoke is one of the most original and unique movies I've seen, even if it is a cartoon. It doesn't draw from any particular genre or type, the closest I can think of in terms of heritage is the Ainu people of northern Japan, who seem to have been the inspiration for the look and feel of it. Despite it being a cartoon there is a considerable level of violence, and the situations are geared towards adults (animation is definitely not just for children). The film is quite serious, playing upon the theme of man vs. nature. It contains many epic qualities such as journeying heroes, wars, and involvement from supernatural gods, however, there is a lack of any sort of romantic love.

Unfortunately, like most anime that maded to the west, the quality of dubbing can be improved. Billy Crudup's plays a very emotionless Ashitaka, Billy Bob Thornton's Texan accent destroyed the character and the setting, and Claire Danes completely degrades San's noble character with a whiny, valley-girl tone. Hollywood stars just don't have a grip of the anime. It is strongly recommanded that you watch the Japanese version with English subtitles, the voice acting is much better. Sadly, in the upcoming DVD release, there is no japanese language version.

This movie will probably stand for years to come as one of the very few truly original modern fables. It is another Miyazaki masterpiece: Beautiful animation, mystical fern-gullyesque settings, and subtle music which complements the serious nature of the film.

Synopsis
The film follows Ashitaka, a prince of the disappearing Ainu tribe, who is cursed by a demonised boar god and must journey to the west to find a cure from the Forest Spirit. Along the way, he encounters San (The Princess Mononoke), a young human woman fighting to protect the forest and Lady Eboshi, the head of Tatara Ba (Iron Town). Ashitaka is forced to find a middle ground between the two ambivalent forces.

Based on Japanese folklore, "Princess Mononoke" is a riveting piece which is moving and touches upon subjects that are still relevant today - questions of war, ecology, morals and principles.

Tales from Earthsea

Film Synopsis

A sailing ship is rolling in the rough sea. The captain orders the weatherworker to calm the sea, but the weatherworker is unable to remember the true name of the sea and the wind despite his efforts. Then suddenly, two dragons appear from the dark clouds. The dragons were devouring one another. For the dragons living in the end of the West to appear in the eastern ocean area inhabited by humans, and to feed on one another was something unthinkable. The balance of the world was collapsing.

Ged was on a journey, searching for the source causing evil disturbances to the world. Ged — once an impetuous and arrogant goatherd boy — is now a mature man, called by others as "Lord Archmage", the greatest of wizards. During his travels, he meets Arren, Prince of Enlad. The youth was being pursued by a "shadow". The disastrous force destroying the world's balance and driving people mad was nearing Arren as well.

Arren fleeing from his shadow and unable to confront his own inner darkness, was very much like Ged in his younger days. The two traveled down the valley, through the mountain and many deserted ruins. Everywhere, farmers had abandoned their fields. The two arrive to Hort Town, the capital palace. The streets were crowded with people, but craftsmen have forgotten their crafts, items being sold there were all fake, slaves were being traded, and hazia addicts thronged in the backstreets. People bustled about from place to place, but seemed to be without sense of purpose. The people's eyes were fixed on dreams or on death, another world somewhere else.

The two in their quest, seek refuge to Tenar's place, an old acquaintance of Ged. Tenar was once a priestess that guarded the dark Tombs of Atuan when she was a girl. When Ged recovered the broken Ring of Erreth-Akbe from the Tomb, she was brought out to the world of freedom and light by him. Also living in Tenar's house was Therru, a girl whose face was marked with a scar of fire. Therru who had been abandoned by her parents, avoids Arren who holds darkness within and occasionally devastated with despair. Arren spends his days laboring in the fields and interacting with nature, taught and guided by Ged how all creation in the universe is realized on a balance. Therru gradually opens her heart to Arren. Yet even during this time, Arren's fear toward the shadow grows severe and he is troubled by nightmares of being chased by the shadow.

Ged is able to find that a wizard named Cob has opened the door between worlds of the living and of the dead, and that this was triggering the imbalance of the world. This man, once called "Cob of Havnor" had been using of the Pelnish Lore of Paln, and calling up any person he wished from the other world, when asked for with money. In his younger days, Ged was infuriated by Cob who had summoned his master's spirit, and forcefully took the wailing and resisting Cob to the Land of the Dead and pushed him off to the bottom of fear. After that, Cob vowed to reform and left for the West, but he had actually sworn to himself to get his revenge on Ged.

Arren who fears that he will be unable to control the violent "other self" finally goes away from Tenar's house. Running away from the shadow and fainting, Arren comes to at Cob's castle. Cob opens the doors between the worlds of the living and the dead in order to gain eternal life, and plans to kill Ged who is in the way. Arren, whose fear of the shadow has come to a head, is given hazia and loses his senses, and finally tells his true name and falls captive to Cob.

Ged and Therru both risk their lives to bring back Arren to his senses. With their help, Arren overcomes temptation to get eternal life, draws out the sword forged by magical powers and stand face to face with Cob.

Copyright © 2006 by Studio Ghibli


This synopsis was sent to Ursula K. Le Guin (the author of Tales from Earthsea) directly by Studio Ghibli.

article taken from www.flickr.com/.../in/set-72157600320399136/

I'm really busy

I have not been adding new posts because I have been very busy with life. Later this week I will post a couple of anime and manga reviews. Now for your viewing pleasure, I give you pics of cute anime girls.

Posted by Otaku Dan
copyrighted by : www.otakudan.com