So the Elimination chamber has been as well as the concurrent episodes of Raw and Smackdown. Held back on posting until I watched the Smackdown ep, expecting more to be revealed, but that didn't happen much, at least in terms of Christian.
So a quick rundown of happened:
- Christian appeared after the Smackdown Elimination Chamber match to defend Edge from an assault by Alberto del Rio. However, the fact that he did not appear on Smackdown last night AT ALL now has me convinced about what his fate will be at Wrestlemania.
- As expected, 2 21 11 marked the return of The Undertaker. However, he was partially upstaged by the return of Triple H as the Undertaker finished his entrance. Neither said a word. Neither threw a blow. They stood. They stared. They signalled. They left. It was one of those moments where actions said far more than words. And it promises a top line match at Wrestlemania.
- Cena fired a salvo back at The Rock. He actually did quite well with it. The Miz was pretty weak.
- Jerry 'The King' Lawler drew a line in the sand and challenged Michael Cole to a match at Wrestlemania. Looks set to play out how Bret 'The Hitman' Hart vs Vince McMahon did. Cole will eventually accept. Something will happen to make things look dire for Lawler, but he will prevail and get his long overdue Wrestlemania moment.
- The Tag Team titles got tossed around like hot potatos. Cena and The Miz ended up with them for about 5 minutes before Miz threw the rematch by taking Cena out. Typical leadup to Wrestlemania and again goes to show the Tag Team titles mean next to nothing these days.
- 'Dashing' Cody Rhodes returned on Smackdown with an impromptu appearance by his Hall of Fame father, Dusty 'The American Dream' Rhodes. Dusty set up Rey Mysterio to get jumped by Cody. Obvious implications.
- Big Show beat Wade Barrett by countout then scared off The Corre. More obvious implications.
- Vickie Guererro got 'fired' as a result of the 'Teddy' Long attack saga. Clearly she will be back, but not for a while, I'm guessing.
- CM Punk/The Nexus and Randy Orton continued their standoff.
So, what is this all implying for WM27?
1. Triple H to be the 19-0 victim for Undertaker's streak at Wrestlemania? Okay, perhaps in leadup/recent storylines, this comes out of nowhere. But face it - this will be a great match. Who honestly wants to see Undertaker vs Kane after seeing it three times in a row late last year?? Or that Undertaker has beaten Kane twice at WM already - a third time would mean little. And we saw Triple H beat Sheamus at WM26. Those storylines can wait for Extreme Rules or even later down the road. 'The Streak' means too much to have it slandered by a weak match. Two seasoned icons returning on the same night, crossing paths and deciding to face off on the big stage? Makes sense. Undertaker will likely move on to 19-0.
2. Cena likely to beat Miz. Really, Miz has been booked very weakly since he got gifted the belt due to storylines running dry late last year. Having to face off several times with the 61 year old Lawler did him no favours. And Randy Orton clearly had to lower his performance level to make the Miz look competent. And for the 7th WM in a row, Cena is in a title match...*shrug* This is likely Cena's obligatory 'at least one title per year since I'm the face of the company.' Hopefully both can lift their levels - especially Miz or his title reign will be an even bigger stuffup than how Jack Swagger's title reign was handled last year. But perhaps the bigger question is will The Rock interfere? How will he influence the match?
3. Edge vs Alberto del Rio. del Rio has received momentum in droves since he entered the WWE last year. He was given the Royal Rumble win. And the last three Royal Rumble winners have gone on to lose their title match. Seems unlikely for it to happen yet again - it would really devalue the Royal Rumble. del Rio to win but for revenge to be waiting in the wings from Christian.
4. Lawler vs Cole. Lawler will win. Enough said.
5. Rhodes vs Mysterio. Mysterio had loads of momentum last year as well as a title reign. WWE wants to push Rhodes big time - they need more mid-carders to be able to provide good matches. I'm thinking Cody Rhodes will get the win here.
6. CM Punk vs Randy Orton. Orton was in title matches for virtually all of last year. CM Punk had a terrible 2010 thanks to Serena's IRL stupidity causing the end of the Straight Edge Society. CM Punk needs momentum. The crowds want CM Punk to have momentum. But Orton has had to job to The Miz for a fair while - will WWE force one of its bigger stars like Orton to lose a PPV match for close to half a year? For the sake of momentum, I'm thinking CM Punk will win, otherwise 2011 will fizzle for him and make a lot of viewers mad.
7. Big Show vs ....Ezekiel Jackson? I think it will specifically be Jackson because the Tag Team titles usually get one of the early matchers at Wrestlemania, meaning Gabriel and Slater will be out of the picture. Wade Barrett seems too prominent to waste on a 4 vs 1 match. And it's mainly Ezekiel Jackson who's gotten the better of Big Show in recent weeks. Likely that Big Show will win, but that it happens in a way that Ezekiel Jackson can show people he's worthy of moving past The Corre and maybe head after the Intercontinental belt in the next few months.
8. Money in the Bank Ladder Match. There will be one. And judging by the timing of recent events, it seems that Christian will be the likely winner, as it would set up the perfect way to get the Alberto del Rio feud back on track along with the momentum needed to make it believable. Christian is one of the best at ladder matches and is in need of momentum big-time. His return at Elimination Chamber indicates he will be at WM27. But the only person who he had feuds available for was Alberto del Rio, who already has a match. This match would be the ideal type for Christian to win. Other likely competitors will be Daniel Bryan, Kofi Kingston, Drew McIntyre, Wade Barrett, R-Truth, John Morrison, Jack Swagger. Maybe one or two others. If Christian isn't scripted to win this one, it had better be John Morrison. Heels have won this match quite a bit lately - it's time for a genuine high-flying face to. Morrison may end up getting a real title shot and win late this year. Christian is the one that really needs the momentum after six months out with injury. It all depends on whether McMahon can overcome his resentment of Christian.
9. There's usually nine or ten matches at Wrestlemania. Likely the Divas belt will get defended. Eve Torres currently has it, not sure if she still will come April 3. If she does, I think she'll retain. If she loses it by then, I think either Beth Phoenix or Kelly Kelly could end up with it at WM27. But there really isn't much storyline to go off lately since Lay-Cool are the only ones appearing often.
10. Tag Team. Gabriel and Slater currently have the titles. Main problem is who would they feud with? The Santino/Kozlov feud seems to have run its course. Maybe The Usos will reappear and give the title some relative respect? Aside from that, I can't see who would verse Gabriel and Slater. Then again, WWE threw Morrison and R-Truth together at the last minute to make a match for it vs Miz and Big Show last year. Either way, probably won't mean much with March already approaching and little time to give a feud momentum.
So there's 10 probable matches which would be enough to fill the WM27 match card for the required screenign duration. I don't see US or Intercontinental defenses happening - Daniel Bryan just doesn't have a heel to feud with at all on Raw. Kofi Kingston is good ladder match material and the feud with Jack Swagger doesn't seem to have enough punch to it to dictate a singles match. Not to mention it would leave the Money in the Bank match too low on competent participants. Usually a balance of faces and heels winning at Wrestlemania - my proposed results indicate either 6-4 to faces or 5-5 tie if those are the matches that will happen. My main concern is the Cena vs Miz match - I'm just not sure if it'll be that watchable. Or maybe the clash of egos will be enough to fuel a crowd frenzy. All in all, looks like a decent match card, should be a good event. In fact, WM27 had BETTER BE. This year's Royal Rumble and Elimination Chamber were predictable and regretful. But with The Rock hosting, hopefully it will be memorable and get 2011 back on track.
Saturday 26 February 2011
Friday 25 February 2011
THAT Knicks-Nuggets trade....WTF?!
Quick NBA post because a major bombshell got dropped as the trade deadline approached. Something that could really shake things up.
In a nutshell, after speculation all season long that All-Star forward Carmelo Anthony was looking to get out of Denver - probably to New York, which had grown thin on frustrated Denver fans, it finally happened.
But I don't think anyone expected the magnitude of everything that came with it...Tying an NBA record for most players involved in a multi-team trade - THIRTEEN - Denver and New York literally traded half their rosters to each other while Minnesota picked up a few scraps to help seal the deal. Anthony became a Knicks player along with point guard Chauncey Billups and a few others, while Denver picked up a reasonable swag of young talent, including Tyson Chandler and Raymond Felton. Both teams got what they wanted. New York wanted more All-Stars/seasoned pros to go with them picking up another All-Star in A'mare Stoudemire from Phoenix during the pre-season. Denver had grown weary of being focused around Anthony and playing slower paced basketball. They wanted team oriented, defense focused, fast-paced offense play to last for a good deal of time rather than settle with their current lineup being second round playoffs perennials.
Both teams are taking big gambles, but you'd think both teams are happy with what they got. New York now has three starting positions loaded with talent. They have the scoring flare and the finesse to become a serious threat. However, they traded away a lot of tall players - plus Stoudemire and Anthony have been criticised regularly for being unable to play defense. Denver has a lot of young, raw talent to go around players like Nene. But that's counting on those players developing into the guns you hope they become. It may not happen. But if it does, there will be plenty to like. for Denver fans while New York will have fan-pulling power with three big names in the starting lineup.
But such drastic changes to a lineup midway through a season - there will be issues with adjusting to the new players and how they work with each other. Miami is still a work in progress - James and Bosh coming to join Wade has been good overall but they have failed to beat the top teams thus far. Not even All-Star talent gels overnight - it takes time. Don't expect Denver or New York to set the stadium alight with their prowess just yet. However, the short-term future does look better for New York. With Orlando sliding, Boston potentially trading away too many tall players, Miami still ironing out the creases - they can be a threat in the East that needs to be acknowledged. Playoffs look a good chance for them, perhaps even Denver, looking at their impressive win over Boston yesterday. But thus far, you'd still be thinking Boston, Chicago and Miami are the real threats in the East, while Denver will hope for the cream to rise to the top a few years from now to challenge in the West.
All in all, exciting times await in the playoffs. Expect to see Deron Williams and Dwight Howard being sought after at all costs come post-season for more fireworks in the trade circles.
In a nutshell, after speculation all season long that All-Star forward Carmelo Anthony was looking to get out of Denver - probably to New York, which had grown thin on frustrated Denver fans, it finally happened.
But I don't think anyone expected the magnitude of everything that came with it...Tying an NBA record for most players involved in a multi-team trade - THIRTEEN - Denver and New York literally traded half their rosters to each other while Minnesota picked up a few scraps to help seal the deal. Anthony became a Knicks player along with point guard Chauncey Billups and a few others, while Denver picked up a reasonable swag of young talent, including Tyson Chandler and Raymond Felton. Both teams got what they wanted. New York wanted more All-Stars/seasoned pros to go with them picking up another All-Star in A'mare Stoudemire from Phoenix during the pre-season. Denver had grown weary of being focused around Anthony and playing slower paced basketball. They wanted team oriented, defense focused, fast-paced offense play to last for a good deal of time rather than settle with their current lineup being second round playoffs perennials.
Both teams are taking big gambles, but you'd think both teams are happy with what they got. New York now has three starting positions loaded with talent. They have the scoring flare and the finesse to become a serious threat. However, they traded away a lot of tall players - plus Stoudemire and Anthony have been criticised regularly for being unable to play defense. Denver has a lot of young, raw talent to go around players like Nene. But that's counting on those players developing into the guns you hope they become. It may not happen. But if it does, there will be plenty to like. for Denver fans while New York will have fan-pulling power with three big names in the starting lineup.
But such drastic changes to a lineup midway through a season - there will be issues with adjusting to the new players and how they work with each other. Miami is still a work in progress - James and Bosh coming to join Wade has been good overall but they have failed to beat the top teams thus far. Not even All-Star talent gels overnight - it takes time. Don't expect Denver or New York to set the stadium alight with their prowess just yet. However, the short-term future does look better for New York. With Orlando sliding, Boston potentially trading away too many tall players, Miami still ironing out the creases - they can be a threat in the East that needs to be acknowledged. Playoffs look a good chance for them, perhaps even Denver, looking at their impressive win over Boston yesterday. But thus far, you'd still be thinking Boston, Chicago and Miami are the real threats in the East, while Denver will hope for the cream to rise to the top a few years from now to challenge in the West.
All in all, exciting times await in the playoffs. Expect to see Deron Williams and Dwight Howard being sought after at all costs come post-season for more fireworks in the trade circles.
The Tryptophan Meter
Short anime post today. This idea came from a comment Charles Barkley made describing a dull game of basketball one night, classifying it as 'tryptophan!' I.e. A naturally occuring amino acid that has been linked to causing drowsiness. It got me thinking as to what animes could be classified as having a tryptophan effect. After watching the final episode of Tamayura earlier this week, I gave a 'tryptophan' comment to one of my friends. He agreed.
So here it is - the tryptophan meter! Now unlike Charles Barkley, I'm not going to say the anime(s) topping the tryptophan meter are necessarily the worst. Some animes are designed to have that effect and make the viewer flake out - it's an effective marketing tool in some genres. 0 will represent animes that have the complete opposite effect while animes with a 10 are literally swimming in it. Take this with a pinch of salt - this is merely for fun and my personal opinion. Each to their own.
0 - Kaiji, The Legend of Koizumi. No time for tryptophan in manly shows! Manliness utterly obliterates tryptophan!
1 - (insert your preferred ero material here) Hard to feel sleepy during that!
2 - (insert your preferred slashfest here) Adrenaline be smashing that tryptophan.
3 - Samurai Champloo. Sometimes a little chill with those groovy hip-hop instrumentals and rustic setting, but usually full of cutting loose and mayhem. Edo period must have been jamming! (If only)
4 - Garden of Sinners. Yeah, there's some damn fine action and gore. But there are some very slow points in the movies, heh. As if you didn't expect walls of text from Type-Moon material!
5 - Haibane Renmei. Some very relaxing, deep moments you can just sit back and just immerse yourself in. Then tragedy strikes - again. Tragedy be very un-tryptophan.
6 - Ergo Proxy. Well yeah, it's dark and brooding. But that city can really drain the fun out of anything, but that was the point. Not to mention the boat...But it has Pino, so it can't be all grim. Plus it has EPIC GAME SHOW!!!
7 - Hanamaru Kindergarten. Aww, look at the happy faces and pretty colours....wait, WTF did you just say, young girl?! Kids say the darnest things, lol.
8 - Mushishi, ARIA.. Nature at its finest. The good side of tryptophan...most of the time. Who wouldn't want to roam the countryside like Ginko does - those backgrounds are just delish. You could really spend a lot of time lying around in that fauna. As for ARIA, gondoliers - damn, they have it so good. You could trip to that world pretty darn easily.
9 - Tamayura. Ditzy, placid, simple girls in a very slow town walking slowly, eating cake and occassionally taking photographs. K-ON version 2.0. Series coming soon. Keep your pillow handy.
10 - K-ON! TRYPTOPHAN ALERT! (You're already knocked out before you finished reading that...) Girls sitting around eating cake and occasionally playing music...THAT is textbook tryptophan! Wait, did I ever finish that series....I think I did but I just can't be sure...Wait, was I even awake while typing this bit...
Peace.
So here it is - the tryptophan meter! Now unlike Charles Barkley, I'm not going to say the anime(s) topping the tryptophan meter are necessarily the worst. Some animes are designed to have that effect and make the viewer flake out - it's an effective marketing tool in some genres. 0 will represent animes that have the complete opposite effect while animes with a 10 are literally swimming in it. Take this with a pinch of salt - this is merely for fun and my personal opinion. Each to their own.
0 - Kaiji, The Legend of Koizumi. No time for tryptophan in manly shows! Manliness utterly obliterates tryptophan!
1 - (insert your preferred ero material here) Hard to feel sleepy during that!
2 - (insert your preferred slashfest here) Adrenaline be smashing that tryptophan.
3 - Samurai Champloo. Sometimes a little chill with those groovy hip-hop instrumentals and rustic setting, but usually full of cutting loose and mayhem. Edo period must have been jamming! (If only)
4 - Garden of Sinners. Yeah, there's some damn fine action and gore. But there are some very slow points in the movies, heh. As if you didn't expect walls of text from Type-Moon material!
5 - Haibane Renmei. Some very relaxing, deep moments you can just sit back and just immerse yourself in. Then tragedy strikes - again. Tragedy be very un-tryptophan.
6 - Ergo Proxy. Well yeah, it's dark and brooding. But that city can really drain the fun out of anything, but that was the point. Not to mention the boat...But it has Pino, so it can't be all grim. Plus it has EPIC GAME SHOW!!!
7 - Hanamaru Kindergarten. Aww, look at the happy faces and pretty colours....wait, WTF did you just say, young girl?! Kids say the darnest things, lol.
8 - Mushishi, ARIA.. Nature at its finest. The good side of tryptophan...most of the time. Who wouldn't want to roam the countryside like Ginko does - those backgrounds are just delish. You could really spend a lot of time lying around in that fauna. As for ARIA, gondoliers - damn, they have it so good. You could trip to that world pretty darn easily.
9 - Tamayura. Ditzy, placid, simple girls in a very slow town walking slowly, eating cake and occassionally taking photographs. K-ON version 2.0. Series coming soon. Keep your pillow handy.
10 - K-ON! TRYPTOPHAN ALERT! (You're already knocked out before you finished reading that...) Girls sitting around eating cake and occasionally playing music...THAT is textbook tryptophan! Wait, did I ever finish that series....I think I did but I just can't be sure...Wait, was I even awake while typing this bit...
Peace.
Sunday 20 February 2011
ISML Preliminary Phase 1 Groupings
So it's that time of year again. That after a holiday season of slumber, the curtains are drawn and the keyboards armed and ready to fire.
It's ISML season. Perhaps the year that the 10k mark is broken. Anything's possible considering the incredibly strong increases in voting since ISML's inception.
But to business. There's 144 characters in line for only 50 spots in the ISML regular season. Hearts will be broken, rivalries will be renewed in the race for the tiara. There can be only one...
First things first, though. Get to the regular season before you can have a hope. And your best bet there is to get through in Phase 1. But that's easier said then done. Those voting, mark down Feb 27, Mar 1, Mar 3 and Mar 6, all 1500 GMT, as your dates to cast your vote. They all count. Matches do get that close.
16 groups of nine. And only ONE character will get through each of those while the other 128 will have to endure more cuthroat voting to make it to the regular season. Let's have a look at those groups and pick a likely winner for each, shall we?
GROUP 1: Not much to say here, really? Could defending tiara holder Mio have asked for a better draw?! Perhaps the more interesting thing to determine is who out of this group could qualify at a later stage, if at all.
Likely qualifier: Mio to convincingly begin her tiara defense.
GROUP 2: Another clear-cut looking group. Last year's runner up, riding an increasing wave of momentum throughout the year - Mikoto looks set to electrify ISML once more with a swift qualifying. And if last year's results are anything to go by, the rest of the lot may be having a fool's hope to make it to the regular season.
Likely qualifier: Mikoto
GROUP 3: We ask the same question every year - will this finally be Shana's year? Eternally the bridesmaid but never the bride. Top 4 finisher every year since ISML started, but someone always rises up at the last moment, be it for passionate fandom or for anti-Shana voting, to snuff out her blazing glory yet again. Who could forget Hinagiku's thrilling 11 vote victory in the 2009 Grand Final, or Mikoto beating Shana [b]twice[/b] when it really mattered? But that's a long way away yet - Shana looks set for an easy qualifying. But maybe someone from this pack could emerge at a later date. Saten and Ryogi both have considerable fan bases to draw from. But with the new crop, their chances may be very slim.
Likely qualifier: Shana
GROUP 4: There's bound to be some hurt over this group. Azusa is pretty formidable and might as well have one foot through the qualifying door already. But perhaps someone from the rest will live to fight more than just another day. MGLN has persisting popularity and the recent movie, so don't be surprised if Nanoha makes it by the time the prelims are over.
Likely qualifier: Azusa
GROUP 5: Now maybe things aren't as clear-cut as they seem in this group. You can bet your calamari rings on that! Squid Girl's numbers in the nominations were notable. Merchandise of Squid Girl plentiful and attracts a lot of fan dollars. Perennial perfomer Hinagiku will have to go against the 'two years' trend, where ISML characters tend to have their numbers decline considerably within two years of their first participation. Is time now against the former tiara winner, or will she fend off the assault from the sea with her usual spirit and determination?
Likely qualifier: Hinagiku
Ones to watch: Squid Girl
GROUP 6: Not much to say, really. You'd think Taiga will have this group on a walk. Perhaps Ui could scrape into the regular season - she did pull off a few upsets late last season.
Likely qualifier: Taiga
GROUP 7: Disappearance had the effect KyoAni was hoping for. More people remembered it for Yuki than Haruhi. Off of that strength alone, you'd expect Yuki to cruise to the regular season. I don't see much hope for the rest of this group - I'd love to see Sawako make it, but past polls show she just doesn't seem to do well in these parts. Oh well.
Likely qualifier: Yuki
GROUP 8: NOW we have something worth pondering! This group has some heavy hitters - you'd expect 3 of them to be clashing in the regular season. Haruhi's popularity - despite Yuki's continual rise - will surely be enough to get her to the season. But will she get through first shot? Last year, people thought I was delusional to dare think that Angel Beats characters, particularly Kanade and Yuri, would be major contenders and secure a solid fanbase. Sales of the series and merchandise have shown that to be the case and then some. What a difference a year makes. Yuri is in with a very good chance to create some tension early and send a message to the other fanbases within ISML. Or will Haruhi show her doubters that she isn't going to disappear just yet? And don't write off Black Rock Shooter - you'd expect her to make it to the regular season at some point.
Likely qualifier: Yuri. I'm going for an upset here.
Ones to watch: Haruhi, Black Rock Shooter
GROUP 9: Now this looks like a 'Group of Death' for sure...A few months ago, Yui would have won this group on a walk, albeit a very ditzy one. But now the daydreamer is in for a potential nightmare. There's one major reason people watch Gosick - Victorique. She has certainly garnered a lot of attention in very little time indeed. Working was also a strong seller last year, so expect Poplar to be a competitor come the regular season too. Kotomi and Mikuru are both perennial contenders too. But the real question is...who's getting out of this mess first?
Likely qualifier: Yui. The K-ON juggernaut isn't ready to relent yet.
Ones to watch: Victorique, Poplar, Mikuru, Kotomi
GROUP 10: I don't see much to say, really. Nagi fans will probably consider themselves lucky they didn't draw any of the big newcomers or the perennial favourites. Sit back and relax.
Likely qualifier: Nagi
GROUP 11: Uh, oh, looks like there's another 'Group of Death' in the mix! Tomoyo has always been performing well in ISML. C.C. has shown somewhat resilient suppsort. But Eucliwood's almost absurd popularity is still rising - this does not bode well for her competitors. Moe is in the eye of the beholder - clearly Eucliwood has quite a pile of them. While only one will get through this showdown, you'd expect all three to front up to the regular season.
Likely qualifier: Tomoyo, barely.
Ones to watch: Eucliwood, C.C.
GROUP 12: Some fair firepower here, but you'd expect Saber and Horo to be the main contenders for a fast qualifying. Saber seemed to be the beneficiary of the FSN movie - one would suspect that to remain true enough to get her past the jaws of the feisty feminine wolf-goddess. Yui could also see regular season action if flow-on effects from Kanade and Yuri are strong enough.
Likely qualifier: Saber
Ones to watch: Horo, Yui
GROUP 13: Make no mistake. This. Is. THE. THE! GROUP OF DEATH!!! You don't want a favourite of yours to be in this one. Some fanbases will be sweating on Phase 2 thanks to this colossal clash. As if Kyou and Fate weren't enough to create tension, the late year storm generated by Kirino is bound to wreak havoc on ISML this year and then some. Nomination results, the experts - they agree that Kirino is a MAJOR contender this year. Beware Triple K - and there's your first part of it. Throw in the Madoka girls and now you've got one monumental mess on your hands! It's all out war in this group - expect some people to get VERY upset as to how this group turns out. But expect a good deal of this group to make it to the regular season.
Likely winner: Kirino. Believe the hype. She will be a major threat full stop.
Ones to watch: Kyou, Fate, Madoka
GROUP 14: Take one look at Group 13. Then take a look at Group 14...Seriously, what the?! Considering the nuclear state of Group 13, Group 14 looks like a mere atom in the wide, wide universe. Lucky Star fans will be rapt their most consistent performer has a very easy path.
Likely winner: Kagami
GROUP 15: Again, what a difference a year makes. Scratch that, a few months even. Before October, Hitagi would have had this group in the bag. But now she's got the highest poller in nominations slowly walking past in her black dress, gentle voice and apt mind - Hitagi may be set to be shafted. Mafuyu may scrape in for another regular season showing. The second part of Triple K - Kuroneko, is ready to shake things up.
Likely winner: Kuroneko.
Ones to watch: Hitagi, Mafuyu
GROUP 16: The final group is definitely not the least interesting. Another 'Group of Death' is in the works here. Nadeko rode a wave of voting last year to make it to the final 16. Rin fell over at the last hurlde to make it to the 16. But now, damnation may be coming their way, hovering in with white wings and a very disarming face. Kanade, the final third of Triple K, is perhaps the biggest threat of them all. The clear overall favourite of Angel Beats fans, she is set for some serious action, some already flagging her as a Top 10 for the regular season. Kanade looks set to be the 'Angel of Death' in this group.
Likely winner: Kanade
Ones to watch: Nadeko, Rin
The full grouping lists for Phase 1 can be seen at http://www.internationalsaimoe.com/contestants/preliminary.php
Remember that voting starts on Feb 27 1500 GMT and that you have 24 hours to cast your vote. There are 3 phases for the prelims, so don't despair if your favourites don't all make it it straight away. Try and have fun with ISML this year. ;)
PS. Taking bets for when Shana is knocked out of ISML SE. :P j/k
It's ISML season. Perhaps the year that the 10k mark is broken. Anything's possible considering the incredibly strong increases in voting since ISML's inception.
But to business. There's 144 characters in line for only 50 spots in the ISML regular season. Hearts will be broken, rivalries will be renewed in the race for the tiara. There can be only one...
First things first, though. Get to the regular season before you can have a hope. And your best bet there is to get through in Phase 1. But that's easier said then done. Those voting, mark down Feb 27, Mar 1, Mar 3 and Mar 6, all 1500 GMT, as your dates to cast your vote. They all count. Matches do get that close.
16 groups of nine. And only ONE character will get through each of those while the other 128 will have to endure more cuthroat voting to make it to the regular season. Let's have a look at those groups and pick a likely winner for each, shall we?
GROUP 1: Not much to say here, really? Could defending tiara holder Mio have asked for a better draw?! Perhaps the more interesting thing to determine is who out of this group could qualify at a later stage, if at all.
Likely qualifier: Mio to convincingly begin her tiara defense.
GROUP 2: Another clear-cut looking group. Last year's runner up, riding an increasing wave of momentum throughout the year - Mikoto looks set to electrify ISML once more with a swift qualifying. And if last year's results are anything to go by, the rest of the lot may be having a fool's hope to make it to the regular season.
Likely qualifier: Mikoto
GROUP 3: We ask the same question every year - will this finally be Shana's year? Eternally the bridesmaid but never the bride. Top 4 finisher every year since ISML started, but someone always rises up at the last moment, be it for passionate fandom or for anti-Shana voting, to snuff out her blazing glory yet again. Who could forget Hinagiku's thrilling 11 vote victory in the 2009 Grand Final, or Mikoto beating Shana [b]twice[/b] when it really mattered? But that's a long way away yet - Shana looks set for an easy qualifying. But maybe someone from this pack could emerge at a later date. Saten and Ryogi both have considerable fan bases to draw from. But with the new crop, their chances may be very slim.
Likely qualifier: Shana
GROUP 4: There's bound to be some hurt over this group. Azusa is pretty formidable and might as well have one foot through the qualifying door already. But perhaps someone from the rest will live to fight more than just another day. MGLN has persisting popularity and the recent movie, so don't be surprised if Nanoha makes it by the time the prelims are over.
Likely qualifier: Azusa
GROUP 5: Now maybe things aren't as clear-cut as they seem in this group. You can bet your calamari rings on that! Squid Girl's numbers in the nominations were notable. Merchandise of Squid Girl plentiful and attracts a lot of fan dollars. Perennial perfomer Hinagiku will have to go against the 'two years' trend, where ISML characters tend to have their numbers decline considerably within two years of their first participation. Is time now against the former tiara winner, or will she fend off the assault from the sea with her usual spirit and determination?
Likely qualifier: Hinagiku
Ones to watch: Squid Girl
GROUP 6: Not much to say, really. You'd think Taiga will have this group on a walk. Perhaps Ui could scrape into the regular season - she did pull off a few upsets late last season.
Likely qualifier: Taiga
GROUP 7: Disappearance had the effect KyoAni was hoping for. More people remembered it for Yuki than Haruhi. Off of that strength alone, you'd expect Yuki to cruise to the regular season. I don't see much hope for the rest of this group - I'd love to see Sawako make it, but past polls show she just doesn't seem to do well in these parts. Oh well.
Likely qualifier: Yuki
GROUP 8: NOW we have something worth pondering! This group has some heavy hitters - you'd expect 3 of them to be clashing in the regular season. Haruhi's popularity - despite Yuki's continual rise - will surely be enough to get her to the season. But will she get through first shot? Last year, people thought I was delusional to dare think that Angel Beats characters, particularly Kanade and Yuri, would be major contenders and secure a solid fanbase. Sales of the series and merchandise have shown that to be the case and then some. What a difference a year makes. Yuri is in with a very good chance to create some tension early and send a message to the other fanbases within ISML. Or will Haruhi show her doubters that she isn't going to disappear just yet? And don't write off Black Rock Shooter - you'd expect her to make it to the regular season at some point.
Likely qualifier: Yuri. I'm going for an upset here.
Ones to watch: Haruhi, Black Rock Shooter
GROUP 9: Now this looks like a 'Group of Death' for sure...A few months ago, Yui would have won this group on a walk, albeit a very ditzy one. But now the daydreamer is in for a potential nightmare. There's one major reason people watch Gosick - Victorique. She has certainly garnered a lot of attention in very little time indeed. Working was also a strong seller last year, so expect Poplar to be a competitor come the regular season too. Kotomi and Mikuru are both perennial contenders too. But the real question is...who's getting out of this mess first?
Likely qualifier: Yui. The K-ON juggernaut isn't ready to relent yet.
Ones to watch: Victorique, Poplar, Mikuru, Kotomi
GROUP 10: I don't see much to say, really. Nagi fans will probably consider themselves lucky they didn't draw any of the big newcomers or the perennial favourites. Sit back and relax.
Likely qualifier: Nagi
GROUP 11: Uh, oh, looks like there's another 'Group of Death' in the mix! Tomoyo has always been performing well in ISML. C.C. has shown somewhat resilient suppsort. But Eucliwood's almost absurd popularity is still rising - this does not bode well for her competitors. Moe is in the eye of the beholder - clearly Eucliwood has quite a pile of them. While only one will get through this showdown, you'd expect all three to front up to the regular season.
Likely qualifier: Tomoyo, barely.
Ones to watch: Eucliwood, C.C.
GROUP 12: Some fair firepower here, but you'd expect Saber and Horo to be the main contenders for a fast qualifying. Saber seemed to be the beneficiary of the FSN movie - one would suspect that to remain true enough to get her past the jaws of the feisty feminine wolf-goddess. Yui could also see regular season action if flow-on effects from Kanade and Yuri are strong enough.
Likely qualifier: Saber
Ones to watch: Horo, Yui
GROUP 13: Make no mistake. This. Is. THE. THE! GROUP OF DEATH!!! You don't want a favourite of yours to be in this one. Some fanbases will be sweating on Phase 2 thanks to this colossal clash. As if Kyou and Fate weren't enough to create tension, the late year storm generated by Kirino is bound to wreak havoc on ISML this year and then some. Nomination results, the experts - they agree that Kirino is a MAJOR contender this year. Beware Triple K - and there's your first part of it. Throw in the Madoka girls and now you've got one monumental mess on your hands! It's all out war in this group - expect some people to get VERY upset as to how this group turns out. But expect a good deal of this group to make it to the regular season.
Likely winner: Kirino. Believe the hype. She will be a major threat full stop.
Ones to watch: Kyou, Fate, Madoka
GROUP 14: Take one look at Group 13. Then take a look at Group 14...Seriously, what the?! Considering the nuclear state of Group 13, Group 14 looks like a mere atom in the wide, wide universe. Lucky Star fans will be rapt their most consistent performer has a very easy path.
Likely winner: Kagami
GROUP 15: Again, what a difference a year makes. Scratch that, a few months even. Before October, Hitagi would have had this group in the bag. But now she's got the highest poller in nominations slowly walking past in her black dress, gentle voice and apt mind - Hitagi may be set to be shafted. Mafuyu may scrape in for another regular season showing. The second part of Triple K - Kuroneko, is ready to shake things up.
Likely winner: Kuroneko.
Ones to watch: Hitagi, Mafuyu
GROUP 16: The final group is definitely not the least interesting. Another 'Group of Death' is in the works here. Nadeko rode a wave of voting last year to make it to the final 16. Rin fell over at the last hurlde to make it to the 16. But now, damnation may be coming their way, hovering in with white wings and a very disarming face. Kanade, the final third of Triple K, is perhaps the biggest threat of them all. The clear overall favourite of Angel Beats fans, she is set for some serious action, some already flagging her as a Top 10 for the regular season. Kanade looks set to be the 'Angel of Death' in this group.
Likely winner: Kanade
Ones to watch: Nadeko, Rin
The full grouping lists for Phase 1 can be seen at http://www.internationalsaimoe.com/contestants/preliminary.php
Remember that voting starts on Feb 27 1500 GMT and that you have 24 hours to cast your vote. There are 3 phases for the prelims, so don't despair if your favourites don't all make it it straight away. Try and have fun with ISML this year. ;)
PS. Taking bets for when Shana is knocked out of ISML SE. :P j/k
Thursday 17 February 2011
2 21 11 (if you're US) aka 21 2 11(rest of world) - He will return...and he's not alone...
It's been a big couple of weeks for the WWE. After opening with a belter of 'first of the year episodes for Raw and Smackdown', things fell off quickly. Not to mention the Royal Rumble was the most disappointing in a long time...and being a fan of the Royal Rumble match, I was quite disgusted with the lack of intrigue or veiled storyline with 2011's installment.
But how things can change...and how Dixie Carter must be kicking herself for letting Hulk Hogan make the same mistakes of WCW days in TNA...and how Vince McMahon must be licking his lips...
Less than two weeks ago, the sudden turn of fortune surfaced. Booker T, who had left in 2007 and eventually wound up in TNA, made an 11th hour change of heart when the offer to rejoin TNA storylines was offered. Vince had made Booker T an offer too good to refuse - with the encouraging of Booker T's long time friend, The Undertaker. The double perk of being a commentator on Smackdown and a coach on the revived version of Tough Enough. The biggest cheers of the Royal Rumble were certainly for when Booker T made his surprise entry into the event, albeit brief. His appearance on Smackdown received applause - those who actually had the brains to know who he was (- and what a stroke of genius it was. Booker T provided the perfect foil for newly promoted commentator Josh Matthews to fire off salvos at Michale Cole, whose heel turn and promotion to commentate both Raw and Smackdown was certainly growing thin on a lot of people. Throw in 'Stone Cold' Steve Austin being announced as the head coach of Tough Enough - the drawcards required to generate momentum were in place. Come post Wrestlemania 27, you can be sure Tough Enough will get people interested simply to see Austin and Booker T back.
But as if that wasn't enough....the second bombshell landed in Anaheim, California on the 14th Feb edition of Raw. After 7 years away, he was back...THE ROCK. The Most Electrifying Man in Sports Etertainment History. The People's Choice. And the millions...and MILLIONS of The Rock's fans were in ecstacy as Dwayne Johnson stepped into the ring and let off a flawless, bombastic rant that blew the PG era out of the water and was anything but PG. Thank you, Rock...this has been long overdue...Jabronies, The Miz, John Cena...beware...you're on notice. The Rock is back...and he's really ticked off. If anyone is disgusted with the PG era and what it has done to the business - it's him. The Rock and Austin symbolised everything that was the WWE at its peak. Post-Benoit's demise, it has become somewhat a shell of what it once was. If rants like The Rock's will become more commonplace (hell they didn't even bother to censor most of it and he knew it), business is about to pick up, as Jim Ross would always say. The Rock will host Wrestlemania 27 - what else comes with it may be even more tantalising. (1.3 million views for that video in just 2 days...that's how big a deal it is)
They say good things come in threes...we're about to find out....February 21st 2011...and the culmination of Hulk Hogan's stupidity, will result in a coup for the WWE. It probably won't get as much recognition as the return of The Rock. But it is just as significant. Anyone who's watched even a little of wrestling would know damn well that one of the two figures in that video is The Undertaker. After a 2010 that was horrifically marred by legit injuries (accidentally being set on fire at the Elimination Chamber, having his facial bones broken by Rey Mysterio, a long recovery from a lingering shoulder injury started after his feud with Kane), The Undertaker will return in time for his pet event - Wrestlemania. 18-0 is surely bound to become 19-0. The likely victim is Kane...or is it...
For it is the 2nd person in the 2 21 11 promo that is the key to this. Who is it? Debate has been rampant since the video's airing, but over the last few days, facts and timing have been pooled together and all point to one likely person...STING. The Icon, The Franchise Player of the ex-WCW brand. And one of the first released people to reforge their name on TNA. Sting's longevity exceeds even that of the Undertaker. You take one look at his 19-time champion list and his persistent popularity in all-time polls - Sting is big business. In recent weeks, Steve Nash, Booker T and Sting all jumped ship from TNA. Steve Nash and Booker T both appeared in the WWE soon after. Logic would say Sting is also taking this step. After all, he is officially refered to as 'The most well-known professional wrestler to have never performed for WWE.'
Come Febraury 21, that may no longer be the case...The storyline going with The Undertaker was that Pallbearer sided with Kane last year to send The Undertaker into exile. Perhaps in his quest for revenge, the story will go that The Undertaker will return with backup...Whether Sting will actually perform in-ring or not, that is uncertain. If it is Sting that will emerge alongside The Undertaker on Feb 21, it will be a message to those who have ignored the old school for too long.
Miz fangirls, Cenation kids who hate anything that isn't Cena - beware...Playtime's over. The legends are returning to set things straight. And hopefully this will be the catalyst to send the WWE back in the right direction...we can only hope.
If this startling turn of events were to be done by an old Western showdown between Dixie Carter and Vince McMahon, Carter didn't just lose. She's been left crawling, near life support. McMahon just got some overdue revenge. And if the response is anything to go by, the WWE universe is giving thumbs up in droves.
Wednesday 16 February 2011
Minami-ke - the 4-koma diamond in the rough
Okay, this is a LONG review I did of Minami-ke. Don't have anything on the stove, iron, etc. if you plan to begin. ^^ Enjoy.
The 4-koma/slice of life style has suddenly become in vogue that studios desperate for prolonged success are flocking to churn them out like Prozac for the masses. My, how things have changed since Azumanga Daioh came out back in 2002 then nothing like it came out for quite some time. if someone had told me back then that 2009 and 2010 would be substantially dominated by 4 high school girls eating cake and occassionally playing music, I'd have laughed myself silly and I'm sure most people would have too. The atomic bomb of moe blobs, K-ON, exploded onto the scene in 2009 and it seems its effects will be felt for years to come. Mastering a simple yet highly profitable formula of lulling the viewer into a state that could be compared to wallowing in a volume of tryptophan equivalent to the Queensland floods in January, the style has suddenly become a cash cow. Working came soon after with similar results and more of its kind followed. Suddenly plot, character development and tension being essential components of a successful series were thrown out the window, replaced by tryptophan, happenings so placid you don't really feel anything at all and 'buy this merchandise!' In business terms, certainly it's effective, but in a creative sense it's like trying to pass off soft serve as creme brulee.
It's somewhat hard to believe that merely two years before this, Minami-ke had its first season come into existence in the anime realm. Unlike the 4-koma/slice of life series of today, Minami-ke prided itself on making things happen and evoking ample feelings but never getting full of itself. In short, a comedy series that goes back to the basics and excels like no other in providing laughs as well as warmth and fulfilment.
A good comedy is hard to find. Particularly one that is able to excel in itself and the characters in it, rather than rely on cliches, overloading moe, service or crudeness. It is very possible to make what seems normal and usually isn't funny into something that is funny. However, it isn't that easy. That requires a good cast of characters, proper timing, appropriate music and good animation.
The setting of providing a mainly female cast in a school + home setting has been done before, but to differing degrees of success. Lucky Star provided a very otaku-oriented style, particularly oriented to those familiar with Kyoto Animation/moe. It is an otaku's series with otaku jokes, otaku reference, etc. You had to be either a seasoned fan, an otaku or a moe junkie to get/like this. For those who could appreciate those mechanics, it was funny/cute. Personally I found it to be a scrawl and grew tired of cliched moe antics that are potentially worthy of Interpol’s attention. On the other hand, there's Haruhi Suzumiya, which had a very vibrant approach with a mix of lively, subdued and submissive personalities that made for interesting conflict. However, it also relied to much on moe/service antics. They're funny a few times, but by the time you see the gag for the fiftieth time before series' end, it begins to grow old. And again being an otaku-oriented series, it will appeal to only so many. Other similar series that come to mind are School Rumble and Earth Defender Mao-Chan – guilty of similar traits. And need I say what K-ON and Working have done to lower the bar yet raise the $$?
A better example would be, say, Azumanga Daioh. With a wacky cast, a carefree attitude and a mix of personalities so loaded in being silly, cute, intellectual, vibrant - there was always the potential for just about anything to happen - and it usually did, with good results. But if there was a flaw with Azumanga Daioh, it was that it did occasionally go a bit too far - particularly in the sexual sense. Plus the lack of males did restrict what was possible. And every now and then, the abstract humour went over even the most seasoned anime fan's head. Still, it has a bigger appeal. AD’s creator’s other work, Yotsuba&, is very similar but even more abstract, which is intriguing in some ways but very discomforting in others, which may explain why it hasn’t been animated and might never be.
(Deep breath)
Why mention all of this? I say this because Minami-ke seems to be very uninhibited by restrictions yet also knows where to draw the line. And for comedy, that's a very hard balance to achieve. It doesn't try to be over-the-top, genre-specific, too abstract, too sexual, too sugary or too moe. It follows the basic KISS principle - Keep It Simple Stupid. Heck, it even says it at the start of each episode!
'This is a simple depiction of the everyday life of the Minami sisters. Please try not to expect too much from it.'
And this is why Minami-ke works. It gives a healthy dose of many good things but never in excess. No primary character is used too much or too little. Secondary characters flow in and out without disruption but leave fitting impressions. It simply moves on at a consistent pace and is very upfront with what it sets out to do. To simply label it as a clone of Azumanga Daioh or Lucky Star is simply insulting. There is more than enough in this series that differentiates it from other comedy series of this style, which I will explain in great detail as I go on.
Minami-ke, as explained at the start of every episode, is an honest account of the lives of the three Minami sisters. That’s the story, right there. Without parents or relatives to take care of them, they rely on each other to get by and for support on several levels. Hence, despite having three very different personalities, they compliment each other very well and share very strong bonds of family and friendship that you just don’t get to see these days. They bring out the best in each other as well as the funny, cute, witty and heart-warming sides. It is a very character-driven series, so that is a better place to begin explaining the finer points of Minami-ke.
The eldest sister, Haruka, is somewhat naive, innocent and a free spirit in some senses. Not to mention she is very beautiful – in physique and personality. With her long, flowing blonde hair, her perky eyes, her ever-present sincere smile and the mature/cheerful lilt in her voice, it is virtually impossible to feel anything negative when in Haruka’s presence. However, despite these traits which may have led to her being a bit slack or vulnerable, the dependence her other two sisters have on her draws out the power in her to do what is necessary for the three of them. As a result, Haruka is a source of maternal strength, driven to be a good person and to enjoy her life in order to be able to support her sisters. One wonders how she may have turned out if the Minami sisters still had their parents. But the thought doesn’t last long, because the attraction to Haruka as a character is that her purpose is to fulfil the needs of others and to be a better person. Simple, maybe too optimistic. But there is something undeniably magnetic and very admirable about it. It is very hard to put aside one’s personal aspirations for the good of others, but Haruka is able to do that without compromising her own life. Some people draw fulfilment from those around them being in their lives and don’t need another reason to wake up every day and live life to their fullest. This is how Haruka works. The fact she has a normal life and two sisters to cherish is all she needs. She may be simple but she is such a glowing source of maternal love and positive energy, constantly warming those she values. And because she is very unaware of her effect on others, it is always natural and never loaded with ego or anything malicious, which also makes her very popular amongst her fellow students. Thus, Haruka is a very potent example of the true strength within females and someone her sisters and peers look up to. She doesn’t need ridiculous aesthetics, moe traits or an inflated ego. She is naturally beautiful – which is a rare thing to pull off, but with Haruka it is done exceptionally well.
(from left) Chiaki, Kana and Haruka - I wonder which one is having the most fun?
Chiaki, the youngest, is perhaps the best example of a precocious young girl who is exceptionally aware of the world around her, yet is still able to maintain her cute, innocent vibe. Chiaki doesn’t need moe features, a sugary voice or ridiculous aesthetics to pull this off. Instead, Chiaki is given a fairly sleepy, almost hypnotic expression on her face and a voice that is equally so. It’s as if she is lying dormant, waiting like a predator either to amaze with her sharp wit, lash out at stupidity (particularly to the middle sister, Kana) or to comfort/compliment Haruka. Her voice mulls over like she’s in a dream, handling obstacles in her way with ease and dishing out razor-sharp lines in a plentiful supply. It is this swaying from being the most insightful, stirring character with wisdom beyond her years, then reverting back to actions and habits more befitting of someone her age, that is the core of Chiaki’s charm. Two conflicting sides that are never in excess, resulting in a very intriguing young girl. Brimming with curiosity, never afraid to say what is really on her mind and acutely aware of what is really going on, Chiaki is a major source of humour, as she is the perfect foil to Kana. Certainly Chiaki and Kana require the other to give them that edge, which is why Chiaki ends up being so fascinating. Without Kana, perhaps Chiaki would have ended up very much like Haruka, which would have been a very sedate environment and weakened Haruka as a character as well. With Kana in the fold, Chiaki is forced to develop a serious side to resist Kana’s random antics and to provide visibile appreciation of Haruka’s efforts, which is also a foil to prevent Haruka’s innocent, maternal vibe from becoming too dominant. Which is why Haruka and Chiaki do get along very well. Chiaki’s ways give Haruka fulfilment that results in affection that gives one a moment of pause and a smile on the face. Similarly, Chiaki’s ways also give Kana moments of pause and cause her to fall into line when required, or explode with an even more potent counter that causes all hell to break loose between the two of them and outrageous laughter for the viewer. Either way, Chiaki provides a lot of entertainment.
Chiaki the teruterubouzu. Cost - making Haruka smile. Effective against rain, storms and Kana's angst.
That said, Kana is the true ‘entertainer’ of the trio. Sporting an eternally vacant/air-headed expression and pigtails more befitting of someone younger than her, always loaded with energy, unable to sit still or follow any concept of normal behaviour, Kana certainly is the ‘spanner in the works’. Where Haruka is very selfless and Chiaki is very considerate and grateful, Kana is rather self-obsessed, loud and impulsive – they very opposite of the other two. But that is a necessary role and then some. It is Kana which provides the majority of the conflict within the Minami family, which causes Haruka to be the stabilising, reliable force and for Chiaki to defuse Kana’s zany antics in a way only Chiaki can – or magnify them. Kana is the essential catalyst for the appeal in all three of the Minami sisters, so why she may not be the most likeable of them, she is still an integral part of the mix. Kana’s ability to turn a normal situation into an epic struggle against the odds, to be oblivious to the glaringly obvious, to unravel a scenario to ‘back to square one’ or to just fail in hilarious circumstances – unmatched. But perhaps the most important aspect is that Kana does have the occasional moment where even she is evidently grateful for Haruka’s eternal generosity and gives Chiaki a moment of pause. So why Kana might make you facepalm occasionally, she is the one that makes things interesting and makes Haruka and Chiaki more interesting, as well as several of the secondary characters. By their own admission, Haruka likes Chiaki for being the catalyst to create difference and fun within the Minami household and Chiaki likes nothing more than to poke fun at Kana. So in a very weird way, she provides an aspect that causes the Minami sisters to be even closer and more appreciative of each other. That is one of the most appealing and unique aspects of Minami-ke – that it relies on more human factors to be of interest rather than more clichéd/standard measures.
Kana - she wishes she was...
The animation style for Minami-ke is very pleasing. Well-defined lines give good grounding features for pastel-like colours. Such combinations are just perfect to illuminate Haruka’s natural beauty, Chiaki’s cute/dreamer nature and Kana’s energetic, airhead-like ways. Movement, expressions and shadows are handled well. Water and light effects are very good. My only gripe with the animation would be that the background animation seemed a bit slack overall, but that’s a minor quirk. As for the music, it’s a rather relaxing mix of piano, light woodwinds, calypso drums, mouth organ, xylophones, violin and triangle. Half of the time there isn’t background music, because it isn’t always necessary. It drifts in when needed for extra effect. Again, another superior aspect of Minami-ke – it never does things in excess. Both the opening and ending themes are very light, bouncy and very feminine, yet they are incredibly catchy and ideal for the type of series that Minami-ke is. "The Rise of the Value of Experience" is a fairly frenetic, cheesy piece but very uplifting. With chibi caricatures jumping in and out with little punch lines and throwing in an avalanche of random short moments of hilarity and warmth, it’s just perfect to get one in the mood for an episode and to lift one’s spirits during a bad day. While also a bit fluffy, "Colorful Days" is a more toned down and earnest affair to reflect the more sincere, loving side of Minami-ke, reflecting what a tight knit group the three Minami sisters are. Again, perfect. The voice acting is of a high quality, particularly from the three main characters. Sato Rina does Haruka’s warm, maternal voice with ease, Chihara Minori slips into Chiaki’s dreamer/hypnotic voice ever so easily, Inoue Marina gives Kana the energy and stupidity befitting of the character. Very pleasing to hear.
For secondary characters, there is a good cast. Fujioka, the nice guy most female students his age like, is really into Kana but his actions always end up being misinterpreted, to the point everyone but Kana likes him, which makes for some amusing squirming and pining on his part. Makoto, a male student in Chiaki’s class, has a major crush on Haruka but Chiaki thinks his stupidity almost mirrors Kana’s level, which causes Kana to make him cross-dress as a girl in order to get into the fold. The amusing fact is – it suits him better than when he’s dressed as a guy! He literally sounds more feminine and acts more feminine normally despite his protestations, so he pulls ‘the trap’ version of Mako-chan with ease and makes for plenty of hilarious moments, particularly when it involves Haruka. Touma, a fairly tomboyish girl in Chiaki’s year level, becomes Chiaki’s favourite project and she becomes a ‘reverse trap’ as Chiaki’s pseudo-brother. The funny part being she fits in ever so well into the Minami sisters dynamic as a result, it feels so right. Especially when her own family of three elder brothers, also called Minami, can’t mesh with her at all. Hosaka, a rather flashy, saucy, sort-of-perverted guy in Haruka’s year level, is hellbent on being the perfect person for Haruka and goes to crazy lengths to do so, but never once do his efforts get recognised. But his efforts make for very entertaining watching. The Minami sisters’ uncle ends up being more of a punching bag/comic relief than a supportive figure. The Minami brothers family gradually try to get close to the Minami sisters family, with plenty of spoofs and the like in result. It all works, but furthermore, the series manages to utilise male characters in several different ways – normal and in anime styles – to make the series even more entertaining. I can’t say any other comedy series that has females running the main parts has been able to utilise men anywhere near as well. So once again, Minami-ke establishes its own identity very well here.
(from left) Touma, Chiaki, Makoto - Remember, only one ISN'T a trap!
There are also plenty of little things that happen frequently that set Minami-ke apart from the others in its genre. Silent-movie type monologues as a build-up to a poignant/funny moment, GTO-style serious/foreboding faces when the sisters are up to something sinister or in a bad mood, the running TV sitcom Ninomiya-kun, mini-movies that actually work (particularly the dream cut scenes Hosaka has of being with Haruka), keeping humour simple (Chiaki’s epic adventure with kicking a pebble is just priceless), a very fulfilling ‘less is more’ approach (Haruka’s gradual build-up to showing off herself in a swimsuit in the beach episode is an epic moment. The nice, unassuming woman decides to take pride in her appearance for once, does so, looks absolutely stunning, provides the only breast-bounce moment for the entire series, which instead of making it crude and un-called for, turns it into a truly divine moment that every character feels privileged to have seen!). It is funny where other anime trademarks weren’t (only Minami-ke has made traps this funny!), it has provided far more character development than other series in its genre, which were more reliant on the comedy. The sisters actually feel more like ‘real’ females that what a guy wants to swoon over privately. It utilises everyday, realistic conflict for positive results. A bit of ‘real’ spice is so much better than pure sugar all the time. Its anti-fanservice habit of putting someone in the way of what would have been service, save for a few Haruka moments, make it feel clean and the few service moments feel so special, healthy and guilt-free as a result. And on re-watch, the jokes are still funny and the warm moments still feel warm.
This all combines to create a very refreshing series that is more that just a comedy – it is also about sibling love and developing this bonds in detail and with plenty of feeling. That is what truly sets Minami-ke apart from the rest of its genre – a point that can’t be over-emphasised.
Minami-ke is a brilliant example of a comedy and a slice-of-life series. It never tries to do anything in excess or to be something it isn’t. By providing an honest account of the three Minami sisters and their everyday lives, it creates a very rare level of fulfilment that makes one feel refreshed and very privileged to have watched a series done right. An underrated gem that never loses its appeal and is certainly of more value in a time where the genre has been converted into tryptophan sessions.
Overall rating: 9.7/10
The 4-koma/slice of life style has suddenly become in vogue that studios desperate for prolonged success are flocking to churn them out like Prozac for the masses. My, how things have changed since Azumanga Daioh came out back in 2002 then nothing like it came out for quite some time. if someone had told me back then that 2009 and 2010 would be substantially dominated by 4 high school girls eating cake and occassionally playing music, I'd have laughed myself silly and I'm sure most people would have too. The atomic bomb of moe blobs, K-ON, exploded onto the scene in 2009 and it seems its effects will be felt for years to come. Mastering a simple yet highly profitable formula of lulling the viewer into a state that could be compared to wallowing in a volume of tryptophan equivalent to the Queensland floods in January, the style has suddenly become a cash cow. Working came soon after with similar results and more of its kind followed. Suddenly plot, character development and tension being essential components of a successful series were thrown out the window, replaced by tryptophan, happenings so placid you don't really feel anything at all and 'buy this merchandise!' In business terms, certainly it's effective, but in a creative sense it's like trying to pass off soft serve as creme brulee.
It's somewhat hard to believe that merely two years before this, Minami-ke had its first season come into existence in the anime realm. Unlike the 4-koma/slice of life series of today, Minami-ke prided itself on making things happen and evoking ample feelings but never getting full of itself. In short, a comedy series that goes back to the basics and excels like no other in providing laughs as well as warmth and fulfilment.
A good comedy is hard to find. Particularly one that is able to excel in itself and the characters in it, rather than rely on cliches, overloading moe, service or crudeness. It is very possible to make what seems normal and usually isn't funny into something that is funny. However, it isn't that easy. That requires a good cast of characters, proper timing, appropriate music and good animation.
The setting of providing a mainly female cast in a school + home setting has been done before, but to differing degrees of success. Lucky Star provided a very otaku-oriented style, particularly oriented to those familiar with Kyoto Animation/moe. It is an otaku's series with otaku jokes, otaku reference, etc. You had to be either a seasoned fan, an otaku or a moe junkie to get/like this. For those who could appreciate those mechanics, it was funny/cute. Personally I found it to be a scrawl and grew tired of cliched moe antics that are potentially worthy of Interpol’s attention. On the other hand, there's Haruhi Suzumiya, which had a very vibrant approach with a mix of lively, subdued and submissive personalities that made for interesting conflict. However, it also relied to much on moe/service antics. They're funny a few times, but by the time you see the gag for the fiftieth time before series' end, it begins to grow old. And again being an otaku-oriented series, it will appeal to only so many. Other similar series that come to mind are School Rumble and Earth Defender Mao-Chan – guilty of similar traits. And need I say what K-ON and Working have done to lower the bar yet raise the $$?
A better example would be, say, Azumanga Daioh. With a wacky cast, a carefree attitude and a mix of personalities so loaded in being silly, cute, intellectual, vibrant - there was always the potential for just about anything to happen - and it usually did, with good results. But if there was a flaw with Azumanga Daioh, it was that it did occasionally go a bit too far - particularly in the sexual sense. Plus the lack of males did restrict what was possible. And every now and then, the abstract humour went over even the most seasoned anime fan's head. Still, it has a bigger appeal. AD’s creator’s other work, Yotsuba&, is very similar but even more abstract, which is intriguing in some ways but very discomforting in others, which may explain why it hasn’t been animated and might never be.
(Deep breath)
Why mention all of this? I say this because Minami-ke seems to be very uninhibited by restrictions yet also knows where to draw the line. And for comedy, that's a very hard balance to achieve. It doesn't try to be over-the-top, genre-specific, too abstract, too sexual, too sugary or too moe. It follows the basic KISS principle - Keep It Simple Stupid. Heck, it even says it at the start of each episode!
'This is a simple depiction of the everyday life of the Minami sisters. Please try not to expect too much from it.'
And this is why Minami-ke works. It gives a healthy dose of many good things but never in excess. No primary character is used too much or too little. Secondary characters flow in and out without disruption but leave fitting impressions. It simply moves on at a consistent pace and is very upfront with what it sets out to do. To simply label it as a clone of Azumanga Daioh or Lucky Star is simply insulting. There is more than enough in this series that differentiates it from other comedy series of this style, which I will explain in great detail as I go on.
Minami-ke, as explained at the start of every episode, is an honest account of the lives of the three Minami sisters. That’s the story, right there. Without parents or relatives to take care of them, they rely on each other to get by and for support on several levels. Hence, despite having three very different personalities, they compliment each other very well and share very strong bonds of family and friendship that you just don’t get to see these days. They bring out the best in each other as well as the funny, cute, witty and heart-warming sides. It is a very character-driven series, so that is a better place to begin explaining the finer points of Minami-ke.
The eldest sister, Haruka, is somewhat naive, innocent and a free spirit in some senses. Not to mention she is very beautiful – in physique and personality. With her long, flowing blonde hair, her perky eyes, her ever-present sincere smile and the mature/cheerful lilt in her voice, it is virtually impossible to feel anything negative when in Haruka’s presence. However, despite these traits which may have led to her being a bit slack or vulnerable, the dependence her other two sisters have on her draws out the power in her to do what is necessary for the three of them. As a result, Haruka is a source of maternal strength, driven to be a good person and to enjoy her life in order to be able to support her sisters. One wonders how she may have turned out if the Minami sisters still had their parents. But the thought doesn’t last long, because the attraction to Haruka as a character is that her purpose is to fulfil the needs of others and to be a better person. Simple, maybe too optimistic. But there is something undeniably magnetic and very admirable about it. It is very hard to put aside one’s personal aspirations for the good of others, but Haruka is able to do that without compromising her own life. Some people draw fulfilment from those around them being in their lives and don’t need another reason to wake up every day and live life to their fullest. This is how Haruka works. The fact she has a normal life and two sisters to cherish is all she needs. She may be simple but she is such a glowing source of maternal love and positive energy, constantly warming those she values. And because she is very unaware of her effect on others, it is always natural and never loaded with ego or anything malicious, which also makes her very popular amongst her fellow students. Thus, Haruka is a very potent example of the true strength within females and someone her sisters and peers look up to. She doesn’t need ridiculous aesthetics, moe traits or an inflated ego. She is naturally beautiful – which is a rare thing to pull off, but with Haruka it is done exceptionally well.
(from left) Chiaki, Kana and Haruka - I wonder which one is having the most fun?
Chiaki, the youngest, is perhaps the best example of a precocious young girl who is exceptionally aware of the world around her, yet is still able to maintain her cute, innocent vibe. Chiaki doesn’t need moe features, a sugary voice or ridiculous aesthetics to pull this off. Instead, Chiaki is given a fairly sleepy, almost hypnotic expression on her face and a voice that is equally so. It’s as if she is lying dormant, waiting like a predator either to amaze with her sharp wit, lash out at stupidity (particularly to the middle sister, Kana) or to comfort/compliment Haruka. Her voice mulls over like she’s in a dream, handling obstacles in her way with ease and dishing out razor-sharp lines in a plentiful supply. It is this swaying from being the most insightful, stirring character with wisdom beyond her years, then reverting back to actions and habits more befitting of someone her age, that is the core of Chiaki’s charm. Two conflicting sides that are never in excess, resulting in a very intriguing young girl. Brimming with curiosity, never afraid to say what is really on her mind and acutely aware of what is really going on, Chiaki is a major source of humour, as she is the perfect foil to Kana. Certainly Chiaki and Kana require the other to give them that edge, which is why Chiaki ends up being so fascinating. Without Kana, perhaps Chiaki would have ended up very much like Haruka, which would have been a very sedate environment and weakened Haruka as a character as well. With Kana in the fold, Chiaki is forced to develop a serious side to resist Kana’s random antics and to provide visibile appreciation of Haruka’s efforts, which is also a foil to prevent Haruka’s innocent, maternal vibe from becoming too dominant. Which is why Haruka and Chiaki do get along very well. Chiaki’s ways give Haruka fulfilment that results in affection that gives one a moment of pause and a smile on the face. Similarly, Chiaki’s ways also give Kana moments of pause and cause her to fall into line when required, or explode with an even more potent counter that causes all hell to break loose between the two of them and outrageous laughter for the viewer. Either way, Chiaki provides a lot of entertainment.
That said, Kana is the true ‘entertainer’ of the trio. Sporting an eternally vacant/air-headed expression and pigtails more befitting of someone younger than her, always loaded with energy, unable to sit still or follow any concept of normal behaviour, Kana certainly is the ‘spanner in the works’. Where Haruka is very selfless and Chiaki is very considerate and grateful, Kana is rather self-obsessed, loud and impulsive – they very opposite of the other two. But that is a necessary role and then some. It is Kana which provides the majority of the conflict within the Minami family, which causes Haruka to be the stabilising, reliable force and for Chiaki to defuse Kana’s zany antics in a way only Chiaki can – or magnify them. Kana is the essential catalyst for the appeal in all three of the Minami sisters, so why she may not be the most likeable of them, she is still an integral part of the mix. Kana’s ability to turn a normal situation into an epic struggle against the odds, to be oblivious to the glaringly obvious, to unravel a scenario to ‘back to square one’ or to just fail in hilarious circumstances – unmatched. But perhaps the most important aspect is that Kana does have the occasional moment where even she is evidently grateful for Haruka’s eternal generosity and gives Chiaki a moment of pause. So why Kana might make you facepalm occasionally, she is the one that makes things interesting and makes Haruka and Chiaki more interesting, as well as several of the secondary characters. By their own admission, Haruka likes Chiaki for being the catalyst to create difference and fun within the Minami household and Chiaki likes nothing more than to poke fun at Kana. So in a very weird way, she provides an aspect that causes the Minami sisters to be even closer and more appreciative of each other. That is one of the most appealing and unique aspects of Minami-ke – that it relies on more human factors to be of interest rather than more clichéd/standard measures.
Kana - she wishes she was...
The animation style for Minami-ke is very pleasing. Well-defined lines give good grounding features for pastel-like colours. Such combinations are just perfect to illuminate Haruka’s natural beauty, Chiaki’s cute/dreamer nature and Kana’s energetic, airhead-like ways. Movement, expressions and shadows are handled well. Water and light effects are very good. My only gripe with the animation would be that the background animation seemed a bit slack overall, but that’s a minor quirk. As for the music, it’s a rather relaxing mix of piano, light woodwinds, calypso drums, mouth organ, xylophones, violin and triangle. Half of the time there isn’t background music, because it isn’t always necessary. It drifts in when needed for extra effect. Again, another superior aspect of Minami-ke – it never does things in excess. Both the opening and ending themes are very light, bouncy and very feminine, yet they are incredibly catchy and ideal for the type of series that Minami-ke is. "The Rise of the Value of Experience" is a fairly frenetic, cheesy piece but very uplifting. With chibi caricatures jumping in and out with little punch lines and throwing in an avalanche of random short moments of hilarity and warmth, it’s just perfect to get one in the mood for an episode and to lift one’s spirits during a bad day. While also a bit fluffy, "Colorful Days" is a more toned down and earnest affair to reflect the more sincere, loving side of Minami-ke, reflecting what a tight knit group the three Minami sisters are. Again, perfect. The voice acting is of a high quality, particularly from the three main characters. Sato Rina does Haruka’s warm, maternal voice with ease, Chihara Minori slips into Chiaki’s dreamer/hypnotic voice ever so easily, Inoue Marina gives Kana the energy and stupidity befitting of the character. Very pleasing to hear.
For secondary characters, there is a good cast. Fujioka, the nice guy most female students his age like, is really into Kana but his actions always end up being misinterpreted, to the point everyone but Kana likes him, which makes for some amusing squirming and pining on his part. Makoto, a male student in Chiaki’s class, has a major crush on Haruka but Chiaki thinks his stupidity almost mirrors Kana’s level, which causes Kana to make him cross-dress as a girl in order to get into the fold. The amusing fact is – it suits him better than when he’s dressed as a guy! He literally sounds more feminine and acts more feminine normally despite his protestations, so he pulls ‘the trap’ version of Mako-chan with ease and makes for plenty of hilarious moments, particularly when it involves Haruka. Touma, a fairly tomboyish girl in Chiaki’s year level, becomes Chiaki’s favourite project and she becomes a ‘reverse trap’ as Chiaki’s pseudo-brother. The funny part being she fits in ever so well into the Minami sisters dynamic as a result, it feels so right. Especially when her own family of three elder brothers, also called Minami, can’t mesh with her at all. Hosaka, a rather flashy, saucy, sort-of-perverted guy in Haruka’s year level, is hellbent on being the perfect person for Haruka and goes to crazy lengths to do so, but never once do his efforts get recognised. But his efforts make for very entertaining watching. The Minami sisters’ uncle ends up being more of a punching bag/comic relief than a supportive figure. The Minami brothers family gradually try to get close to the Minami sisters family, with plenty of spoofs and the like in result. It all works, but furthermore, the series manages to utilise male characters in several different ways – normal and in anime styles – to make the series even more entertaining. I can’t say any other comedy series that has females running the main parts has been able to utilise men anywhere near as well. So once again, Minami-ke establishes its own identity very well here.
(from left) Touma, Chiaki, Makoto - Remember, only one ISN'T a trap!
There are also plenty of little things that happen frequently that set Minami-ke apart from the others in its genre. Silent-movie type monologues as a build-up to a poignant/funny moment, GTO-style serious/foreboding faces when the sisters are up to something sinister or in a bad mood, the running TV sitcom Ninomiya-kun, mini-movies that actually work (particularly the dream cut scenes Hosaka has of being with Haruka), keeping humour simple (Chiaki’s epic adventure with kicking a pebble is just priceless), a very fulfilling ‘less is more’ approach (Haruka’s gradual build-up to showing off herself in a swimsuit in the beach episode is an epic moment. The nice, unassuming woman decides to take pride in her appearance for once, does so, looks absolutely stunning, provides the only breast-bounce moment for the entire series, which instead of making it crude and un-called for, turns it into a truly divine moment that every character feels privileged to have seen!). It is funny where other anime trademarks weren’t (only Minami-ke has made traps this funny!), it has provided far more character development than other series in its genre, which were more reliant on the comedy. The sisters actually feel more like ‘real’ females that what a guy wants to swoon over privately. It utilises everyday, realistic conflict for positive results. A bit of ‘real’ spice is so much better than pure sugar all the time. Its anti-fanservice habit of putting someone in the way of what would have been service, save for a few Haruka moments, make it feel clean and the few service moments feel so special, healthy and guilt-free as a result. And on re-watch, the jokes are still funny and the warm moments still feel warm.
This all combines to create a very refreshing series that is more that just a comedy – it is also about sibling love and developing this bonds in detail and with plenty of feeling. That is what truly sets Minami-ke apart from the rest of its genre – a point that can’t be over-emphasised.
Minami-ke is a brilliant example of a comedy and a slice-of-life series. It never tries to do anything in excess or to be something it isn’t. By providing an honest account of the three Minami sisters and their everyday lives, it creates a very rare level of fulfilment that makes one feel refreshed and very privileged to have watched a series done right. An underrated gem that never loses its appeal and is certainly of more value in a time where the genre has been converted into tryptophan sessions.
Overall rating: 9.7/10
In the beginning...
Well, this has been a long time coming, but it’s time to get this rolling. To those that know me as Last Exile, Last Sinner, Cryogenics or Last Cryogenics – welcome to Thirteenth Step. A place where yours truly will discuss various things like anime, manga, music, wrestling, World of Warcraft, happenings within Australia and Planet Earth, along with other things that suddenly emerged from a swirling miasma of scintillating thoughts and turgid ideas. A place where one can catch up, feel free of the restraints of rep systems and to speak freely within the grounds of morality, common sense and rant like Kaiji as he is under siege by the zawa-zawa.
The name of this blog comes from my favourite album of all time – Thirteenth Step by A Perfect Circle. Perhaps what one would call the alter ego of Tool, where James Maynard Keenan would team up with a different lineup, be more bold with his lyrics and vocal tonality and create pieces that you would never see made by Tool. If you like Tool and have never heard anything by A Perfect Circle, do check them out.
The first background image I’m using is a lovely original by an artist whose work name is Tomose Shunsaku. Do check out more of his work – he is exceptional with use of colour, faces and lighting.
To get some discussion going, I’ll post a review of one of my favourite animes – Minami-ke, in the next post. In the coming days I’ll also get some discussion on wrestling going, a bit about music as well as a local issue that has been the hot topic of South Australia lately – high school bullying.
Let’s have some fun and some hearty discussion. May the wind be with you.
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