Hey everyone; apologies for my absence as of late; there has been alot less free-time available for me in general, since my hours at work recently increased alot; and I also purchased a copy of Rune Factory Frontier, which has been draining my time quite alot!
Within a couple of days I shall release a post for the new Winter 2010 Anime Season.
The draft is already started, so its just filling things in. Alot of pretty interesting stuff to look forward to.
Anyway, until then, here’s just a very brief post tonight with my two new wallpapers:
First up; its Aya Oshino. Not really a proper wall as more of a fairly quick photoshop:
As always, click the above to see it full size
Those whom have seen Bakemonogatari will probably recognise the above as Shinobu Oshino, the loli-vampire from that series. Basically, all I’ve done with these images is carefully alter their colour pallette. She was previously blonde, and is now pink haired.
The reason for this is because I recently started a new campaign for my RPG system, Aniventure, with a setting thats draws inspiration from Utsuro no Hako to Zero no Maria, Kagetsu Tohya, and Bakemonogatari. Most notably, the players are stuck in a Groundhog Day loop somewhat akin to the former two, and a world full of strange youkai somewhat like the latter, in an organisation that controls youkai.
Of course, they didn’t originally know this, and were told that they were in a simple high school setting, but have since figured out this is an illusion created by a Youkai, partly through aid of a strange transfer student, Aya Oshino. (whose name is mix of Aya Otonashi from ZeroMaria, and Shinobu Oshino from Bakemono, in tribute to both). This is the source of the character idea. I described her to have pink hair, and then made this to show them her looks, basically.
Anyway, they also figured out she’s a vampire, which is my reason for her breaking free of the groundhog loop and retaining her memories (though the players didn’t play them, their first gaming session was actually the 32nd loop of a certain day; and Aya has lived each one and remembered them all).
Secondly, we have my latest, a wall of Ryouko and Ryoushi from the Seven Friends of Ookami-san.
As always, click the above to see it full size
Another fairly simple job, taking these two vectors and making this, but one I rather enjoyed. I think the contrast between the cute Ryouko and determined Ryoushi is especially fun, since its sort of a reversal of their usual characters.
The Sakura patten just came pretty naturally to the equation, but it was rather difficult getting it to tile properly so it didn’t look atrocious since was not a naturally repeatable image. Theres actually about 14 tiles in there!
Thats all for now, but stay tuned.
Kara no Kyoukai, Garden of Sinners: Movie 6
Posted in Anime, First Impressions, Visual Novel, tagged Anime, Commentary, Fate/Stay Night, Horror, Kara no Kyoukai, Magic, Mindfuck, Previews, Thoughts, Truth and Conflict, Tsukihime on July 30, 2009| 1 Comment »
Eh, actually, I think I forgot to blog the previous Kara no Kyokai, didn’t I? Yeah…oh well…
This is the sixth one in the chain and is a bit shorter than Paradox Spiral (5), being only an hour long.
As I noted before, they call these episodes, but when each one lasts 50 to 120 minutes, I think they’re more like individual movies (they were shown in Japanese cinemas anyway).
This one includes 100% more Azaka for your enjoyment, as she is paired with Shiki on an assignment in her own magic school to catch a rogue magus who has killed someone with fairies (well, more accurately, made someone to kill themselves). Of course, Shiki is sent here by Touko because apparently her Mystic Eyes of Death Perception allow her to see the fairies they are tracking, which apparently, Azaka cannot. Strangely enough, however, Azaka seems to see the fairies (and block them with her mages fire) several times in the film, so I have to wonder whether this was a serious continuity error Nasu forgot about or whether it was intentional, and Touko actually just used this as an excuse to see what would happen if Shiki and Azaka, eternal rivals for Kokutou, were paired together. This would suit her personality, I guess, but then, Azaka also misses some fairies at times, so whatever…
I’d also say this one is a bit less grusome than the prior couple. Fewer rotting corpses, slightly more lighthearted plot and all that. Though we do get an exposure to all of Azaka’s incestuous feelings toward her brother, so I guess its just a different form of poison.
What did amuse me though is that Azaka’s thought that Shiki is a rival for Kokutou’s love actually seems to be false. Shiki riles her up about it alot, but never actually seems to be bothered about it. I guess that kills all the obvious evidence for Kokutou x Shiki. I can almost hear the shippers screaming. Though the sexual tension of Strawberry Hagen-Daaz incident is still there from the first movie, I suppose.
Azaka gets to play the Kawaii card a hell of a lot here as well. But then, I guess she is the episode focus, so whatever.
I did like the Gods Word guy. That’s a fun magic concept, making anything you say become true. Saying ‘You cannot See Me!’ and suddenly, they can’t. Logromancy, I suppose. It completely foils Shiki’s usually infalliable eyes and makes her rather inneffective this episode, which is quite a rarity.
I also lol’ed that Seo, from Kagetsu Tohya, showed up. Though she may well be in the actual novels and it was actually Kagetsu that stole her from here, I don’t know…
Araya also shows up again to be deliberately creepy, witnessing a cannibalism thing at the end.
Anyway, here’s some shots:
Well, you should be!! Jeez, woman…its like Sister Princess all over again.
Wow, that looks dodgy. Azakas little speech about loving forbidden things is really true! LOL.
Prototype Rin! (in case it isn’t obvious, Azaka was the template for Rin from Fate Stay Night. Especially the delicious Tsundere aspects. She was also probably a bit of an influence on Akiha with the brother love tendancies.)
Nothing. Nothing at all. As a side note, do you prefer ‘Shiki-sama no Miteru’ or ‘Maria-sama no Kyoukai’? This episode certainly seems to steer in that direction from time to time, ROFL.
For some reason, I noticed that Azaka crashing onto her bed was really well animated. There was bounceback and flailing of limbs and all that, as there should be. Most animated sequences of this regard seem to percieve beds as being made of concrete.
Gwaaaahhhhh! Definately an Akiha vibe going on there, with the vermillion hair as she pours mage fire everywhere.
And suddenly, Kawaii!
This guy just ate somebody (no really!).
Hmm, well that was a fun episode. I look forward to more Kara no Kyokai, as always.
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