Happy Thanksgiving! + Kamonegix Full Dance Video

Happy Thanksgiving to all my Canadian readers! :D

So, lack of motivation has caused me to not blog in the past 2 months. @.@ I am slowly getting back into the groove of blogging, so be prepared for some AKB0048 episode reviews. I have other blog post ideas in the works, which will be more on the informative side like my Idol Auditions in Japan post. 

Lately, I have been thinking about what dances to cover. I pick a song, and then download all the videos I can find, but not one video is good enough to follow (unless you are watching dance shot versions from Hello! Project groups). Watching 4 different videos 20 times to learn a dance is very time-consuming and slightly annoying. 

As I have been really into NMB48's latest single "Kamonegix" (カモネギックス), I decided to make a video focusing on the dance to simplify the life of anyone who was planning on covering it, but could not find a good reference video. There is a "Dancing Version MV" of this song, but I think the editor got way too fancy with how many camera angles they had. Using 3 different camera angles in the span of 2 seconds is unnecessary and does not particularly help those learning the dance. 

Without further ado, here is the full dance version of NMB48's "Kamonegix":

AKB0048 Opening

Sorry for disappearing for a few months (this will be explained in another blog post.)

Without further ado, here is another AKB0048 review! I know I should be starting to review the 2nd season, but I think the opening deserves a review as well. It will also provide a nice recap of the first season, as well as cover anything that was not mentioned in the series, especially the back stories of each of the 75th and 77th generation of understudies. There is surprisingly a lot of hints to what will be covered in the 2nd season.

(Taken from AKB48 documentary "No Flower Without Rain")

AKB0048 Ep 13

I have finally made it to the last episode of the first season! 

The episode starts with Tsubasa informing the understudies that they will not be able to continue the concert on Lancastar because DES is coming after them. Everyone is upset, and Yuuka is the one that brings up the possibility that Lancastar will be completely under the Entertainment Ban if they do not finish the concert. This means that they will never be able to come back to Lancastar. 

After the understudies have successfully come back to the Katyusha, Tsubasa is not sure what to do and remembers what Acchan said about performing at a concert where no one is waiting for them:

MV Review: Takahashi Minami - Jane Doe

Time for another music video review! I received such a great response from my first music video review, so I will be continuing this type of review. :D This time, I am reviewing AKB48's General Manager, Takahashi Minami, solo debut single, "Jane Doe," which is being used as the theme song for the drama "Saki."

AKB0048 Ep 12

So we last left off with all the understudies trying to get away from DES forces. However, Orine trips and is attacked by the machine she worked with in the factory with the name "Sakura" engraved on it. Orine thinks the following as she faces a shocking reality: 

Recent Anime Song Covers: Otome Game Style

My recent song covers have all been the opening songs of animes that are based on otome games. ^_^" So far, I have covered Hakuoki and Amnesia, and I have at least two more songs planned. Can you guess from which series? ;)

Hakuoki OP - "Izayoi Namida" by Yoshioka Aika

I reviewed 5 out of the 6 characters in "Hakuoki: Demon of the Fleeting Blossom" game, so I was excited to watch the anime and see whose path the anime will focus on. Surprisingly, the anime seems to be going down everyone's path, but with slightly more focus on Hijikata's. (I will blog about Hijikata's story in the game eventually, so please wait a bit longer for those who have been reading them.) I have yet to watch the second season of the anime, but the anime seems to combine all the games together as there are scenes that are not in "Demon of the Fleeting Blossom," but actually in the fandisk called "Hakuoki ~Zuisouroku~" where you can see extra CGs and even side routes that you do not have a chance to see in the main game.

MV Review: ºC-ute - Crazy Kanzen na Otona (with English Translations)

I have always wanted to review music videos, and ºC-ute's new single, "Crazy Kanzen na Otona" (Crazy, Complete Adult) inspired me to do so. 

The title screen gives the feel that this is going to be a mysterious MV (with all the purple and the clouds). 

(Read more for Romaji and English translations!)

AKB0048 Ep 11

The episode starts out with the successors singing "To be continued" for the encore on Akibastar. Just as Yuuko asks the audience if they enjoyed the performance, an important announcement is shown on screen:

The crowd is excited, but Nagisa, Orine, and Yuka are in shock that a 0048 concert will be held on their home planet. Another announcement is made concerning the concert: 

AKB0048 Ep 10

The episode starts out with Tsubasa informing Sensei-sensei about the concert at Tundrastar, and how it was a success because of the 77th generation. Sensei-sensei responds with his glowing eyes, and a tune playing out of nowhere. The Kiraras start glowing, and Tsubasa has a feeling that the time has come for something. 

The 77th generation are in the cafeteria where Makoto shows them the charm of putting butter and soy sauce on top of her rice for a "delicious" high-calorie meal. As Makoto eats her creation, Tsubasa walks in and announces to all the members that they will be doing a gravure photoshoot this weekend, and this includes the understudies. Yuka asks if they will be wearing swimsuits again, and Tsubasa says "of course." Nagisa is embarrassed, while Orine wants to wear a one-piece this time. Makoto stops eating for obvious reasons. (Concerned about her figure, especially in a swimsuit.) Yuuko asks where the photoshoot will be, and Tsubasa says that it will be on Atamistar. Yuuko has a stern expression on her face, and then suddenly becomes all cheery saying that the photoshoot obviously would not be anywhere else. 

Shoujo Manga Review: Asa mo, Hiru mo, Yoru mo

I cannot seem to stop myself from reading mangas lately... @.@ The manga I finished reading is called "Asa mo, Hiru mo, Yoru mo" by Aoki Kotomi. 

The story is about Suetsugu Shinobu, a girl who was raped near the end of middle school, and Yokomizo Jun, who Shinobu thinks has the same face as the guy who raped her. Jun does not understand why Shinobu has the look of fear in her eyes and starts to cry when she sees him. Shinobu also tries to stay away from guys as much as possible, and so many people think that she just hates guys. (I can't say anymore because it would just be spoilers. >.<)

AKB0048 Ep 9

This episode starts with Tsubasa informing the members about the current situation on Tundrastar, and how DES is not holding back. An aerial concert on the Flying Get is too risky, but Tsubasa assures the members that they will find a way to hold a concert on this planet, especially with the help of the WOTAs, who are currently asking local supporters for help and gathering intelligence on any possible weak points in DES' security. Tsubasa thanks the WOTA for their work, and one WOTA is particular excited. 

It seems that the WOTA on the left is a huge Mariko-sama fan. But Tsubasa terminates the transmission before the WOTA finishes his sentence. The understudies are slightly confused by a WOTA calling Tsubasa "Mariko-sama." Tsubasa tells the successors to double-check their formations, while the understudies are to get changed and start warming up. Takamina tells the girls to show some spirit, but Tsubasa quickly points out Takamina's condition. 

Tsubasa points out that it may be the only time AKB0048 will get to perform on this planet, and so it is important to show the most spectacular concert ever. Takamina is not well enough to be able to fulfill that role, so Tsubasa tells Kanata to replace Takamina in the concert. Of course, the successors and the understudies are in shock, but for two different reasons. (I think it is evident that Takamina wants to perform because she does not want to give up her dream to Kanata.)

Shoujo Manga Review: Boys' Kingdom

Like I said in my post on W-Juliet, I am currently looking for mangas that make me go "doki doki" (heart thumping or heart beating fast). I happen to come across "Boys' Kingdom" by Oda Aya. The art looked okay, and it was only one volume, so I decided to give it a read. Surprisingly, I liked it a lot. I noticed some comments that it was fast paced, but I think it is more that the mangaka did not waste anytime and just went from one thing to the next. 

The story is about Himeno, a girl who is transferring to a school that used to be an all-boys school but is now co-ed. The reason she is transferring to this particular school is because her parents got divorced, and in order for her to stay in her mother's custody, she needs to be enrolled in school. However, she does not want to burden her mother with tuition fees, so Himeno obatins a scholarship at this school, which was pretty much giving away scholarships to any girl that would want to enroll to increase its female student population (of course, she does not know about that part). 

Shoujo Manga Review: W-Juliet

Over the holidays, I read some mangas that I read a long time ago, but never had the chance of finishing. The one that I remembered wanting to finish reading the most was "W-Juliet" by Emura. The story is about a boy named Narita Makoto, who wants to become an actor. However, since he is the only son in his family, he has to succeed the family's dojo. Because of his passion for acting, he agrees to the following deal set by his father: if Makoto is able to disguise himself as a girl and graduate from high school without anyone finding out, then his father will allow him to be free to pursue an acting career. 

So Makoto changes his name to Amano Makoto and transfers to a new, non-elite, high school in his 2nd year, and immediately joins that school's drama club, which is where he meets Miura Ito, a tall tomboy-ish girl who wants to become an actress in action movies. Things happen, and Ito finds out that Makoto is a boy, but promises to keep his secret. You then follow the two as they dodge obstacles and jump over hurdles as it comes their way such as rivals, fiancées, and those who want to expose Makoto's secrets. 

Cover of volume 1
Ito is on the left with her tomboy-ish short hair, and Makoto is on the right with his long-flowing wig

AKB0048 Ep 8

This episode starts out with the concert where the 4 selected understudies were chosen to replace the successors that went to a peace ceremony. 

Kanata, Chieri, Mimori, and Megumi performing "Aitakatta"

The 77th generation cheer on their fellow understudies, while Ushiyama-sensei and Tsubasa watch from behind. Sonata cheers on Kanata, while Yuka thinks how amazing Chieri is. Ushiyama-sensei comments how the selected understudies are not half bad, while Tsubasa notices the 77th generation doing the hand movements for "Aitakatta," even though they should not have learned the song yet. Ushiyama-sensei tells her that the 77th generation were so persistent about watching in on the practices that he let them have some practice space.