Starskysea In reply to Nichii [2008-08-31 16:00:39 +0000 UTC]

Nooo, I don't know the guy from Kenshin, though I probably will, soon enough...I'm coming to realize that you have VERY good tastes in anime and manga. For instance, I just started watching Samurai Champloo (I'm about halfway through the first episode) and I absolutely love it! Everything about it is pure amazingness. THANK YOU!!

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Nichii In reply to Starskysea [2008-08-31 16:15:56 +0000 UTC]

Haha...glad to hear that
Kenshin is kinda gory though and gloomy at times but beautiful all the same♥

I can proudly announce that I finished reading MARS, also Marmelade Boy and I started Fruits Basket though I stopped reading that when I read on Wiki that Honda is going to end up with that cat boy instead of Yuuki!!!
Why not Yuuki? Yuuki is cool

And now I'm reading KouKou again...that's like my third time but I can't help it. I just discover new awesome sides to it every time I read it
*swoones*

Yay! Samurai Champloo! Who do you prefer? Jin or Mugen?
I personally like Fû *haha*

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Starskysea In reply to Nichii [2008-09-10 23:57:13 +0000 UTC]

First off, a real answer IS coming up. I should have warned you, but I'm so used to the fact that all my friends know about this already that I forget to tell you...I'm a crappy correspondent. Everyone who's ever written e-mails to me is aware of this. I suck.

Anyway, I was listening to Obokuri Eeumi while doing my math homework, and was thinking about how utterly well-suited it was for Mugen's backstory. Ikue Asazaki has something magical in her voice that conveys his pain with acute perfection: it portrays his character so deeply and intricately, because really, inside the bratty, egocentric Mugen lies this lonely wasteland which he has to tread every day with, fighting every second to remain sane.

And I think that answers your question, too I like Mugen most, although all the characters surprise me in how incredibly realistic they are, especially Fuu, to whom I can attribute no common stereotype! She's whiney, selfish, a complete airhead and possesive of the people she loves while stubbornly refusing to acknowledge it. She can be kind, but she can also be a complete jerk. She has a strong sense of values which pushes her towards helping people, and makes her very compassionate. She, like all people, just wants to be loved and acknowledged. She's not a hero. She's simply human.
I am utterly fascinated by Fuu. One of the most convincing, multifaceted and REAL characters I have ever seen in manga/anime. A true masterpiece. I could rant about her for ages.

And Mugen is...well, I like characters who are consistently strong and SHOW it. I like how Mugen invariably wins his fights and clings to life with almost animalistic obstinacy. I like his vices as much as his virtues. I like how he never backs down from a challenge, always charging into life like biting a chunk out of an apple, with resolution and pleasure. I like how unafraid he is, and how, despite his bad manners and crudeness, he has a strong sense of justice and is not afraid to use it when he feels like it. Plus, he's unbelievably hot

I like Jin too, but less than the others, probably because Jin himself is not as visible and 'in your face' as his two traveling comrades. He's a bit...bland. Though still utterly lovable!

Kenshin is the next manga on my list I'm coming to learn that I can majorly trust your advice.

Okay, I don't want to sound obnoxious, but I MUST put in use my superior japanese skills (hah...as if!) to point out a slight mistake on your part. Yuki's name is written with one 'u' only, to indicate how it is pronounced. It's crazy how his name fits him though, considering Natsuki only gave it to him randomly. The kanjis litterally mean 'a reason to hope', and yuki can also mean snow or (in the case of 'yuuki' courage. He starts out being cold and insensitive like snow, but with Tohru's help finds the courage to speak up and make friends.
And yeah, Yuki is cool. Him and Kyo have been some of my biggest manga crushes ever. Both of them absolutely kick ass and provide wonderful material for fanfiction or just profound character analysis. But you'll find later on in the manga (if you haven't found already...you've probably already finished the series), that Tohru ending up with Kyo is really the best choice. Yuki just doesn't...see her that way. I don't want to spoil anything if you haven't gotten that far yet, so I'll just conclude with a big 'you'll see'

Congrats on finishing MARS! Was it an enjoyable read?

And you know what? I think, before starting Kenshin, I'll re-read KouKou too. It's just too good of a manga to stay away from long...plus, I need to check for updates!

Anyway, you'll get news from me soon! I'm sorry I went all dead-ish for a while and didn't write :S

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Starskysea In reply to Nichii [2008-08-19 21:57:51 +0000 UTC]

Yo!

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Nichii In reply to Starskysea [2008-08-19 22:22:44 +0000 UTC]

Just one last statement for tonight (actually, it's morning already but whatever):
Your comments are very entertaining to read! So funny and well written

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Starskysea In reply to Nichii [2008-08-19 22:31:31 +0000 UTC]

Thank you ^^

Just one last thing before I get back to reading KKD: That girl...that creepy stalker horrible terrible awful two-faced lying scum girl whose name I didn't remember and don't even want to think about...I hate her! HATE HERRR!!!!! I THOUGHT THIS WAS A NO-MISERY MANGA!!!!! *rips herself to shreds from worrying*

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Nichii In reply to Starskysea [2008-08-19 22:41:03 +0000 UTC]

Welcome to the club!
I hated her as well. Couldn't understand how her brother was so sweet and just because she is ugly as god-knows-what, she's acting like such a...mean person.

Yes...she definately needs a makeover and hook up with that first year who kissed Haruna...just whoever...as long as she stays away from Yoh

Haha!

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Starskysea In reply to Nichii [2008-08-19 23:14:59 +0000 UTC]

Haha, I don't think she even deserves the first year who kissed Haruna I'm so glad her arc is finally finished! Thank god for short story arcs, KouKou Debut! And now they've finally started exploring the sex topic. :S When I read the bit about the overnight trip, my brain litterally went: *twitch* *twitch*. But now, I'm really wondering what is going to happen. Which is more of a reason for the update to COME OUT THIS WEEK, GODDAMMIT


And zomggggggg...after reading your signature, I thought 'hmmm, does she speak german or did she just find that sentence randomly and use it because she thought it looked cool?'. So I went on your profile and YOU'RE FROM GERMANY! *see my jaw drop to the floor in shock* That's so awesome!

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Nichii In reply to Starskysea [2008-08-20 08:17:33 +0000 UTC]

Yeah, the overnight trip! I bet there is going to be some commotion *hehe*
Yoh is awesome...Haruna is awesome...ah well. Let's just say that the whole manga is pure awesomeness. What do you think is goint to happen?

Haha, I thought it was pretty obvious that I'm not a native English speaker (unless you have only pretended to read my texts thoroughly )
Lol


I went to "Wicked" last year and that's where the quote is from
Love "Wicked"

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Starskysea In reply to Nichii [2008-08-20 14:35:24 +0000 UTC]

Do you think they'll do it? I don't think they will...considering how slow the whole relationship thing has been taken. But I really hope the author will come up with something non-cheesy for the whole scene, or it'll be another seance of head-grabbing and moaning for me

No! In fact, I thought you lived in the US or some other english-speaking country. I've seen real native English speakers talk so much worse than you, and I was overjoyed to find someone with good grammar and who doesn't cut down on adjectives and adverbs No, I was surprised because you're grom germany, precisely. It's kind of funny because I speak german and have a friend who went off to live in germany (Munchen, if I remember correctly), but it's so rare that I meet german people in every day settings.

Ohhh, I didn't know you were into 'Wizard of Oz' stuff Never seen the musical (I don't have the patience for that much singing ), but I've heard it's really good. I'm glad you liked it

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Nichii In reply to Starskysea [2008-08-20 14:52:07 +0000 UTC]

Hmmm...will they do it? Good question. My guess would be: No.
I mean, she thinks she is ready but then again, she isn't really. And I'm convinced that the author wants this to be a moment to remember for her characters so it wouldn't make sense to get them into bed when even only one of them feels insecure about it.
I could imagine a scene where Yoh is very close to her, touching her and all and she is about to strip when she suddenly hesitates and he notices it. As the gentlemen he is, he just leaves it for now and they will wait until Haruna is absolutely ready for it
Something like that.

And then of course there has to be some slapstick, so how about she ends up in the wrong onsen (isn't that where they were going?)...and accidently sees Yoh stripping or some other males.
I bet the upcoming scenes are full of self-consciousness. I'm very much looking forward to it.
I only wish that the manga would never end *sigh*


I'm not really an expert when it comes to manga...and I recently discoverd all those sweet school life and romantic ones that make my heart melt
When I was younger, I was very much into Arina Tanemura (I still am) but sometimes her stories are weird and the characters aren't very authentic. But her drawing style is great.
I also loved Clamp (Card Captor Sakura, Wish, Magic Knight Rayearth) and I had to have all those mangas but not anymore...since you can find them online...
Are there any specific mangas that you can recommend?

Aaaah...you make me blush *nohooo*
The only reason why my English isn't THAT bad is because I spent a year in America when I was 16*hehe*
How I wish that I could go back...so much yet to discover!

Oh! You speak German? I find it a rather hard language to learn...did you learn it at school or taught yourself?
Let's hear something!

Yeah...well, up until last November I wasn't really into OZ and all that but the musical was just too good. Now I've read the book and watched the movie once more...though I personally prefer the Wicked storyline...Dorothy is such an annoying brat *ugh*

Okay...that was kinda long. I better set off now, ciao~

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Starskysea In reply to Nichii [2008-08-21 03:08:32 +0000 UTC]

I know! It's all about the slapstick. But I was kind of disappointed the subject came up in the first place. I mean, there are some things the author draws which are completely new, but others that have been done in practically every shoujo in existence (and I've been reading a lot of them lately...I think I worked my way through three just today, and they all butted against the topic -_-"). Which is why I want the author to deal with it in a super original way.

Though I like your theory too The one thing I CAN'T see them doing is actually going through with it.

Yeah, I wish it would never end, too. It was like that for Fruits Basket. I kept waiting for the next volumes to come out, but when it was finally over and done with, I mourned I'll never be able to read it again without the impending feeling of doom that comes with knowing a series is already over. But it doesn't look like KKD is anywhere near its closure. I'm sure we have at least twenty chapters left to go until things start rushing towards the end. Let's just look forward to what's coming without any sad thoughts *gives watery yet inspirational smile*

Ohh, I just googled Arina Tanemura, and she's the one who did 'Full Moon wo Sagashite' (which is a manga I read a while ago and rather enjoyed). No wonder the name sounded familiar!
Heh...it's weird because all those CLAMP mangas you mentioned are the ones I didn't read. I'm currently following Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicles (which is a...hmm...AU 'Card Captor Sakura' with characters from many of their other series making it huge mish mash of wonderfulness), and have read her other stuff, like xxxHolic, Angelic Layer and my personal fave: Chobits! (you can't find any cuter than Hideki and Chii. They are one blush-tastic couple)

And I've read quite a lot of shoujos, especially in the last few months (I've discovered onemanga.com <3 it's the reason behind my sudden manga-reading spree), but many of them are fairly average (stereotyped characters, similar storylines etc.). If you liked cute high school stories, I would recommend anything by Wataru Yoshizumi (though especially 'Marmalade Boy' and 'Mint na Bokura'. Another good shoujo writer is Yuu Watase (her best work being, imo, 'Zettai Kareshi'--Absolute Boyfriend. A touching tale that is all about romance from start to end, but also one of those stories that makes you think and, more importantly, feel).
And if we're going by my personal absolute and total favorites--the mangas I rate five stars without a shadow of a doubt--it would be NANA (not a high school tale, more of a 'real life' story with all of its ups and downs, which is what makes it so realistic and absolutely amazing. also, the drawings rock!), MARS (this manga just takes my breath away. shoujo, high school, but so goddamn deep in many ways) and Fruits Basket, which is a touching, enchanting yet very intricate and fascinating story with VERY well-developed characters that will make you love them almost instantly.

And that's just for starters. I can write you a whole list if you are ever thus inclined

WHEN you were sixteen? O.O I just turned sixteen a few days ago -_-" How old are you???

Und ja, ich spreche Deutsch. Das komische ist das heute, nur ein oder zwei Tage nach ich mit dir zu sprechen anfing, hat mir eine Freundin gescrieben um zu sagen das wir haben beide unser DSD 2 Prüfung geschafft und kriegen unser zweiter Diplom! Ich bin so froh!!! Du hast mir sicher Glück gebracht!!

(sorry about any grammar mistakes...I suck at the whole Dativ/Akkusativ, and with the der-die-das. I'm also not sure if I conjugated 'anfangen' right, because I never did my homework on verb tenses *blushes*)

The way I learned German was...peculiar. When I was a kid, my mom was obsessed with me learning languages (even though she didn't speak them herself). So she found this German radio for children (Bayern Kinderradio), and I listened to it every day for YEARS. I also read a few books and watched two shows on TV to help me learn ('Guten Tag' and the other one...with the guy who keeps sitting on the red couch, and with the little clips of Marion and her family, the name of which I forgot :S). Then I found a way to get into a German class (to learn all the grammar and stuff…see how far THAT got me :S), which got me into doing my DSD exams and get my diplomas. Basically, you could say I’m an autodidact  (and that sounds way more geeky than it is )

You can’t blame her. ‘Wizard of Oz’ is a childrens book, so naturally the characters aren’t going to be the epitomes of depth and multi-facetedness. Even less in the movie But I’ve noticed that many books that are ‘rewrites’ of fairytales or parallel novels tend to be better than the original stories. In the case of ‘Wicked’, this is especially true, since it was written by Gregory Maguire, who is the master for these kinds of things (I read his ‘Confessions of an Ugly stepsister’, which is basically a re-writing of Cinderella from the point of view of the stepsister and set in seventeenth-century Holland, and which is a finely constructed and thought-provoking tale). I’ve noticed he likes to write from the bad guy’s point of view and sort of de-evilize the character he has chosen. It’s quite fascinating.

And okay, this has stretched to waaayy beyond long. I’m probably boring you. I’m sorry, I tend to be fairly verbose! I’ll shut up now…

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Nichii In reply to Starskysea [2008-08-22 08:34:08 +0000 UTC]

Wow, that is one long reply

I'm rereading KouKou right now...so wonderful! I am suprised at how much I have alread forgotten.
There was no update this week
I wonder if it is because there was a holiday in Japan...
I want more.

Fruits Basket...I've never read that, though I certainly wanted to but OneManga has suspended it. No Fruits Basket for me

Clamp are wonderful, aren't they?
I always find it interesting how different there works. The soft lines of CCS compared to the heavy lines of MKR or X. Absolutely amazing.
Angelic Layer was a good one (I should read that again) and I also like the style used in Tsubasa Resvoir Chronicles! But I stopped reading it...I always find it difficult to dig into to complex world of a Clamp manga. I guess I will proceed when I feel like I have the time and the patience
I also started Chobits but never continued...don't know why though.
I guess I'm just more into the soft bubbly world of Shoujo manga right now.
My first manga ever was Sailor Moon...back then I didn't even know that it was one. I just thought it was awesome, since I loved the series so much.
The followed Dragon Ball (with that I discoverd the Japanese style of reading).
That was a good ten years ago *sigh*
I also loved Neon Genesis Evangelion. Though I first watched the Anime and then started collecting the manga...a very complex series (haha, love it when Asuke speaks German)

Oh, I'm 20 right now, btw.^^

Wow, your German is pretty good! I'm surprised at how well your sentence structure is.
And I guess that you probably know more about German grammar than I do
Dafür, dass du dir das selbst beigebracht hast, ist das wirklich wirklich gut!
Herzlichen Glückwunsch zur bestandenen Prüfung! Good job!!!

Lol, there was a German radio? Sounds like fun.

When I first read Wicked (which was after I saw the musical) I though:"Uh...what!? That's not how it happened in the musical!"
Though I was certainly prepared for it to be very different.
Only I thought is that the ending kinda sucked. I so desperately wished that that Scarecrow was Fiyero
Poor Elphie!
I also hated Nessa in the book (well...and in the musical). She should have been named the wicked witch. I read that the book somehow compares to Nazi Deutschland. I can see how...
That other book sounds interesting. Added it to my list of books yet to be read

Okay, I shall end this reply now.

Ich wünsche noch einen schönen Tag

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Starskysea In reply to Nichii [2008-08-25 16:23:28 +0000 UTC]

It’s odd, because just today I went through the shoujous in my ‘update’ folder, and half of them have new chapters added yesterday! I was so glad! Sadly, KouKou isn’t among them

I remember there used to be Furuba manga scans on Spectrum Nexus…wait, I’ll look it up.

(roughly five minutes later)

They’ve already taken it down on the Spectrum (cruel TokyoPop!), buuut I’ve found a website where they still, miraculously, have it Here’s the link: [link] I’d recommend you to hurry up with reading though, cause it can be suspended any moment.

Yes, Clamp are awesome. I admire their style so much and, as a person who loves drawing, I’ve studied their stuff quite a lot. I’ve constantly put in awe by the way they do face perspective in manga style pictures: something I personally only manage to do on and off. Getting the eyes and the nose and the mouth all in line harmoniously with the contours of the face and the hairline from any angle…it’s a challenge

I remember trying to read Sailor Moon and not being able to stomach it :S My very very first manga, if I recall correctly, was Alice 19th, volume 2 or 4 (probably 4). I remember having so much trouble with the inversed reading direction…now, it’s like second nature for me. I switch from left to right to right to left with ease. Comes from reading all those mangas for the past three-odd years

Speaking of German…did you hear the German Naruto opening? Apart from it being completely random that they decided to make a whole new one when they had plenty of decent Japanese openings complete with cool songs and fun images, what’s up with that song???? “Sasooke, is really cool. Sakoora, you’re beautiful.” And it’s crazy: I just watched a clip of how Gaara sounds in different languages (and Sasuke, too), and the only people who can do it right are the Japanese (go Akira Ishida! You are Gaara personified!). All the others fail miserably. It’s like they either make him sound too old, or too much of a sissy, or not dangerous and impassive enough.

Ohhh, thankee. And yes, there’s plenty of German radio. You can find most of it on internet, though I’m sure in Germany it airs normally too

Yeah, it happens a lot like that. Though for me it’s mostly the reverse: when I watch movies based on books, I cringe at the utter lack of resemblance. That’s why I look at the coming out of the Twilight movie with a mixture of excitement and anxiety…excitement because it is the Twilight movie, and I LOVE Twilight (not so much a fan of Eclipse and Breaking Dawn though…especially the latter…half of it is cringeworthy at best), and anxiety because I KNOW they’ll have butchered half of the storyline out, shuffled all the other details around and simplified everything so any random moron can understand. Also because no human actor can portray Edward, or the other Cullens. And some of the actors chosen fail miserably (Jasper and Rosalie, anyone??). Though I have to admit Robert Pattinson does a decent job with Edward. Far from perfect, but quite acceptable, in the measures of the possible.

But how would the book ‘Wicked’ compare to Nazi Germany? I’m incredibly curious…do explain

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Nichii In reply to Starskysea [2008-08-25 16:57:30 +0000 UTC]

Heya!

Guess what (and I have to tell you this before I forget about it): I'm reading MARS right now. Only thing is that I'm afraid it's going to end sad. I'm only at book three, though
It's beautiful and very deep, but it creeps me out that they are talking about death so much...and everyone seems to be jumping off a building

Now that's for that. I couldn't find that manga on onemanga, so I just went here [link] and voila!, there it is! They have good mangas there, which you can't find on onemange (like peach girl or marmelade boy).
I think I'm going to read Fruits Basket, but only after I finished MARS
I hate there there hasn't been a new KouKou chapter out yet. I'm so frustrated that I started rereading the manga (and fell all over again for Yoh♥♥♥. If I'm not mistaken, then that manga has about 58 chapters (that is the number displayed on onemanga) but of course it just might stand for something else
And I really came to like Asaoka! He just seems so weird. And Fumi! Aaah Fumi is awesomness, though I don't really like Assa : / Hmmmm...and speaking of the characters. Don't you agree that the ugly hag's brother kinda looks like Jasper from the Japanese Manga Illus? (You can also check out samurai Champloo if you enjoy the style of the Japanese Twilight art. I just discovered last year that the guy who drew the art was in the team of the guy who created Samurai Champloo(which is an awesome Anime by the way)

Yes, aaah yes. Oh Clamp...that's what I call perfection♥ And they always create such lovely stories (yet strange at the same time). When I first read WISH I cried so bad...I couldn't take it
I think that my favourite Clamp work is CCS. The style just really appeals to me and I love the fact that Sakura and Shaoran end up together (though Tomoyo is sooo freaking weird).
Yab yab

Reading from right to left is all I can take when reading manga...that's why I'm always so confused when they publish them the other way around. Like they did with CCS or Neon Genesis Evangelion!
Yesterday my love for that last mentioned showe revived and when I wanted to read I was like "Huhhh? Wait...huh? That doesn't make sense" So yeah...it takes a little getting used to. But I love that show. Dearly. The characters are just so twisted. All of them.
Though I can't quite grasp what Anno wanted us to feel when watching the anime...
I'll find it out sooner or later! *chakkah*

Oh my god. Please don't remind me of the German opening for Naruto! It's just too embarassing...Half the time I can't even grasp what they are saying but "Sasuuuukeeeeh is really cool"...? yeah... ...no...what?!
What exactly are they trying to tell us?:shakeshead:
I'm just so glad that the decided to stick with the original songs after the first two seasons or so. I'm not even watching Naruto in German anymore...it's insane how much they cut out...not funny. I mean...you can clearly hear the dripping of blood, and then you see the floor-nothing- that's just too sad to watch. Poor anime got humiliated
And I agree! At least on Sasukes voice. It IS amazing in Japanese! Last year I found myself watching the scene where he leaves Konoha and Sakura over and over again (Sakura's voice actress is pretty amazing as well).
You can't deny it...Japanese just rule the world of voice acting (if you know Neon Genesis, then you know how good Shinji's screaming is).
And I'm sorry to say but I find that American voice actors are even worse than German ones
I hate the way they pronounce things...just too much of the American accent in it. I mean, I love the American accent but NOT IN ANIME! Ughhh... I cringe at the very thought of it >_<

Huh...with the actors for Twilight... I really came to like Jasper (though I still don't understand how they can make that poor boy run around with hair like that) but Nikki Reed as Rosalie has got to be a joke! Why on earth they couldn't choose a natural blond is still out of my understanding. Like the one blonde girl from Pride and Prejudice (was it Jane...?) would have been so fit for the part...ah well. I guess we have to put up with that *shrugs*
As for Edward. I definately would have chosen Chace Crawford. He's got it all...I mean, nothing against RPattinson but c'mon. That guy is skinny! Some muscles would've been nice...even though Edward is supposed to be lanky. Well, different tastes I guess

Now about Wicked. I believe that it even says so in the very front of the book. It was some comment from some reviewer or something^^
I think it's because of Nessa being all dictorial towards the Munchkinlanders (I wonder if I remembered their name correctly). You know, how the Animals were forbidden to behave like "Humans" and even got killed...I think that this was the point where it could be connected somehow. And while reading, I had to admit that it was true

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