Anime Pilgrimage RTT

Farewell, Jeff Lawson!

Our friend of the internet, Jeff Lawson, has taken his bat and ball and gone home. The reasons that Jeff has cited are fair enough – you know how sick I am of waiting for all of these subs? – but I will miss him.

Jeff Lawson, you inspired me not to vegetate last year, and for that I thank you. While I have different reasons for writing, I see you as my true internet anime brother.

Well, not really, I’m just testing an update system, but you will be missed. Rock on. Dexy’s Midnight Runners forever!

Tide-Line Blue – episode 8

“Reunion – Reunite”

Crises of conscience make for great drama! Teen! Aoi! The ostrich! (no, seriously, the ostrich).
Tide-Line Blue really is working hard to regain my trust. The set up of this episode is highly conducive to rocking.
Continue reading Tide-Line Blue – episode 8…

Angel Heart preview

Thanks to Garten, I procured the preview of Angel Heart, an anime that had me really upset one Friday night. I had thought it was starting many months ago, but it’s actually starting in October. The English internet fan reaction has been … subdued … to say the least, outright hostile to say the most. I really hope that someone will pick this up to sub it.
Continue reading Angel Heart preview…

Progress report: Batrock goes to the taffy pulling machine

At the moment, I’m working on making the new and improved Batrock fit all of the images well. I’m going to keep the “one splash image” pattern I’ve been doing. Because I have to reupload every article I have written since the initial move to Batrock, I will hopefully be able to do this for every article along the way to create marvellous uniformity.
I’m far from King Code, though, so not quite sure how well it will go or how long it will take. I hope to just take a big chunk of time on the weekend and get through it.

Due to the whole different appearance of Bell-chan, I’ve actually edited things out of the finished Batrock versions, as of Honey and Clover 21. So there’ll be more exclusive content on the proper Batrock when it comes around. I know, it’s exciting.

Honey and Clover – episode twenty-one

“… It’s empty …”

“When I was younger, I used to ride my blue bicycle and wonder how far I could ride without turning back …”

Takemoto goes riding and doesn’t look back.
Continue reading Honey and Clover – episode twenty-one…

The Snow Queen – episode 3

“Fragments of the mirror”

At last, The Snow Queen shows its literary roots.

The Snow Queen’s mirror shatters and a fragment finds its way into Kay’s eye. Historically, the fragments of the mirror corrupt the world, making those that they touch see everything as ugly and evil. As a result, Kay becomes something of a bastard.
Continue reading The Snow Queen – episode 3…

Tide-Line Blue – episode 7

“Prayer”

What did I say about Keel being in his element? Well, with a trip to Tibet for some hard gambling, we are given an example of exactly that. This episode is pretty good for most of the characters involved; even the frequently insufferable Joze gets some good comedy and drama in.
Continue reading Tide-Line Blue – episode 7…

Honey and Clover – episode twenty

“I pray to the moon hovering in the night sky”

I don’t normally include personal experiences in my reviews, but this episode of Honey and Clover almost made me fail a university test. Somehow, it was worth it.
Continue reading Honey and Clover – episode twenty…

Tide-Line Blue – episode 6

“K2”

Easily the best episode since the first, Tide-Line Blue six is actually revealing things, giving proper characterisation and some actual emotion.
Continue reading Tide-Line Blue – episode 6…

Honey and Clover – episode nineteen

“Time Begins to Move Again”

Booooo Nomiya. Down with everyone who is actively trying to make Yamada feel bad!

This episode is another angsty Yamada Mayama effort, but the Nomiya/Yamada/Mayama triangle is not a convincingly effective one. The problem is that Nomiya is a bastard, and Mayama is also a bastard – but one with feelings. At the end of the episode one might get the idea that Nomiya has some feelings.

On the other side of affairs, Takemoto is glad to have Morita back.
Continue reading Honey and Clover – episode nineteen…