Memories of the Stars

It is a wellspring of inspiration
based on an intuition without cause

It is a complexity's explosion
raced on an excursion without laws

A name once heard and told as mundane
But now precious
Entangled in the maelstrom of emotions

A face once seen and forgotten in passing

Now memorable

Restless treading in the path of a typhoon

On the slope that divided the night,
On the bank that flashed fireflies,
On the steps where solitude slew,
reasons, laid to rest,
I heard my resonating heartbeats flew
Unfamiliar, and afraid to move

Shall we dance for the waxing crescent?
Shall we drink to the passing stardust?

At the edge of the universe,
would my words still convey the same sense of longing?

On the slope that divides the night
I am still waiting for that one destined to appear

Her and Ultimatum

When I first held your hand
those fingers were special
The first impression indeed terrible
nonetheless
A crack on a shell,
the boundaries cease,
A new world to tell
with a stubbornness I treasured
and talents I admired

Yet that world is too precious
and this world too cruel
Those desires blinded me
confined me to a gamble
and those fingers slipped through my grasp
the ending was bound to fail

So I sought new paths
no longer daring as I thought foolish
The fire dies a little by a little
but the night is not dark
The paradise of sloth is emptiness
sailor I no longer am
sea still roam I can

I will not become a hero
but a simple seeker of truth
If avarice is the end,
let each man judge for his own
and make amends

But truth returns no joys,
my hands are still empty
Perhaps one day it will grasp your again
but would I make it
before the world ends

There are no flawless logic
There are no painless gains
There are no endless sufferings
Would everything be alright
before the world ends?
I hope it will
I hope it well

Free Will

If we chose to be free,
then we are free to choose
The freedom to be evil
should it be a choice?

If we claimed to love all
then we cannot love a first
Without first comes none
should none be loved?

A fearless charge ends in brevity
The mist of contradiction hides all paths
Though I am their creation
I witnessed none of their glories
knew none of their nobilities
and nothing lingering on my fingers
have touched their eternity

So what is tingling my resting heart?

The land where intents lay bare
with obligations thin
Beyond the farthest reach of duty,
A flag still stands there
Though the body is feeble,
and the gears fade,
the momentum continues to carry
until ceasing of pains.

I may not possess a heart that is tender
But its echoes resound and do not wither

The deep roots sprouting a small herb
lush and vivid rivaling a full bloom
The brief spark may flicker
A blaze it will ignite, embracing all others

Though I may not hold anything
My soul is not empty
When everything is held dear
Transient it may be
A strong will that is free

Impassionate Youth

What effort will bring forth
A peerless specialty
Though graceful it may not be
Grinning in tears and sweats

Where yearning comes to rest
An endless homeland
Though fateful it may not be
Pinning with cheers and hopes

Logical, systematic, and complete
Even casual decision is held dear

Choices, fallacies, and exceptions
I err in heart but not in blood

An impossible scenery to reach
beyond an overbearing bulwark
Yet I lean on others' shoulders
where it draws closer, the heaven's border

From fangs to claws, and from claws to bones
Even when my strength is frail,
redo, redo, redo, Redo

For a greater ideal that I call justice
For a greater unity that I call peace


So pay thy prize
Rise again,
Once More
For those we treasure
and those we adore

Victory is ephemeral,
amidst furious battle cries
Let my soul be still, and
May the best player win

Senorious

The car has been roasting in the sun
My front row windows are half-down
and for once, my radio was sleeping

I did not make through the traffic light on yellow
Engines pulling away across the interaction,
leaving the dusty air and a hint of oil

I saw him, the man standing on the side of the curb

I sat in silence
The light turned red

On a small piece of cardboard, "Anything helps"
He wore a dirty jacket, bearded, a ragged baseball cap

I made eye contact,
and he approached

Two seconds of surprise
Two seconds of indecision
And blanking flat line, coming
The end of a familiar world

What is the natural reaction?
Should I pity him? As reciting a prayer...
Should I bribe his departure? How much is enough?
Should I stare into the distance and limit my attention?
Should I turn up the radio and look busy tuning frequency?
Should I roll up my windows?
Should I give him a hug and get back in the car?
Should I spit on him and curse his transgression?

I looked under my arm rest but then remembered
my changes are stored in a quart-size Ziplok bag
in my backpack but out of reach
I looked into my wallet
and there is a single $20 bill
Then I looked into his eyes
"I am sorry. I don't have my changes on me."

He didn't say a word.
He waited for a moment and he moved onto the car behind mine

I sat in silence
The light turned green

At the end of the world,
what would you do?
Are you busy?
Would you save us?
Can you save us?

The Year of 2016 in Review

Impression of 2016

Ferocity at its apex / merciless in its wake / Oh fear thy, the tempestuous force / tilting the earth with its trample / scattering the only shards of sanity / Yet when I wade through the abyss / I cannot help to tremble in its majesty

If 2015 was the rough sailing through the storm, then 2016 is where the storm gathered its strength and made its landfall. It lost the glorious luster while the ruggedness of hardship intensified. It was a year that I have entered the dense forestry, pricked by thorns of uncertainty, but ultimately stood my ground and inched forward--the familiar scenery that was oddly comfortable.

Personal

Living in a new city has brought me encounters with many new friends: some are acquaintance in passing, some are comrades in arms, and some are more intimate. 2016 is a year worth of celebration where old bonds are mend and new bonds are made, as I traveled more freely to see corners of my world. Waking up to an unfamiliar ceiling and taking detours into the unknown--life-work balance is important after all.  

I am officially a member of the Potter's Guild of Baltimore now. There is still a long long way before where I want to be, and I will not stop learning on the way, by my own desire or by osmosis. But there are definitely a few things that I am comfortable and happy to make no matter what for the foreseeable future. The emergence of a self-defined style, if I am allowed to say it more grandly. It is both a joy and a challenge. So to finish off the series I recently started will be a goal for the coming year, and let me tease with this,

"A sin comes in different forms, but always empty in its center."

Intrigued? I hope my work will live up to my expectation.

On a completely different topic, 2016 was also the first general election I have participated in the United States. Not sure if it is my luck or not, but the political process this time is quite an oddball in all perspectives. Also, it may not be surprising that all my blog posts, except the review on Stellar Glow, were referenced to the election. The Sword of Promised Victory is about a blonde woman trying to carry her family's legacy; Kotomine Kirei is about a man's intention to bring about utter destruction (or salvation) by the collective will; Mr. Trap on the Schrödinger Street is about the unbending will to seek justice and how machination from the powerful few can endanger the populous. Something as innocent as an anime blog is actually a political commentary? Maybe, you could read more to find out. As for the result of the election, I do not dispute with facts; however, please expect me to fight on for my causes with even greater tenacity.  

Career-Wise
Job searching is not easy, and I am still at it. You will not be updated.

Otherwise, the postdoc life is not bad. I am still doing a lot of lab setups, but also a lot of organic syntheses. Not quite any seventeen-step total synthesis, but a lot of scaling up of simple reagents. I guess you can easily outsource the work I am doing to a company probably with half the time, but probably not with say 30% of the budget. In the end, no matter what people may say, good postdocs are economical, readily available, and can do pretty much everything. Are good postdocs easy to come by? Who knows, it is likely shopping on Ebay. The deviation of your shopping experience scales parabolically with reviews.

So what's after this? Postdoc is a temporary position in most cases. Hmm, people tell me that I should prepare for industry or I should prepare for academia. Well, I am going to give a simple answer that as long as I get to do good science, it really doesn't matter where I end up.

Entertainment-wise:

Top tracks of the year:  

1. Trust in you (sweet ARMS, Date a Live II)
2. Ichido Dake no Koi Nara (Walkure, Macross Delta)
3. Fly High!! (Burnout Syndrome, Haikyuu)
4. Paradisus-Paradoxum (Myth & Roid, Re:Zero)
5. Tír na nÓg (Celtic Women)
6. Ten Kakeru Hoshi (Suara, Utawarerumono:  the False Masks)
7. Lost in Thoughts All Alone (Fire Emblem Fates)
8. Hoshi to Hana (Yuki Yuna is a Hero)
9. Light for Knight (Mimori Suzuko, Lance N' Masques)
10. Clever (Claris/GARNiDELia, Qualidea Code)

Games Completed: World End Economica (oh boy, that needs a separate review), Stellar Glow (see review, surprised that I finished it), Titanfall 2 single player (Yes, I brought Titanfall just to play the single player, and man it was awesome)

Games in Work:

Grisaia no Kajitsu (Sachi is just so badass that I am stalled), Ar Nosurge (MAN, this is a long and convoluted game), Starcraft 2: LotV, Fire Emblem Fates

Memorable Purchases:

Surface Pro 4, Spice and Wolf Collector's Edition, Fire Emblem Fates Special Edition + DS XL, and Guild membership fees (that check really makes me feel accomplished, in a way)

Seasonal Anime Impressions 

I am going to spend a bit more time talking about a few series this time. I always ran out of stream by the end of the summer season, haha.

Catch-ups:  Love Live!, Yuki Yuna is a Hero, Haikyuu

The longshots:  Cowboy Bebop, Gintama

Notable OVA/Movies:  Kizumonogatari, Gundam Thunderbolt, Gundam the Origin, Persona 3

Winter 2016

Series of note: Erased, Grimgar of Fantasy and Ashes, Durarara!! x2, Konosuba, Shouwa Genroku Rakugo Shinjuu, Schwaresmarken, Nijiiro Days

Series that filled time and possibly happiness: Dimension W, Gate: Season 2, Luck & Logic, Undefeated Bahamut Chronicle

Maybe at some point:  Assassination Classroom, Ao no Kanata no Four Rhythm, Dagashi Kashi, Haruchika

Overslept alarm clock:  Akagami no Shirayuki-hime 2

I was pretty happy that the winter season was really diverse, and some of the titles this season are really awesome. Shouwa Genroku Rakugo Shinjuu was probably one of the strongest drama titles in 2016, while Erased the same for mystery. I liked Horimiya a lot, so I am very happy with the anime adaptation of Nijiro Days. The biggest downer this season is probably Dimension W, which had a lot of uncapitalized potential in character setting but never truly explored the dynamics in a more careful manner. I still don't know what I got out of Luck & Logic--at least I got fan service in Undefeated Bahamut Chronicle. Dagashi Kashi has a lot going for it, and it was unfortunate that I never got into it too deeply. Gate is at this point, pretty forgettable, if not infamous. 

Shouwa Genroku Rakugo Shinjuu: In the era where light novel adaptations overwhelm audience with vast but shallow details, Shouwa Genroku Rakugo Shinjuu brought truly complex characters together for an unforgettable adventure. The triangle of Kikuhiko, Sukeroku, and Miyokichi highlights the mismatch between desires and reality. Tragedy befalls not due to one's villainy but to deliberate indifference. Of course, the incredible voice acting for the rakugo pieces brings forward an art form of a completely different tradition. 

Erased:  the strength of Erased is its villain, Gaku Yashiro. The machination of a single man brought forth the desperation of the protagonist in many hopeless situations, cruel yet amazing at the same time. For the longest time, I was misled by the portray of Kenya, and the series eventually points its finger to the true villain. However, the existence of one almost-all-powerful villain also created the series's downfall, especially when foiled with the all-powerful protagonist. The struggle of the charismatic villain at the end seems so meaningless. I am not complaining about a perfectly happy ending, and surely it is a reward for persistent heroism, but it does make the protagonist slightly less relatable comparing to say Re:Zero.

Konosuba:  A light-hearted stab on this "transported into fantasy world" genre. Irony of realism comparing to fairly manufactured angst in namely SOA. It puts us who wish for special talents into our places that we get by thanks to the connections we make, even though those characters can be a bit peculiar at times. Its unpredictability probably rivals Oregairu:  it makes me cringe at times because some of references I have surely encountered in real life. 

Grimgar of Fantasy and Ashes:  Probably the greatest foil to Konosuba that everything in this series is under a pastel seriousness. After watching a few series, there are times that you get the premonition that a character gets his or her back story in the episode just so he or she will depart forever with a trace of inspiration left to the protagonist. Death in the series felt sudden and empty with an agonizing after taste comparing to fairly manufactured jerk in namely SOA. It is a slice-of-life series with uncertain but permanent consequences.

Durarara!! x2:  As expected, Durarara likes to throw the audience in chaos and then slowly sorts out the giant mess of plots and characters. 

Spring 2016

Series of note: My Hero Academy, Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress, Kiznaiver, Kuromukuro, Re:Zero

Series that filled time and possibly happiness: Asterisk War 2, Joker Game, Macross Delta, Bungou Stray Dogs,

Maybe at some point:  Flying Witches

Overslept alarm clock:  Concrete Revolutio

The bomb:  Haven't You Heard? I am Sakamoto

Oh really...:  Bakuon!!, High School Fleet

Winter is the season of drama, and Spring is the season of action. It sure packed in quite a bit into one season. Re:Zero is probably my pick for Anime of the Year and deserves a separate review. I was surprised that P.A. Works decided to go mecha and pulled off Kuromukuro. Well, it is certainly a slice-of-life series at its core. Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress was positively amazing in the beginning, so was Macross Delta. I couldn't get into Concrete Revolutio or Fly Witches but the few episodes I have seen are pretty impressive. Sakamoto now belongs to the too-good-to-watch (trademarked) series; it is hilarious, and I don't even know where to begin. Joker Game was really good, but a bit too episodic for my taste and a bit lacking in overall narratives. Asterisk War is just flashy. Bungou Stray Dogs really shined in its second season and its first season was rather mediocre.

Just a word on Bakuon!! -- I don't think high schoolers can afford their own motorcycles. What, you are letting your parents pay for your insurance. Surely, high schoolers are not going to operate destroyers for class credits either. 

My Hero Academy:  Classic Shonen. Enough said. Thumbs up.

Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress:  Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress probably has one of the best opening episode in the season. The intensity of the music plus the fluidity of the animation plus the classic feel in character designs all contribute to the enormous promises at the beginning. But the villain seems cheap and probably brought the downfall to an otherwise great series. The slip into plot mediocrity at the end is really painful. 

Kiznaiver:  It is a thoughtful and beautiful show in concepts and moments, but the overall composition is rather messy. Maybe choosing an extremely deadpan main character is a low bar to show character growth, but his role faces a lot of challenges from other more colorful characters. It is unique, in a very good way, much like Utena. 

Kuromukuro:  This is supposedly P.A. Works dig at Mecha anime. To be honest, the mecha is rather unimpressive; however, it does play into P.A. Works' strength in world building and dramatic relationships. 

Re:Zero:  This series is so awesome that it will need a separate full review. I mean...Rem is the waifu that broke the internet. 

Summer 2016

I spent most of the season counting on the next episode of Re:Zero, Kuromukuro, and Macross Delta.

Series of note: The Heroic Legend of Arslan:  Dust Storm Dance, Fate/kalied liner, Alderamin on the Sky, Planetarian

Series that filled time and possibly happiness: This Art Club Has a Problem, Rewrite, Qualidea Code, ReLIFE, Shokugeki no Souma, Tales of Zestiria the X, Regalia:  the Three Sacred Stars, 

Maybe at some point:  Sweetness and Lightning, Mob Psychoo 100, orange, Taboo Tattoo, Love Live! Sunshine!!

No, no dessert tonight:  91Days, 

So, what about Queen's Blade:  Hybrid x Heart Magias Acadmey Ataraxia (MY EYES, sound effects filled in with screams of agony)

I was really excited for Rewrite and also considered it one of my favorite visual novels (not the best, just like how Date a Live never made onto my top fifteen anime but remaining a long-time favorite). I was let down.
I was really excited for ReLIFE, because the manga is fun and deep at the same time. I marathoned it, and I regretted that.
I thought Qualidea Code had a good opening and ending, and the story seems to be promising. I ended up with a mess of really out-there characters in a ha-gotta story.
Tales of Zestiria looks great, but why insert a commercial for the new game. Regalia and Kuromukuro are both mecha series that played into mediocre drama. Macross Delta fell so hard on Mikumo's development.

Well, at least I have Re:Zero.

Alderamin on the Sky/Arslan:  Despite the deceptively ordinary cover art and somewhat meaty (?) character designs, Alderamin on the Sky is a serious contender for the best series in the season (unfortunately that's when Re:Zero really starts to get awesome). I love the character interactions, the politics, and overall strategies evolved in combat (no power-level stuff like SAO). A series that makes you weigh the livelihood of each pun instead of charging in shounen style. Arslan is very similar to that, but a bit more on the dramatic side. These two are similar in overall presentation, while Alderamin focuses on skirmishes and tactic maneuvers. Arslan focuses more on political and strategical maneuvers. Well, that's the difference between a platoon leader and a crowned prince.

Fate/kalied liner:  The darkest arc of the magical girl knockoff of Fate/Stay Night. My highlight is probably the return of Emiya Shirou and the dread of Heaven's Feel that has been lacking in the present of anime adaption of Fate. I guess I can go on and on about Heaven's Feel (or you can just read the blog post), but with a bit of manga spoiler, the next segment is going to be awesome!

Planetarian:  Too short and too beautiful to summarize. Read the novel first.

Fall 2016

Series of note: March Comes Like a Lion, Bungou Stray Dogs 2, Gundam Iron-Blooded Orphans Season 2, Haikyuu!!, Hibike! Euphonium 2, 

Series that filled time and possibly happiness: Working...??????, Izetta the Last Witch, gi(a)rlish number, Brave Witches, 

Maybe at some point:  Occultic:Nine, Magic Girl Raising Project, Flip Flappers, Drifters, 

That sure looks good:  Yuri!!! on ICE

I know people are raving about Yuri!!! on ICE. It is good, so I will not rave about it like fangirls. Izetta probably had the most promising opening episodes in the season but the story really went to a strange place, reminding me of Dimension W. Gi(a)rlish number is certainly cringe worthy at times, but fortunately the character development pulled off.

Bungou Stray Dogs 2:  When the main character acts admirably, everyone around is elevated. This holds true for Bungou Stray Dogs 2. Although I still hold doubts if both Atsuhi and Akatugawa can hold up as the main character, the series cannot live with Dazai. The first season sets up the two very important arcs that are great on their own, Dazai and Oda's backstory then forward to the three-way battle between the Armed Detective Agency, Port Mafia, and the Guild.

"Although the head may err, the blood does not." YOLO

Haikyuu!!: Just when you thought this anime can't get any better with the rematch of Aoba Jousai and Karasuno. The best paced shounen I have seen in a while.

Hibike! Euphonium 2:  Season 2 focuses on two third-year characters that were put on the back burner from Season 1, Mizore and Asuka (and the yuri drama is back on!). Consistently and extremely high production quality, a pleasure to watch.

Kotomine Kirei

Rejoice, Fakers,
For your purpose shall be fulfilled
Witness the true face of evil
The agglomeration of madness and malice
the phantasm that will mark the end of the world

For whom the revolution that never stops
the end is near
For whom the anarchy that yet descends
the end is near
For whom the icon that never persists
the end is near
For whom the decision that yet concretes
the end is near

O brave souls, twisted souls, tormented souls
the torrential beast silently watches all
Your glory, your sin, and your agony
enshrine every aspect of humanity
and will erupt in unprecedented chaos
erecting a monument of what we cannot escape

Do not avert your eyes
Do not close your hearts
Embrace the tempest just beyond the horizon
and touch the nature's contempt

The Sword of Promised Victory

Faith is for the transient people.

A spark that brightens the vast empty space
A ripple that tickles the everlasting eternity

It brings peace of acceptance
exclamation of camaraderie
and fulfillment of a greater destiny

Yet it is not perfect at times

It brings condescension of ignorance
malignancy of segregation
and rejection of a greater union

A refuge for our likeliness
and a cauldron for our conflicts

Then
whose responsibility to make so?
how far would these hands extend?
what means are not justifiable to the end?
All against the wheel of fortune,
ever-turning machinery of time...

The concrete limitation of being human


Yet indecision
among overwhelming confusions
does not obscure the spot of hope,
the eternal sunshine guided by reasons
and an unparalleled optimism

Thus, I placed my fate
into the hands of my brothers and sisters
entrusted with common decency.
Together a haven is built
not to shelter our fears or faults
but to cherish our shares of duty.

Victory may seem intangible
and by my arm's length,
out of reach
But in each of our heart,
a sincere wish for the happiness of all
will become a golden blade that pierces through the blinding darkness


PS: I will be switching to embedded code from pixiv on all the images that I manage to find, so look out for some updates on old pieces. 

Chronicle Keys

Through the morning mist
The shouts of the golden horns
draw the curtain of dawn

Over the night frost
The dew on the silver thorns
brew the gown of twilight

Cycling suns and stars
My footsteps never paused and never halted
Where is my destination
What will be my consolation

Ambition makes me sneer
Despair makes me hollow
Indignation makes me screech
followed by endless sorrow

It is too late to stop
It is too late to return
Maybe the road is full of madness
But there is nowhere to turn

Straightforward I say
Into the dark and uncertain fray
Even gods I will slay
If they do stand in my way

But no, this is not what I wanted

"Neither elegance nor dignity,"
fury stroke a march on cord
Give me instead,
a method to make a gentler world

A song that will free the hearts
A song that will link our hands
Turn another page in the chronicle
Turn another key for a future
not ordained by an oracle

I offer my prayer and my labor

Revolution

Do you hear the tremor racing towards the end of the world
where the restless souls are pervaded with contempt
sprun by chains of chaos

Do you hear the curse drowning the never-reaching finishing line
where the brutal sacrifices are mistaken for glory
fabled by a falsification of ideals

Do you hear the sobbers echoing through the corridor of time
where the inevitable destinies are forsaken by malice
born from the cycle of calamity

Do you hear the outcry deafening the delicate sense of reason
where the grieving hearts are torn again
clicked once and halted everything to suspension

Nothing in this world is eternal
and nothing in this world stops you from changing
If revolution is the only option
then please not
lose your kindness or your nobility

Strength

In the drizzling spring night,
chilled air in the bamboo garden,
when bloody crimson flashes with a killing intent,
life flickers on a knife's edge,
I asked him,
is it trust that makes you strong?

In the starry summer night,
gentle air on the highway side,
when noble azure dyes in a darker shade,
life suspends on a foreign planet,
I asked him,
is it devotion that makes you strong?

In the windy autumn night,
tense air by the riverbank,
when patient indigo poises with dignity,
life heals scars and moves on,
I asked him,
is it redemption that makes you strong?

In the merry winter night,
soft air between two equals,
when fierce white softens and strides forward,
life wonders on another crossroad,
I asked him,
is it kindness that makes you strong?

In the blooming spring dawn,
sweet air of a flowering field,
when graceful pearl renders melodies of peace,
life finally brings an understanding,
I asked him,
is it perseverance that makes you strong?

In the bright summer dawn,
warm air between a parent and a child,
when shining golden hides the secrets of the world,
life has much sadness but also much hope,
I asked him,
is it family that makes you strong?

In the tearful autumn dawn,
unsettling air filled with scattered pages,
when flushing pink bids memories farewell,
life challenges miracles,
I asked him,
is it love that makes you strong?

In the harsh winter dawn,
cutting air in the snowy forest,
when endless black cries out with pain and hatred,
life fades into nothingness at the cost of triumph,
I asked him,
is it justice that makes you strong?

What makes a man strong?
How to make a man strong?
Twilight concludes the tales of the sun.
the tales of crescents are yet to begin.
Then one more day awaits.

To reach, to grasp, to strive, to pursue,
Not to lose heart
that made a man strong.

Madness Enchantment

Fury blinds my reasons
to whose master I serve
Rage defines my strength
to whose desire I tread

Once perfect
Once noble
Yet neither
defines me full

The blackened chains
bind my crime
The wavering shadows
relate my shame

Curses!
My heart belongs to three:
My king
the inhuman righteousness
My queen
the humane vice
Myself
hew the spirit of chivalry
yet in heart the love of a common man

I long for punishment
yet the saint granted me none
the empty torture
grinds slowly
steadily
and never ending

If the world is truly just
let my king show me compassion of anger
let my queen be vindicated of her sins
and let me be the first one
dying for king's honor

Unrest, unrest, unrest
till madness holds me whole.

Witches of the Holy Night

Damsels of elegant dreams,
bounded by fate
for one single wish,
there
the embodiment of hopes
and all that are endearing

Damsels of despairing laments,
betrayed by fate
for the sake of the world
there
the embodiment of sorrows
and all that are loathed

If the maker of the universe has still conscience
or if it is ever keen
or if it is ever just
would the Earth still be moving
while sweeping away the happiness of innocent hearts

Again and again, impasse towards a good ending
the worlds forbid divergent paths
To save one means to sacrifice one
endless karma of failures.

Then would the trade-off be justified?
One for the many, and then  how much to be
content with a ratio greater than one
or again and again
to save every one or
just one among the many
the one that was more precious than anything else.

It is a dilemma of balance and humanity,

when there are more holes than pigeons,
there is at least one hole that is empty.
The hunters became the hunted
and the witches grinned.

But she did not let it be
instead of worrying about pigeons, and holes, and undeniable rational numbers
Let's make the world anew
where burdens still remain
but the world runs not on despair

Gathering everything together and sew in one single wish
the Magic of one,
who would forever be known by no one,
through eternal loneliness.
Yet the goddess did not waver.
With all my power, let me bring salvation to all
And it is so.
The goddess that brings the radiance of dawn,
if she is indeed a witch,
then the night must be holy.

Heaven's Feel

Every time you ask of me,
a little bit of sanity is robbed away,
until eternity is covered in thick darkness,
chilling and helpless heartbreaks. 

Yet I can't let go of those hands,
the warmth that contradicts cruelty,
unfeeling abyss of uncompromising reality,
so abhorrent yet sublime and fragile. 

When the world is tainted in incarnadine,
shadows rise from the earth,
flame rains from the heaven,
Tragedies flower like the prairie spring. 

I pondered, to be or not to be.
Kindness ultimately leaves the world with nothing,
and world offers no comfort.
Smile becomes a reflex of despair. 

Even if innocents are the sacrifices of your crime,
I will keep my oath and bear your burden.
Even if living itself becomes a sin,
So be it, stride on, for the world to come. 

The guardian of humanity,
becomes the enemy of the world,
for that one reason,
despite of everything else, everything once was precious. 

To live humbly for one's cause;
regret, towards one's ability, not conviction.
The golden rays bring forth a new dawn,
and red cloth fades into vast emptiness. 

Code Geass: Lelouch of Rebellion & R2

There are a few things to say about Code Geass, but really one word sums all--epic. 

In a world of leading character dominated by hot blood good guys, a calculating villain (or seems to be) is refreshing. Moreover, something other than a hutch from personality or just simple mindedness has shown to prevail over incredible odds. Lelouch Vi Britannia shows that fate does not require luck, but rather meticulous planning, ironic to how the first piece of the puzzle, his encounter to the "witch" C.C. is purely accidental.  

So what of this Sunrise and Clamp crossover? Why there are thousands Black Knights hailing both in the world of Zero and in reality?

Charisma. 

What made Code Geass so great is a vast cast of characters, each developed to its fullest over the two seasons. The relationships between these characters, how the bonds between two change them and the world around them. The conflicts between characters, ideological or other wise. Code Geass have done a remarkable job depicting the complexity and simplicity, consistency and deviation of human mind.  

Lelouch is the epitome of these coexisting contradictions and endless evolutions. He sought to create a world that will accept him and his sister. However, his goals were not simply to find a good job and make a fortune so there will be no fear of insecurity; he desired perfection. First, the wrong must be punished:  he will punish the man who watched the siblings suffer, his father, the emperor of Britannia, and revenge for his mother, the former empress of Britannia. It was shocking to witness his determination of creating a world that will guard and cherish his sister. He has loved and killed; he has made friends and betrayed friends; he stained his own hands and even bended his sister's will and used his own life as the exchange for a world that he believed his sister would be happy. All these pure devotions, behind a mask, as no one in the world will know and acknowledge his devotion except his closest allies. As he took the world's all evil into him for a better world to be born from the nurturing ashes. 

But this is not the only path he has to question...

Similarly, his closest ally, which was also his worst enemy, Kururugi Suzaku, as the series #2 male lead, also faces dilemma as he stands to create a better world, with the same desire as Lelouch, but only standing as his friend's foe.

There are just plethora of conflicts, contradictions, mysteries, schemes, and of course, romance that surrounds each characters, weaving each individual gem into a mosaic of tales of love and hatred, trust and betrayal, hope and despair. It is not something can be described by words alone. It is the experience of the inevitability and chances in the world and how great or insignificant human beings are compared with. 

Story aside, the overall quality of this production is at the zenith, comparable (maybe just a bit of “not yet”) to the legendary Neo Genesis Evangelion (which is holding the perfect score on my anime ranking along with Rorouni Kenshin). The original music soundtracks are astonishingly great, especially the performance by HITOMI fitting into the emotional scenes. Voice actors really bring the characters to life. Even though it is a bit overly dramatic at times, but this series is one that survives and flourishes on drama. Character designs, settings, and story boards are well-thought out and nicely executed (C.C. is HAWT, woah, C.C. is REALLY HAWT). Well, beside the unavoidable graphic decline as the series became popular, the graphic quality is quite constant in season one, and well…not so much in season two (Other than C.C. is HAWTER in season two). 

To conclude, I give Code Geass Season One a perfect 10.0/10.0 (Congratulations, good thing you have a cliff ending like EVA, or else I can’t rate you anymore) and R2 a 9.0/10.0 (Too much plot twisting with bad pacing in the second half, but still amazing overall). Kudos to Sunrise and Clamp. For anyone out there who has not seen this marvel yet, YOU MUST SEE THIS!! It is available for FREE on AnimeNewsNetwork, both dubbed and subbed versions.

Go and change the world (with C.C. fan-service…as you wish). 

Image from Animesuki Code Geass Image Thread with rights to the respective artists. 

 

 

Rozen Maiden

When I first learned about Rozen Maiden, I have immediately categorized this into the Harem anime as Tenchi Muyo or Shuffle. I mean Shinku is already the fifth dolls, I would not be surprised that two or three more of her sisters will join her. At the best, it may match Ah! My Goddess in terms of sweet and innocent affection than just hitherto of fan service. 

But the truth is, I was very much mistaken. 

Maybe it is the beautiful character designs, or splendid voice acting, or just the distinct humanity in the female casts (in a good way, comparing to Higarushi no Naka Koro ni ... or When They Cry), Rozen Maiden became an immediate favorite, a pleasant surprise. 

The story all begins with the legendary doll maker, Rozen, who spent his life to create the perfect girl, "Alice." In his pursuit, six sister dolls, who he called "Rozen Maidens," are created as models or prototypes for his ultimate masterpiece. However, Rozen did not build Alice. Instead, in each Rozen Maiden, he placed a mysterious power called "Rosen Mystica" and set a system called "Alice Game." It is said that the Rozen Maiden, who gathers all piece of Rosen Mystica, will become Alice. The Rozen Maidens, who are capable of motions and feelings by the Rosen Mystica, love Rozen as daughters love their father. They believe that their greatest achievement will be complete Alice for the sake of Rozen. 

Of course, every one of the Rozen Maidens wants to be the one to become Alice, even by the meanings of force to covet others' Rosen Mystica. Battles are assured. To gain an advantage, the maidens form contact with human, who they called "Medium," to receive energy (Fate/Stay Night, anyone?). The losers in the Alice game will forfeit their Rosen Mystica, rendering them thoughtless and motionless as ordinary dolls. 

And one day many many years later, Sakurada Jun receives this email... 

Story wise, I have to say--it is a killer. The story is very nicely paced. Drama is slowly built by in each episode by subtle revelation, by language or by action. The plot line is mostly enhanced by the characters. Even though there are only twelve episodes, each character is well developed but not completely revealed. The personalities of the dolls are clear and unique. Also, characters are consistent; their roles in the story are not overly dramatic to be perceived as unrealistic, but still exciting enough for a slight laugh or a saddening sigh. The juxtaposition of more mature mind and a very childish appearance of the Rozen Maidens leaves behind an impression, especially in the case of Shinku and Shugintou. However, there are also the childish cuteness manifested in every Maidens, maybe more so in Hinaichigo. Shinku's love for Detective Kunkun and Suisenseki's devious pranks are quite memerable. The male lead, Jun, is the most developed character as he moves away from the initial self-isolation and learns the courage to care for the others. The awkwardness of "boy meets girl" with the particular situation gives many heartfelt comedy. 

The visual presentation is great. Though not to the level of astonishing as some other anime like Last Exile, the details presented are excellent. The complex clothing in the character designs is very well done. Although not strong in action, the battle sequences are enough to convey the overall situation without the sense of repetition. The overall style is warm and simple, which fits the subject and the length well. 

Great voice acting helps to bring out the emotional elements even more so than the story itself. 

There are quite a few memorable inserts, like Battle of Roses and Kowareta Sekai.   As the most tracks cover the calm (most of the time) daily life in the Sakurada Household, the slow light rhythms do their job. Overall, the soundtracks are difficult to stand out in situations to control the emotional flows in most cases. However, whenever they do, the effect is more than amazing. 

Overall, I gave Rozen Maiden a 9.3 / 10.0 as the conflicts to become the perfect girl continue to intervene the lives of the sister dolls. Maybe the whole judgment is based on a betrayal of expectation, but the excellent performance is more than enough to make Rozen Maiden an outstanding title.
Greatly Recommended for those liking a story driven anime.

Tribute to Air, Tori no Uta

Gazing upon the starry sky,
sparkles of wonders within eyes,
came dancing fireflies.
Where art thou in the summer night,
full in the gown of virtuous white,
dressed in silver moonlight.
The limit of the sky is but too far,
and the cast chases down
the sickly heart.
Farewell,
Let one day my talent on par
with the curses that drown
the shattered fate.
One day, I will set you free,
so the feathers
will again accompany the wind.
One day, I will not flee,
so I can finally
with my burden heavy stand.
Wait for me,
the 1000th summer,
the poem of the birds will ring.
Wait for me,
the 1000th summer,
above the clouds,
stretch,
the first beating of wing.

Scrapped Princess Review

This is what I think of Scrapped Princess 
 
You have to admit that,
Although Scrapped Princess is maybe not that a great show, its music is GREAT!!! I like it a lot. (Maybe I like anime with good music, that is the case with Record of Lodoss War and .Hack//SIGN) Anyway, that's that. 
 
Scrapped Princess is about a young princess named Pacifica, who is "The Poison will destroy the world" when she turns sixteen. She is abandoned shortly after her birth, but lucky her, she was picked up by a couple and raised as their own child. She has a brother, a master swordsman, and a sister, a skilled sorceress. Both of her siblings work for the military. However, when people find her as the cursed being, her home was destroyed, her father died protecting her, and her siblings took her in a jounrey of escape. 
 
The storyline is not bad at all, but yeah, I guess it is kind of old somehow to me. They are somewhat predictable. (Well, I don't like too many surprises either) The background story of how aliens attacked humans and humans were kind of imprisoned in this world is kind of lame. I mean, come on, if they are that many Valkyrie types made during the war, why only four remains. Amnesia for Pacifica - -> plot device, but it works out nicely. It is sad that the person takes care of Pacifica in her amnesia sacrifices in the end. The good thing is the storyline is not boring at all. The director definitely spent some time on it. 
 
The graphic is totally amazing. The fighting scene of swords, magic, and ancient high tech are very pleasing. Very few reused scenes unlike some other anime. The quality is awesome. Check out the D Knight, Woo Haahaa... 
 
The characters are one of the strong point of this anime. The development of character is very nice. Shannon, Pacifica, and Zepheris!! and many others show a human and lively side. The supporting characters who are usually ignored also reflected their own personalities. With very attractive character designs, the voice actors are also very effective. So with a good impression, it makes all up of the alright storyline and shines through the whole anime. 
 
Music, awesome. Although the music is not that standing out in the anime, but when listening the OST alone, oh boy, it is NICE! I really got nothing to say about the orchestra. The opening and ending are alright, not perticular favorite. 
 
Overall, I give Scrapped Princess 9.0 / 10.0, strongly recommended for watching!