PLATONIC MY ASS.
Tuesday, December 12, 2006
Saturday, December 09, 2006
Brain Candy, Part Deux
Death Note
(1 Season - Currently Airing : 10 Episodes)
To anyone else, acquiring the power to kill at a whim might initially seem enthralling, and, falling back to reality, immediately terrifying. But to Light Yagami, who feels a burning need to deal his brand of justice to the world, it would have been close to heresy if such power was left untapped. When he picked up the Death Note dropped by the shinigami Ryuk and started causing criminals worldwide to die by heart attack, this need -- which was already bordering on megalomania -- found exactly what it wanted to feed on.
Suffice it to say this "phenomenon" did not go unnoticed, and that's precisely how Light planned his vision to unfold. Soon enough, the public dubbed this mysterious force as "Kira" (derived from Killer), and unsurprisingly, the crime rates from all parts of the globe began dwindling.
While most people worldwide thought this was a good thing, not everyone -- especially not the International Criminal Police Organization, or ICPO -- had the opinion that killing off criminals above their sentence was a good way of dispensing justice. It is at this point that they decided to hire the services of an enigmatic but extremely intelligent investigator known only as "L" to find out who Kira is. And true to his reputation, L was already a step ahead from the ICPO as he wasted no time in making his presence known to Kira.
The mind traps both Light and L set up for each other are clever, complex, and oft times coldly cruel. "Each person is searching for an adversary whose identity is a complete mystery, and the first to be found will die." Ryuk was right when he said humans are infinitely interesting creatures.
Bleach
(106 Episodes - Currently Airing)
I'm not even sure how to begin describing this behemoth. Basta, ever since I started watching it, isa lang masasabi ko:
ASTEEEEEEEEEEEG.
(1 Season - Currently Airing : 10 Episodes)
To anyone else, acquiring the power to kill at a whim might initially seem enthralling, and, falling back to reality, immediately terrifying. But to Light Yagami, who feels a burning need to deal his brand of justice to the world, it would have been close to heresy if such power was left untapped. When he picked up the Death Note dropped by the shinigami Ryuk and started causing criminals worldwide to die by heart attack, this need -- which was already bordering on megalomania -- found exactly what it wanted to feed on.
Suffice it to say this "phenomenon" did not go unnoticed, and that's precisely how Light planned his vision to unfold. Soon enough, the public dubbed this mysterious force as "Kira" (derived from Killer), and unsurprisingly, the crime rates from all parts of the globe began dwindling.
While most people worldwide thought this was a good thing, not everyone -- especially not the International Criminal Police Organization, or ICPO -- had the opinion that killing off criminals above their sentence was a good way of dispensing justice. It is at this point that they decided to hire the services of an enigmatic but extremely intelligent investigator known only as "L" to find out who Kira is. And true to his reputation, L was already a step ahead from the ICPO as he wasted no time in making his presence known to Kira.
The mind traps both Light and L set up for each other are clever, complex, and oft times coldly cruel. "Each person is searching for an adversary whose identity is a complete mystery, and the first to be found will die." Ryuk was right when he said humans are infinitely interesting creatures.
Bleach
(106 Episodes - Currently Airing)
I'm not even sure how to begin describing this behemoth. Basta, ever since I started watching it, isa lang masasabi ko:
ASTEEEEEEEEEEEG.
Friday, December 08, 2006
Brain Candy, Part Un
For the purpose of getting things down on paper -- or binary code, at least -- I will be listing down the different anime series I am currently watching. This is not an attempt at writing a review. I will be leaving that to the people who know better (or claim to). I am doing this partly for my benefit, because I have a feeling I might forget I ever liked them if I don't list them down somewhere; and partly for my friends, so I can at least get them interested in things that get my heart a-tingle. It's no fun getting all worked up and excited over a new episode by myself. Hehehe. So in no particular order, my current brain candy:
xxxHOLiC
(1 Season : 24 Episodes : 1 Movie)
Kimihiro Watanuki has been haunted by different kinds of spirits for as long as he can remember. It would have been OK if the spirits leave him alone, but such is their attraction to Watanuki's presence that they are almost always latching onto every free part of the poor kid's body without giving him a moment's rest. That is, until Watanuki stumbled upon a strange looking house owned by an equally strange looking woman who introduced herself as Yuuko Ichihara, or the Dimensional Witch.
Yuuko explained to Watanuki that their meeting was not out of coincidence -- for coincidences are merely illusions -- but rather, it was because of Hitsuzen, or Inevitability. And since Watanuki was led into Yuuko's "shop," it must mean he has a wish he needs fulfilled. However -- and this was something Yuuko was very particular about -- although she has the power to grant any wish a person may desire, it naturally has to be exchanged with something of equal value. The Universe will, after all, indiscriminately carve out a path to preserve its balance whenever that balance is disrupted by any means, magical or otherwise.
Of course initally, Watanuki was skeptical -- which was a little odd for someone who was constantly being mauled by spirits of all shapes, sizes, and alignment -- but eventually, the desire to have his deepest wish fulfilled won out, so he finally agreed to Yuuko's terms. Yuuko then told Watanuki that she will release him from the curse of his blood, but in return, he will be working part-time for Yuuko as her servant. Watanuki was not too happy with Yuuko's proposal to say the least, especially when she told him that she will lift his curse after she decides to release Watanuki from her employ.
But for all of Yuuko's eccentricities, Watanuki was able to learn a lot and value all the strange, wonderful, and sometimes even scary things which Yuuko has opened for him. From the rich territories of Japanese mythology, to complex mysteries, and even delving into the realm of the metaphysical, xxxHOLiC is a series almost dark in its telling, but insightful and humorous at its core.
TSUBASA CHRoNiCLE
(2 Seasons : 56 Episodes : 1 Movie)
Syaoran and Sakura move as the epicenter of the entire CLAMP Universe in TSUBASA CHRoNiCLE. Although not quite the same as the kids who gathered the mysterious Clow Cards from the Cardcaptor Sakura series, the Syaoran and Sakura of TC are just as pure, innocent, and driven to do good wherever parallel universe they are taken to. Together with the strong and perceptive swordsman Kurogane, the mysterious sorcerer Fye, and the eternally kawaii Mokona Modoki, they traverse through different dimensions in search of Sakura's memory feathers.
Essentially a love story, TC is at first taste tragic when Syaoran asks help from Yuuko, the Dimensional Witch, in order to restore Sakura's memory feathers. Yuuko agrees to this wish, but naturally demands something of equal value as payment -- in the form of Sakura's memories of Syaoran. To put it simply, even if Sakura regains all of her memory feathers, she will not remember Syaoran or her special relationship with him. But despite the cruelty of Yuuko's terms -- and Syaoran being who he is -- he still agrees to the Witch's proposal, and in turn receives from her the power to travel across dimensions through Mokona Modoki.
Suffice it to say, this series is the mother of all crossovers within the magically diverse world of CLAMP. Although it is not an absolute requisite in enjoying TC, being familiar with most of the other CLAMP titles adds to the excitement and element of surprise when encountering a character from another series making an appearance in an episode -- or even an entire story arc. For the most part, TC delivers emotions both bittersweet and hopeful, and, as with most of the other works by CLAMP, promises a story of magic and intricately beautiful detail.
NEXT: Death Note and Bleach.
xxxHOLiC
(1 Season : 24 Episodes : 1 Movie)
Kimihiro Watanuki has been haunted by different kinds of spirits for as long as he can remember. It would have been OK if the spirits leave him alone, but such is their attraction to Watanuki's presence that they are almost always latching onto every free part of the poor kid's body without giving him a moment's rest. That is, until Watanuki stumbled upon a strange looking house owned by an equally strange looking woman who introduced herself as Yuuko Ichihara, or the Dimensional Witch.
Yuuko explained to Watanuki that their meeting was not out of coincidence -- for coincidences are merely illusions -- but rather, it was because of Hitsuzen, or Inevitability. And since Watanuki was led into Yuuko's "shop," it must mean he has a wish he needs fulfilled. However -- and this was something Yuuko was very particular about -- although she has the power to grant any wish a person may desire, it naturally has to be exchanged with something of equal value. The Universe will, after all, indiscriminately carve out a path to preserve its balance whenever that balance is disrupted by any means, magical or otherwise.
Of course initally, Watanuki was skeptical -- which was a little odd for someone who was constantly being mauled by spirits of all shapes, sizes, and alignment -- but eventually, the desire to have his deepest wish fulfilled won out, so he finally agreed to Yuuko's terms. Yuuko then told Watanuki that she will release him from the curse of his blood, but in return, he will be working part-time for Yuuko as her servant. Watanuki was not too happy with Yuuko's proposal to say the least, especially when she told him that she will lift his curse after she decides to release Watanuki from her employ.
But for all of Yuuko's eccentricities, Watanuki was able to learn a lot and value all the strange, wonderful, and sometimes even scary things which Yuuko has opened for him. From the rich territories of Japanese mythology, to complex mysteries, and even delving into the realm of the metaphysical, xxxHOLiC is a series almost dark in its telling, but insightful and humorous at its core.
TSUBASA CHRoNiCLE
(2 Seasons : 56 Episodes : 1 Movie)
Syaoran and Sakura move as the epicenter of the entire CLAMP Universe in TSUBASA CHRoNiCLE. Although not quite the same as the kids who gathered the mysterious Clow Cards from the Cardcaptor Sakura series, the Syaoran and Sakura of TC are just as pure, innocent, and driven to do good wherever parallel universe they are taken to. Together with the strong and perceptive swordsman Kurogane, the mysterious sorcerer Fye, and the eternally kawaii Mokona Modoki, they traverse through different dimensions in search of Sakura's memory feathers.
Essentially a love story, TC is at first taste tragic when Syaoran asks help from Yuuko, the Dimensional Witch, in order to restore Sakura's memory feathers. Yuuko agrees to this wish, but naturally demands something of equal value as payment -- in the form of Sakura's memories of Syaoran. To put it simply, even if Sakura regains all of her memory feathers, she will not remember Syaoran or her special relationship with him. But despite the cruelty of Yuuko's terms -- and Syaoran being who he is -- he still agrees to the Witch's proposal, and in turn receives from her the power to travel across dimensions through Mokona Modoki.
Suffice it to say, this series is the mother of all crossovers within the magically diverse world of CLAMP. Although it is not an absolute requisite in enjoying TC, being familiar with most of the other CLAMP titles adds to the excitement and element of surprise when encountering a character from another series making an appearance in an episode -- or even an entire story arc. For the most part, TC delivers emotions both bittersweet and hopeful, and, as with most of the other works by CLAMP, promises a story of magic and intricately beautiful detail.
NEXT: Death Note and Bleach.
Monday, December 04, 2006
The Million-Faerie Massacre
Every Christmas season, the Ayala Malls have weekend fireworks exhibitions which never fail to enthrall anyone who happen to be in the area. Apart from that, the whole Makati CBD becomes adorned with beautiful Christmas lights, it almost feels like walking into Lothlorien (or Lothlorietta, as Ly puts it), sans elves and little flying things.
Last night however -- and one can not be sure what caused this thought train to leave its tracks -- there was a sense of foreboding evil lingering about the luminescent paradise. Ly, Hono'o-chan, and myself were not aware of it at first. Perhaps it was the oddly-placed globe-shaped fountain in the middle of the park in front of 6750, or maybe it was the old woman selling cigarettes perched on the stairs near Mercury Drug. But the moment we saw the first few fireworks go off in the middle of the deepening dark December evening sky, we heard it. Cries for freedom and a multitude of tiny voices screaming for release!
Had we a camera with us, the grim scene would have looked like this:
Suddenly, the globe-shaped fountain was no longer what it was. The glow from inside was actually an imprisoned faerie, desperately clinging for dear life! The old woman was no longer a common cigarette vendor, but a fairy matriarch, miserably watching her kin die from the evil machinations constructed by greedy corporations! The security guards were no longer actual human beings, but animated corpses controlled by talismans hidden amongst their bodies, enchanted by witches and warlocks from their secret base in the underground parking lots!
Ayala was no longer a Christmas paradise. It was a carefully-constructed and elaborate faerie torture chamber, disguised as malls and parks and the second happiest place on earth! Any faerie who survives the fireworks death trap is completely eliminated by specially-trained snipers, their magickal essence added to the breeding of other faeries and pixies, or sometimes bottled and sold in Rustan's as beauty products! Oh, the humanity!
Last night however -- and one can not be sure what caused this thought train to leave its tracks -- there was a sense of foreboding evil lingering about the luminescent paradise. Ly, Hono'o-chan, and myself were not aware of it at first. Perhaps it was the oddly-placed globe-shaped fountain in the middle of the park in front of 6750, or maybe it was the old woman selling cigarettes perched on the stairs near Mercury Drug. But the moment we saw the first few fireworks go off in the middle of the deepening dark December evening sky, we heard it. Cries for freedom and a multitude of tiny voices screaming for release!
Had we a camera with us, the grim scene would have looked like this:
Suddenly, the globe-shaped fountain was no longer what it was. The glow from inside was actually an imprisoned faerie, desperately clinging for dear life! The old woman was no longer a common cigarette vendor, but a fairy matriarch, miserably watching her kin die from the evil machinations constructed by greedy corporations! The security guards were no longer actual human beings, but animated corpses controlled by talismans hidden amongst their bodies, enchanted by witches and warlocks from their secret base in the underground parking lots!
Ayala was no longer a Christmas paradise. It was a carefully-constructed and elaborate faerie torture chamber, disguised as malls and parks and the second happiest place on earth! Any faerie who survives the fireworks death trap is completely eliminated by specially-trained snipers, their magickal essence added to the breeding of other faeries and pixies, or sometimes bottled and sold in Rustan's as beauty products! Oh, the humanity!