Welcome to TAS 2009 Year 2

Pure Epicness.

Once been one of the members of the Taylor's Anime Society for a few months in 2009, I can say that I was really glad that I've did made a good choice in entering the club to help out for J101.

Why?

I think from TAS, I've broaden my social netoworking as well as my socialising skills. I've came to know that there are geniuses who watches anime all day long. Some fanatics jumped into the world of cosplaying and gained insane popularity. Some even crossdress for a start of cosplaying. Some doctors' children who watch anime. Some nerds (smart) who still are anime watchers. and etc.

And from there and then I had to admit that anime/manga indulgence ain't bad. It's not a bad thing, but it will be a bad thing if it costs your life, usually due to the user committing suicide because of anime. LOL.

Back to the topic, yes, TAS 2009 is still surviving in Skype, though part of the members are already in foreign countries like Kay my darling (Hong Kong), Gen Nen and Yun (UK), Nick and Geoffery(Australia) and Irene (New Zealand). But once a while, at certain unexpected times, we will still be able to chat together happily in Skype.

It might be not all but most is enough.

We had outings and parties during festive seasons or for just plain meet ups. Like the 3 open house parties we had during Chinese New Year this year - Jun's, Jon's and mine (a few only were invited due to some reasons) . And Kay who had been our great driver contributed alot to these open houses by taking the trouble to ferry some of us who were not staying near this area.

The parties maybe simple but it really meant alot to us, continuing the TAS spirit amongst us, though many of us really doubted and still doubting how long will this spirit last. I remembered one said it would be dead by next year (2010).

But it was proven inaccurate, I think the distance of the members who are now in different continents played a huge role in continuing the TAS flame.



By mere texts in Skype and Facebook, and voila, we are already gathered together for Tron:Legacy in Sunway Pyramid! Same thing, we did for our Comic Fiesta 2010 meet up.

What more our spirit can be measured by staying in the same spot for two hours long just to wait for Wee's apperance in Comic Fiesta Group Cosplay Competition! XD

There were more outings and farewell parties at the beginning of the year, but I've grounded myself for the sake of STPM. So I had no choice but to sit at home and stares eagerly at the photos posted in Facebook. Haha.

As the year gone by, and with TAF all over already, the chatroom was only left for us connecting with each other, sharing things and interests. Truly, as time goes by, we knew more and more about each other. Like for example, Zarif is already a well known blackmailer and you wouldn't want to be near him whenever he has a camera (worse, a videocam) XD

And maybe for Yun, she's living in a big grand house with a karaoke room.

Had my first karaoke time in her place and my throat went sore that night. In the end, I still don't know how duet works. And she has an acessory dog. XD

I've got more cosplayer friends up in Facebook, indirectly is all due to TAS, and it all started when we all attended the Comic Fiesta last year. The feeling is kind of neutral, since it's neither a disaster nor bliss to have more of them in my list. But surely if there's anything going on, they might be of great help. Afterall, social networking nowadays is really an important thing these days.

As for this year, other than the common movies/karaoke-in-yun's-place hangout we had, I went to help out in a photoshoot for Imitation Black since Jun asked me to help out. As a helper a.k.a. Kuli, despite of the tiring of helping out in carrying things up and down, and being stung by monstrous starving little vampirous mosquitoes in an abandoned building, it's really a great experience to see how a photoshoot work.

*silently worked behind the scenes as a minion*

Never knew simple cosplayers photoshoot can be as tasking as the common modelling photoshoots. With all the poses you have to think out off, and no drinks or anything served in the duration of the photoshoot period in fear of ruining the lipstick/makeup, HORRIBLE photoshooting spot, I really salute them. It would have been more a challenge to photoshoot in a public area, but still mosquitoes were a compensation of public stares.

Lucky thing they bought repellent sprays.

*PSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSST...* It really kept us going for the few hours.

I have never been so close to an abandoned building before, whatmore to be in one. Shattered silicon oxides, molding shattered wood planks, termites infested plastered walls, coral like formation soaky sponges, fallen air conditioning piping system, broken ceiling, leakings and the one I fear the most- the empty elevator space where elevators move. Imagine if you ever fall in it.

Being a short person, I don't fear height. I just fear if I fall from height.

The place doesn't have stench, and is invaded by overgrowth of nature. It's rather hot in the building, but if you were to stand near the edge of the floor of the building, it's rather cooling, because of the trees.

The photoshoot went well, just that we stinked like mosquitoe repellent and lucky thing, the repellent worked too well and none of us stinked like sweat. XD

Upon reaching the toilet, I immediately washed away the repellent with soap as I didn't want to horrible experience of me suffering for almost a month long of skin allergic and not being able to scratch them. That time I even tried to 'burn' my skin (the limbs since I placed my repellent there) with a hot air from hairdryer just to stop the damned itch. Phobia.

Imagine every single goosebumps on your skin become swelled and volcanic like. And itch.

*shivers*

The photos were great though we lacked time. Shawn was really a pro photographer. And for the cosplayers - Wee, Jun and Feli (though I don't really know you much), you guys were really great, and thanks for letting me to work with you guys. Sorry for the troubles.

Enough for the babbles, I hereby thank

Daniel, for bringing us all together
Kay, for being our driver and my low maintanence darling *kiss kiss*
Wee, for sharing your all sorts of photos with me
Jun and Yun, for being the rich kids and sharing with us your wealthy facilities (LOL.)
Zarif, for being the potential blackmailer in future and has since reminded us to be more careful with our bizzarre moments. XD
QwangSzaen, for being a great bullied target of Zarif and liven up the Skype conversation
Geoff, for being the guy who speaks up JUST TOO MUCH in others' Facebook posts
Gen Nen, for being the great motivator and the genius for us to idolise at
Shawn, for being a great photographer companion
Danial, for joining us once a while and become a good joker as well as a great Emcee
Nicholas, Chai Lynn, Wei Jie, Sze Hui and Jonathan Y, for joining us for out hangouts.

and of course for others whom I might have forgotten, thank you for joining us in TAS.

二〇〇九テーラスアニメ部えよこそ。

Sexta Digno de Confiança

2009-2010

The very two years which I had not give in my best.

It's too late to regret, nonetheless I will not shed a tear on my crap.

For those who had placed high hopes on me, I hereby beg for your pardon.

To parents, teachers, friends and anyone who actually supported me all along the way.

Thanks and I'm sorry.

Memoirs.

6 Amanah, the very last class I've resided till the very last day of STPM.

I was a Bio-Chem student, took 4 subjects (Biology, Chemistry, Maths and Pengajian Am) for my STPM. I've been in Form 6 for 1.5 years and been through the ups and downs of it.

I was a President of Dance Club. I'm proud and also happy for being able to run a club, which was loved by the many members on the first six months and still loved by few who were left after the sixth months.

I was and still happy to have shared and brought laughter to my fellow friends through the club.

I really do appreciate the assistance and support given by my club's committee members, as well as Mr William, our very first dance instructor.

But yet, I still have some doubts on myself being able to cherish the moments I had with my partner. I don't think I ever will. It's because of him, I weren't been able to totally enjoy in my own club. And worst, dancing became a phobia to me after my retirement on July 2010.

I've had enough, of being humiliated and laughed at, though you can say you didn't mean it.

(Blog here)




Studies.

Not to say I didn't study, because I do study, at the lastest minute. LOL.

I really did alot of Maths questions at my first 6 months of Form 6, then I didn't anymore for the next year. DX

Kinda slacked off alot.
But I did catch up with my chemistry, especially with Organic Chemistry, in which I really need to thank Madam Looi alot. Though she's slow, but she really made an effort to make us digest organic chemistry well enough. And I picked up Chemistry tuition with Ms. Elizabeth. =D

But in the end, I screwed my STPM Chemistry paper.


Biology, I liked Biology when I was still in Form 5, so as the first term in Taylors. And also the first month upon entering Form 6. Until they decided to changed teachers, because our Biology teacher couldn't stay back for the shit crap Research and Development (R&D) Project for Form 6s. And we got Mdm Daisy, who we were supposedly to meet during Upper Six.

She was soo... Seriously, I just don't know what's her issue. She has got that PMS - Post Menopause Syndrome. Once, during Lower 6, she asked us to clean somebody's class (we were nomads, so had to switch classes with the lower forms EVERYDAY) that was horrendously dirty (you can find chicken bones!).

I stood up and said it was just simply impossible for us to even take care others classes because it's not our responsibility and do we even litter in their class?

She yelled at me in front of the class, early in the morning. I forgotten how long it lasted.

The pain was etched deep down in my heart.

I hated her, I hated the subject.
I met Mr Lingam, the genius doctor who runs a Biology tuition, around this year's April. His class was rather interesting, filled with knowledgeable content as well as some life stories of his. But the horror came when he kept dismissing classes upon nearing STPM, leaving us clueless about the promises hat he made, including that he wanted to teach us how to write essay for our exams.

I got panicked and ran my contact list to find possible friends who were able to get me tips he has given in the Kasturi (KL) crash course. And guess what I got?

"Everything's important."

Biology paper - screwed.

I won't land my ass in Biology majored courses, ever.



I really liked Ms Goh, since Day One I've met her. Counting off the numerous times she treated us food (Mr Kang said it was for bribing us to get better results - we were the worst batch ever in Seafield's Form 6 history since no one got 4As in any possible exams), the extreme patience in giving us as many possible extra hours of classes (including Saturdays) made us felt guilty if we didn't do well in our Maths papers.

Reverse psychology, LOL.

Yes, I only worked out on my Maths Volume 1 chapters a month or two before STPM and lucky thing I've made it through. But it was a misfortune for Maths Volume 2.

Sorry Ms Goh.

Maths paper - half screwed.


Last but not least, the Pengajian Am, or we call it General Studies. Mr Kang taught us from the starting of this year onwards. Though he was a crappy teacher, who comes in only during two-periods lessons and skips the one-periods, he fully uses the two-periods to teach us the essentials and the very importants for STPM uses.

He often pick on girl classmates to bully on, mostly Kosheila, sometimes on Jasroop, Vicky or Yien Lu, and that's what kept the lessons funny and alive! And we still loved the moments when Mr Kang bullies Kosheila.

We could have just ROFL.

They two really kept our weeks alive.

He wasn't really a pervert, just a guy who likes to bully people.

And lacking in lessons in school really made us go crazy over crash courses. He really made it.

Pengajian Am paper - PWN-ed!



The first half a year in Seafield, we weren't that connected and we had our own cliques. Things got better when we all worked together for our Carnival Day stall. We started to communicate among ourselves more comfortably, though some didn't budge much.

Second year in Seafield, things changed alot, and changing to the our brand new Form 6 block helped us even more. No more nomad lives, sharing other's classes and to feed the mosquitoes.
Our new classes are more spacious now with brand new (and uselessly fragile, low quality shits) furniture. And when they are better facilities in a better environment, we lead a more comfortable life and we got to socialise more with each other.

In the whole year, there were lots of activities for us to join, some were optional, some were not really very compulsory but still stated compulsory. We had to comply to most of the activities due to the green co-curricular card we were given, so we joined in more activities as possible to increase our extra marks for co-curricular activities. But in the end, despite of the better relationship fostered among ourselves (both classmates and formmates), the school didn't take in account of the long list of activities that we have joined.

D=

Here are some of school activities we had:

Trip to Malaysian Chemistry Department (Click here and blog)
Science and Maths Week (Click here and blog)
Saringan for Sports Day (Click here)
Sports Day Form 6 Committee Service (Click here and blog)
Hari Anugerah Cemerlang Form 6 Committee Service (Click here and blog)
Form 6 Orientation Day (Click here and blog)
Parliament Trip (Click here)
Taylors University "Fruit Battery Discovery" Visit (Click here)
FRIM trip (Click here and here)

Our humble class trips:

Post MUET Movie (Click here)
Prince of Persia and Nightmare of Elm Street Movie (Click here)
Sophia's condo penthouse barbeque hangout
Expendables movie (Click here and blog)
Post STPM Movie : Tron:Legacy and Rapunzel (Click here)
Putra Heights Giant Lunch Hangout
Woei-Yaw's Post STPM House Party
and some more which went unrecorded due to no pictures taken or simply being forgotten.

Say 6B, our class is not a selfish class, but a close knitted one.

We each other may be lacking in some places, but we work as a team, as a class, we try to help each other out.

Dedication time!

To Ker Fang @ Fungus @ Cow @ Neo, who has been spending her one year being a seater beside me, THANK YOU SOO MUCH for helping me out whenever I have trouble in my homework and some issues. The way you go *blush bush* has always been cute though maybe your weakness sometimes which made you vulnerable to be bullied. XD Thanks for the worries. Don't worry, though I won't be sms-ing you very often now, but still, as long as I'm alive, I will not forget the one who I have once ignored in 5 Browser. XD

To Melissa Teh @ Miao Miao, who has been a great friend since Form 1, though until today I have no idea how we met, thank you for the effort in helping us out in the 3D Games Design Competition, and of course not forgetting, your patience in hearing my troubles out and bearing with my gossiping habit. I really did appreciate your help in whenever we has worked together. And of course you being the leader of the Biology project. Not forgetting, your artworks have always been splendidly eye catching and I will always be the second behind you. XD

To Keng Wei, who has been my friend for the 13th year, thank you for being our driver to places. Sorry if I did go mumble something unheard or ununderstandable or which would have pissed you out during the days. I really had lotsa fun working out and winning the 'i's with you, as well as Sophia. And man, your laugh that day after I lost in Rock Band vocal was memorable.

To Sophia, who has been a great secretary for Dance Club and a good friend, you have my deepest gratitude for everything that you have done to help me out including in the Games. *please feel the burden of the president* XD First time meeting such intensed Harry Potter fan. Someday, I will need another Tarot reading.

To Xian Young, who has bee a good friend to hear out my excitement in Kuroshitsuji and of course go "kyaa~~ kyaa~~" for it and as well as being a good friend, thank you. Love your souvenir and the hiong peah. Sorry for the trouble for getting the magazines.

Thank you to:
To Kosheila, who has been a huge MJ fan and a great companion in conversations and outings
To Jordan, who has been the great hand shaker (not squeezer) and great joker
To Yien Lu, who has cute handphones and ultimate patience for in handling lovebirds
To Chia Yen, who has been a very helpful friend and of course, being a princess of the year
To Ducky, who has been a great companion in Kuroshitsuji as well as other animes talk
To Chui Yeng, who has been the grandma in the class and gives comforting words to all
To Thu Yuen, who has been a great peacemaker, joker, host, manager and a St. John guy
To Woei-Yaw, who has been a sick dance partner, and a lousy crapper, anime amateur
To Simranjit, who has been the other photographer other than me and always helped me out too
To Kevin, who has been a lovesick guy, always thinks himself as fit, self ego XD
To Calvin, who has been the holistic and ninja guy in the class
To Allwin, who has been the Internet chat friend and next MIC leader
To Joshua J, who has been a virtuso guy and a good basketballer
To Chuen Yang, who had been in a cold war against me
To Ivy, who has been a good monitor and managed our class well
To Kenneth, who had been ocassionally missing from class due to skipping
To Xin Yi, who has made me realise that life is like that
To Jacqueline, Jasroop and Vicky and of course The Three Musketeers, who has not been very involved with me but still need to thank to

Not complete set.

Coming to an end, I felt very heavy hearted to leave the class which for once, in my 12 years of schooling, is the best and most close knitted.

We all have to move on in our journey in life;
to wish and to chase and to catch the shooting star,
reaching out for the next blue moon.
Bon Voyage.

Of Hot Bishounens with Flowy Hair and Big Eyes.

Honestly speaking, I've done too much of anime watching this year, and it's bad. I've never done so much since high school ended. What more to be done during STPM year!

ARGH.

*hides away*

Durarara!!!

I started off my year of anime-watching with Durarara!!! I wasn't sure what to watch at the start of the year, but the interesting art of Durarara!!! caught my attention.

24 episode, 24 weeks.

"Mikado Ryūgamine is a young man who longs for the exciting life of the big city. At the invitation of his childhood friend Masaomi, he transfers to a school in Ikebukuro, Tokyo. Masaomi warns him about people he doesn't want to cross in the city: a violent man dressed like a bartender, an information merchant, and a mysterious gang called "Dollars." And to top it off, Mikado witnesses an urban legend on his first day in the city: the "Black Rider," the supposedly headless driver of a black motorcycle. The narrative follows all of the characters equally, showing how their lives intersect, creating a greater plotline from what each character knows about a common incident. " -Wikipedia

Ratings : 8/10
(Recommended but lacking in bishounens)

Pretty fresh idea to feature an Irish death god in a female form. And well, you don't get Japanese featuring Dullahans that often. You only see that in Western cartoons or maybe movies?

*read Skulduggery Pleasant's Mortal Coil, Dullahan made a minor appearance*

As usual, you will find the BL pairings. The common pairings are from Shizuo and Izaya. But I'm not gonna have a say on it in this post. No further elaborations.

I think this serious looking anime has its own hidden cuteness, especially the scenes when Celty actually goes *blush blush* (if you can see it) and of course some innocent moments of Mikado.

Generally, it's a fresh idea, fresh plot. Haven't really came to a point to think that what would happen when Dullahan loses its head, and what happen when Dullahan is actually a..

*no spoilers*

The last time I came across characters with extremely accurate predictions on what would others do next/in future was in Spiral. They sounded insane to me, but it's actually what drove me so suspense-ed about what can the character do to the story.

This anime is basically about insane epic things, but yet logical. Characters which you have never thought of appearing in reality just sounded so logical under the author's script. Bits and pieces of every small story played by significant/insignificant characters are made up into a huge picture, without glitches. This is what the author Ryohgo Narita is pro in doing.

I just love how insane were the amazing characters - from Zero-actually-Hero Mikado, Good-Boy-Gangster Kida, Innocent-Killer Anri, Handsome-Slanky-Adrenaline-Pumped-Strong-Ass Shizuo and of course Izaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaya.

And this was why I was eager to watch Baccano! - award winning anime of the same author.

Kaichou wa Maid-sama!

Released on April Fool 2010, no it's just not an April Fool for all Maid-sama! fans out there. Including me. I stopped at Chapter 20+ of the manga, and for the sake of enjoying the most out of this anime, I went for a 1 day marathon to complete the Chapter 50+(till that date) manga.

"Seika High School, once an all-boys school notorious for its wild students and for generally being a terrifying place for girls, has recently become a co-ed school. With the female population still a minority and living in fear of the over-the-top antics of the males, Misaki Ayuzawa takes it into her own hands to reform the school and allow the girls to feel safe in the rough environment.

Training, studying and even becoming the first female student council president of the school, Misaki has gained a reputation among the male students body as an uptight boy-hating dictator and as a shining hope for the teachers and fellow female students.

However, despite her tough-as-nails appearance, she secretly works part-time at a maid cafe in order to support her family. Unfortunately, her hard-earned reputation is threatened when the popular, attractive, and somewhat impassive Usui Takumi takes an interest in her after discovering her in a maid uniform after school.

Afterwards he starts to rescue her from many mishapped situations and she slowly starts to have affections for him, even if she doesn't realize it." -Wikipedia

Ratings: 6.5/10
(If you love the manga ALOT, I mean it, ALOT, please don't watch the animated)

When I started watching the anime, it definitely gave me the 'wow' factor. As in,

"Wow. The art sucks."

I don't know but I've watched animes from JC Staff - Otome Youkai Zakuro, Shakugan no Shana and Uragiri wa Boku no Namae wa Shitteiru. They sort of simplified the manga art from the original artist. I have no say in Shakugan no Shana ( I don't read the manga/novel) , since they spiced simplified things up with glowing fiery flames effects, but still you can see how simple is the anime art, minus the Tron-like glows.

Uragiri wa Boku no Namae wa Shitteiru was just scrap. Scrap of art. I may not be a very expert artsy person, but I do appreciate art. And originality.

Oh my eyes. It's so PAIN. *gorge out her eyeballs*

That's why I couldn't bear to continue watching the anime after first episode.

Going back to the topic, I think that the staff has done so well in still keeping most of the originality of the story. Though they randomly selected 1 manga chapter to be made into 1 anime episode, at least they didn't alter much of the plot, only to reduce certain moments.

VERY UNLIKE Kuroshitsuji II. So I still can give an OK for the story of the anime.

But the ending was kinda.. Hanging.

I would have loved if they have continued revealing a bit of Usui's background. And yes, they ruined the Usui's background check episode. *crap* This anime ended with nothing being told about Usui's background, and I'm not proud for revealing this spoiler. It's just PATHETIC.

For those who were blinded with the hotness and gentleman-ness of Usui, please wake up from your mountainful of "kya~ kyaa~" moments throughout the anime, god damn, go read the manga and do a background check on your goody good good boyfriend.

But on the bright side, at least they didn't ruin the ending by faking up Usui as some sort of prince alien from some alien planet.

Good thing about leaving it hanging.

Kuroshitsuji II

I would have loved this if the staff left Ciel and Sebastian's fate in confusion since Season 1, and never ever, ever mentioned about them again.

12 episodes, 12 weeks of wan dai fu craps.

Ah great, I can't find a synopsis for this crappy Season II in Wiki. Maybe it was just so crappy that no one wanted to write anything about it.

No, I'm not gonna write a thing for the synopsis.

Ratings: 5/10
(I'm still a fan of the manga. No matter what. Not even Season I)

I loved the gore and gruesome of more bloody scenes in this season. Yes, it's a vast improvement on blood volume compared to the first season. You can see how much is the difference from the first episode alone.

The only thing good about Season II was the Alice in Wonderland themed OVAs.

Just to remind you, Spiderman could have done better than this. Even SpiderPig too.

Hakuouki Shinsengumi Kitan

This anime is based on an otome game. You heard it. Otome game.

There's a babi girl in a Barbie world, Barbie world as in a world with all handsome Kens.

"Chizuru Yukimura heads to Kyoto to search for her father. While there, she witnesses a fight between Rasetsu and members of the Shinsengumi. The Shinsengumi take her into custody and, once learning she is the daughter of the doctor they are searching for, decide to keep her close at hand. Chizuru follows the Shinsengumi in their battles to help the shogunate."-Wikipedia

Ratings: 9/10 (for the handsome Kens), 5/10 (for the heavy Sejarah content)
(I can't give you the general ratings, because...


I stopped watching the anime after 5th episode)

._.

I'll just give a brief explanation. Try looking up for the handsome Kens in Google and you will realise a high degree of fabrication of the Kens appearance in reality. Oh yes, they actually made up an anime based on historical figures of Shinsengumi.

Can't imagine if ever one day our local anime industry grows, Malaysia will ever come out with an anime of local police historical figures like Dato' Musa Hassan. They really do need HEAVY fabrication on both appearance and backgrounds.

I reason why I couldn't continue watching the anime was that it was just too... boring. Other than displays of excellent swordmanship, swaying their extremely soft hair (they were helping to promote Sunsilk) as they fight, they also injected quite some element of the History, making the story abit slow and indigestable, for me. Only downloaded 6 episodes.

*lacking in Sejarah-ase*

Still, I will recommend this anime for anime watchers who are bishounen freaks and doesn't really bother of the content.

And some spin off of Hakuouki scenes. Love it. Thanks Wee for the links.
[Here 1] [Here 2]


*silently wiping away the nosebleed*

Otome Youkai Zakuro

Wondergirls. They dance, they sing and, they fight.

LOL. This is not Japanese version Barbie movie.

"During the Westernization of an alternate Japan, humans and spirits coexist. To maintain harmony between the two, the Ministry of Spirits is established and humans and spirit representatives are chosen. Lieutenants Kei Agemaki, Riken Yoshinokazura, and Ganryu Hanakiri are chosen to be the human representatives and are partnered with Zakuro, Susukihotaru, and Bonbori and Hozuki, respectively. However, Zakuro cannot stand humans who accept Jesuit practices so easily and Agemaki has a severe fear of spirits. " -Wikipedia

Ratings : 7.5/10
(Recommended for Nekomimi fanatics and heroin based and bishies in soldier uniform!)

Honestly speaking, I watched this because it felt just so weird for not downloading and watching anything after Kuroshitsuji II ended. I couldn't deny the fact that I fell in love with the blonde guy with army green soldier unifrom which appeared on the promo images online, and only to find him a "wuzz" after watching the anime.

LOL.

Story wise, it was kinda 75% predictable at most scenes, but amazingly kept me going on and on watching this due to its heavy suspense. Not romantic suspense, anyway.

JC Staff again, but I think there was QUITE some improvement. Except the fact that they still emmit the same simplified emptiness aura. The eyes... THE EYES WERE JUST TOO... ==

And most of the characters resembles someone in certain anime, mostly are from Ouran High School Host Club. And I've spent some time in Photoshop doing a brief summary on the resemblance.

*click to enlarge*

I even thought the blonde guy actually came out from Hakushaku to Yousei!



And the following 3 animes were bought in Petaling Street in the 2 Sundays I went for my Pengajian Am crash course in KL.

Baccano!

If you are a fan Italian mafia, insane gunmen, blood and gore and immortality, this is yours. Insanity included.

"The series, often told from multiple points of view, is mostly set within a fictional United States during various time periods, most notably the Prohibition-era. It focuses on various people, including alchemists, thieves, thugs, Mafiosi and Camorristi, who are unconnected to one another. After an immortality elixir is recreated in 1930 Manhattan, the characters begin to cross paths, setting off events that spiral further and further out of control." -Wikipedia

For full plot synopsis, go Wikipedia.

Ratings : 7.5/10

This 2007 anime was based on an award winning novel, which is why it's just epic. I have not read the novel, neither did I read the manga, so I'll be commenting from the Baccano! marathon I had during STPM season.

As you can read in the above Wikipedia excerpt, the story was told in various points. Not only from different point of view, it's also told in different setting - time and place.

The first time I watched this, it was kinda confusing. Try jumping from one year to another, in just one episode. The time rotation was fast and rather.. *scratches head*

The ability of the author coming up with different stories from different point of views, totally unrelated at first, and finally connecting one another, and to produce a whole reationship of every single character's story, is just whoa.

I was on a marathon so switching between years 1931, 1932, 1933, 2001, and 1711 was a bit confusing at first, but it was a bit better when coming to the end of the 13 episodes.

*what's the point, lol*

The insanity of the anime kept me staying in front of the tv for long hours, left me wondering what would all the mad characters do. Like Russo and Claire.

Oh yes, I really liked Claire Stanfield, insane killer but still gentleman in heart. Daring and dashing. XD

Luck Gandor was cool too, suppressed and hidden madness despite of the gentleman looks. I loved his smile.

Each character in this story was finely created with their very own original personality and yet all shared the same trait - absurd. But this is just absurdly insane! Ironicity plays huge role in here.

Isaac : "Nee, Miria."
Miria : "Nani, Issac."

Isaac and Miria kept the story moving with their stupidity!

And whatmore, I've never thought that the narrator was somewhat related behind the scenes of the whole story!

Here are some of the narrator lines.

"Ultimately, where does this story begin, and when does it end?

Thats a foolish question, Carol.

By any chance, are you still searching for the main character to this story?

(Yes.)

Carol, free yourself from such fantasies.

Rid yourself of the illusion that stories have beginnings and endings.

Stories have no beginnings. Nor have they endings. All they have are facts of life of people making connections, interacting, influencing each other, and spreading out.

Stories must not have endings, Carol.

There are somethings that can only be told in a certain way.

(Then why stories have an ending?)

Because allowing the possibility for the story to go on is appealing? You could provide countless answers to that question. But suppose i were to give you an answer that was easy to understand, for your sake.

- because they are enjoyable."

Recommended. Please do watch. And read Wikipedia after that.

DOGS: BULLETS & CARNAGE

At first, I thought I bought the wrong disc.

What in the hell of an anime that was done in just 4 episodes. Since it's the disc is produced in Malaysia, I thought the title's has already missing the OVA wording.

After a few times thinking and came to a conclusion. If I were to not buy this here in Petaling Street, it will be a very long time the next time I'm gonna come back here to get it. It would have been out of stock!

So I bought it anyway. And it turned out that it's actually an anime which has only 4 episodes!

"Set in a post-apocalyptic world where violence, crime, genetic manipulation and other cruel scientific experiments have become common, the story focuses on four main characters who, through a series of coincidences, meet as they search for a way "below", looking for answers to their individual pasts." - Wikipedia

Ratings: 7.5/10
(Loaded with bishounens in stunts)

The 4 episodes, one character dedicated for each episodes, describing their life and self. An old retired assassin, a nicotine addict, a murder-victim swordswoman and a genetically modified man. 4 characters, 4 epsiodes.

As the title suggested, there were bullets and of course, blood. Crazy stories leading to huge unexpected massacre. I love it, not only because there are bishounens, it's because it's a rather fresh idea to use anime solely to describe the characters which were originated from a manga series.

The suspense the anime left for the viewers is a way of marketing the manga. Viewers who were awed by the handsome bishounens or the amazing guns or stunts, they will be very much eager to catch up with the manga. Hence, a manga sales boost.

The art was defintely detailed, maybe because it was just meant to be a 4 episode anime. They even have individual ending videos. But the opening theme only lasted for a few seconds. == They should have did something to it.

It would have been better if they extended it, but it might reduce the detail.

Eye candy, eye candies!

MIRACLE ☆ TRAIN: Welcome to the Oedo Line!

After DOGS : Bullets and Carnage, this was the second anime DVD I've got with high quality widescreen episodes. Seems like Malaysian DVD producers now know the markets' needs.

It makes me feel much better watching anime of DVD quality and yet not so much pixelated as to compared to Baccano! which was highly SD video quality. *MY EYES!!!*

*feeling contented and happy*

"There is an urban legend in Japan about an underground subway line that moves without limitations. The rumor is only gorgeous men ride a train that is known as the Miracle Train.

And if you were to happen upon this line, you would undoubtedly fall into a complete state of happiness.

Being touched by a ray of light, granting her access to enter into the Oedo Line platform, where the Miracle Train runs. As the doors open up, the space inside is very different, as six handsome men await you inside.

According to the conductor the leadership of these six gentlemen and the female guide, when women have worries or insecurities, the Miracle Train will appear.

With names matching the stations along the line, these fabulous gentlemen, whose bonds together are tight, despite their different personalities, will erase all of your worries and fears. " -Anime News Network

Ratings : 7/10
(Recommended for normal anime viewers though it's also loaded with bishounens.)

The first thing I realised upon starting the first episode was I felt rather disturbed. It was because of the distance between the characters eyes. It's been quite some time since I last watched an anime with characters of eyes with quite some distance in between.

And I have always stood by my point that men with tux or suits, or simply to put in - formal, look best. So was this anime.

I have always loved the fact that the anime actually translated station names and some of the fun facts about the station into characters and its personality. I couldn't really imagine what would we get if we ever try to translate our stations.

YAY to hippopotamus from Bukit Badak station!

The art was just OK, makes it like some normal acceptable anime. And plot wise, it went smooth with the guys helping trouble ladies (and some men) and like common animes, it had certain problems along the way but still negligible, UNTIL, it came to a point where the problem becomes significant (signifies the anime's reaching its climax) and yeah, there went the characters solving it. So, the plot was just an OK too.

And from the way the stated the seiyuu's names in the opening theme itself, I've realised that they actually had the famous seiyuus in line for the stations:

Fumi Roppongi
voiced by Kenn (Ronald Knox, Kuroshitsuji)

Shintarou Shinjuku
voiced by Ryotaro Okiayu (Byakuya Kuchiki, Bleach; Shigure Souma, Fruits Basket)

Izayoi Tsukishima
voiced by Daisuke Ono (Sebastian Michaelis, Kuroshitsuji)

Itsumi Ryougoku
voiced by Masakazu Morita (Ichigo Kurosaki, Bleach)

Iku Shiodome
voiced by Yuuki Kaji (Finny, Kuroshitsuji; Walker Yumasaki, Durarara!!!)
(sidenote: Ganryu Hanakiri, Otome Youkai Zakuro)

Saki Tochou
voiced by Tomokazu Sugita (Kyon, The Melancholy of Suzumiya Haruhi; Takumi Mayama, Honey and Clover)
(sidenote: Takenaga Oda, The Wallflower)

The anime pretty much reminded me of Fruits Basket, talking about life problems and solving them, sometimes with tears. The only episode when I sheded tears was when the 6 stations had to grant a dead girl's last wish. TwT

I like the anime which also has some documentary element where it promotes and teaches the viewers things about the Oedo line of the Japanese railway system. From train designs to stations passengers, it's a really informative anime, and it has given me some sort of urge to board the train in Japan. D=

Too bad they didn't include subtitles for the fun facts stated on the screen. Should have downloaded the anime when the torrent seeds were still active back then. DX


Last but not least to end my annual anime critic post -

Family Guy ROCKS.

MIRACLE ☆ TRAIN

MALAYSIAN ☆ TRAIN

I remembered the last time I went to take a train was around.. *I don't remember*

I only got train rides this year.

One was during school holidays with my 6A classmates to Mid Valley on KTM;


Went there to watch movies and our class were seperated into two teams - Prince of Persia and Nightmare at Elm Street.


First time boarding the ladies coach, and first time getting to know how peak hours actually worked on trains.

No, I'm not boarding KTM during peak hours. Kill me for it.

Peak hours meant 7 persons being splited into 3 different trains. One train interval is just utter terror. To illustrate our day:




Men in ladies coaches are rares but not impossible.

On our way back, 3-4 more stations nearing Subang Jaya station, two male babis boarded the ladies coach. And they actually expressed their excitement for being so near with the ladies. Their wicked smile etched into my head which lasted as long as till today.

F*** them.

Wait. On our way there, there was a man with two 3 or 4 year old kids - a boy and a girl in the ladies coach. The man looks rather home-ish, as in he wears a normal tee and a pair of 3 quarter pants, carrying baby-ish bags which I think carrying his kids stuffs. An officer came in to shoo them, saying that it's against the rule to have men in the coach.

We were there, staring at the officer shooing the father of two away. The father didn't say anything but to turn at his kids and looked back at the officer. He looked pity. The officer didn't give in. The father of the two had to leave with his small kids.

Deep within me was my conscience asking me to defend them. I mean, the father didn't look sneakish, plus he had got two small kids with him and other coaches were flooded with human. All the other ladies were staring at the scene. I wanted to voice out. But nothing came out.

Till today, I still feel the remorse.

There was one night I actually didn't sleep well because the scene kept replaying in my head.

I should have just said it to the officer, but I didn't.

Again, I'm still a very Malaysian.



The second one was to PIKOM PC Fair in KLCC hours after our victory in Taylor's 3D Computer Games Design Competition with Keng Wei and Jordan;

Magnificent nightview.

Keng Wei gave me and Jordan a ride to the LRT station in Kelana Jaya. Me and Keng Wei each wanted a 1TB storage while Jordan wanted a laptop fan.

Keng Wei maybe very patient always, but when he loses patience, man, I wouldn't want to see it again.

Got the 1TB HDD from Western Digital for RM269 each after surverying other models from different brands. And bought ourselves the same laptop fans at a bargained priced at rm36 each. (original RM39) Damn the salesman didn't want to give me *was showing the pitiful face* RM35 price.

Went to food court for the two guys dinner. Had ice kacang as dessert for me. Got them one.

I hated Sarsi. They had it in the ice kacang!!

Didn't know I'm really good in bargaining stuff (after last year's CF- buying real bargained hats with Onigiri) until Keng Wei and Jordan's complimented.

*blush blush*

XD



Then 2 continuous Sundays train rides to Pusat Tuisyen Kasturi (KL) for Pengajian Am Crash course with Jordan and Xian Young, we too did some brief expedition on Petaling Street;

Spending RM70 on the crash course was really worth it since we too got the chance to explore on Petaling Street.

First week, went to find the Hiro DVD shop (Roy said it sells everything anime) and the Popular.

Our 'salvages'.

OH!

Second week, Hiro again for more anime DVDs (DOGS, Miracle Train and Mei-chan no Shitsuji dorama) and FOOD! We didn't manage to find the well known laksa there, sadly.

So we only went home with (quite) empty stomach and handful of bargained books (me and Xian Young). We did explore part of the streets near Petaling Street.



Fourth one was to teach Mum how to get to Pasar Seni station with LRT so that she can easily go to KL for prayers without relying on dad;

Despite of her noobness in getting to KL with highway, she knows almost every single nook and crook of the KL streets. She said she's been there during her 20s on bus.

And miraculously, most of the shops are still here!


Fifth one - KTM (me, Yun and Jun) all the way to KL Sentral, Monorail to Imbi Station to visit Times Square, and LRT (me, Yun and Zarif) back to Kelana Jaya for our return.



I went to Comic Fiesta this year is for the sake of completing some hatty business as well as to go support our dearest TAS companion - Wee in her Kuroshitsuji skit.

I would like to thank Yun alot for tagging me along just for the sake of finding a socket to operate my hot glue gun. Thanks a lot. DX

I didn't have much say on this year's Comic Fiesta since I just couldn't find a descent doujin art/merchandise for myself. And I was only looking for Kuroshitsuji's doujin. Saw some nice ones, but I'm not very much attracted to get them.

But I could see there are more and more good cosplayers in CF. So far have not seen any rotten case of cosplaying over there.

This is a really positive progress in Malaysia's cosplayers cosplaying standard.

Though there were many good looking cosplayers, I didn't really made the effort to take pictures with them, maybe because I was too mentally exhausted with the inability to sleep last night. It might be due to the crazy hype me and my classmates had in a party in a friend's house and the nervousness of getting my hats sold on CF.

I came back rather late on the party night in my friend's place around 11.30pm, bathed and started working on the TWO Miku Magnet hats as ordered by a member in CF forums. (Yes, it's TWO.) It took me two or three freaking hours till 4am.



My UHU glue has decided to betray me in the middle of the process. Nothing came out no matter how I pressed, pushed, squueezed or folded origami with it. Ah great, fantastic. I just finished the brim, and nothing came out. Oh great. DX

Lucky thing I had my hot glue gun. The last time I tried to paste something on felt with hot glue was just phail. Phail. And phail. It somehow worked (thanks Buddha!) , but I really doubt the crown will last as long as the brim. *facepalms*

After tracked down one usable socket which a guy was using it for his laptop, I immediately begged him to allow me to use it for a while, at least to finish my business. Really thanked him a lot. And wasted RM5 worth of phone credit to track down my hat customers. ==

Got RM70 frm the sales, and RM30 still on hold since the buyer lost her money ==

Had to mafan Jun to help me get it on Day 2.

*kinda thinking it was sorta bad idea to postpone the payment though*

Did some photoshooting around with my poor old loyal 6mp camera which is still surviving till date even after several unpredicted falls. The horrible lighting at some corners of the place really drove my photoshooting nutcase. Gave up taking pictures of figurines.


Bought a random Hakuoki poster with Yun, 2 for rm50, each one each. Apprently both of us got the same characters despite of being random.

After unfruitful strolling around the doujin booths, we decided to stone in front of the stage, to fulfill our sole purpose of being in CF 2010 - see Wee in action.

Zarif called up to ask for a reason why he should buy a RM15 ticket to enter the hall. Me and Yun only gave one, "Wee!"

We were stoning in front of OK interesting, Sort Of interesting, Half interesting, Not Very interesting, Absolute Boredom or I Don't Get What Are You Trying To Say Here group cosplay competition presentations. Mario actually had an appearance in the competition too along with its funny memorable pixelated music.

Zarif turned up behind us (me and Yun) just in time for Wee's apperance. =D He actually bought the ticket! Wei Jie too turned up.

Wee, honestly speaking, you actually made us anticipating for your moment.

I have aready stoned in the same spot for two hours, for once actually witnessed the opening ceremony of CF and of course waited patiently for Wee's appearance with her whole Kuroshitsuji gang. I didn't know the 'whole' actually meant almost complete set of the main characters in the anime!

They came out as the second last group, doing a skit on 'Cellphone' theme. Zarif took out his videocam and asked Yun to record the whole skit. So did I with my humble 6mp camera without the zooming setting while recording.

I was really stunned by the almost COMPLETE set on stage! It's really refreshing after seeing other groups performance with COMPLETE banyak props, COMPLETE boredom, COMPLETE I- just -don't- get- your- joke etc.

Some were good, but just not all the times.

But they can't beat this Kuroshitsuji team. If they won, they really deserve it.

*they didn't in the end*

I have forgotten about my sore legs.

Video links : [Mine] [Zarif's]

Because just nothing can beat Telephone by Lady Gaga in this Kuroshitsuji.

You just won't understand it, unless you were there.

Right after their performance, we squuezed tru and against the crowd flow to get to the Kuroshitsuji team.

Wee!

After that we went off for Low Yat, lead by Zarif, in search for food and beverages.

Being first time in Low Yat, I've seen that whatever my parents said about this run down, deserted, abandoned building is just not true. It's as lively as ever. And it didn't looked old at all.

Whichever angle my eyes look at, there wouldn't be a space with no technology on it. The whole mall is just all about technology! Except the food court which Zarif brought us too.

Yun simply picked a restaurant and we entered. Oh, she was a great picker.

Imagine two slices of roti bakar with kaya and butter cost you rm2.30 and a cup of specialty coffee with cincau cost about rm5.40?


Hallehujah. I was hungry, so I had no choice. Well done, Yun.

Zarif and Yun ordered a plate of sandwich (conventional sandwich cut into 4 parts), and Wei Jie generously ordered a plate of Nasi Lemak. It wasn't cheap. Really.

After that we went browsing through stores for Yun's HTC Desire Z, Zarif's dream Dell and some accessories which Wei Jie wanted. Wanted to buy a tablet but thought about the issue of returning it to Low Yat just in case anything went wrong with it. D=

Zarif lead us into a figurine store (ciplak ones) and I went into the nendo section. And I saw...

*kaching* RM50.

They even came with extra limbs for Sebastian!



But another thing about ciplak stuff is that, the joints wont fit in! And this time, the limbs keep falling off from Sebastian. At first, I had to stuff in tissues into the joints of his body. == so that it will reduce the hole width for the limbs joint.

Then, I used the pipe tapes and wounded the limbs joint since tissues won't last when there's 0.00000000001 Ritcher of shaking.

Imagine that, pipe tapes. I'm just brilliant.


After a long walk here and there in Low Yat and after we lost Wei Jie, we decided to go back to CF, but to stop at a Pos Malaysia exhibition on Upin and Ipin first day covers.



Unable to resist the temptation to buy the whole set after seeing Zarif got one whole set, I forked out RM42.50 and voila, joined Zarif stamping the stamped envelopes at the table with the Upin and Ipin chops. Well, at least I have no need to walk our way back to CF to get something for my little sister.



Decided to just go home since Yun was tired already. Three of us went to Monorail, all the way to KL Sentral, waited for Zarif to buy his Burger King for dinner, took LRT and went home.



The 6th time, was on CF Day 2, but I didn't go anyway. I woke up quite late, but still haven't recover from the sleep debt I had during STPM. I weren't planning to go FACON Edu Fair either, though I planned to before that, because it was already 12pm. == Lazy.



Then mum came in and nagged that she wouldn't care more if I were to complain that I missed out the dates of the registration or applications to anywhere or whereever, I'd to made up my mind to just go for FACON.

Yes, it was the best decision. I meant it.

Called up a few person to go there, but most turned down. Alas, I were all alone. == Keng Wei would meet me there, but in the end I were still going alone.

Lucky thing finally Kosheila called me back (after gazillion missed calls) and dad went to pick up her as well. Parents were worried about me taking train there although I know the route, so dad offered to send me there, in return of nags and grumbles.

Both me and Koshi went into PWTC and followed the crowd, which almost lead us to the Food Fair which was being held in the other hall. LOL. Lucky thing, Koshi saw the edu fair banner somewhere and we walked back again.

Too bad we came in late, there weren't anymore goodie bags for us. DX

The first stop which attracted us was Nilai University College. Me and Kosheila was planning to get something related to Biology and Chemistry, and it came out that the uni only offers Biotech. Biotech ain't bad.

They had a really good businessman attender. This old businessman (I don't know how he ended up as one of the attenders in the booth, maybe he's a lecturer) explained to us everything about friends and social connections, and how good is the uni enviroment - 24 hours Internet connection (more like 24 hours of distraction), isolated from developing areas (basically you are in a ulu college, but less distractions), good facilities (haven't been there to see it) and 2 principal pass for all of these.

Seriously, I'm currently worried about my results. I really do hope getting Cs at least, and confident with my Pengajian Am an A.

Yes, I've decided to go Nilai.

It may not be prestigious, but if Local uni has nothing worth to offer me, Nilai's my choice.

I know I'm just a sad case. I really am. I weren't in my best in Form 6.
Don't say stuffs that make me feel good, because it will just make me feel worse.

But if I have nothing to get my ass into Nilai, I'm a goner.

Went around to check out other booths.

And wtf. Undergraduate courses in Japan unis are still in English though they are trying to attract international students by introducing this 'Global 30' programme, which includes 30 universities in Japan offering their courses in English, and it's only for POSTGRADUATES.

Despite of the utter dissapointment of being so not like Gen Nen (smart and proficient in Japanese), I found out there's such a thing as Examination for Japanese University (EJU), which serves as the somesort of qualification yardstick for an international student to enter Japanese university. A test on Japanese language, science subjects (bio and chem) and maths, it's gonna be harsh for me.

I even had trouble talking to the Japanese university attendees. I understand what they were trying to explain (some in Japanese) but I just couldn't reply them. I found out that my degree of detioration in Japanese is too high, I can't even recall simple terms like exam (試験-しけん）.


Total embarassment. Whatmore in front of a classmate.

I'm sad.


And they had problem conversing in English, 1 out of 5 booths I went can speak proper English. But none of them understoof what is 'intake'.

Keng Wei met up with us later and telling us he was bored and felt that he wasted time here. == And he went home.

(he's a genius. That's why.)

Other big big famous university only wants STPM genius to join them, at least a BBB, and with killer fees. Really, I hope I have something to get into Nilai.


After that, we went to the Food Fair in the other hall, had quite a long walk. Despite being a malaysian street food fair, I don't see anything street about the event. They promoted Malaysian made PROCESSED food, HIGH TECH stoves, ULTRA filters, and CRAZY kitchen appliances. Street wise? No.

Bought some overpriced sushi to fill our tummy.

Oh wait, sushi is Malaysian street food?

*facepalms*

We could see many aunties/housewives gather around some booths with boistrous salesman selling their stove or food processors or whatever thingamajid.

If you see aunty crowds, that's definitely not we youngsters place to be since it's not gonna be of our interest.

I can guarantee you that.

Anyway, we left that place using LRT, reached Kelana Jaya station around 6pm.

Me and my friends! XD

On my way home in the LRT, I was thinking what is the need of Malaysian getting into the hype of buying cars. The public transportation is certainly improving. But comparing KTM with LRT, I like LRT better. More spacious, less crowd, but the price is more expensive than KTM.

I think the government should focus on developing the public transportation network first than to spend billions on megaprojects - mega skyscrappers with plenty car parkings. More car parkings, means more cars on the small roads (they didn't have space to broaden the city roads!!), which also means TRAFFIC JAM.

Seriously, take Japan and UK as your yardstick. Malaysia government really fail in using their logic minds in deciding which to go first, development or improvement. Improve your public transportation first then only think of building offices. Brainless.

And alas, the Federal HAS FINALLY realised how in need are the Subang people of a good train line, since many bus lines around the area are just failures, so as the patheticly built highways which still causes jams. I really hope they complete the train line by 2013.

*still looking hard for signs of the new Subang train line developement*

Malaysian public transportation no ☆.