"Rumbling Hearts" Settle Down

I just finished watching "Rumbling Hearts," and I'm not sure what to think of it.  It did get better after the initial episodes, but I think it was overloaded with drama.  What do people think is gonna happen after waking up from a 3-year nap?  Would you expect the person you loved to still be waiting for you?  Then again, if the last thing you remember happens to be being with that special someone, to wake up and find they had moved on with someone else would be a shock, I suppose.    "Rumbling Hearts" is the story of  four fast high school friends – Haruka, Takayuki, Mitsuki and Shinji. Life’s promise shines brightly on these companions, until one day a random accident leaves Haruka in a coma. Her boyfriend, Takayuki, cannot forgive himself and seems determined to follow Haruka into a comatose state. Mitsuki dedicates her life to taking care of this tragic young man, and the pair salvage what they can, falling into a self-destructive relationship floundering in guilt. When Haruka awakens three years too late suffering from anterograde amnesia, everyone has to act as if not a day has passed. Torn between his unhappy real-life train wreck with Mitsuki and the warm and fuzzy daydream high school romance with Haruka, Takayuki watches what little silver lining was left in life be mercilessly and methodically stripped away.  I'm not sure what kind of rating I'd give this.  It doesn't come close to "Angelic Layer," which  is my #1 fave anime, but it doesn't fall to the disappointing level of  "Fancy La La" either.  It was more of a teenage soap opera.  On the whole, in spite oaf a questionable beginning, I found myself enjoying this romantic earthquake of an anime, which is appropriate considering the tremors that rocked the DC metropolitan area on August 23!  I don't think anyone who was around will ever forget where they were when it hit!  I know I won't!  Anyway, I'm going to try to squeeze in  some more anime before calling it a night!  I think I'm in the mood for "Lupin The 3rd Episode 0: First Contact!" Lupin is after mafia boss Galvez's single most precious treasure: a treasure within a treasure. Jigen is Galvez's hired gun who fails to kill cat-burglar Lupin in his first attempt on the treasure and seeks revenge. Fujiko is the girlfriend of Lupin's rival, Brad. Zenigata travels from Japan to America to find and arrest Fujiko. Goemon seeks the almighty sword that cuts steel, Zantetsuken. This sword is mysteriously connected to the treasure in Galvez's vault.... After a series of twists and turns, these complete strangers become acquainted in their "First Contact," an epic adventure!

Is "Rumbling Hearts" A Heartbreaker?

An hour ago, I was wondering if I made a mistake in wanting the "Rumbling Hearts" anime.  2 or 3 episodes in, and the best scene was 2 of the main teenage characters almost being caught together in bed by the girl's sister!  However, just having finished the first DVD, I find that the drama was climatic, and I'm looking forward to seeing what happens!  Friendship and faith, love and betrayal… And guilt. "Rumbling Hearts" weaves a tale not of superheroes or science fiction, but of the silent sufferings of any potential passerby. This is real life. Happy endings are bittersweet at best.
Meet four fast high school friends – Haruka, Takayuki, Mitsuki and Shinji. Life’s promise shines brightly on these companions, until one day a random accident leaves Haruka in a coma. Her boyfriend, Takayuki, cannot forgive himself and seems determined to follow Haruka into a comatose state. Mitsuki dedicates her life to taking care of this tragic young man, and the pair salvage what they can, falling into a self-destructive relationship floundering in guilt. When Haruka awakens three years too late suffering from anterograde amnesia, everyone has to act as if not a day has passed. Torn between his unhappy real-life train wreck with Mitsuki and the warm and fuzzy daydream high school romance with Haruka, Takayuki watches what little silver lining was left in life be mercilessly and methodically stripped away.
While at first this seemed like a cutesy anime of the "Fancy La La" (a sugary anime that I absolutely hated and ended up falling asleep on) variety, I quickly discovered that adult situations kind of nixed that theory!    Who's sleeping with whom?  Strange love triangles.  One guy who can't be with his true love.  So, I guess for now, I'll say that "Rumbling Hearts," isn't a heartbreaker, but merely a soap opera, anime-style!  Final judgment to come later!  Now, on with the show!

Ah! My Goddess! Ah! What A Movie!

I am so happy! I was FINALLY able to watch "Ah! My Goddess: The Movie" from beginning to end without nodding off!  It was fantastic!  The feature, released in 2000,  is set three years after the end of  "Ah! My Goddess:Flights Of Fancy." (Season 2 of the series).  Keiichi has grown more attractive and less awkward, less clumsy.  Belldandy remains essentially unchanged--until she encounters Celestin, her former "mentor."  For centuries,  Celestin has been imprisoned on the moon for betraying the kingdom of Yggdrasil. Released by the fairy Morgan Le Fey, Celestin travels to Earth to reunite with his former pupil, the goddess Belldandy. Things go awry as Celestin erases Belldandy's memories of her boyfriend Keiichi and uses her as a catalyst to wreak havoc on Earth and Yggdrasil.  Will Beldandy get her memory back and stay with Keiichi???  Will Celestin be returned to his prison on the moon?  That I cannot and will not say, for fear of spoiling the movie!  I will say that the movie featured characters from the original anime, including members of the Auto Club--of which Keiichi is also a member-- as well as new characters like Celestin & Morgan.     I can FINALLY say that I thoroughly enjoyed this movie and may have to re-watch both seasons of the original series (which I watched before I started this blog)  and "The Adventures of Mini-Goddess"  (which I covered in a previous blog post) !   It will be a while before I'm able to do that, though!  I have more anime to get through before Anime USA in November!  "Daphne In The Brilliant Blue,"  "Rumbling Hearts,"  and "Fruit's Basket"  were all purchased for my by my Hubby at Otakon 2011, and I can't wait to watch them all!!!!!!!!!!  (And  no, Chris, you do not have to watch "Fruit's Basket" with me!  I know how you feel about that particular series! LOL!)   All in all, I'd say finishing the movie was a great way to end a great anime marathon that started off black--"Black Butler," that is!!!!!!!!!!!  (You can find out what I thought about that series in another blog post!)

 

"Black Butler": One Hell Of An Anime About "One Hell Of A Butler!"

After checking out a few episodes of "Black Butler" via the Funimation Channel, I decided to add it to my Anime Wish List.  I was happy when my Hubby was able to find it in the Dealer's Room at Otakon 2011!  I spent most of a rainy Saturday watching the first season on DVD!  It was very entertaining, in spite of the fact that I found myself comparing it to "Hell Girl," an anime that received a less-than-favorable review from me.  (See the post "Is Hell Girl A Hell No?")  "Black Butler" tells the story of Ciel Phantomhive.  The most powerful boy in all of England, he bears the scars of unspeakable suffering. Forced to watch as his beloved parents were brutally murdered, Ciel was subsequently abducted and violently tortured. Desperate to end his suffering, the boy traded his own soul for a chance at vengeance, casting his lot with the one person on whom he could depend: Sebastian, a demon Butler summoned from the very pits of Hell. Together, they'll prowl the darkest alleys of London on a mission to snuff out those who would do evil. They're a rare sight, these two: the Butler who dismembers with dazzling cutlery,  and the Young Master who carries the devil's marking. Rest assured that wherever they may be headed, it'll be one Hell of a ride!   I liked Sebastian, the demon butler.  I especially liked the way he protectd Ciel.  Yes, I know he was contractually obligated to do so, but it was still interesting to watch.  All in all, this dark anime was thrilling to watch, and I will probably pull it out again!  However, it probably won't be anytime soon, as I still have more anime to finish before I attend Anime USA in search of new anime!!!!!

Otakon: O-What-A-Kon!

I spent the final weekend of July 2011 (7/29-7/31) in Baltimore, Maryland celebrating the 18th anniversary of Otakon! It was also my fourth appearance at this particular anime convention (I previously attended in 2003, 2009, & 2010)!  Of course, the biggest draw was the Dealer's Room!  I hardly had to spend a dime, as my Hubby was willing to spend most of his hard-earned money from his job to make me happy! (SN: Thanks for a great weekend, Chris!  I love you!)  I ended up with most of the anime titles I was looking for, including: 1. Season 1 of  "Black Butler," 2. The entire series of "Chobits," 3. The complete collection of "Moonphase," 4. "Rumbling Hearts," 5.  "Daphne In The Brilliant Blue, 6. "Fruit's Basket" (which I truly appreciate, because I know how much Hubby hates the series!), and 7.  The second box set of the anime "Nana!" 
 I'm going to be busy watching all that anime!  Hopefully, it will keep me satisfied until Anime USA  (November 18-20, 2011)!  Sadly, I'm already working on my Anime Wish List for that con!  I missed the premiere screening of "The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya"  at Otakon 2011! It is definitely something I would have loved to have seen, because I have both seasons of "The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya" on DVD!  Hopefully, "Disappearance" will be available in the US by the time AUSA starts!  I believe it's already out in Japan!  http://www.amazon.com/Disappearance-Haruhi-Suzumiya-Region-Japanese/dp/B0050XOCLK/ref=sr_1_3?s=movies-tv&ie=UTF8&qid=1312243121&sr=1-3
And before the question is asked, yes, I did cosplay!  Only 2/3 days though.  I cosplayed as Toad from the Super Mario Bros. video game franchise  and also as a catgirl!  (SN: I hope at least one person got a pic of me in that outfit!). 
I really didn't do much interacting with the guests this year, though I did manage to get an autograph from Peter S. Beagle. who wrote the book that inspired the movie of the same name --"The Last Unicorn!"  Perhaps the next time I see him at a con, I will be able to buy his book (Or maybe the graphic novel that came out this year)!
One good  thing that happened outside the convention center walls was another anime-related event, the premiere of the ThunderCats on Cartoon Network on July 29!  Based on all the Facebook posts my Hubby received via his Blackberry, he & I were not the only ones who left the con to go back to our hotel room to check it out!
Of course, the last day of the con was bittersweet:  checking out of the hotel, saying good-bye to new friends, making last minute purchases from the Dealer's Room, and packing up and clearing out of the Baltimore Convention Center!  Still,  I'm looking forward to cuddling with Hubby while watching some of the anime he bought for me!  As I said, I'm sure it's enough to keep me occupied until Anime USA!  And if not, there's always the Funimation Channel!