Reisen Goes to School by Bus: December 2012

Friday, December 28, 2012

Eroge Bus Episode 18: 2012 Year in Review

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Monday, December 24, 2012

Secret Santa Review: Texhnolyze

This is the third installment of the Secret Santa Reviews created by the Reverse Thieves. Enjoy.

Texhnolyze. With a trippy opening by Juno Reactor.

This time around, the person who was in charge of recommending me anime to review was actually good at knowing what I'd like and what are the type of anime I am most interested in. He or She figured out that I love deep (mind-fuck) sci-fi anime. So out of the recommendations, I chose the one I knew the least about and so purchased and watched Texhnolyze: A series released in 2004 by the same people who brought you Serial Experiments Lain.

As with my previous reviews, I dove into this anime knowing absolutely nothing about. I didn't even read the synopsis on the back of the DVD box. Therefore, my first impression was somewhat confused. The first episode has almost no dialogue or narration what's so ever and so it did all the explanations about the characters and settings through very dim visuals as though the series takes place in a very dark place. Later did I found out that the series takes place in an underground city. As the fist set of episodes progressed, I began putting all the pieces together and started figuring out where the series takes place and who the characters are. However, this was only one small layer of this fantastic series.

I can barely tell what's going on.

Texhnolyze is a form of cybernetic technology that provides a replacement for lost limbs. The user can command their new high tech prosthetics much like they would their regular limbs. But there are some mysteries of this technology that eventually the shows shines upon. The protagonist of this show, Ichise, is a down on his luck prize fighter who ends up losing his arm and leg as punishment. The doctor in charge of texhnolyzation in the city sort of forces a new prototype of prosthetics on him. Meanwhile, an outsider who's intent is unknown is visiting the city. On his way, he meets a mysterious young girl who apparently can see the future.The city itself is governed by a multitude of factions which have somewhat hostile relations which each other. Once small mistake can spark a war among the power hungry.

The flowers provide a contrast to this rocky, desolate world.

The series likes to take its time with presenting information to the viewer; building the world episode by episode. Every episode tells little by little about the characters, their ambitions, their virtues and especially their flaws. Meanwhile the story builds to an introductory climax that serves as more as a briefing about the world and then finally builds into a final grand climax where nothing is held back.

This series has so many mysteries.

Even though the series is from 2004, the visuals are still well crafted which is kind of a shame that it wasn't released on Blu-ray Disc. Even though there are some lighting issues (it's too dark) in the first few episodes, they eventually fix it. Though the visuals are somewhat bland due to the setting, the mechanical designs of the world are top notch. The soundtrack is also excellent as it sets the mood of every scene. The opening theme is by Juno Reactor and is quite futuristic.

When put everything together, the series is quite a thrilling story about not just a man's struggle of survival but perhaps even all of mankind. There are quite a lot of messages told to the audience mostly along the lines of fate, raison d'etre and death. So overall this is a must-watch series for people who enjoy deep thrilling sci-fi series that don't BS around. This is definitely now one of my favorites.

Thursday, December 13, 2012

Guest Spot: Otaku in Review Episode 144

Once again, @ScottSpaziani and @Gnitro invited me onto the Otaku in Review podcast. This time to it was to discuss and review a fairly dated anime movie called They Were Eleven. Please check it out.

Monday, December 3, 2012

Eroge Bus Episode 17 - Shuffle!

In this episode I review Navel's Shuffle! which is soon getting a physical release.

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Show Notes:
00:00 Opening - Skydive - Freefall

01:10 Intros and stuff

05:57 Break - Moero Downhill Night BLAZE Op

07:58 News:

October 25th: News Briefs

-Princess Evangile perfect book will be on shelves November 26th
-artbook for rootnuko artist Amakura comes out December 31st
-Phat!’s 1/8 scale figure of Fate/kaleid liner‘s Prisma Illya comic ver out in March.

October 29th: Steins;Gate, Hiyoku Renri no Darling Ported to PS Vita
October 29th: Duel Savior fan translation patch released
October 29th: Moero Downhill Night BLAZE Goes Golden Master
October 30th: White Album 2: Shiawase no Mukou Gawa's Opening Anime Posted
October 30th: Aksys to Release Hakuoki: Warriors of the Shinsengumi PSP Game
October 30th: Taishi Tsutsui's Steins;Gate Spinoff Manga Returns in New Series
October 31th: Little Busters Producer: Anime to Cover Everything, Even Though 26 Episodes Is Not Enough
November 1st: Sakura Wars: Kanadegumi's Anime Music Video Streamed
November 2nd: Announing: Host Holic
November 7th: Latest Looks at "Fate/EXTRA CCC" and "Fate/kaleid liner Prisma Illya"
November 9th: Unaired Little Busters Episode Offered to BD/DVD Buyers
November 9th: Fate/Zero Anime Inspires Chess Pieces from Megahouse
November 10th: MangaGamer announces Tick Tack and hard copies for SHUFFLE!
November 10th: Steins;Gate Fuka Ryōiki no Déjà vu Film's 1st TV Ad Posted
November 12th: VIDEO: TV Anime "Total Eclipse" New OP&ED PV Posted
November 12th: News Briefs

-Imaimo‘s OST will come out on December 21st,
-MOONSTONE‘s 10th anniversary memorial book will be out first at C83, then on shelves January 25th.
-PSP adaptations are planned for Rosebleu’s Stellar Theater (February 28th)
-Debonosu’s Sorakumo (March 7th)
-ALcot’s Onigokko!
-ALcot Honey Comb’s 1/2 summer
-Renai 0 km portable has been set for January 31st
-Alpha Max has a 1/7 scale version of Satsuki out this May from Koichoco
-Kotobukiya – 1/7 scale Inia -Sukumizu- from MuvLuv TE in April

November 14th: Nekoten can haz sales?
November 15th: Transform Into Total Eclipse Anime's Aliens With Zip-Up BETA Hoodies
November 15th: Fate/extra CCC RPG's Short Gilgamesh Movie Streamed
November 16th: News Briefs

-CranCrown will have a ‘Hotcakes with Shinku Set’ (from Iro toridori no hikari) in advance of C83

November 18th:DLSite translates Lonely Yuri into English
November 19th: Women of Type-Moon Dress Their Best for 10th Anniversary Blu-ray
November 23th: News Briefs

-FLAT vocal collection will be on shelves December 21s
-Kotobukiya – 1/7 scale Yui pilot strengthening equipment from Muv-Luv TE in April
-Max Factory – figma Super Sonico tiger hoodie ver. in March

November 24th: Steins;Gate Film's 2-Minute Teaser Trailer Streamed

20:43 Break - Shuffle! OP

23:00 Review of Shuffle!

30:15 Break - Witch's Garden OP

32:23 Upcoming Games:

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