First of all this is not about the brain-wreaking subject in school. This is about the soulful Japanese duo named Chemistry that is composed of Yoshikuni Dochin and Kaname Kawabata. According to Wikipedia, the two are winners of Asayan audition that Sony Music Entrainment Japan organized in 2000. Their first release “Pieces of a dream” that debuted on March 2001 won the Best Selling Single in the same year. Most of their singles reached number one and same goes for their albums.
The first time I saw Chemistry is in their collaboration with Japanese artist Sowelu and Korean artists Lena Park and Brown Eyes in the song “Let Get Together Now”. The song is used for the official 2002 FIFA World Cup soundtrack that has also has a J-pop version.
They also have collaborated with RnB sensation Usher during the project “Joint 001: U remind me” in August 2001 and recently with John Legend in the song “Tookage”. A couple of their songs are used in Anime like “Now or Never” for Astroboy (I still haven’t heard this in Astroboy) and Wings of Words as the “Gundam Seed Destiny” 4th opening.
originally posted: October 11, 2007
This movie is shown as 4 music videos in MTV and Cartoon Network. The four are “One More Time”, “Aerodynamics”, “Digital Love” and “Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger”. These four videos are only the first part of the story. (top pic: Crescent dolls; bottom pic: cameo appearance of daft punk)
Daft Punk’s Thomas Bangalter and Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo, thought of the idea during their early recording of their album “Discovery”. The concept of the film involved science fiction and entertainment industry. This was later developed by Cedric Hervet. The trio brought the story to Tokyo hoping to create the film with their childhood hero Leiji Matsumoto. After Leiji Matsumoto joined to supervise the film, production started in October 2000 and finished in April 2003.
The film doesn’t include any dialogue and has minimal sound effects. The film featured the tracks from the Daft Punk’s second album “Discovery”. Each song is made as a story and serves as chapters in the film. It was produced by Daft Punk and Toei Animation. Some of the scenes in the film are similar to Matsumoto’s earlier works.
The story is about an abduction of an interstellar pop band. A distress signal was sent to a nearby ship piloted by Shep. Shep is first seen daydreaming about the band’s bassist Stella. After receiving the distress signal Shep is determined to save the band. He followed them through a wormhole and his ship crashed landed on Earth. The band was brought to Earth and their captor, Earl de Darkwood, disguised band. Their memories were replaced, their blue skin is skin painted, they were dressed and they are implanted with mind control devices. The band is now called the Crescent Dolls.
I only saw this movie once on Wowow and that was a long time ago. So if there is someone that can tell me where to find a copy of this animated film please tell me. I want to see it again.
Or maybe a website that I can watch or download this, Onegai Shimasu!
originally posted: October 4, 2007
Doctor Kenzo Tenma is a brilliant neurosurgeon working in Germany. He’s the head surgeon with a very humble nature. He is also engaged to Eva, the daughter of the director of the hospital. But everything changed when he saved a little boy who got shot in the head. The success that he worked for was taken from him. He got mad and wished in front of the little boy that the director should disappear. Though he has no future in the hospital he stayed and continued caring for his patients. He couldn’t care less about success anymore then the director died along with the new head surgeon. He went to the hospital the news broke and also found out that boy disappeared along with his twin sister after he is saved and is nowhere to be found. After that incident he was again assigned to be the head surgeon.
Nine years later, Doctor Tenma saved a criminal’s life and became somehow concerned with him. When he decided to visit him one night the police that are guarding him is dead and the criminal is gone. He managed to find and follow him in an abandoned building. The criminal pleaded for Tenma to run away because of the monster might kill him too. Tenma kept looking for him then he found him on all four and a teenage boy standing in front of the criminal. The criminal is killed right in front of him by the handsome teenage boy (I just have to say ‘handsome’ ^_^). This teenager spared him and thanked him for saving his life. He introduced himself as Johann the little boy he saved nine years ago.
This started Tenma’s dilemma, he was again the prime suspect for this crimes. Since the police don’t believe him he went to a journey in looking for Johann. But Johann isn’t an ordinary killer he is wanted by an organization that wants him to be the leader. Because of this his life is in danger from the organization and not only that because he is missing from the hospital he is accused of being a suspect from various crimes and on the run from the police.
There are a lot of characters that Tenma met. Some of them are a real help in searching for Johann but because of Tenma’s trusting nature he also got involved with people that is trying to kill him but even though their trying to kill him, Tenma still gives them first aid when they are shot. This is story is filled with suspense. I really liked it and got really hooked. I never really intended to watch this I was only waiting for the next show after this but it is worth watching.
originally posted: September 22, 2007
『野ブタ。をプロデュース』
This is probably the only Jdorama that hit me hard. It wasn’t a romantic story, just drama and some comedy. I really couldn’t describe it but I love this Jdorama. Each episode made me cry (I’m such a baby, aren’t I?).
Kitano Shuji [Kamenashi Kazuya] a popular guy that gets along with every student in his school, whether they are the cool crowd, nerds, jerks or just plain weird, but there is one guy that annoys him the most, Kusano Akira [Yamashita Tomohisa aka Yamapi]. Akira is a carefree guy who laughs, talks, and acts weird. His world changes when a new girl came to class. Kotani Nobuko [Horikita Maki], a shy girl who doesn’t seem to have any confidence and as a result she’s instantly bullied.
After Nobuko was bullied and saved by Akira and Shuji, they decided to “produce” Nobuko to make use of their “youth”. To be able to this they made a rule, nobody must know that they are going to make Nobuko popular and decided to gave Nobuko the nickname, Nobuta coming from the word ‘buta’ which means pig. Nobuko chose that name because when Shuji returned her necktie a small pig patch is sewed in.
As the story progress their unlikely friendship grows stronger as they faced different challenges that, without their knowledge, one of their classmates was sabotaging them.
The other characters I would say is pretty interesting, especially Catherine, the crow woman martial arts doing vice-principal (she goes over the fence and flips down cause she doesn’t want to go around to the gate, perfect example of a vice principal right? hehehe) and Delphine the over pricing bookstore dude that keeps ugly people and bad girls off his bookstore (can you believe it, he sells his own written book ten million dollars?!). They like have supernatural powers or something, they seems to know everything and suddenly pops out when they guys are contemplating. Creepy but cool, anyway some adults I’ve known are like that… *thinks* yeah… *shivers*
~ Other Info:
The theme song “Seishun Amigo” is sang by both Kame and Yamapi. Seishun means youth in Japanese and Amigo Spanish for friend. Both singer-actors belonged to different groups. Yamapi came from the group NEWS and Kazuya came from KAT-TUN (together with Gokusen 2 co-star Akanishi Jin). Kazuya and Yamapi formed the temporary group Shuji to Akira under their talent agency Johnny’s Entertainment to promote the drama.
Also starring is Erika Toda as Uehara Mariko, Shuji’s “girlfriend”. Other notable roles she played is Misa in Death Note Movie and Nakashima Umi in Hana Yori Dango 2, you know the girl the tried to take Doumyoji from Makino. Err… just want to include that cause I like her so much in Death Note.
~ Quotable quotes:
“bye-bye-cycle” – Shuji
“kon-kon!” – Akira
“akira shock” – Akira
“Nobuta power, Chuyu! (nobuta power, enter!)” – Nobuko
(me: not sure about “chuyu” really, I listened so many times and get chuyu. I can’t see it in my dictionary, is it really “chuyu”?)
“Korete Destiny (this is destiny)” – comedy duo that call themselves Destiny
(me: don’t know the names *sweat drop* gomen ne?)
originally posted: August 31, 2007
The first and last time I played this game I just cried! Seriously! It’s not a girly game but the story is so good! Released by Konami for Sony Playstation, a sequel of the first Suikoden story (that I couldn’t remember the story).
The Story:
The story revolves around ‘Riou’ a silent protagonist who later holds one half of the beginning rune, one of the 27 True Runes. The other half of the rune is held by his best friend Jowy. The two best friends are separated by fate, Riou became the leader of the Jowston City-State and Jowy, marrying Princess Jillia, became the king of Highland. These two countries are currently at war and though they are best friends and leaders of the opposing countries they cannot easily stop the war.
The Gameplay:
In regular battles you can control 6 characters picked from over 60 characters against 1-6 enemies. You can attack, use rune(magic), items, escape etc. Upon defeating these enemies you gain experience points, potch(money) and items.
In Duels or the one on one battle, you can attack, defend or use a wild attack. This is kinda like rock-paper-scissors but if you read the quotes told by the enemy you can easily manipulate the game to win.
In war mode, this is kinda like tactics (which I’m really bad at). You can attack, wait or use special ability. You can personalize the groups in your army by talking to Apple (a strategist in the game). Some of the characters you became allies with have special abilities and you can mix them with other characters to make their attack and defense stronger.
The Characters:
There are over 60 characters to choose from, having their own fighting style and abilities and some of these characters possess their own runes. You can also match them with others characters and let them use their joined ability. This is one of the unique features of the game.
The Graphics:
It’s in 2D but it’s still good. When you use runes or scrolls there are also specific graphics and effects for that.
The Ending:
There are 4 ending in the game. And to accomplish a particular ending you must meet the requirements of the ending. Hmm… I won’t tell you on how to do that or the ending! I just want to say the ending A is really good, it made me cry.
Other features:
There are also Side Quests that you can play to gain more allies. My favorite is Hai Ho's cooking challenge. So dramatic, reminds me of Iron Chef and Iron Chef America complete with host and judges!
If you have played and saved the game from Suikoden 1. You can use this save to unlock and use the McDohl, the hero from the first Suikoden.
orginally posted: August 18, 2007
As the the title says, it's my favorites on theOtaku today!
