On January 27th Lantis released the original soundtrack for the movie; a first for the series since the BGM was not released with a limited edition DVD. They followed that release on February 24th by releasing the theme song for the movie: Yasashii Bokyaku. I decided to purchase these two CDs through Yokatta Web, my middlewoman in Japan, and I was lucky to receive two postcards from Gamerz that they gave out to customers!

Toonleap already reviewed the OST in an earlier post, so I won’t go into more details about the set. It is a lovely collection of music and wonderfully performed by eminence. I cannot wait to hear it with the animation.

As for the theme song itself, Minori-san evokes strong emotions with her voice as Yuki. It is a touching song and more than fitting for the story it tells. I did some work translating the song and I did tear up during said translation due to the source material.

The CD itself comes in a sleeve with one side for Minori-san and the other for Yuki. This continues the trend of sleeve as Bouken Desho Desho? and Super Driver did come in sleeves as well.

The booklet has many pictures from the PV taken at the model school for the Haruhi series.

The single has four variations of the theme: the normal one heard in the PV, an a capella version used over the credits in the movie, a version played with piano accompaniment, and an instrumental version that has a different composition than the first track.

I’m a fan of the third track with the piano accompaniment over the original single. In my opinion it fits Minori-san’s voice moreso than the first two tracks.

I will now confess one guilty pleasure of mine: I am a sucker for posters, specifically B 2 size posters of shows I like. I have posters from Kamen Rider Kiva, Engine Sentai Go-Onger, Kamen Rider Den-O, Samurai Sentai Shinkenger, and now…

On the side, I included a playing card (it was the closest thing I could think of) and the Endless Eight DVDs for reference on size. This poster is absolutely huge! I cannot state how much I love it.

Yokatta Web was able to order these CDs from one of the stores in Japan that was participating in a campaign that enabled you to get the poster with purchase of the CDs. I also took the chance to order the ENOZ CD and Gensou DVD at the same time (which is why those reviews were late).

Later this month, Kyoto Animation will be mailing out orders for another poster from the movie (it’s the art where the brigade is standing against the wall) and yes, Yokatta already has my order in. I’ll be posting pictures when I get it in April (something else I’m ordering ships in that month).

Overall, this was an absolutely great haul for me. A CD for each Hirano-san and Minori-san, and two orchestrated versions of BGM from the Haruhi series in addition to store goods (postcards and poster). I can’t say enough how grateful I am to Yokatta Web for getting those for me.

Tweet This Post

Phillip Chu will help guide us along this review today

An Alien suddenly approaches!

Starling Inferno GET!

Today marks the fourth review for this month already. We started with the second DVD of Sigh and continued through the Disappearance Guidebook and the special ENOZ CD. We continue with the DVD for the Gensou (string concert) event held last year!

Kadokawa finally put out the DVD the same day that the Sigh DVD came out to limited success. It only sold around 2000 copies total that weekend to rank 20th on the Oricon rankings, but my copy is one of them!

The DVD itself comes with one double-layered disc and a 24 page booklet that details background information on the series as well as advertisements. It’s really nice and probably modeled after the programs from the show itself.

The main feature is of course the concert performed by the Toyko Philaharmonic Orchestra, but unlike the CD, the presenters come out and speak about the music as well. Minoru Shiraishi and Megumi Matsumoto reprise their roles from the Gekisou concert as hosts and a special guest comes along….Satoru Kousaki, the composer for the Haruhi BGM!

The music is well done and comes out amazingly in surround sound. The performances by Hirano-san and Chihara-san are wonderful (even if Minori’s costume defies all fashion sense) and every single instrument can be heard.

There is some more humor mixed in as Phillip has to move Minori to the singing spot just like Yuki in the Hare Hare Yukai ED.

Included on the disc is a backstage feature where they show Phillip meeting the Haruhi actors and the difficulties in speaking English versus Japanese. Phillip even has to get the special violinist to translate how to give a high five from Aya!

If you love classical music and the BGM from the Haruhi series, you’d be remiss if you didn’t pick up the Gensou concert on either CD or DVD. The DVD features are nice and it’s wonderful being able to see the music played, but it’s not for everyone. I really enjoyed the music and feel that it’s a well-put together DVD.

Tweet This Post

To begin with, the CD “Imaginary ENOZ featuring Haruhi” has three new songs and three old songs by ENOZ. The old songs are the two insert songs featured on the Tsumeawase CD “God Knows….” and “Lost my music” as well as the final song on the SoundAround Drama CD “First Good-bye” which takes place chronologically following the Live A Live Concert.

So what’s new? Three songs entitled “Star Way to Heaven”, “Secret of Sensation”, and “When I was in Love.”

When I first heard the new songs, I didn’t think anything about them was special, but after listening a few times, I’ve noticed that the chorus beat in “When I was in Love” has a rhythm that I find rather catchy making it my favorite of the bunch (even over the old songs).

Hirano-san brings her best vocals to the job and makes this album sound much better than Super Driver or any of her character songs. She’s consistent in her vocals and doesn’t try to overdo any note. It’s a good mini-album.

The inserts are shots from the Live a Live show. Due to the small size, I cannot tell the quality to see if Kyoto Animation has made any touch-ups on the shots. The original footage was some of the higher quality animation from the 2006 episodes, so it still looks very nice.

The only negative I can really state about this CD is the cost. For the price of a real album, to only have three new songs on it is rather cheap of Lantis and Kadokawa. I don’t regret buying it as a Haruhist with a little bit of extra money, but others may (and have in Japan) vary against it. If you really like Aya Hirano and would like to support the Haruhi music, then get it. If not, there’s always Youtube when you have it stuck in your head.

Up later this weekend will be a review of the Gensou DVD and next week’s review features the music for the Disappearance movie and a surprise!

Tweet This Post

The Infini school offers various classes for wannabe brides and grooms at a time when many people in Japan are either shunning the institution of marriage or are finding it very difficult to hook up with a partner.

The school, which is open to men and women, teaches students how to talk, walk and present themselves elegantly in a bid to capture the hearts and minds of prospective partners and their parents, who are often a major obstacle to successful unions.

Infini, which opened last month, now has about 30 female students. An almost equal number of males has signed up, but those who actually turn up to class are much fewer than their female counterparts.

“I had never even thought that my boyfriend’s mother could play such a big role in my relationship, but now I’ve realized I need to start thinking seriously about how to impress my future in-laws,” said Kozue Sugawara, 29, who joined the school after her previous marriage plans failed.

With women wielding increased economic clout and changing social attitudes toward marriage, more Japanese in their 20s and 30s are single than ever before.

Government statistics show nearly two-thirds of women under the age of 34 are unmarried, despite some 3,800 firms in Japan offering match-making services.

The average age of the school’s female students is 30 years.

“Before, people would find it easy to get married because families and society would connect them in some way, sometimes pushing them to get married. But nowadays, people have too many choices and cannot seem to make up their minds,” said Etsuko Satake, principal of the Infini marriage prep school.

Instructors provide critiques about students’ dress, posture and even details such as how they cross their legs or get out of a car. Men and women are taught different skills, which range from how to set a table well to how to be more emotionally expressive.

Students also simulate dates, during which their instructors grade their performance and point out what they did wrong.

The school charges an annual fee of 200,000 yen ($2,217) for unlimited access to its classes.

And some students, such as 32-year-old Mei Oda, seem to think it’s an investment worth making.

“I’m looking for a man who makes more than 10 million yen (110,000 dollars) a year, doesn’t ask me to live with his parents and takes good care of me,” said Oda, a contract office worker.

Experts say that with Japan’s economy plunged deep into recession, many women are taking a renewed interest in marriage and the economic stability it could provide, and are actively seeking a partner through “konkatsu” or spouse-hunting activities.

Source: Reuters / Video

I dont know if I should cry or laugh about the 10 million yen a year part…I think She is looking for a CEO and not exactly just a husband!

Tweet This Post

Dengeki conducted an online poll on the popularity of the anime movies shown in the fiscal 2009. Fans voted for the best anime movie they watched.

1, Evangelion: 2.0 You Can (Not) Advance
2, Summer Wars
3, Macross Frontier ~Itsuwari no Utahime~
4, Mahou Shoujo Lyrical Nanoha The MOVIE 1st
5, Tales of Vesperia ~The First Strike~
6, The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya
7, One Piece: Strong World
8, (Up by Disney)
9, Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann Movie: Lagann-hen
10, Kara no Kyoukai 7: Satsujin Kousatsu (Part 2)

ref. the box office ranking of the anime movies in 2009.
Rank / box office/ screens/ weeks
*1, $48,192,309 194scr *7w One Piece: Strong World
*2, $40,631,237 366scr *5w Pokemon Diamond & Pearl the Movie: Arceus – Choukoku no Jikuu e
*3, $40,303,632 109scr 14w Evangelion: 2.0 You Can (Not) Advance
*4, $35,292,488 303scr *8w Detective Conan Movie 13: The Raven Chaser
*5, $23,825,776 288scr *8w Doraemon: The New Record of Nobita – Spaceblazer
*6, $17,425,019 114scr 10w Summer Wars
*7, $11,004,517 311scr *6w Major: Yuujou no Ikkyuu
*8, $10,097,019 153scr *6w Crayon Shin-chan Movie 17
*9, $*9,099,022 146scr *5w Eiga Precure All-Stars DX: Minna Tomodachi – Kiseki no Zenin Daishuugou
10, $*8,341,362 148scr *6w Fresh Precure! Omocha no Kuni wa Himitsu ga Ippai!?
11, $*7,769,864 266scr *3w Naruto: Shippuuden Movie 3 – Hi no Ishi wo Tsugu Mono
12, $*7,522,074 308scr *5w Penguin no Mondai Movie
13, $*6,112,698 311scr *5w Layton Kyouju to Eien no Uta Hime
14, $*6,074,952 *24scr *5w The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya
15, $*4,839,216 *31scr *5w Macross Frontier ~Itsuwari no Utahime~
16, $*4,319,940 213scr *5w Uchuu Senkan Yamato: Fukkatsu-hen
17, $*4,010,476 255scr *3w Eiga! Tamagotchi Uchuu Ichi Happy na Monogatari!?
18, $*3,130,376 211scr *3w Hottarake no Shima ~Haruka to Mahou no Kagami~
19, $*2,444,050 *19scr *3w Mahou Shoujo Lyrical Nanoha The MOVIE 1st
20, $*2,017,918 124scr *2w 10th Anniversary Gekijouban Yu-Gi-Oh! ~Chou Yuugou! Toki wo Koeta Kizuna~
21, $*1,853,535 149scr *4w Anpanman Movie 2009
22, $*1,630,434 *11scr *5w Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann Movie: Lagann-hen
23, $*1,139,719 144scr *4w Keroro Gunsou Movie 4: Gekishin Dragon Warriors de Arimasu!
24, $**,941,610 *34scr *2w Tales of Vesperia ~The First Strike~ 34screens 2weeks
25, $**,702,155 210scr *1w Yatterman 2008 Movie
26, $**,505,349 **7scr *2w Higashi no Eden – Movie I: The King of Eden
27, $**,400,773 *12scr *1w Fate/stay night: Unlimited Blade Works
28, $**,292,467 *29scr *2w Eagle Talon Movie 3
29, $**,215,163 **1scr *5w Kara no Kyoukai 7: Satsujin Kousatsu (Part 2)

Sources: Dengeki, Box Office MOJO, Anime!Anime! via MAL

One note…Japan fiscal year ends in March so movies like Haruhi and Fate Stay Night that were released before that month are included.  Do you agree with the list? I agree with most of it…Now, I need to watch them…

Tweet This Post

Minutes later, I discovered that I bought the last one….

The price tag for that figure was 12,580 yen (15%OFF)  about 139.28 USD but I got it for less than half the price…Thanks Point System…Yay! The figure was shipped today, so expect a full review pretty soon. While We wait, take a look at her…It is just a tidbit, Can you guess who is She? The answer should be easy…

Have you ever had the experience of buying the last one?

Tweet This Post

If you are interested, there are photos on how they made it.  Now, this is what I can call a good reminder of things that are coming…

Source: Albotas via Kotaku / Pixalated Geek via Gizmodo

Tweet This Post

Sleeping with Hinako is a completely different story. The girl still cute but the interaction is just BORING…For most part of the video, you can check virtually every side of Hinako (I will leave that to your imagination), her sleeping habits, some dream sequences, etc…

But honestly…watching her sleeping for most part of the 45 minute video is some sort of torture…or maybe, thats the goal of the video…to make you sleep…Of course, that doesnt work if you have a fast forward button!

Another thing is the TV setting.You need a good TV and place it somewhere in a manner that you can fully enjoy the experience. I can recommend two ways…Words or Sarcasm are not enough!

Source

Now, thats a really cool bed right?

Overall, for a cheap price and a virtual girl, you can enjoy the experience of sleeping with an anime character  in “Sleeping with Hinako”….But I think there are better ways to enjoy the experience like Dakimakura for example…

A little bit expensive, but it is more interactive. One thing is for sure…I really want to know what other ideas, Hinako creators will bring next!

Tweet This Post

This edition looks at something that until the first week of February, I had no intention on buying. I do not have the capability to read Japanese; in fact, I just finished reviewing over hiragana two days ago. Once I saw the cover, I was sold.

The book itself is an A5 size book with 175 pages of full color illustration. It begins with the story of the movie and then goes into a bunch of interviews. Not knowing how to read Japanese, I will only be able to point out who is in each interview at this time. I do hope that by the end of the year I’d be able to read some of this. The rest of the content review will be captions with the pictures I’ll provide.

How the book comes (slip included)	The true cover of the book

The movie begins with the usual scenery	Day 1 begins!

Japanese reads right to left and top to bottom, so start your eyes at the top right and go left in the picture below.

A new adventure, right? Right?!

The usual scenery again	Interview with the novel author and both directors

Interview with Minori Chihara

There are interviews with each of the Seijuus, even though minor ones like Tsuruya-san are limited to a few questions. I figured with such a big following that Minori-san would be the best to highlight.

Character designs for Yuki (look at how to put a scarf on in the lower left)

Background art

Hey, remember this picture?

There are A LOT MORE pictures than just this. I couldn’t in good faith scan them all, but I knew this would be a hit.

PV Minori image

Thanks to all the people who worked on the film and book. Special thanks: All Fans

I do feel that this is an exceptionally well-made book. The cover has Yuki and Kyon in a significant point in the book and is removable if you were insane and wanted to remove it.

The illustrations printed and the screens from the movie look absolutely amazing. I sped read the pictures and was amazed at the quality put into this book.

If you are on the fence about the book, I’d say to get it. It’s a steal at 1200 yen and is amazing.

All images are copyright of Kadokawa Shoten. Images are used for previews only. Please support the great people who have produced Haruhi since before 2003 in any way that you can.

Tweet This Post

Demographics

Between the 18th and 21st of December 2009 1,077 members of the goo Research monitor group completed a private internet-based questionnaire. 51.0% of the sample were female, 8.7% in their teens, 15.3% in their twenties, 27.0% in their thirties, 27.8% in their forties, 11.9% in their fifties, and 9.3% aged sixty or older. Note that the score in the results refers to the relative number of votes for each option, not a percentage of the total sample.

Q: At what moments do you realise as you have a dog you don’t need a partner? (Sample size=1,077)

Rank		Score
1	When they’re so pleased to see me when I return home	100
2	When they snuggle up close just at the right times	71.1
3	When they know who’s boss	66.9
4	When they only relax when they are by my side	63.3
5	When they are ready and waiting behind the door when I return home	60.8
6	When they get so excited even just for walkies	49.4
7	However often I call them they always come running	47.6
8	Regardless of how foul a mood I am in they don’t get angry	45.8
9	Their sad cries whenever I am going to go out	45.2
10	When they are bored and drop their chins to the floor and look up at me	42.8
11	Even though I give them the same food every day they eat it with gusto	36.1
12	When they look up at me when out for walkies	29.5
13	They always look as if they are smiling	29.5
14	Even right after waking they are all ready to play	24.7
15	When they don’t get moody	22.3
16	When they never get bored retrieving the same toy	19.3
17	When they get so exited when they are going to be left home alone	16.3
18	When they wake me with a smiling face and a passionate kiss	13.3
19	When they eat scraps off the floor	9.6
20	When they get all groggy and car sick	3.6

the moments when people realise as they have a dog they don’t need a partner.

Source: What Japan thinks / Image Source

Well, I can understand some of the answers…and some others are just plain silly.

Tweet This Post