HardDoor

:anime: First Impression:: Nisemonogatari Ep. 2

2012-01-26T02:36:00.001-05:00

Nisemonogatari, Ep. 2 - "Karen Bee, Part 2"

For the type of show that Nisemonogatari is, I've decided to do something a little different with the review format (well, not that I've ever had a universal one set, but still…). As first seen in the previous installment, an unorthodox show deserves an unorthodox review, so to speak…

This time on Nisemonogatari…:

--Koyomi pays Nadeko a visit, who is anxious for his arrival and warmly greets him. While having some fun over games when she lets him know about a strange charm that's going around all of the middle schools, including the school she and his sisters attend, And, of course, the "Fire Sisters" are investigating it…

--Afterwards, Koyomi decides to stop by Suruga Kanbaru's house to help her clean her room, but on the way there he runs into the eldest of his younger sisters, Karen. Their little chit-chat session is interrupted by a phone call that pulls her back to her "volunteer work"…

--At Suruga's house, Koyomi has to contend with her antics and mountains of books. After questioning the validity of her eccentricity over the books she possessed, Suruga decides to convince Koyomi--by force--that she really is as offbeat as she purports herself to be.

Now, this also entailed…

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:anime: First Impression:: Nisemonogatari Ep. 1

2012-01-22T18:45:00.000-05:00

To Nisemonogatari, Ep. 2-->

I made a promise to myself before the season that if Nisemonogatari--someway, somehow--got licensed and was made available for streaming, I would recommend it as "HD's Free/Low-Cost Anime Pick of the Month", no question (even if I already posted one; doesn't hurt to recommend more ;D ). Well, not only did it get picked up, you can also watch it, and many other shows this season, in non-upscaled 1080p at Crunchyroll (subscribers-only)! And having a full-HD laptop (with a fast Internet connection) and a show this gorgeous, I can attest that this is certainly the way to go…

Nisemonogatari, Ep. 1 - "Karen Bee, Part 1"

Ah, just like old times…

Nisemonogatari, the long-awaited sequel to the mega-hit Bakemonogatari, kicked off with--how else--a six-minute long banter consisting of Hitagi Senjoughara playfully teasing/mind******* with Koyomi Araragi, who--for unknown reasons--is bound-up and--for equally unknown reasons--is being "protected" by her…

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:anime: Ani-Journal (BETA) - For January 06, 2012

2012-01-06T21:56:00.000-05:00

"LOVE" in Mirai Nikki is spelled "YUNO". Other acceptable spellings include "CRAZY", "NUTS", and "CERTIFIABLE"…

What better way to ring in the new year, celebrate Three King's Day and Epiphany, and send off Christmas (the twelfth and final day of) than with a second installment of HD's newest feature (still under "BETA-watch", of course)!

--Chihayafuru notwithstanding (haven't seen it yet), I had considered Fate/Zero to be the best show of the autumn season. Theater-level animation, an intriguing storyline and take on the Dungeons-&-Dragons-type board games, and interesting characters (complete with fantasied figures from fables and world history) made for a very solid and enjoyable series with few hiccups.

…And then I saw Mirai Nikki/Future Diary.

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:anime: First Impression:: Fate/Zero Ep. 8

2011-12-22T20:45:00.000-05:00

<--To Fate/Zero, Ep. 7

Not Amused

Fate/Zero, Ep. 8 - "Mage-Killer"
[Nico Nico Douga] [Crunchyroll]

Irisviel and Maiya have a fateful encounter with Kirei in this continuation of Ep. 7's intense battle. After learning of Maiya's apparent romantic dalliances with Kiritsugu a few episodes ago, I was not too keen of her being left alone with Irisviel, considering the potential for jealousy. Surprisingly, that sentiment subsided with Irisviel's knowledge of the "affair" and with the lack of any real tension between the two. Turns out, they both had the poker-faced priest to watch out for.

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:boxing: I Mean, It Still Works Out, Right?:: Super Six Finals: Ward vs Froch

2011-12-17T20:50:00.000-05:00

Six men went in, half of them dropped out, two of them jeopardized their careers in two different ways, nearly as many substitutes stepped in as participants, and everyone, at some point in time, had something unfortunate happen to them. Yet despite a seemingly good idea going fifteen rounds with Murphy's Law and experiencing numerous setbacks and rescheduling along the way, the finals of Showtime's "Super Six World Boxing Classic" still managed to reach its 2011 set date (albeit, cutting it close…) with two perfectly reasonable contenders for the trophy: Andre Ward and Carl Froch.

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:anime: Free/Low-Cost Anime Pick of the Month:: Rurouni Kenshin OVA: Reflection (Seisou-hen)

2011-12-15T02:52:00.001-05:00

Rurouni Kenshin OVA: Reflection (Seisou-hen)

Official Sites: Japanese, English
Additional Links: ANN Entry, MAL Entry
Video [Free]: Niconico
Picture Source: As is from Official English Site (different file name, same picture)

Back in August, Aniplex was generous enough to commemorate Rurouni Kenshin's 15th anniversary by providing a free, one-night-only stream of the celebrated Rurouni Kenshin OVA: Trust & Betrayal (Tsuioku-hen), which was also being re-released, remastered, on Blu-ray for the occasion. It was one of three Kenshin features receiving such a treatment, but now it is Rurouni Kenshin OVA: Reflection (Seisou-hen) turn in the streaming spotlight.

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Well, That Took Long Enough…

2011-12-13T20:42:00.000-05:00

Pardon for the long time away, but I wasn't exactly anticipating the family computer going kaputz at the beginning of the month. I have no idea what could have caused it to go down, but whatever happened, it really did a number on it (though based on the error message and timing, I suspect an automatic Windows Update that didn't save its changes to some the system files too well). I'm moderately good with computers, but I never encountered something this serious, so finding information on it round-the-clock was both time-consuming and taxing.

Unfortunately, all roads led to having perform a Destructive Recovery on the computer, which was made more problematic since there was no device backing files up on it (and the non system-wiping option of a "Normal Recovery" failed to start up, either via partition or Recovery CD--which might have just kicked the operation to the partition). However, I came across information on Ubuntu Live CD, and (mega-)thanks to it, it was simple to dive into the computer and retrieve everyone's files with the external HDD I use to back-up my own personal computer (and thus, no $200-500+ service elsewhere, thank goodness).

Of course, all of this came at the expense of much of my free time, so I have not been able to really write much of anything here at HardDoor, or on Twitter or Facebook, either (though I tried to do a little bit of micro-blogging here-and-there when I could). Despite this, I still managed to spend some of my wind-down time keeping up with Fate/Zero and taking screenshots, as well as checking out few other shows, before falling asleep in my chair from exhaustion. Things are beginning to wind down as a whole as I am almost done with the tons of updates and reinstalling I had to do post-Recovery, so hopefully I can get back to speed on HD (and that something like this doesn't happen again -_- ).

Thanks for your patience,

--HD

:anime: First Impression:: Fate/Zero Ep. 7

2011-12-01T23:59:00.000-05:00

<--To Fate/Zero, Ep. 6

Kiritsugu confidently takes his spot back as "Lead Screenshot"…

Fate/Zero, Ep. 7 - "Evil Forest"
[Nico Nico Douga] [Crunchyroll]

Tokiomi and the Church make their move in this installment of Fate/Zero, a thrilling affair filled with action and intrigue, particularly in the second half. They enact their plan of dispatching Caster and Ryuunosuke by dangling the carrot of an extra Command Spell in front of the Masters, which attracts the attention of all, including Kiritsugu--who has in his possession Caster's main attraction in Saber.

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:anime: Free/Low-Cost Anime Pick of the Month:: Revolutionary Girl Utena

2011-11-30T01:33:00.000-05:00

Revolutionary Girl Utena

Official Sites: English
Additional Links: ANN Entry, MAL Entry
Video [Free]: YouTube

If you have paid attention to HD's Twitter feed on the side or read my post earlier in the year, you'll know that I am a very big admirer of the classic 1997 TV anime Revolutionary Girl Utena. Nozomi Ent./Right Stuf is, too, so they have been releasing the series across three superb box sets over the course of this year, remastered and featuring much of the same extras from the Japanese release. So with the release of the third and final box on December 6 (which, like its JP counterpart, includes the theatrical film remake!), Nozomi is commemorating it--and drumming up additional interest--by streaming the first twelve episodes of the series (comprising the first box set, "The Student Council Saga") on their YouTube channel.

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:anime: First Impression:: Fate/Zero Ep. 6

2011-11-22T19:26:00.000-05:00

<--To Fate/Zero, Ep. 5 | To Fate/Zero, Ep. 7

Fate/Zero, Ep. 6 - "Night of Stratagems"
[Nico Nico Douga] [Crunchyroll]

After back-to-back episodes of superlative animation, Ep. 6 is, understandably, less-than-impressive-looking in Fate/Zero's weakest visual outing, thus far. However, do not mistaken that critique as an indictment on the episode as a whole, which, in spite of a return to its more talky ways, was still a good one that managed to flesh out a few more of its characters. The episode even starts right off the bat with it when we are treated to Irisviel channeling her inner Initial D by drift racing on a spiraling mountain road (complete with CG car), and nearly giving Saber a couple of heart attacks along the way (I'm sure her situation last episode was far more safe). It's a pretty jarring way to introduce an episode following all of the serious, dire action in the previous two, but it was funny in its unexpectedness and humor.

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:boxing: ...It'll Do (Definitely), Part 4:: Pacquiao vs. Marquez III

2011-11-12T19:48:00.001-05:00

A causal, or perhaps even a non-fan, of boxing could tell you that the biggest match to be made in the sport is between Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather, Jr. It is plastered all over the place whenever either name is mentioned, as they are both considered at the top of their craft, and there are fewer mountains for either to climb. However, reality is reality, and that fight has seemed more "pipe dream" than "dream match" with every passing month and every bout both have that is not with one another. Yet, in spite of this, there is still one contest to be held that comes as close to that mythical summit as any other: a third fight between Manny Pacquiao and the one person who one can legitimately claim to have his number--archnemesis Juan Manuel Marquez.

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:boxing: Joe Frazier (1944-2011)

2011-11-10T23:23:00.001-05:00

I never grew up during the 1970s, so I perhaps cannot fully comprehend or appreciate what it was like to live during that great era of boxing, long considered its "Golden Age". It and the sport's defining moment came with "The Fight of the Century", the first meeting between the then-undefeated likes of Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier. Having never lived during that period in time, I cannot measure its impact racially, socially, politically, or just in comparison to the greatest sports stories of the day, firsthand. As with many things in history, there are only three things you can rely on to get as accurate a picture of the past as possible: that which is recorded, that which is written, and that which is experienced first-hand (and, subsequently, recalled).

This past Monday, the man known as "Smokin'" Joe Frazier passed away, a man revered by his peers, scribes, and fans and acknowledged by all and history as one boxing's all-time best. Even though I lack an intimate connection to the figure, much like a child would when looking up to their favorite player or an adult in admiration of one thought to be better then they, there are still accounts from all of those individuals, the poetic prose from the fingertips of writers, and, most importantly, archival footage to see with my own eyes and form my own experience with.

It was through those avenues that I was able to observe the impressive prowess Frazier possessed, the life-and-death struggles he contested in the ring and the struggles of a different kind outside it, with the damaging ridicule Ali flung his way (even when Frazier helped him out financially), having to live in the shadows of his and others, and with his financial struggles post-career. Without a doubt, he was a great, tough, tenacious fighter that, in spite of his present recognition (particularly due to the aforementioned trilogy), deserved more than what he has gotten, and, by many accounts, was also a good human being. There is some comfort in knowing that he and Ali had reportedly made up recently, and at least in death, he was warmly embraced and commemorated by so many for the impact he had in life and in culture. I may not have been around during the height of his career, but it is certainly not hard to see just how good he truly was.

Rest in peace, Joe Frazier…

:anime: First Impression:: Fate/Zero Ep. 5

2011-11-08T18:38:00.001-05:00

<--To Fate/Zero, Ep. 4 | To Fate/Zero, Ep. 6-->

Fate/Zero, Ep. 5 - "Scream of a Mad Beast"
[Nico Nico Douga] [Crunchyroll]

Picking right up from Ep. 4's endpoint, Rider/King Iskander makes his big impressive entrance onto the battlefield, with a reluctant Waver in tow. He tries to get Saber/Arthuria and Lancer/Diarmuid to acquiesce their roles in the Holy Grail War and serve his cause instead, but neither of the two are amused by his proposal, particularly Saber, being a king herself and wanting to liberate her Britain, not become a vassal for another ruler. Waver's yelping at the situation leads to Lancer's master (Kayneth El-Mellchoi Archibald, aka his teacher) to finally show his face to chide him for his theft of his original artifact and make some big-chested threats of death and doom towards his way. Rider, though, is quick to retort over his former Master-designate's own cowardice with his hiding in the shadows to avoid being attacked, and expresses pride in having a Master that is not afraid to be by his side on the battlefield, which sends Kayneth seething with indignation.

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:anime: Free/Low-Cost Anime Pick of the Month:: Truly Horrible Anime

2011-10-31T21:33:00.000-04:00

There are a lot of anime titles that are available on the ever-growing canvas of digital distribution, and with it, there are many great and beloved titles to be had: Castle of Cagliostro, Last Exile, Code Geass, Now and Then, Here and There, Princess Tutu, The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya, NANA, TIGER & BUNNY, FLCL, Welcome to the NHK!, Durarara!!, Gankutsuou, Hikaru no Go, noitaminA's Princess Jellyfish (Kuragehime) and House of Five Leaves, The Beast Player Erin, STEINS;GATE, Oscar-winner La Maison en Petits Cubes, Gurren Lagann--I could literally go on, and on, and on listing the sheer amount of good works out there. But like in any entertainment genre and medium, not everything made available is necessarily a good one, much less passable. However the means they got there--by "package deal" via a distributor bundling its streaming rights with better works, producers trying to recoup any costs on failure they financed, or because someone had, and maybe still does, think it is still good--there are titles available at your leisure for free or low-cost (legally, of course) that are, to be blunt, not very good. At all.

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:anime: First Impression:: Fate/Zero Ep. 4

2011-10-31T00:53:00.000-04:00

<--To Fate/Zero, Ep. 3 | To Fate/Zero, Ep. 5-->

Fate/Zero, Ep. 4 - "Spearhead"
[Nico Nico Douga] [Crunchyroll]

"When seeing these trailers, I have to remind myself, 'Fate/Zero is a TV series, not a film…'"

That is what I said on Twitter when I first saw a batch of trailers on Fate/Zero's site. I knew ufotable was capable of very high animation quality following Kara no Kyoukai (even Ninja Nonsense looked pretty good), but I knew better than to expect theatrical-level animation for a television series. Well, at least I though I did…

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:anime: First Impression:: Fate/Zero Ep. 3

2011-10-27T15:09:00.000-04:00

<--To Fate/Zero, Ep. 2 | To Fate/Zero, Ep. 4-->

Fate/Zero, Ep. 3 - "Fuyuki City"
[Nico Nico Douga] [Crunchyroll]

If the last episode's theme was "Getting to Know You", then this week's was "Getting to Know You II: Not Everything is As What It Seems…". While Tokiomi ruminates over his grandiose future plans with the similarly-aspiring Archer/Gilgamesh (suave, devious, megalomaniac-style, with wineglass in hand), Kirei meets up with his Church counterpart (the "judge" presiding over the Holy Grail War) to take refuge following the death of his Servant--or so it seemed.

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:anime: First Impression:: Fate/Zero Ep. 2

2011-10-19T02:55:00.000-04:00

<--To Fate/Zero, Ep. 1 | To Fate/Zero, Ep. 3-->

Fate/Zero, Ep. 2 - "The Fake First Shot"
[Nico Nico Douga] [Crunchyroll]

We get to know a bit more about the summoned beings in Fate/Zero's second episode, which yielded some facts I was suspecting beforehand, one being that the Servants are actually real-life (or based on real-life) figures from history (Warning: link contains some spoilers). The episode's beginning illustrates this with a humorous reflection by King Iskander ("Rider", who is based on the Arabic account of Alexander the Great), who expresses amazement at the diminutive size of the land he spent his life trying to conquer when shown the area on a world map. The idea of historical figures being used as magical pawns is a neat, awe-inspiring deal, but it is when his Master, Waver, brings up the matter of the Holy Grail that another, more important aspect is highlighted: the "Servants" aren't entirely subservient.

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:anime: FUNimation x Niconico = Funico + (Potential) Greatness

2011-10-17T01:53:00.001-04:00

Friday night's news of a partnership between North American distributor FUNimation and Niconico, the N. American version of ubiquitous Japanese streaming/video networking site Nico Nico Douga, is perhaps the biggest news in the region's anime industry in the last few years. With the new venture, dubbed "Funico", both will seek out major licenses together, with Niconico providing the streaming and FUNimation handling the disc and download-to-own (DTO) distribution. What makes this such a major deal is that you have the two biggest juggernauts in their respective fields joining forces in such a way that it compliments each other so handsomely.

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:anime: First Impression:: Horizon in the Middle of Nowhere Ep. 1

2011-10-14T00:12:00.001-04:00

If you think this looks confusing, just watch the show…

Horizon in the Middle of Nowhere, Ep. 1 - "Those Lined Up Before the Horizon"
[The Anime Network] [Crunchyroll]

To fully describe or decipher what Horizon in the Middle of Nowhere is all about or what is going on in its first episode is, quite seriously, an act in futility. "Futile" in the sense that trying to wad through the streams of clunky exposition and its even clunkier premise is perhaps not worth the enduring headache you'll experience attempting such a feat.

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:anime: First Impression:: Fate/Zero Ep. 1

2011-10-07T01:47:00.000-04:00

To Fate/Zero, Ep. 2-->

Fate/Zero, Ep. 1 - "Summoning of the Heroes"
[Nico Nico Douga] [Crunchyroll]

Fate/Zero, the prequel to TYPE-MOON's popular Fate/stay night visual novel and anime series, quickly became one of the most anticipated series of the year when it was announced. One of the biggest reasons for that was the involvement of Gen Urobuchi, who penned the novel the anime is based on and as well as one of the biggest hits in years, January's Puella Magi Madoka Magica. Its screenplay was its strongest and most lauded aspect and it helped propel Urobuchi's name, already a knowledgeable one among otaku as game maker Nitroplus' chief writer, to the upper echelons of the anime world, despite having only done a handful of such titles previously (Phantom (OVA/TV), Blassreiter).

For Fate/Zero, he is only supervising the script (mistaken prior for doing the actual screenplay adaptation, which was one of the driving forces behind the show's hype), but it was not the only thing that had fans antsy for its debut, as ufotable, fresh from their star-making film adaptation of TYPE-MOON's Kara no Kyoukai - the Garden of Sinners, was handling the animation production and Yuki Kajiura, who composed the scores to both Kara no Kyoukai (her best work to-date, IMO) and Madoka Magica, would be lending her talents to the series, as well. There was also the aspect of it telling the backstory to the famed Fate series that provided its high-profile status, alone, though thankfully for this neophyte, the first episode of Fate/Zero was not too hard to follow.

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HardDoor, Now Serving:: Open-Facebook Sandwiches!!

2011-10-05T02:24:00.000-04:00

Should go well with Cream of Twitter… Mmm… ;)

It was one year ago yesterday that HardDoor unveiled its new, revamped layout. One of the biggest additions to it was the introduction of a widget that displayed the blog's Twitter there, which made its own debut a few months before as an early anniversary present to it. What I never mentioned at the time was that I also considered starting a Facebook page at the same time, too. What stopped me, though, was that I never really got the point of FB--even more so than my preconceived notions of Twitter, which I initially poked fun at for some of its banality, but also managed to see--and ultimately affirm--the usefulness in it. In FB, I kind of "got" it, but never really "got" it.

In spite of that, I have always kept the door open. And with many anime companies having FB pages that they links to on Twitter, I have got a little more accustomed to it. I've seen it implemented in different ways elsewhere, too (who hasn't at this point?), and since I still had a desire to start a page for HD, I figured what better day to start one than on October 4th, 2011?

Some may have already noticed the widgets on the side of the blog, which I place before even announcing the page here (thus spoiling the surprise). So far, I'm finding more use out of FB than I thought I would, though I don't plan on disclosing every little detail of my digital life (which they seemingly want you do). I do, though, plan on using it to post blog status updates and also as a "mini-diary" sort of thing…or something, since I'm still in the midst of figuring out what to really do with it. The URL is sort of temporary, since FB won't grant you a real one until the page gains 25 fans (*fingers crossed*), but for now, I hope you will enjoy it and watch me find meaning to its existence!

--HD

Facebook: HardDoor

:anime: HardDoor's Seasonal Anime Preview 2011-12 Special:: noitaminA (Autumn, Winter)

2011-09-29T00:30:00.000-04:00

Fuji TV's noitaminA block has regularly produced a number of high-quality and notable works, but its spring and summer lineups this year looked so promising, I decided to do a mini-seasonal preview special on it. It was intended to be just a one-time feature, but I was open to doing it once more if the block proved especially interesting once more. No offense to Fuji TV or noitaminA, but it seemed so unlikely at the time that they could possibly strike such gold again.

And yet, here we are…

Similar to the past two seasons, noitaminA looks to have pulled out all of the stops for their autumn and winter lineups, which carry a number of interesting notes. The first of those are the big-named staffs being assembled for UN-GO and GUILTY CROWN (by BONES and Production I.G, respectively (well, a division of the latter, anyway), who also handled the summer slate of titles), creating an intriguing mix of talent whose final products should yield some equally intriguing results. GUILTY CROWN's run, however, will be stretching into the winter as a two-cour series, leaving the second timeslot to the surprise entrant of a Black Rock Shooter TV series in ~~January~~ February 2012 (thus making it "A Very supercell Winter", with the group's involvement in both noitaminA shows for that season's lineup).

[UPDATE (01/10/12): NoitaminA made a surprise announcement of a fourth series to debut in the season, albeit a three-episode long, Flash-based animation in Thermae Romae, whereas Black Rock Shooter was pushed back to February. More after the break…]

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:anime: Free/Low-Cost Anime Pick of the Month:: Black Cat

2011-09-26T03:06:00.001-04:00

Halloween comes a little early. But not really…

Black Cat

Official Sites: Japanese, English
Additional Links: Manga Site, TBS Site, ANN Entry, MAL Entry
Video [Free]: FUNimation, Hulu

It's not exactly Halloween yet, and despite its title, it's not exactly a Halloween, or even scary, title, either, but what Black Cat is, though, is a very fine and stylish action series.

Train Heartnet, aka "Black Cat", was once one of the most feared members of an elite assassin group, but after a life-altering encounter with a female bounty hunter, he shunned his former killer persona and left the organization. Sven, an older, down-on-his-luck bounty hunter, takes Train up as a partner, alongside young girl/deadly bio-weapon Eve. While the trio chase after bounties and their new future, Train's obsessive and power-hungry mentor vies to have his ward of old return to his former self and be by his side as he spearheads a rebellion against their former employer…

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:boxing: Smoke & Mirrors…:: Mayweather vs. Ortiz / "Give Us Barabbas!":: Alvarez vs. Gomez

2011-09-17T21:38:00.000-04:00

For the past couple of weeks, you may have wondered as to why you have not seen any sort of mention about tonight's Floyd Mayweather, Jr.-Victor Ortiz bout either here or on Twitter. Simply put, I didn't want to give it any more hype than it already has, much of it very bloated. Copious amounts of airtime has been dedicated to the promotion of the fight on mainstream media venues, as everyone has treated it like it is the biggest event of the year. In actuality, it's not--not even close (More than Pacquiao-Marquez III? Really?)--but by vaunted perception, it, sadly, is. The reality is this: Victor Ortiz should not have been matched up with Floyd Mayweather, Jr. and is nowhere close enough to being at his level to either warrant it or this level of attention. Of course, he garners much of it because of Mayweather (the only real reason), his rough-and-tumble childhood, and his brash talk of knocking him out, but if the non- or casual boxing fan steps away from the media pressers or the fighters' chirping, they might realize that much of the bout is smoke and mirrors…

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:anime: Ani-Journal (BETA) - For August 29, 2011

2011-08-29T23:56:00.001-04:00

Back in June, I hinted at some new things I had planned for HD, and this was one of them (though not the "new segment" I was referring to, so I guess you can consider this as one of those "surprises"… ;) ). I'm still debating over the exact format (hence the "BETA" tag), so please bear with me as I experiment with it over time.

"Ani-Journal" is basically my collection of thoughts on my current anime viewings and whatever going-ons are happening in the industry, as well as any other miscellaneous things (i.e. newly-purchased releases, anime-related commentary). I have been mulling over something like this for a while now, where I can cover a variety of topics and subject matters in short form and be a little more frank and informal than usual. It's sort of like a cross between "Anime Kibbles 'n' Bits" of old, HD's Twitter feed, and the more formal postings here, but in bite-sized and easily digestible form. It isn't a replacement of the latter by any means, just a little something on the side (think of it as the "lounge room" of HD… ;D ). There is no set schedule of when new entries appear, they just pop-up whenever they do, like a GAINAX reference or a loli scene in a Shinbo/SHAFT show. I'm strongly considering a boxing version (a revamped "Boxing Bits"?), and/or just a melding both into a central feature along HD's topical guidelines, but that'll come at another time. But anyways…

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:anime: Free/Low-Cost Anime Pick of the Month:: Rurouni Kenshin OVA: Trust & Betrayal (Tsuioku-hen)

2011-08-18T20:28:00.002-04:00

I originally had something different planned for this month's pick, but when a work such as this becomes available, you've got to change plans…

Rurouni Kenshin OVA: Trust & Betrayal (Tsuioku-hen)

Official Sites: Japanese, English
Additional Links: ANN Entry, MAL Entry
Video [Free]: niconico
Picture Source: Edited from Aniplex USA's Facebook page

Ever since debuting in 1999, the four-part prequel OVA to Rurouni Kenshin, Trust & Betrayal (Tsuioku-hen), has, statistically, been the highest-rated anime of all-time (according to the two most notable anime databases at Anime News Network and MyAnimeList.net (although it was 2nd behind the classic Legend of the Galatic Heroes on MAL around its height)). More than Cowboy Bebop, more than Neon Genesis Evangelion, more than any of Hayao Miyazaki's or Ghibli's films--obviously, it is no small feat, and for the better part of the decade that followed, it held that distinction in the face of other strong contenders: The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya, Death Note, Fullmetal Alchemist, Mushi-Shi, Bakemonogatari (the best-selling anime of the decade), FLCL, Millennium Actress, and even the Academy Award-winning Spirited Away. It has since yielded that title to some more recent and well-known titles in the last few years, such as Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood, CLANNAD: After Story, and The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya, though with the current generation of newer, younger fans growing up in an age of increased Internet access--and with that, a quicker and easier access to anime--and a bigger fanbase, in general, than circa 1999, it is perhaps not too surprising, especially when you also consider that those three (including current MAL front-runner Gintama') all came from recent, more relevant, and very popular franchises.

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:anime: Free/Low-Cost Anime Pick of the Month:: Bamboo Blade

2011-07-31T23:56:00.002-04:00

Bamboo Blade

Official Sites: Japanese, English
Additional Links: ANN Entry
Video [Free]: FUNimation, Anime News Network (Sub / Dub)

Sports anime have never really found a footing in the North American market, in spite of some rather well-received ones that have appeared here in retail and on the web (Princess Nine, Fighting Spirit/Hajime no Ippo, Big Windup!, and Cross Game, to name a few). They are big in Japan, though, and classic titles of the likes of Champion Joe/Ashita no Joe and Ace wo Nerae! have had a widespread influence on anime and manga, regardless of their genre, for the decades that followed.

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:boxing: Boxing Bits ::07.27.11:: Khan Zaps Judah

2011-07-27T23:44:00.000-04:00

:Sat.07.23.11:

Amir Khan KO5 Zab Judah

Before their anticipated match-up this past Saturday, more than fair share of people had Zab Judah, rejuvenated and refocused, knocking-out rising star Amir Khan by the halfway point. But the only one left standing by then wasn't the Brooklynite…

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:boxing: The Breaking Point

2011-07-24T23:55:00.001-04:00

What happens when you numerically out-land your opponent across every category? When your connect rate doubles (and sometimes triples) your opponent's in every single round? When you land nearly 50% of your power punches (more than double his own, at 21%)? Where your lowest round percentage of 34% still tops his best by 5% (and was the only time, besides a 38% in another round, that you went below 40% in the entire fight--and you still connected more than him both times!) and your highest was 68% (with two other trips above 60%--spending half of the fight landing at least 45% of your power punches)? How about when you out-jab and, in total, out-land your opponent by a 2:1 margin, snapping back his head with each successive shot, displaying the greater ring generalship, and having people question the health of your opponent more than your own, as you don a massive knot on the side of your head? And what happens when the crowd, analysts, the press, and other ringside observers--including your opponent's corner during the match--have you winning the fight?

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:anime: Free/Low-Cost Anime Pick of the Month:: Manager's Special!: Gundam Wing & RahXephon!!

2011-06-30T23:55:00.008-04:00

Two years ago for HardDoor's third anniversary, I did a special post detailing how I got into anime, and in it I mentioned two series I considered to be my absolute favorites: Gundam Wing, which helped solidify my interest in anime, and RahXephon, which I have considered to be the best anime I have ever seen (and I don't throw that kind of praise around so lightly). As such, I think it is only appropriate that for HardDoor's fifth anniversary, I dedicate this month's Free/Low-Cost Anime Pick to the two shows I hold so dear to myself.

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HardDoor--The Fifth Anniversary!!

2011-06-26T19:57:00.298-04:00

HardDoor's original look, prior to its Oct. 2010 revamp. Now here in spirit…

HardDoor...Not exactly the most common of blog names......

So what is "HardDoor" and why is this named so? Perhaps at a later date I'll explain the history of the name (if you really want to call it that), but for now, I'll say this much: this blog is pretty "random" when it comes to topics. Anime, Boxing, a little bit of politics, maybe (or not :D ).

Today is a pretty good day to start HardDoor (I mean, it's the 26th of June!). Soon, I'll be populating it with thoughts on the various said topics, all while figuring out the strange little trinkets laid out on this blogging station. So until then...toodles <>:O

Anniversary Month Comes to HardDoor!!

2011-06-14T01:43:00.000-04:00

In just a scant few weeks (on June 26, to be exact), HardDoor will be celebrating its five year anniversary! Across this month and the others to come, I'll be doing a few retrospects, some anniversary-related special features, introduce a new segment, and maybe pull off a surprise or two. ;)

While work has kept me pretty busy from really carrying out the extent of what I had originally planned for June, I won't let it stop me from carrying out as much of it as possible. Of course, there are also other features to handle, too, such as "Decade's Best" and the continuation of reviews for a **certain** show (-_-) , so keep out for those, as well.

So, hopefully without delay, here's to some happy future reading!

--HD

:anime: Free/Low-Cost Anime Pick of the Month:: Korekuraide Utau (Sing in my own way)

2011-05-31T23:58:00.012-04:00

Creator: Kousuke Sugimoto
Artist Sites: Main Site, YouTube Channel
Additional Links: ANN Article
Video [Free]: YouTube

As luck would have it, just one month after posting about the newest work from one half of last January's independent short recommendations, Hiroyasu Ishida (aka "Tete"), the other half from the feature, Kousuke Sugimoto, happened to post his own new project onto YouTube earlier this month. "Korekuraide Utau (Sing in my own way)" is a music video for a song by friend Handsome Kenya, which falls very much into the same rambunctious vein as Sugimoto's previous "the TV show", with its seemingly random comedic vignettes, kinetic imagination, and interconnectivity, plus some kicking music (and nice lyrics, too). While you view the video (which is thankfully subtitled), try to keep in mind that Sugimoto is self-trained and in his late-twenties…

…Yeah.

:boxing: Boxing Bits ::05.31.11:: Pacquiao, Ward, & Hopkins Get It Done Right…

2011-05-31T23:00:00.000-04:00

Three weeks, three major fights (and a few others)--some showed up to do their thing, and some others forgot to.

:Sat.05.07.11:

Manny Pacquiao UD Shane Mosley [Showtime PPV]

While the bout was not as awful as many have said, it wasn't amazing by any means and I can understand the universal panning of it. Simply put: Pacquiao showed up to fight, and Mosley showed up to survive. The Filipino dominated in typical fashion, but was unable to put on the sort of hurting he has laid on previous opponents like Oscar De La Hoya, Miguel Cotto and Antonio Margarito. This was chiefly because Mosley, after getting knocked down in Round 3, convinced himself that he wasn't going to win and did not want to get pulled into a tit-for-tat firefight, thus jeopardizing his streak of not getting knocked-out.

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:boxing: ...It'll Do (At Least, For Me…), Part 3:: Pacquiao vs. Mosley

2011-05-07T21:12:00.002-04:00

When this fight was first announced awhile back, I was looking forward to Manny Pacquiao fighting "Sugar" Shane Mosley, even though so many downed the fight, and doing a nice write-up on it, too.

However, duty (aka "work") beckons, and I have not had a whole lot of time to post anything (hence the lack of updates as of late). But I do not want to let this fight pass by without saying anything on it (which everyone and their mother are now hotly anticipating). On the other hand, there's not a whole lot of time left, so let's keep things short and sweet…

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:anime: Free/Low-Cost Anime Pick of the Month:: rain town

2011-04-26T23:58:00.001-04:00

Creator: Hiroyasu Ishida (aka "Tete")
Artist Sites: Main Site, pixiv Profile, YouTube Channel
Additional Links: "rain town" PV, Main Site post (**spoilers**), "rain town" Gallery (**spoilers**)
Video [Free]: YouTube

"In this town, since who knows when, rain has never stopped. Residents moved out to suburbs and higher ground around "rain town". Peoples memories are now deeply submerged. But into this forgotten rainy town sometimes, someone wanders."

Last January, I recommended two independent shorts singularly animated (for the most part) by two individuals. One of them was Hiroyasu Ishida (also known as "Tete"), a student at Kyoto Seika Universitiy's Faculty of Manga (which also teaches animation), and besides highlighting his award-winning "Fumiko's Confession", I also made mention of his one-minute "rain town" PV, which left a big impression on me, despite its brevity and relative simplicity.

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:anime: HardDoor's Seasonal Anime Preview 2011 Special:: noitaminA (Spring, Summer)

2011-04-19T21:46:00.011-04:00

Fuji TV's noitaminA block has produced a fine number of great titles over the years. Their slate for the spring and summer cours, however, looks particularly strong, enough so to warrant this special installment of HD's seasonal anime preview. While full-fledged ones of old are currently on hiatus due to time constraints, I thought it would still be worthwhile to churn out an edition for something like noitaminA. I have had my eye on these series since they have been announced, and hope they turn out as good as they appear to be. And knowing noitaminA's track record, their chances seem high…

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:anime: First/Final/Only Impression:: That Which Shall Not Be Named

2011-03-31T23:56:00.004-04:00

There is no show picture to show because the show doesn't deserve it, so you'll have to settle for this stylish picture of a question mark, instead.

Review: [Title Withheld (and with good reason…)]

Official Sites: Please…
Additional Links: None.
Video [Free/Pay]: You are better off not knowing…

When it comes to reviews here at HardDoor, my aim is not to tell you what you must or must not watch, but to discuss and provide critical analysis on it, leaving the decision ultimately up to you, the reader. I actually encourage you to watch the title anyway, so you can form your own opinion on it, as I personally do not like someone dictating to me something along the lines of the former. You will never find me saying "Avoid this like the plague!" or "Don't watch this title at all costs!", because it's not my thing. I think we are all our own people and I don't need to tell you what to do. A situation would really have to be something for me to do something like that.

Well, I'm making an exception for this one…

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:anime: Free/Low-Cost Anime Pick of the Month:: BECK: Mongolian Chop Squad

2011-03-26T00:30:00.001-04:00

BECK: Mongolian Chop Squad (or just "Mongolian Chop Squad")

Official Sites: Japanese, English
Additional Links: ANN Entry
Video [Free]: FUNimation Videos, Hulu, Anime News Network (Sub / Dub)

As can often be the case in the world and life, some things don't get the attention they deserve, in spite how good they are. Such is the case with this month's free/low-cost anime pick…

BECK: Mongolian Chop Squad has never been a top seller in the U.S. Most of those who have seen it can testify to how good it is, but I imagine that number isn't a mighty one. FUNimation did a fantastic job with its dubbing and singing and has supported the title for a long time, but with it being re-released under its subtitle only (either to try to breathe life into its sales, or to avoid any legal trouble with the real-life, unrelated band), questions of its future on the market comes to mind. Hopefully, the worst never comes to past, considering the effort they put into the release and just how good the show is, but either way, BECK is worth of garnering more attention, hence its spotlight here.

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:anime: Alright, Alright…FINE!!

2011-03-25T00:55:00.001-04:00

For years, I have considered Revolutionary Girl Utena to be the "greatest show I would never own". Don't get me wrong, I have tons of respect for the series and count it as one of the best things I have ever seen across any media. The great writing, its copious layers, the enjoyable and memorable characters, its unique, almost-Seussian design and animation styles, the ubiquitous scores by Shinkichi Mitsumune (BGM) and J. A. Seazer (duels), its boldness: I have adored so much of it and what it has accomplished, and under most circumstances, I would have dropped down cash on it in a heartbeat and snatched up all of its sets (and probably the movie, too).

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:boxing: Boxing Bits ::03.17.11:: Martinez Dismantles Dzinzurik…

2011-03-17T19:11:00.001-04:00

Alt. Title(s): "Battle of the Serge", "Sergio/Sergiy", "Power Serge"…

:Sat.03.12.11:

Sergio Martinez TKO8 Sergiy Dzinzurik [HBO]

Sergio Martinez may have had a career highlight in his one-punch demolishing of Paul Williams this past November, but he may have possibly eclipsed that with his performance Saturday night against top contender Sergiy Dzinzurik. "Maravilla" dedicated himself to a hard, snapping jab early on before tattooing the rugged and ridged Dzinzurik with his usual odd-angled shots, with his hooks being the most dangerous ones of all, as they accounted for a bulk the five knockdowns delivered. Though he was able to score two and looked in control against an unwavering opponent prior to the 7th, he hadn't moved around the ring as much as usual for much of the fight and as such, especially with his unique posture and fighting style, was absorbing more punches than necessary.

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:anime: It's That Time of The Year, Again:: Crunchyroll Hosts Global Shinkai Day!

2011-03-11T18:27:00.003-05:00

Just a quick reminder, Crunchyroll is once again hosting its three-day celebration of the works of anime auteur Makoto Shinkai. "Global Shinkai Day" will be hosting the director's self-made first feature, Voices of a Distant Star, The place promised in our early days--his first feature-length film--, and his most recent film, 5 centimeters per second, which was just re-released on DVD by CR (with Bandai Ent.'s assistance). The festival was recommended last March as its "Free/Low-Cost Anime Pick", and while I'm not repeating picks again (something I try to avoid), I could not pass up another mention of it. Shinkai is a wonderful artist and a free event like this gives one a great opportunity to see his works for the first time (or revisit them all over again). The timing is also a bit ironic, since I made allusions to his visual style in my anime pick and review of the recent Wish Upon the Pleiades (Hokago no Pleiades).

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:anime: Final Impression:: Wish Upon the Pleiades (Hokago no Pleiades)

2011-02-23T22:35:00.000-05:00

Review: Wish Upon the Pleiades (Hokago no Pleiades)

Official Sites: Japanese
Additional Links: ANN Entry, HD's Free/Low-Cost Anime Pick of the Month (Feb. 2011)
Video [Free]: YouTube

In one of the more unlikely pairings you'll find on the scene, automaker SUBARU and GAINAX collaborated to make the YouTube exclusive (well, until the inevitable BD/DVD release) magical girl show Hokago no Pleiades (or Wish Upon the Pleiades, in English). At first glance, one can easily detect the monetary input of the production with its Shinkai-esque starry skies, vibrant lighting and coloring, and beautifully-rendered backgrounds. And with its genre trappings, the series is certainly not bereft of lovely character designs or animation work, not to mention a top-notch music production.

But…that's all I can really say about the show.

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:anime: Free/Low-Cost Anime Pick of the Month:: Wish Upon the Pleiades (Hokago no Pleiades)

2011-02-12T23:39:00.000-05:00

Wish Upon the Pleiades (Hokago no Pleiades)

Official Sites: Japanese
Additional Links: ANN Entry
Video [Free]: YouTube

Wish Upon the Pleiades (Hokago no Pleiades), an animated collaboration from automaker SUBARU (whose name is the Japanese equivalent of the star cluster) and anime powerhouse GAINAX (Petite Princess Yucie, Neon Genesis Evangelion, Magical Shopping Center Abenobashi, This Ugly Yet Beautiful World, Gunbuster), made its anticipated bow onto YouTube this month, and in addition to its untranslated form, an English-subbed version of the show has also been provided.

Comprising of four 5-7 minute episodes, HnP follows along traditional "magical girl" lines, focusing on a young girl named Subaru, who stumbles upon a secret meeting of girls at her school that are moonlighting as magical girls. Just as quickly as she discovers them is she recruited to their ranks as they try to retrieve lost "engine parts"--though an adversary also in search of them stands in their way. Stellar animation--with Shinkai-level visuals--and great music help punctuate SUBARU x GAINAX's gorgeous production.

As often the case with YouTube's content, the videos are free to watch and are available in upwards of 720p in HD. The YT page itself is interesting, in that you can watch the videos via a simple, menu-like layout at the top, or just below it through the usual YT layout the separate playlists (and unlike with the top section, there is a full-screen button with the player). Additionally, the official website also hosts a "goody bag" ZIP-file full of character wallpaper, at resolutions ranging from 1024x768 to 1920x1080, including ones for iPhone/iPod touch devices (click on the third link on the main page with the "ZIP" page icon, or right-click here to save the file). Owners of those iDevices who access the site can find wallpaper for them there.

:anime: Free Anime Directory Update! ::For 02.08.11::

2011-02-08T00:23:00.003-05:00

It's been awhile since the last update, which came during the big overhaul and location change last October, but the Directory has received some new entries and a few updates since then. So let's check them out!

[New!]
-:Sites:-
Crackle
--Forgot to put this in the Directory at the time of the overhaul, but it's in there now. I had some trouble finding an anime listing on the site over a year ago, but I managed to finally find one there. The selection is slightly bigger, too (though still on the meager side). But hey, they got some Godzilla films, too. ;)

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:boxing: Quick Pick! ::01.29.11:: Bradley vs Alexander

2011-01-29T20:40:00.001-05:00

Tonight, the big fight between WBO Light Welterweight Champion Timothy Bradley and upstart WBC Champion Devon Alexander takes place at the Silverdome in Pontiac, Michigan on HBO--but you might not totally get its weight with the amount of people set to attend. But for now, let's set aside the decision to hold the match far away from either man's respective domains of California or Missouri (and thus robbing it of potential ticket sales and good word-of-mouth at either location, or even at Las Vegas or Atlantic City) and the poor attempt at emulating the Pacquiao-Cowboys Stadium dynamic (while known names among boxing fans, neither are crossover stars like Pacquiao and aren't ready to fill stadiums, yet) and just focus on the night's proceedings…

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:anime: First Impression:: Oreimo Ep. 8

2011-01-27T22:35:00.000-05:00

<--To Oreimo, Ep. 7

The face of a soul shattering into a million pieces…

After a hiatus for "Decade's Best", year-end write-ups, and other postings, HD's reviews of Oreimo pick up right where they left off at with Ep. 8's!

Oreimo, Ep. 8 - "My Little Sister Can't Be Animated"

With Kirino's novel being a success, the publishers have decided to turn it into an upcoming anime. The budding author takes Saori and Kuroneko along with her to the production meeting with the staff and producers, where her giddiness over the show and eager requests are brought down in flames by the hard-nosed screenwriter and reality. After the story is picked apart, ground through the mill, and suggested for alterations--including making the little sister-loving lead into a male--Kirino's spirit is thoroughly crushed.

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:anime: Free/Low-Cost Anime Pick of the Month:: RideBack

2011-01-24T23:54:00.001-05:00

RideBack

Official Sites: English
Additional Links: Tokyo MX Page, ANN Entry
Video [Free]: FUNimation Videos, Hulu, Anime News Network

Last month, I recommended Highschool of the Dead (which was also reviewed last week), Madhouse's adaptation of the manga which prominently featured two subjects not normally (if, really, ever) covered by the studio: zombie horror and heavy fanservice. It was a stark departure for them, even with the sheer number of works they have produced that spread across the spectrum, but it was not the only uncharacteristic title they made of recent. In the prior year, RideBack debuted in January 2009, representing Madhouse's first real mecha-centric work in their near 40-year history. While the subject of robots, in general, is not foreign to the studio (Metropolis, Battle Angel/GUNNM, Chobits), a production with people piloting mecha is not something they have done before (Patlabor WXIII notwithstanding, which more of an investigative drama and bereft of mecha action until briefly at the end). But at the same time, RideBack is not your typical mecha show…

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:anime: Final Impression:: Highschool of the Dead

2011-01-20T04:20:00.004-05:00

Review: Highschool of the Dead (High School of the Dead)

Official Sites: Japanese
Additional Links: ANN Entry
Video [Free]: The Anime Network (Ep. 1 is available to everyone at the "Guest" level, and Eps. 2 and beyond for those who register, which is at no cost), Hulu

When coming across the trailer for Highschool of the Dead last summer, there were a few things that stunned me about it--none of which involved its content of zombies and big boobs. For one, I was really impressed by it. I'm no fan of the horror genre, much less shows with heavy fanservice, and in both cases, there have been many a cheap and paltry entry. But with HOTD, it was quite clear that a lot of effort went into the production and presentation of it with its stunning animation and color palette, with its intensity pouring out of the screen. Its character designs were easy on the eyes, too, and with all of the frantic action and fluidity, what started as a curiosity over its title became a hot anticipation for a show screaming "greatness" and "instant hit".

So I was also quite stunned to see Madhouse's name pop up during it. It certainly explained the high level of artistry on display, but for a studio that has covered a wide swath of genres, horror (of the zombie variety) and fanservice are two that they have very rarely done. And that they decided to put this much effort into a show with both (and an admittedly/purposefully-schlocky title) was especially puzzling. Not that the studio has a "snobby" reputation, but given their pedigree, one might naturally assume that this type of material would be "beneath them". On top of that, Death Note director Tetsuro Araki and big-time screenwriter Yousuke Kuroda (Honey & Clover, Gungrave, Hellsing Ultimate, Infinite Ryvius) were attached to it, furthering the notion that nothing added up. At least at first glance, as what unfolds is a well thought-out and -presented tale with depth all around--as well as one of the best anime of 2010.

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Compare & Contrast:: 2009 Predictions vs 2010 Reality…

2011-01-10T01:41:00.005-05:00

As noted in last week's 2010 lookback/2011 look-forward, a surprising amount of the predictions made for 2010 happened to come true during the year…well, sort of. In this addendum to "2010, Fade Out… 2011, Fade In…", we'll be looking back at each of the predictions made at the end of 2009 and how much did (and didn't) come to past in 2010…

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2010, Fade Out… 2011, Fade In…

2011-01-03T19:15:00.005-05:00

2010 turned out to be a pretty nice one, both personally and for the site. Much of the first half of the year saw the realization of one of my biggest goals in covering the pattern of dark-skinned characters in anime that have been shot in the head. Aside from the lull in late-summer (writer's block?), everything went fairly well, and the discussion thread experiment, while not a total success (only the ANN one got going), proved interesting. Of course, I would have done a few things differently, but overall, given its scope and size, it went well.

The second half of the year was perhaps the most pivotal for HardDoor, to-date. A completely new design, an improved layout, the start of HD's Twitter page and its integration into the site (a big, big addition itself, begun a month to the day before, and in honor of, HD's fourth anniversary), the introduction of anime reviews, as well as a greater emphasis on using pictures in posts (first tested with "Blacks & Head Shots in Anime") have all been implemented for the blog, which have certainly helped in making the blog more accessible and looking nice, as well as raising its awareness.

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:anime: Free/Low-Cost Anime Pick of the Month:: Highschool of the Dead

2010-12-21T00:26:00.003-05:00

Highschool of the Dead

Official Sites: Japanese

Additional Links: ANN Entry

Video: The Anime Network (Free for promotion, Pay afterwards for Eps. 3-12 ("Subscribers"). Ep. 1 free for "Guests", Ep. 2 free for those who register, which itself is free ("Registered"))
Free Promotional Period: December 13-31(?), 2010

I was originally aiming for something pleasant and soothing for this month's pick, as it is December and the winter and holiday season is upon us.

And then The Anime Network presented a very, uhh, *nice* gift…

The broadcaster announced last Monday, December 13th, that they would drop the access level from "Subscribers" to "Registered" for each of the twelve episodes of the controversial hit anime Highschool of the Dead (or "High School of the Dead", though I'm going with the original spelling here, which is actually grammatically-correct, too). A tale of high-school students trying to survive in a world quickly overcome by the undead, this mix of zombies-and-boobs has been a polarizing title with its overt fanservice, but also a well-praised one for its genuine horror touches and nods to various entries in the genre.

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:boxing: Boxing Bits ::12.20.10:: Pascal, Hopkins Draw…

2010-12-20T20:36:00.000-05:00

For the previous prediction of the fight, click here.

Jean Pascal M-D Bernard Hopkins [Showtime]
Original Prediction: Hopkins, UD

In what was a much better fight than imagined, Bernard Hopkins took it to Jean Pascal, who was ahead after Round 4 following knockdowns in the first (more of a rabbit punch than anything else) and third (legit). Pascal fought a little better and was carrying less muscle than in the Dawson fight, and also used his aggression more smartly, though concurrently, he seemed reluctant to press the action in a more consistent fashion. Hopkins, on the other hand, was beginning to show frustration after the knockdowns and with his inability keep in step with the quicker champion. However, his near-exclusive targeting of the body from the second round on was beginning to play dividends, as Pascal was visibly uncomfortable from it, even from the outset. From round six to the end, Hopkins fought more assertively and like a man on a mission--and he had to, after the early setbacks. For whatever reason, Pascal appeared gunshy and barely did anything of note as Hopkins outworked him and plied his mastery with his body movement and shot landings, as well as his tightly-packed defense (though Pascal would show more life in the final two rounds).

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:anime: First Impression:: Oreimo Ep. 7

2010-12-20T01:18:00.002-05:00

<--To Oreimo, Ep. 6 | To Oreimo, Ep. 8-->

Oreimo, Ep. 7 - "My Little Sister Can't Be A Novelist!"

Kyousuke arrives home one day to discover Kuroneko sitting alone in the living room--with the lights out, per her style. She was there to watch Kirino's favorite show with her after the two were debating its merits earlier, but Saori had last-minute matters to tend to and couldn't come along. With the "mediator" of the trio gone, she and Kirino got into a big fight over a story the latter had written, which featured a vaguely familiar character that meets a none-too-flattering end.

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:boxing: Quick Pick! ::12.18.10:: Pascal vs Hopkins

2010-12-18T21:06:00.001-05:00

For the result of the fight, click here.

Unlike last week's Quick Pick, I had no intention at all to do a write-up on tonight's match-up between WBC Light Heavyweight Champion Jean Pascal and future-HOFer Bernard Hopkins. Why? Just like Jones-Hopkins II, I haven't been pumped about it, nor do I see it as being all that important, despite Hopkins' quest to become the oldest boxer to win a world title (45, and Hopkins is one of, if not my most, favorite fighter--off-color comments aside…). In addition are two potentially vital points: 1) Pascal is rather mediocre, if his sloppy win over Chad Dawson was any indication. He has great looking body, but having bulky muscles often translates to dwindling stamina over the course of the fight, which was also apparent in that bout. He has some decent skill and promise, but there is a good reason why Hopkins, at his age, chose him. 2) In spite of B-Hops being the bastion of fitness and technical prowess for many years, his recent fights and less-toned body signal that he is indeed on the decline, victories be darned. While his less-than-best can beat many young guns, Father Time is finally beginning to collect his dues, and even a wild-punching, inaccurate Pascal can win by being the more active of the two, or hitting pay dirt--plus, he has quick hands, which have been Hopkins' weakness.

:anime: First Impression:: Oreimo Ep. 6

2010-12-16T00:12:00.005-05:00

<--To Oreimo, Ep. 5 | To Oreimo, Ep. 7-->

Oreimo, Ep. 6 - "My Childhood Friend Can't Be This Cute"

At school, Kyousuke is confronted by a friend about whether he and Manami are going out. Although he says that he doesn't view her in that light (comparing her, instead, to a grandmother turned 50 years younger), he is staunchly against the idea of any other guy trying to get with her. Later in the day, Kyousuke and Manami stop by her house as her family prepares do some Halloween-related events at their shop. They find her grandfather passed out on the table and cold, fearing the worse, but the grandmother tells them that it was just the result of a failed prank of his involving their store's freezer. A threat from her to pull out his hair is enough to get him going again and scurrying with fear.

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:boxing: Boxing Bits ::12.13.10:: Khan, Mares Win Wars…

2010-12-13T19:41:00.002-05:00

For the previous predictions of the fights below, click here.

One of the best and most significant nights in boxing this year took place this past Saturday night, with many surprises along the way…

Amir Khan UD Marcos Maidana [HBO]
Original Prediction: Khan, UD

Though this year of boxing has largely been lackluster, most of the great bouts have been compressed to these last few weekends. Amir Khan's unlikely meeting against Marcos Maidana, one of the biggest threats out there, suddenly became the latest candidate for "Fight of the Year"--and was just the second bout that very night to garner that distinction (to be noted later). From the get go, it got intense when Maidana forsook the customary touching-up of the gloves at the beginning of Round 1 to lob a haymaker bomb towards Khan, which missed. He was the aggressor, but Khan showed his freakish hand speed with impactful shots--far better than usual. And in the midst of that flurrying was one great shot in the final seconds that stuck into Maidana's right side that sent him down, which he barely got up from. Maidana made a steady recovery and stuck to his aggressive pressuring, but Khan was still able to move around and throw some impressive offensive.

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:boxing: Quick Picks! ::12.11.10:: Khan-Maidana, ShoBox's Bantamweight Tourney

2010-12-11T21:00:00.002-05:00

For results of the fights below, click here.

I've had a busy week+, but there are just way too many significant matches on tonight to let pass by. No write-up, but let's make with some quick picks anyway. And they aren't coming easy…

Amir Khan vs Marcos Maidana [HBO]

--I'm very high on both fighters, but as skilled as Khan is, Maidana is the kind of guy that you could be winning against at first, and find yourself on the canvas the next. It isn't luck, as he himself is a good, though not technically-polished, fighter who is also quite dangerous. He has an unorthodox style, too, but Khan should be able to make it work against him. Too much gets made of his knockout loss against Brendis Prescott, and while a Maidana KO is wholly possible given who he is, Khan should be able to work from the outside and use his speed to outwork him.

Prediction: Khan, UD

:anime: First Impression:: Oreimo Ep. 5

2010-12-09T20:50:00.003-05:00

<--To Oreimo, Ep. 4 | To Oreimo, Ep. 6-->

My thoughts exactly as I was watching this episode…

Oreimo, Ep. 5 - "My Little Sister's Best Friend Can't Be This XX"

Picking right up from where the previous episode ended, Ayase, Kirino's best friend, has run into her on her way out of Summerket. The cordial meeting, and Ayase's disposition, soon turn ugly as she begins to put the pieces together of the odd picture of her beloved friend acting shady, with two strangely dressed girls close-by (Saori and Kuroneko, who exit to preserve Kirino's cover) and carrying around a bag bearing the comic market's name. Kirino tries to dodge her, but an increasingly disturbed Ayase's snagging of the bag causes it to tear open and empty its not-so-delectable contents onto the pavement, wet from the pouring rain. One flip through of one of the doujinshi is enough for Ayase to abruptly sever all ties with Kirino.

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:boxing: Boxing Bits ::12.01.10:: Beatdowns Galore!!

2010-12-01T03:10:00.001-05:00

It was never my intention for two weeks to pass without doing some boxing coverage here (I usually do live coverage on Twitter, though), given the amount of marquee match-ups that have gone down…it's been an odd week. But hey, that doesn't we can't do anything at all about it, though!

:Sat.11.13.10:

Manny Pacquiao UD Antonio Margarito

In perhaps Pacquiao's most impressive victory to date (taking Margarito's size and strength in consideration), the Pacman endured some good shots to shut out his tough opponent (and his eyes) in a one-sided, but still entertaining and competitive, bout. He really had to work for it, as the Tijuana Tornado took the fight to him in a new, more offensive style. His speed and maneuverability were the keys to success, however, and it worked quite well for him when he was in some trouble in the 5th (where it looked as if he was about to go down) and 10th. Margarito did what he could, but Pacquiao was too much for him to handle in the end, and if it wasn't for his mercy, would have been stopped prior to the twelfth. (Mentioning this fight now since it was replayed two Saturdays ago.)

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:anime: Celebrating Impromptu Natsume Ono Appreciation Month!

2010-11-29T22:30:00.004-05:00

A funny thing happened on the way to doing this month's free/low-cost anime pick…

As alluded to in the House of Five Leaves review, Ristorante Paradiso was going spotlighted as part of "Impromptu Natsume Ono Appreciation Month", which came sort of out-of-the-blue due to a series of coincidences. One of the reasons I wanted to choose the series was because it had something to do with food and that Thanksgiving was this month, so it seemed to make sense to follow up the review with it. The show has been available at Crunchyroll since it aired last year, so recommending it was a seeming no-brainer. Only one problem, though…

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:anime: First Impression:: Oreimo Ep. 4

2010-11-25T00:15:00.007-05:00

<--To Oreimo, Ep. 3 | To Oreimo, Ep. 5-->

Oreimo, Ep. 4 - "My Little Sister Can't Be Going to Summerket"

Kyousuke is badgered by Kirino to hurry up and finish one of her fighting eroge so she could face him. She suggests going online for help and spend the next day playing it while her school friends are over, who she doesn't want him fraternizing with, or so much looking at. Having difficulty finding help, Kyousuke logs into the game's lobby to start, and quickly ends it once he makes his fighter. Before leaving, a chat dialog box pops up with Saori on the other end, who he asks for tricks about clearing the game after she brags about whipping Kirino countless times online.

The following day, Kyousuke is rustled from his slumber on the couch as Kirino's friends arrive, one of whom catches his eye (and likewise…). Kirino warns him about oogling them and shoos him to his room. Kyousuke retreats to his bed after having a hard time with the game, where the image of the girl with the long, black hair enters his mind. The girls' banter on the other side of the wall breaks that train of thought, as they probe into whether Kirino has a secret boyfriend (judging from her behavior of late). Kirino's OOC cutesy voice begins to creep him out, but his interest perks when the girl from before asks about him. Kirino chides her, while the other friend dismisses Kyousuke as "average", which sends him away from the room in disgust.

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:boxing: Seconds, Please…:: Williams vs. Martinez II

2010-11-20T21:07:00.002-05:00

This was originally supposed to be a full write-up, but I was too tired yesterday to do it and do it properly. However, this match is too good to not put something up about it, so here's a quick analysis (of sorts…) of the fight tonight.

Tonight is a great night of fights. Not only do you get a rebroadcast of Manny Pacquiao's thumping of Antonio Margarito (which did not come easy) from last weekend and UFC 123's showdowns of Quinton "Rampage" Jackson-Lyoto Machida and B.J. Penn-Matt Hughes but you also get the rematch between Paul Williams and Sergio Martinez, back at the same Atlantic City venue where the two unexpectedly put on the "Fight of the Year" in early December 2009. Williams just ecked out a majority victory in the thriller, in which both fighters went down in the first round and kept things tight throughout (just ignore Pierre Benoist's brick-pile dumb 119-110 scorecard in his favor, as the other two only had it a draw and one-round up for Williams).

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:anime: First Impression:: Oreimo Ep. 3

2010-11-19T03:21:00.004-05:00

<--To Oreimo, Ep. 2 | To Oreimo, Ep. 4-->

Oreimo, Ep. 3 - "My Little Sister Can't Be This Cute"

Though she could have gone out with her fellow model friend Sunday, Kirino, instead, is out at Akihabara with Kuroneko and Saori. Meanwhile, Kyousuke and Manami are spending some time at the park. He lets her know that everything with Kirino went well with her advice, and Manami expects a hug out of it in return, but is left hanging. Oblivious at first, Kyousuke decides to make it up to her by treating her later. Back at the maid cafe, Kirino and Kuroneko are trying to get the other to like their show. The former begins to huggle her freshly-bought eroge and is reprimanded by the latter for trying to bring the wrong kind of attention. This prompts Kirino to ask if her family is aware of her hobby, which Kuroneko replies affirmatively, noting that she did not care what others thought of her life. Saori agrees, which dispels some of Kirino's own personal concerns. In the evening, Kyousuke arrives home, only to find Kirino sitting in front of their father in a room, with one of her eroge laying in front of them.

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:anime: First Impression:: Oreimo Ep. 2

2010-11-16T23:30:00.021-05:00

<--To Oreimo, Ep. 1 | To Oreimo, Ep. 3-->

Originally, I was going to post episodes 2-6 together as a bulk review, but after watching the second episode, I thought it would be better to cover each separately (though I may still do that in the future)…

Oreimo, Ep. 2 - "My Little Sister Can't Bring Me To An IRL Meet"

Kirino continues her strong-armed induction of Kyousuke into her eroge hobby, though he's still not completely willing. As such, he suggests that she finds some friends that she can talk in-depth with about her hobbies. She feels apprehensive about this, given how negatively society (and especially middle-school girls) view otaku, and doesn't want to risk being associated with or exposed as one at school. On advice from Manami, Kyousuke introduces her to a social networking service that can she use to meet with other people who are into the same things she likes. After registering, she quickly gets an invite from the head of an "otaku girl" group she requested. who is holding a "tea party" the following week, though Kyousuke seems more enthused for Kirino over the occasion than Kirino is.

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:anime: Final Impression:: House of Five Leaves

2010-11-15T15:00:00.005-05:00

Originally, this review was going to be posted last month, but as I thought about it…Thanksgiving is in November…Natsume Ono also did Ristorante Paradiso, which has something to do with food…Thanksgiving has something to do with food, too…so.......

Instead, I decided to hold that off until now and declare November "Impromptu Natsume Ono Appreciation Month"! Granted, I never read her manga before, but the anime adaptations of them are pretty good and not your typical fare, and with said holiday around the corner, it seemed like as good a time as any to celebrate her work (that's synergy for you). You could probably guess what is going to be this month free/low-cost anime pick by now (or not, click the link above…), so in the mean time, give this series a chance and kick back to some Natsume Ono manga this November in commemoration. -.^

Review: House of Five Leaves (Sarai-ya Goyou)

Official Site: Japanese
Additional Links: ANN Entry
Video [Free]: FUNimation Videos, Hulu, YouTube

When reading the plot description for House of Five Leaves and seeing animation studio manglobe (Samurai Champloo, Ergo Proxy, Michiko e Hatchin) attached to it, a likely set of thoughts might pop up in one's head. An unassuming, down-on-his-luck samurai falls into a mysterious group of cool, eccentric thieves with a "Robin Hood"-complex. Rounding out its ranks are the dashing, enigmatic leader who reels him into a world of danger and intrigue, the seductive courtesan who knows all of the in's-and-out's of the underworld, the big, bald-headed muscle of the group, and the quiet, aloof spy who stays in the shadows and carries out espionage and assassinations. While the young ronin takes content in finally having friends and enjoys a new-found sense of being wanted, he slowly begins to discover that they may not be who they appear to be, and at the same time, falls in too deep in the seedy world they deal in…

Now, take all of those images, run them through a strainer, and toss what was sifted into the bin (or plop it into your pocket to make your own cool story with). Whatever you were thinking about it going along those lines should, and eventually will, be removed. And yet, that is quite OK, as House of Five Leaves is still a compelling piece of drama and animation.

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:boxing: ...It'll Do, Part 2:: Pacquiao vs. Margarito

2010-11-12T19:02:00.007-05:00

We find ourselves at that time of the year (again) where people are lamenting the absence of Mayweather-Pacquiao and bashing the "substitute", since, well, it's not Mayweather-Pacquiao. Not too difficult to understand given expectations, but with the soap opera-caliber negotiations that sunk it (multiple times), the deep legal trouble Floyd Mayweather, Jr. has placed himself in after the beating of his ex over the summer, and Manny Pacquiao's commitments as a congressman in the Philippines, the chances of that fight happening are dropping closer to zero with every passing month. It's not totally out of the realm of possibility, but at this point: just give it up. It's not happening, period, unless Mayweather is cleared of wrongdoing and Pacquiao is either 1) coming off a loss, 2) returning from a lengthy absence, or 3) is ancient/out-of-shape when he finally decides to fight him. That's just how he rolls, not because of the "blood testing" he suddenly cares about.

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:boxing: Boxing Bits ::11.10.10:: Johnson, Juanma Deliver the KOs…

2010-11-10T15:28:00.001-05:00

"Boxing Bits" makes its semi-triumphant return to HD, covering the bouts (and bodies) that went down this past Saturday! This would have been posted earlier, but things have been a bit wonky for the last few days…

:Sat.11.06.10:

Glen Johnson TKO8 Allan Green

The "readjusted" Super Six tournament continued with newcomer Glen Johnson icing Allan Green in an entertaining fight. Green showed flashes of genuine competitiveness, but ultimately lived up to his surname as he couldn't overcome Johnson's style of offense. The latter has been a sparring partner of his and said to have gotten the upper-hand much of the times they have fought, so that surely did not help matters much for Green, nor did some of those inadvertent rabbit punches. The 41-year-old Johnson, despite moving down in weight on short notice, looked great and weathered some good shots to batter Green all over and steadily take him out of the fight, which ended with a sudden right hook to the side of his head that sent him down and out. Though Johnson moves on to the semifinals, Green once again lacked the experience and fortitude to hang with the top players and veterans, which at 31 is sort of surprising--but not, given the caliber of much of his opposition in his 32-fight career…

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:anime: ANN Gets Its Stream On, Again:: Oreimo & togainu no chi To Resume…

2010-11-04T21:56:00.005-04:00

Nearly a month ago, I was extolling the announcement of Anime News Network getting in on the simulcasting movement with their streaming of the new Aniplex-produced fall shows Oreimo (Ore no Imouto ga Konanni Kawaii Wake ga Nai, or "My Little Sister Can't Be This Cute") and togainu no chi ~Bloody Curs~. Oreimo was scheduled to air the next day and togainu the following Wednesday, and for the Saturday afternoon that Oreimo debut, everything went relatively without a hitch. ANN's efforts hit a snag, however, when an unknown party had breached the security measures on one of their streaming servers, obtained the as-yet-aired second episode of Oreimo that lied there, and distributed it over the Internet. Immediately that very evening, the site removed the first episode and postponed togainu's scheduled debut--and the simulcasts as a whole--indefinitely.

Much like FUNimation's situation last year, ANN found themselves in a quagmire, with the simulcasting movement being jeopardized and getting egg on its face once more due to failed security measures. Refunds were allowed, criticism was meted out, and the future of the streams remained muddy, at best. Yesterday, though, the situation saw some light at the end of the tunnel, as ANN announced that the streams to both shows would be continuing. The catch-up schedule will look like this:

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:anime: Free/Low-Cost Anime Pick of the Month:: Halloween Havoc!!

2010-10-28T01:53:00.010-04:00

Well, well, it's been a year to the day since I started recommending monthly free/low-cost anime available on the web, starting off with manglobe's obscure macabre comedy TRIP TREK. Being that it's October and close to Halloween--as it was then--I figure it would only be proper to recommend a few "scary" anime this time, too.

**Most of these shows, besides being free, are aimed at older teen to mature audiences, unsurprisingly, so viewer discretion is advised. And due to that, some sites may require you to register, which is often free, as well. I'm so not responsible for any nightmares, either, regardless the cause.**

Claymore
[FUNimation Videos, Hulu]

Quite the good action tale with monstrous figures with a hankering for innards getting sliced every-which-way by silver-haired ladies with big swords. One of the best fantasy anime in recent memory, with fine production values by Madhouse (some inconsistencies with faces, but the designs from the original manga aren't that simple to draw for animation) and a rollicking, but still appropriate, score by Masanori Takumi (Witchblade, Genshiken, Koi Kaze). Though only eps. 1-13 are currently available at the time of this writing, subbed-only, it has, personally, perhaps the finest collection of female vocal performances in a single anime. Some genuinely intense moments, likable characters, and an involving story make Claymore a great and enjoyable watch.

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:anime: Blacks and Head Shots in Anime -Phase Two- Begins

2010-10-16T01:58:00.000-04:00

As mentioned earlier this month, "Phase Two" of "Blacks and Head Shots in Anime" has just begun, with topics on the subject launched at Mania/AnimeOnDVD and Anime News Network's respective forums last night, with a poll present in the former. It is my hope to get a good gauge of the anime community's thoughts on this through two forums with differing personalities, and while it's nothing scientific, I believe this may still yield some interesting results. I have my predictions, but we'll see where things go from here, though I aim to post about the findings when the topics get enough responses. I'm pretty anxious to see what people's opinions will be, and hopefully, everything will go smoothly.

--HD

:anime: First Impression:: Oreimo Ep. 1

2010-10-09T23:48:00.015-04:00

To Oreimo, Ep. 2-->

Oreimo, Ep. 1 - "My Little Sister Can't Be My Love"

As noted yesterday, Oreimo was a title that has been on my fall radar ever since happening across an illustration of it a few months ago, despite not knowing a whole lot about the series. By appearance-alone, I sort of got a general feel of what to expect from the boy and the girl in it--"comedy, some sort of ongoing conflict". Vague as it was (hey, it was just a picture…), it was still close to what we actually got…

Oreimo's premiere episode turned out to be a pretty good affair. Kyousuke Kousaka doesn't get along with his popular younger sister, Kirino. This isn't helped by the fact that they have fairly frosty personalities and perpetual scowls when around each other (and when they aren't). One morning, they bump into each other, spilling the contents of Kirino's bag onto the floor and eliciting a snappy response from the girl. Later on, something catches Kyousuke's eye under a piece of furniture and discovers what looks to be a sister-centric eroge-based anime DVD.

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:anime: ANN Gets Its Stream On...

2010-10-08T23:49:00.003-04:00

Over the course of the last year or so, Anime News Network has been hard at work over its streaming video service, doing carryovers from other sites such as Hulu, to hosting titles themselves (i.e. Nobody's Boy Remi). The last month, however, has represented a major step forward in their campaign of streaming anime. In September, ANN announced their license rescue of the quirky, yet informative, comedy Animation Runner Kuromi and its sequel, homeless after former licensor Central Park Media went under a few years ago. Though the terms of ANN's deal only pertained to streaming rights, it was still a major score by the site to accomplish such a feat, though that would hardly be the end of their plans...

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:boxing: Six Degrees of Super Six Mess

2010-10-07T21:08:00.000-04:00

Jermain Taylor - Knocked out of the tournament.

Mikkel Kessler - Gone due to eye injury.

Andre Dirrell - Removes himself due to currently-untold injury.

When founding something as ambitious as the Super Six World Boxing Classic, Showtime and others had to have prepared themselves for the worst. Injuries are no stranger to the sport of boxing, so conducting a round-robin tournament is a big gamble, no doubt. But I bet at this point, even the cable network didn't think things would have turned out this bad...

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HardDoor 2.0!

2010-10-04T19:25:00.006-04:00

When I said last Friday that HardDoor was going dark for maintenance, I really did mean it, so to speak. ;)

Around two weeks ago, I completed "Blacks & Head Shots in Anime", a seven-part piece that had long been on my heart to do. At the same time, its finish also symbolized end of HardDoor's old look, present ever since its inception over four years ago. I have been dropping hints of this in previous posts and have planned and tested things out in a test blog, as it's been my aim to update HD for a good while now. Though I liked the old look, the functionality of the blog was outgrowing it, and I was also looking to freshen it up. While Blogger's new template designer was nice, I wasn't totally compelled to switch over from the Classic template, at least until they added more controls and bevy of new features over time. Now that it had nearly everything I had envisioned for when I first started, the time finally came...

Simpler, easier to navigate & use, and attractive--but still reminiscent of the original--HardDoor's new look meets many of the criteria I had in mind for its redesign. I initially thought it would take the whole weekend to do, but I got virtually everything done Saturday afternoon (with some twinking on Sunday). I was originally aiming for a total black & white high-contrast style, but the end result seems to be a better fit (yet still close to what I had planned). A few new things that I was happy to implement:

Dedicated pages. I had no idea this feature existed until I transitioned, so this was a pleasant surprise. The Directory has been moved to its own page (no more updating an old post), and now there's a nifty place to house links to things like Decade's Best.
Collapsible archive. So wanted.
Label listing, finally.
Cleaner, brighter look. The darker, more colorful former look was something I wanted to keep around, but the one here just feels more appealing.
Wider, but still cozy, layout.
"Older/Newer Posts". This should have been in Blogger from the start, but very glad to see it here. No more posts "lost to the ether"...
Integration with HD's Twitter page. Perhaps the #1 most important objective I had and one of the top leading factors that led me to making the jump. As I said in its introduction, it is a natural extension of the blog and a highly important part of it now. Having it right in the blog itself and side-by-side with the posts only makes sense and is essential in delivering HD out in its fullest. Likewise, the Twitter page's look has been updated to resemble the blog's--replete with a stylistic rendition of the new logo I made for HardDoor (a conjoined "H" and "D").

Don't be surprised if you see any additional tweaks and changes over time, as I get more acclimated to the new look. It's a stark and bolder, but I think it looks (and works) pretty nice. Hope you like!

--HD

"Black Monday Comes to HardDoor" and Other Fantastic Stories...

2010-10-01T18:47:00.002-04:00

"Black Monday Comes to HardDoor..."

After months of stagnation (mainly due to B&HSiA), HD's Free & Low-Cost Anime Directory finally received its long-awaited/needed revamp. I knew a lot needed to be done when I started Monday, but I found myself altering more of than I had anticipated (which was good thing, actually). Many of the descriptions have been rewritten--some wholesale, a few twinked here and there--either because the info was outdated or just needed to be reworded (or both...). Not too many links needed updating, but I supplemented a few entries with additional ones. In the case with pay content and subscriptions, I made sure to mention rates as often as possible. I began doing this with the "Anime on the Go!!" section and thought it was the right time to start including that information whenever possible, given how prevalent subscriptions are becoming.

Additionally, pretty much any show listed in the "Anime Shows on Parade" section that could be found on one of the "Sites" was removed. Before so many series were posted online, the section served its purpose by showcasing particular shows that were given the relatively unique chance to be online and simulcasted. However, that "distinction" has become "the norm", so continually posting such shows or having the present entries around became redundant and clogged the true aim of the section. Now it's more streamlined and back to its original purpose: showcasing works not easily found at the usual spots and some hidden gems among them. Lastly, I emptied the proverbial recycling bin known as the "Off Sites" section. It was long overdue, as none of them were changing status anytime soon. (Normally in this situation, I'd do an "update" post and denote the changes in the Directory, but since nearly everything was altered in some fashion and I already mentioned them here, I don't think it is too necessary to do so.)

The bulk of the renovations are done, but this is not the end of them. I still have a few new features I'll be introducing over time to help make things easier to navigate through and use (it's still a pretty big list, after all), as well as making it more informative, but not to the point of overloading it. Yet, this is all perhaps window-dressing for a larger, even more extensive revamp that I have been ruminating on. I like to keep the Directory as fresh and as useful as possible, and as much as I like its current format, I'm always thinking of different, better ways of presenting it (hence the addenda since starting it in 2007). I'm not completely all in for it yet, but its possible future look is very drastic from what it is now. We'll see where things will lead, but for now, expect some good things to continue coming for the Directory...

"Beyond 'Blacks and Head Shots in Anime'..."

Speaking of "Black", B&HSiA may have been completed nearly two weeks ago, but I'm not done with the topic just yet. To be precise, "Phase 1" of it has been completed, but "Phase 2" will be starting next week. With this entire topic, I have wanted to raise its awareness, but I have also wanted to gauge the thoughts of the anime community concerning it. To accomplish this, I will be starting threads at two major forums: Mania/AnimeOnDVD's and Anime News Network's. Both have very large, but very different, communities and it should prove interesting to hear opinions from two diverse groups. It's a bit of a gamble doing something like this for a number of reasons, but, like above, we'll see where thing lead.

I was wrestling between beginning Phase 2 shortly after Part 7's completion or after this weekend's big New York Anime Fest. I didn't want to risk the topics being swallowed up by news from the convention not long after (where there's sure to be some whoppers), but I didn't like the idea of waiting two weeks later, either. Ultimately, I thought it was better to wait a few days after the NYAF hoopla died down, though it was mainly for two reasons: 1) the few extra days gave me a chance to take care of some screenshot issues and site matters, and 2) it's actually taking place next weekend, not this one, thus forcing my hand a bit, as posting it this coming week would defeat the whole purpose of the timing and the threads would still get swallowed up. Meaning, Phase Two will likely start on Oct. 12 or 13... *sigh*

"Getting to Know You (But Not Really Wanting To)"

I'll be blunt: I really don't like using Blogger's Compose mode. For nearly all of the years I have done HD, I have used the HTML mode, as it makes implementing and manipulating such codes easy, but with Blogger phasing out the old editor, I decided to switch over to the new one and acquaint myself with it. One problem: its HTML mode is handicapped. No spell checking and no photo uploading, as those are now exclusive to the loaded Compose mode, which Blogger seems to be pushing you to use. The problem with using that mode is that formatting can be a bit wonky and it can muck up your HTML layout if you switch between the two. Mind you, I'm a "features" kind of guy, but the annoyance outweighs the reward. But in this case, functionality will have to outweigh annoyance. On the bright side, though, switching is a little neater, there are more features, and they finally added a "strikethrough" button... :)

"A Tomato Can Named 'Boxing'"

You know what really needs a "strikethrough"? ~~This year's boxing~~. It's been horrendous for the most part, with a few good fights nestled between some no-note, dull matches. On top of that, there's been barely anything on TV for the entire summer, thanks to numerous postponements and the same old archaic wranglings that foul up negotiations, keeping good boxing matches from taking place. Good thing the fall schedule is looking good with Manny Pacquiao vs Antonio Margarito and Paul Williams vs Sergio Martinez II. That, and Super Six is still alive, despite it being on its death knell with Mikkel Kessler's injury exit and Ward-Dirrell nearly falling apart.

"Before You Know.../GO DARK!"

Lastly, the site will be going dark over the weekend for maintenance purposes. I have the free time after completing B&HSiA and HardDoor kinda needs it. HD's Twitter page will be active, though, so try giving it check for the usual weekend Kekkaishi and BLEACH reviews, and more.

Thanks! [/Fade Out]

--HD

:anime: Blacks and Head Shots in Anime (Part 7 - Final)

2010-09-26T15:44:00.000-04:00

<--To Part 6

Over the past six parts, we have explored the pattern of dark-skinned characters dying from head wounds in anime. We have also seen a number of peculiar traits shared among them and tried to place them in proper perspective with the issue, as well as history and culture. Yet, the question prevails as to why they die in such a particular way, beyond just story conventions.

How a character was designed, stereotypically or not, did not seem to influence their deaths from a head wound. Some cases were more gratuitous than others, but there did not appear to be a correlation between the degree of violence displayed and design (ex. the more offensively-designed Coffee received an excessive death, yet the more respectable-looking Bear was the only one to receive two shots to the head). Considering past depictions of black people as "beasts", not every dark-skinned character transformed into a monster, and even for the ones that did, they were not necessarily the only characters on their own shows to die from a head wound.

One of the dilemmas of researching a topic outside of one's native language is that you will eventually reach a roadblock in how far you can uncover what you want. With a limited knowledge of Japanese on my part and a lack of awareness of the subject in general, finding deeper information of its origins becomes hard to come by. However, this does not mean that we can't still gather a general idea of it. Although many of the elements above were discredited as primary reasons for the deaths, their historical and cultural connections may still yield some clues in helping generate a hypothesis.

Given the homogeneous composition of the Japanese population, as well as its history of isolation, interactions with people of color is not as common as in countries with heavier populations, such as the United States. And as touched upon in Part 2, it also means that there has been a lacking grasp of the troubled history that those people have had in the U.S. and elsewhere with racial caricatures (blackface, exaggerated facial features) and stereotypical depictions in media, among others. It was largely through media of the past that helped shaped the idea of what a "black person" is, and while present-day material has improved from the early 20th century, media continues to shape the perception of how they look and act to the Japanese.

There are a few examples of this across time. In 2006, popular a cappella group The Gospellers joined forces with '80s act RATS & STAR in a side project to form "The Gosperats", who performed soul and doo wop songs in blackface as homage to music of that period. A similar incident also occurred when a clip went viral on the Internet of a comedic auditionee donning blackface makeup on a Japanese talent show to resemble Louis Armstrong while he sang his classic "What a Wonderful World", replete with his signature mannerisms and trumpet. A more "classic" stereotypical image could be seen as far back as the 1960's in Shotaro Ishinomori's influential manga Cyborg 009, where one of the characters--hailing from Africa--possessed many of the same monkey-like features one would see on old media posters and drawings in United States and elsewhere (interestingly, in future depictions, his image was updated to remove the offensive elements and look more like a real African person (or person, period)). Another case involved African-American MMA fighter Bob Sapp, a very large and popular figure in Japan, who was interviewed on Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel. He was subsequently confronted by the host, himself African-American, about his playing-along with his image as a "beast" (also his nickname), where he would act the part and voraciously tear away at pieces of chicken with his teeth when offered up by fans. Sapp's defense was that he did it for entertainment purposes, no different from Michael Clarke Duncan playing an ape in the then-recent remake of Planet of the Apes (2001).

Logged experiences from blacks who have traveled to or worked in Japan seem to exhibit some common aspects. For the most part, the perception of blacks there is born largely from the view of foreigners in general, as the Japanese tend to be kind towards them, but harbor pre-conceived notions of who they are, much of which originates from what they've seen in the movies, TV, and news from outside their border. Concerning blacks, the range of beliefs seem very familiar to what is portrayed in the U.S., some positive (i.e. "athletic", "cool", "energetic/full of vitality", gifted in entertainment), some negative (i.e. delinquency, "ghetto"/"gangsta" image, laziness). For a country unaccustomed to blacks, it may be as close as any may get to an actual encounter, even if, like most stereotypes, those attributes are embellished upon or largely false when imposed on the group as a whole.

It is also through this rather limited scope of view that one likely cannot grasp what could be considered questionable or offensive to the other, expressly when given conflicting past and present ideals, or when they appeal to the adopting culture's sensibilities. For example, "sambo" or "darky" figures, though a contentious image in the U.S., remain popular in Japan, where their often "cutesy" appearances appeal to the country's adoration of "cute" and "adorable" items and has, thus, sold well (though the attraction is not limited to Japan, as they hold esteem in Mexico and elsewhere, including among some in the U.S., where older items can fetch a good deal of money). Aided by technological advances and increased access to people and things beyond Japan via the Internet, the younger generation has generally been more accepting of other races, yet it has also sparked an interesting side-effect in what that admiration can father. For example, in an attempt to emulate their favorite black singers or stars, some have been known to get dark tans and wear elaborate makeup and clothes to emulate their appearances, as well as adopting their "manner of speak" and a few of their lingoes and euphemisms.

In some instances, it can stretch to questionable lengths. This was the case with the music video for singer Mika Nakashima's gospel-tinged song, "Cry No More". In it, she treks through what looks to be an old Southern U.S. town (with a cotton blossom in hand), past a mural of black musicians and through a field of cotton, where she is shown singing in. This is also interspersed with footage of her singing in a small chapel decked in the kind of formal dress you would normally see women in a black church wear, lightly pantomiming their mannerisms (having attended a black church for years, I would know...). On the surface, it may not seem terribly offensive or racist (Nakashima has shown in the past to have a definite affection for black artists and their music), but where particulars of the church scenes and especially the cotton may seem like a well-intentioned homage to African-American culture from someone outside of the U.S., to someone here, it is more worrisome and cringe-enducing as it looks shortsighted and stereotypical. A similar dilemma can be found in the anime Turn A Gundam, where the main character (the Gundam franchise's only dark-skinned lead) works undercover as a servant (butler/chauffeur-type) for a wealthy Caucasian family after being saved from drowning when he was younger. Peculiar is that the story takes place in an anachronistic era drawing from the designs of many others--among them, the American Civil War. While placing him in a role of servitude could be seen as a nod to American history from the creator's end, the image of a "slave" or any black in servitude in a non-historic setting (and even so) is a very sensitive issue in the U.S., and is especially a sore spot among African-Americans.

With the restricted, imported view of blacks, as well as the adoption of certain aspects and elements concerning them, it would not be out-of-question to consider if the pattern of dark-skinned anime characters dying via head wound was borne from the same vein. Major stereotypes of the past have showed up in some of the cases, such as the "big pink lips", while possible (but perhaps more coincidental) off-shoots of them, such as the "monstrous transformation" (from the "beast" stereotype), were also noted. While there does not appear to be a correlation between such physical appearances and manner of death, it is still curious seeing some of those traits emerge, given history. Of greater frequency and interest is the "Traitor" motif, which turned up in three out of the five cases and a few other times in Part 6. Compared to the other traits, its origin is harder to pinpoint due to its lack of historical correlation with blacks (or dark-skinned people in general) either in or outside of Japan, but while it normally fit in with a story's particular theme (such as "loyalty" and "trust": major ones in Blassreiter and Gungrave), it is up to debate as to how much race still factors into it. The trait and the consequence that befalls the character (i.e. an execution-style death for betrayal) seems more universal in scope than ethnically-specific, yet it is particularly interesting seeing the number of dark-skinned characters associated with it in anime. In that same respect, the same can be said of the number of dark-skinned characters who died from shots or stabs to the center of their foreheads. Even if they were villains and more prone to dying than a protagonist would, it remains a stark wonder the regularity of the demise met. Given the past historic examples of stereotypes, the affinity between cases, and the penchant the Japanese have for following patterns and tradition, the inclination towards media (particularly from the outside) being the birthplace of the head shots seems strong, but there is little direct evidence in the way of history or elsewhere concerning it, making this solely a hypothesis on it.

In spite (or because) of this, there are still a few questions to be asked regarding this. Given what was discussed above and at various points in the cases, do some Japanese believe that "bad" (or even "untrustworthy" or "disloyal") dark-skinned people get shot in the head? If so, where did they get this from? A news item? A movie or comic? "Word of mouth"? Perhaps from an old fable involving some dark entity (odd as it may sound, humanoid characters with dark skin have been used in fantasy tales to represent those hailing from "dark" or alternate worlds opposite of the protagonist's own)? Even though most of the characters in the cases were villains, is there some belief that dark-skinned people in general die from head wounds on a frequent basis? While it is impossible to gauge the response of every person, every animator, and every producer, they are still worthwhile questions to at least ask oneself and to keep a discerning eye on. One of the primary purposes of this series is to raise awareness of this pattern, as well as to shed some light upon its peculiarities. It is not in its intention or my own to say "stop watching such-and-such shows," as to what effects it may (or may not) have on your viewing habits is ultimately something that lies with you, the reader. I do, however, hope that it affects how you objectively watch anime--especially when dark-skinned characters are involved--and that your eyes are kept open to what is being portrayed.

Before closing, I would like to apologize for the use of the terms "black" and "dark-skinned" interchangeably during the course of this series, notably with title, "Blacks and Head Shots in Anime". Not every dark-skinned person is or considers themselves to be "black" (e.g. of African descent, such as African-American), and while all of the characters from Parts 1-5 are either more clearly or inferred to be so (Coffee may be of Caribbean descent, but it is never made apparent), Part 6 featured characters black, Middle Eastern, and Indian, making "dark-skinned" more appropriate. This error in terminology was something I had not realized until shortly after I started, so I tried to apply the latter as often as possible thereafter. The definition of what makes oneself "black" has been dicey at times, and discussions about it have been spirited, to say the least. I decided to stay more along "traditional" routes in the one I employed here, even though it itself is not entirely perfect. Regardless, I prefer using the more general "dark-skinned", as it better encompasses the issue at large.

:anime: Free/Low-Cost Anime Pick of the Month:: Princess Tutu

2010-09-17T01:58:00.000-04:00

Princess Tutu

Official Sites: Japanese, English
Additional Links: ANN Entry
Video [Free]: Hulu, YouTube
Video [Pay]: The Anime Network (after first free ep.)

An aspiring ballerina who is a bit of klutz (and really a duck) valiantly attempts to retrieve the shards of heart belonging to the one she loves: the prince. But while she possesses the ability to turn into the graceful Princess Tutu and ward off the darkness, she must not confess her love to her beloved, or she will perish...

The Anime Network recently started posting video onto Hulu and one of the titles they started off with was Princess Tutu, a 2002-2003 magical girl series that, even after the critical and viewer praise it has garnered, still has not gotten the love it deserves. By genre master Junichi Sato (Sailor Moon, Pretear, Sea Story (Umi Monogatari), the series showcases his skill at trumping its conventions and offering something new and fresh. Not only that, it also displays his oft-overlooked implementation of music into his shows, here filled with classic ballet compositions, from Romeo & Juliet to Swan Lake, along with an appropriate original score by Kaoru Wada (InuYasha, Samuari 7). All of it blends with and enhances a great and unique story (well-balanced with comedy and harrowing drama), memorable characters, and fine production values.

Personally, I do have broad tastes, so as much as I can appreciate a depressing show like TEXHNOLYZE or Now and Then, Here and There, or action-filled ones like Afro Samurai and Gungrave, I can also appreciate a (really) good shoujo series in Princess Tutu. However, even those not exactly warm to the genre have had glowing praise for it. Though dubbed only (but wonderfully done), it is freely available for view on Hulu (missing Eps. 22-25, but will probably be resolved soon), YouTube (in full), and Anime Network's own site (free first episode, the rest to paid subscribers only), now's good opportunity to give the show a chance (and maybe some of that lovin' too).

:anime: Of Updates and Lengthy Write-Ups...

2010-09-16T00:28:00.001-04:00

It's been quite awhile, but the seventh and final installment of "Blacks and Head Shots in Anime" has finally been completed. Its creation was certainly more arduous than expected, even after having plotted it early on. There was a two week-long "writer's block" of sorts at the beginning, but things afterwards started to flow again and I made up a lot of ground. Even so, the proofreading and revision stage was extensive, with sizable portions removed (and subsequently saved for a later time...), streamlined, moved about, and altered multiple times, with the final fine-tuning stage taking good deal of time itself, featuring a number of twinkings and testings. Mix in a few diversions (including computer matters needing to be addressed), some lethargy on my part from working on this, and the series as a whole, for so long, a few wasted days trying to update an iPod touch (the neverending backups...), as well as some genuinely difficult times writing things out, and you have a final installment nearly three months in the making.

As much care as I like to take in the quality and substance of what I write, even this was ridiculous. But despite everything that happened, Part 7 managed to turn out as well as I hoped it would. At the same time, while I dislike taking this long to write something up, I would much rather take my time in doing so than rush out a subpar piece just to get it done and over with quickly (though that doesn't mean I haven't been trying to write faster over the course of time...). Still, my apologies for the lengthy gap between Six and Seven. And as something a "joke", the latter will go live in a few days on the 18th (Sat.) at 2:02 AM--exactly three months to the day that former was posted. :) It also gives me some time to fit in this month's free anime pick...

Thank you for your patience.

--HD

:anime: Free/Low-Cost Anime Pick of the Month:: Black Rock Shooter

2010-08-20T01:21:00.002-04:00

Black Rock Shooter

Official Site: Japanese, English
Additional Links: ANN Entry, Wikipedia
Video [Free]: Nico Nico Douga, ANN Article (embedded)
View Period: August 19 - 31, 2010

It's been a while since announcements were made regarding the worldwide streaming and release plan for the OVA Black Rock Shooter, but finally, the anime is officially being made available over the web in its entirety!

BRS has a very interesting history. It first came to life towards the end of 2007 as a single drawing, entitled "Black Rock Shooter", by the artist huke, which in turn inspired a Vocaloid song by ryo, leader of the popular Internet-borne music group supercell (Cencoroll, Bakemonogatari ending themes). Huke would eventually join its stable of artisans and contribute to the song's animated music video the following year, which would go on to garner over 2 million views and a special "pilot" DVD release in 2009, further increasing its popularity. Prior to it, an OVA "expansion" was announced, spearheaded by Yutaka Yamamoto's Ordet studio, of which would be their first chief production effort. Accompanying the project would be huke's design work, and a score by ryo, along with a script co-written by Nagaru Tanigawa, author of the Haruhi Suzumiya light novels (which Yamamoto helped adapt at Kyoto Animation).

Plans to release the anime were unique in its aspirations, aimed on a worldwide scale on DVD/BD with subtitles in seven languages. Streaming plans on a similar scale were also made earlier in the year, but little else was made of those until now, when the feature was finally made available via popular Japanese video site Nico Nico Douga.

Prior to this, a disc with the 50-minute long anime was bundled with a few Japanese magazines, and as it goes, found its way onto various video portals. Normally, I would rather wait until the official streaming was made available, but given the lack of further details and news (and the approaching end of the promotion campaign), I was unsure if those plans were to ever come to past, or if they were quietly being swept under the rug. Breaking protocol, I decided catch it at one of the said portals.

Just slightly familiar with the titular figure and having only seen the music video and trailer, I was cautious about OVA, though its synopsis and style lent it some intrigue. At the end of it all, I came away very impressed (as outlaid in my "mini-review" on HD's Twitter page). It was thoroughly great across all areas--story, animation, acting, scoring, etc.--and it was apparent that a good deal of attention and care was placed in every part of it. In a sense, it was reminiscent of the old one-shot OVAs of the '80s and '90s (more notably, the good ones ;) ) that held a self-contained, often experimental story in the confines of an hour or so, with top-notch production values. There's a lot of that essence in BRS and its simple, yet finely-nuanced, tale of a friendship between two polar-opposite girls, juxtaposed (but also nicely balanced) against a battle between a pair of mysterious young ladies in an alternate world. Couple it with very likable characters, first-rate acting and animation, ryo's outstanding score (including the end theme he penned), design style (both worlds), and heart, and you have a work very worthwhile seeing, and soon, owning.

Thankfully, the producers have gone out of their way to make Black Rock Shooter available for free viewing streamed, after all. A caveat: while the video quality's decent, it's also not subtitled. In addition, you'll probably notice the white kanji floating across the screen. This is Nico Nico Douga's distinguishing feature--viewer-submitted comments overlaid onto videos--which can be turned off by clicking onto the white "dialogue box" on the far right-side of the player (comment input, and usually the site itself, is relegated to Japanese residents only). The near hour-long OVA is divided among four videos, but Anime News Network was kind enough to also embed all of them in the article linked above.

Black Rock Shooter is an outstanding piece that tells its story quite well and with a lot of heart and effort. It's great to see the people behind it promote it the way they have and hopefully, you'll give it a chance, too.

No bonus pick(s) this month (catch BRS while you can, instead)! Though I guess I'll have to save the picks I had planned in lieu of the not-dropped streaming plans for another day...

:anime: Free/Low-Cost Anime Pick of the Month:: The Super Dimension Fortress Macross

2010-07-30T02:33:00.003-04:00

The Super Dimension Fortress Macross

Official Site: Japanese
Additional Links: ANN Entry, ANN Article
Video [Free]: Hulu, Anime News Network

When the Fourth of July came about, I originally was aiming to select the Stan Lee/BONES-produced HEROMAN as a patriotic nod to the holiday and month. Yet, time passed by and I decided against it, since the show already seems to have a good following going. Having already spotlighted other popular shows in Gundam and Haruhi Suzumiya, I decided to turn the shine onto another franchise that, while it has its fans, isn't quite as up there as the other two, most notably when concerning its first series.

The Super Dimension Fortress Macross (1982) may be better known as one of the three unrelated shows that were spliced together to make Robotech, a landmark title in early U.S. anime fandom, but even titles from the franchise it would spawn have outshined it in some degree. Macross Plus, a standalone 1994 OVA sequel, was another influential, more well-known work and a big hit across the Pacific, as was the recent Macross Frontier (2008), which celebrated the series' 25th anniversary. Even SDF Macross' film adaptation, Do You Remember Love? (1984), has rivaled its progenitor's legendary status. Yet, Frontier's great success has helped increase the series' awareness, and though it is much more popular in Japan, it still possesses a dedicated fanbase here. Its unique blend of realistically-designed transforming robots, pop music, and love triangles, along with impressive production values for its time, have made this tale of humans and alien giants at war an important classic, both industry- and fandom-wise, in Japan and abroad, regardless of form.

Of course, SDF Macross' streaming debut just happened to land close to the same date that the show's final battle takes place on (February 11, 2010). Fireworks International posted the now-defunct ADV Films' dub of the 36-episode series onto Hulu (also accessible at Anime News Network), which was most notable for seiyuu and musician Mari Iijima reprising her role as Lynn Minmei for the English version--the first time any Japanese VA had done so. Not only did the role launch her substantial singing and idol career, it has also been her one and only role in anime (reprised in the Flash Back 2012 OVA (1987) and DYRL).

As a bonus, I'll also throw in the first three episodes to GR -Giant Robo- (2007), the 40th anniversary work commemorating Mitsuteru Yokoyama's pioneer work (featuring the first giant robot to have a human operator). Animators Softgarage were pumped to show it off on a global scale, going as far as to offer the first episode for free on their site to English-speaking fans (and offering instructions on how to navigate and register on their Japanese pages...though the video itself was untranslated). However, things didn't pan out in Japan or elsewhere and the show fell into obscurity, never reaching the level of recognition that its more well-known counterpart, Giant Robo (1992) (more broad homage to Yokoyama's work than GR adaptation), had achieved. However, Softgarage doesn't seem to have given up on their aspirations, and last year, quietly posted the first three episodes of GR--this time with English subtitles--onto their YouTube channel. No additional ones have been posted since then.

HardDoor--The Fourth Anniversary

2010-06-26T19:57:00.005-04:00

Four years. Hard to believe it has only been four years since starting HardDoor, a little blog about anime and boxing (and bits of randomness). Since June 26, 2006, it's been quite the time and new additions have come along the way, such as Decade's Best and the Free/Low-Cost Anime Directory & Guide (or just "The Directory" for short, and don't forget about the monthly picks!), and special pieces like the current "Blacks and Head Shots in Anime". Every anniversary, I like to reveal a little bit behind HardDoor's background or introduce a new feature, but this year's a little different, since I already revealed it a month early!

HD's Twitter page has been a great complement to the site, celebrating its own one-month anniversary today. It has really filled that void of keeping things up-to-date and providing commentary on things as they happen, even trivial ones, without having to post a bunch of entries each time. It's a simple, yet very neat service that fits the site well, but that's not the only thing going on on HD. The aforementioned special piece "Blacks and Head Shots in Anime" is entering its final stretch with the last part coming up, with the first installment of this year's Decade's Best edition following soon after (I was originally aiming to have it start today, but the former has taken more time than expected). There is also the Directory's much-needed revamping, and then...well, I'll keep that one under wraps... ;)

Here's to four and more!!!! :D

--HD

:anime: Free/Low-Cost Anime Pick of the Month:: Glass Fleet

2010-06-23T21:46:00.001-04:00

Glass Fleet

Official Sites: Japanese, English
Additional Links: ANN Entry
Video [Free]: English Dubbed

For HardDoor's anniversary month, what better way to celebrate the occasion than with a free anime selection? And the pick for this month is...Glass Fleet!

...Wait, what?

You read right, Glass Fleet really is this month's pick. And why not? It's the blog's fourth anniversary, I can do whatever I want. ;)

Aside from that, Glass Fleet, a space opera tale of revolution and destiny, is one of the most underrated, and overkilled, anime in recent memory. Given its wonky production values, bizarre art design, and oddjob, if not hackneyed, characters (that rarely stay on-model) at first sight, one might rightfully believe that the show is doomed to a monumental failure--and that's exactly what many viewers felt when it first aired. You would be hard-pressed to find anyone that made it past the first few episodes, and personally, I was questioning why I was still watching it when I first saw it. And yet, it's a real shame, because those that did missed out on something that became a real treat.

In spite of the mediocrity that permeates the beginning episodes, glimpses of a good story can be seen near its 1/3 mark, and soon after, the production suddenly tightens and the ball begins to roll with some serious purpose. Consistent, quality character animation; intriguing characterizations; moments of daring and maturity; an engaging story; depth: what wasn't present for the first eight episodes now had you anticipating each coming episode. The turnaround in quality from all fronts is one of the steepest I've seen for any anime, and surprisingly, thankfully, it does not let up all the way to the end, capped by one of the gutsiest finales you will see around (and convincingly pulled off, though your mileage may vary).

It may have its occasional rough edges and some may not be too enthralled with the very eclectic designs by okama, much less having to sit through eight or so episodes until it heats up, but Glass Fleet is as good as any sci-fi show you'll see on television and is a true example of something that "gets better later on." Also helping its cause is the one constant in the series: the grand score by Kousuke Yamashita (who worked similar wonders with other GONZO works in Getsumen To Heiki Mina and Dragonaut -The Resonance-, though to greater effect); as well as some genuinely fine visuals from GONZO and Satelight when the show is on point. Content-wise, Glass Fleet certainly has its moments of adult thematics, making it more suitable for older teens and above.

For those that had stopped early on or who are curious to see what the fuss was over Glass Fleet, you have a prime opportunity to give it a(nother) shot as you can watch it online for free (though it's dubbed only on the site, it's a very good one). You can't say that you don't want to waste money on something you may not like here, so try and give it a chance. And if you like it enough, buy it. I definitely will be! :)

As a special anniversary bonus, there is also "the longest movie trailer you've ever seen" coming from Aniplex's new American division, who is streaming the first 23-minutes of the lauded Welcome to THE SPACE SHOW. The latest from creator group "Besame Mucho" (Read or Die/R.O.D., Kamichu!) and A-1 Pictures (a subsidiary studio of Aniplex), the trailer (or "the longest movie preview you've ever seen") gives a pretty good look of what to expect, further representing the continual stream of strong non-Ghibli films over the past few years.

P.S.: Keep in mind that Aniplex is owned by Sony for one particular line of product placement... ;)

Happy Viewings!

:anime: Blacks and Head Shots in Anime (Part 6)

2010-06-18T02:02:00.005-04:00

<--To Part 5 | Part 7 (Final)-->

(Note: As earlier, because these cases not only involve the death(s) of a particular character(s), but can also delve deep into a show's storyline, naturally spoilers will be involved. Also, most of the titles covered are either for older teen or mature audiences.)

With the pattern of dark-skinned characters in anime being shot in the head, the focus has primarily been on five cases, as well as any common traits found among them, such as being "traitors" and having monstrous transformations. However, there have been a few instances where they have been involved in scenes that may have involved elements of head-related deaths or injuries, but not as overt as the cases given. While these are not as major, they are rather interesting in their own right and worth a mention.

Afro Samurai - Afro

Episode: 5

In the final battle against the ghastly pale gunslinger Justice, the titular character slices his arms off and blocks the same hidden sword attack that decapitated his father when was younger. Afro returns the favor by taking Justice's own head, but his blade fails to completely cut it off. As such, Justice reattaches it and causes one of the spikes in the ground to thrust forth and seemingly into Afro's head. With his body dangling high in the air and Justice gloating over his fatal attack, Afro springs to life. As the spike only impaled his hair, Afro uses the opening to drop down and dice Justice to pieces.
[NOTE: Screenshot Source: DVD]

Darker than BLACK - Luco

Episode: 4

Darker than BLACK: Gemini of the Meteor - April

Episode: 1

I decided to group these two together since they came from essentially the same show and both died the same way. Luco, a bodyguard from Eps. 3-4 of the first DtB, was killed in the latter when Hei, the main character, grabs his head from behind and delivers a fatal dose of electricity. The same fate befalls British secret agent April, an "ally" (to put it mildly) from the first series who dies in the first episode of the second season, when a disheveled Hei quickly takes her out before she can use her downpour-like abilities, as she was bodyguarding someone he was targeting. To be honest, grabbing someone's head from behind and killing them with a deadly shock was Hei's modus operandi, and he killed quite people that way and others in the series.
[NOTE: Screenshot Source: FUNimation Videos]

Hellsing (TV series) - Incognito

Episode: 13

Incognito shares a bit of the "monstrous transformation" trait, but in this case, he is vampire in the visual vein of Nosferatu, said to hail from the "Dark Continent" (a.k.a. "Africa"). This is a bit dicey as it is never explicitly divulged what race he is/once was (if he actually ever had a discernible one, as he claims to be a "true" vampire, and because of his pale gray appearance), though he has a deep, somewhat "black" voice and African-tinged music accompanies him at some point, so make of it what you will. In their first showdown, Incognito and lead Alucard duke it out in a gun battle and both take hits, with the latter shooting the former pointe-blank through his enlarged left eye.

As both have advanced regenerative powers, the effects are short-lived, but Incognito uses his magic powers to carve through Alucard when he runs out of bullets. He manages to reload, though, and eradicates Incognito's head with his corrosive bullets. However, Incognito uses his powers to restore his head and return the artillery back, causing Alucard's body to disintegrate into a pool of blood, with just his head remaining intact. Incognito soon captures Alucard's master and attempts to merge with a dormant ancient spirit, but she calls out to him and releases his ability restraints. Now revived and fully-powered, Alucard and a souped-up Incognito go all out in a mystical vampire war, but Incognito is ultimately overwhelmed by his far more formidable powers. His death isn't shown onscreen, but a quick, panning shot is given of his carcass impaled on a rod going up his backside and through his mouth like a shish-kabob.
[NOTE: Screenshot Source: YouTube (Eps. 12 (Pt. 2), 13 (Pts. 1, 2)]

Mobile Suit Gundam III: Encounters in Space - Lalah Sune

Format: Film (originally depicted in Ep. 41 of the TV series)

While Lalah is actually of Indian descent and not "black", she is still dark-skinned and deserves mention here. Lalah's case is a peculiar one in that her triangle relationship between the antagonist Char Aznable and protagonist Amuro Ray is one of the earliest interracial types in anime. MSG is also one of the earliest to feature a multi-ethnic cast, with a number of them being of mixed heritage as well (Amuro included, who was born to a Japanese father and Canadian mother). It also earned infamy for its high death toll, as it was the first giant robot series to focus on the theme of war. Lalah herself was among the casualties as she flew her ship-like "mobile armor" into the path of Amuro's beam saber to protect her commander/lover Char from the death blow. The saber pierced through its face-like front and into the cockpit, killing her instantly. On a morbidly humorous side-note, one of the '80s SD Gundam specials, which parodied the Gundam series of its time in super-deformed style, showed Lalah as a ghost with a beam saber sticking out of her forehead.
[NOTE: Screenshot Sources: DVD; fansub for SD Gundam]

Mobile Suit Gundam 00 Second Season - Ali al-Saachez

Episode: 24

The Middle East-borne Ali al-Saachez was one of the primary antagonists across the two Gundam 00 seasons and was quite vicious and unrepentant in his actions, often bringing about murder and destruction. A number of characters held a grudge against him of some sort, but the one to bring him down was Lyle Dylandy, whose twin brother was killed by him years earlier and whose family was wiped out by a bomb planted at a market by an organization of Ali's when he was younger. Taking on his fallen brother's code name, "Lockon Stratus", he eventual crosses paths with Ali as a member of Celestial Being during the big climatic battle of the series. Ali dominates him in mobile suit combat until the group he works for loses access to the supercomputer their mecha were connected to, causing his to malfunction. It is destroyed by Lyle but he escapes and tries to find a way out of the area. Lyle fires at him and orders him to drop his gun. Ali obliges and lets it drift in the zero gravity, but when Lyle's guard is down, he springs to grab it. Lyle is quicker on the draw, however, and puts a single shot into the center of his forehead before shooting him multiple times into the abdomen.
[NOTE: Screenshot Source: Fansub]

Mobile Suit Gundam SEED - Dearka Elsman, Buster Gundam

Episodes: 33, 50 (respectively)

Dearka Elsman is an interesting case, in that he 1) fits "The Traitor" role, but in reverse (from adversary to ally), and 2) his mobile suit is a subject as well here. Then-enemy Dearka was a prisoner aboard on the protagonists' ship after getting shot down following a heated battle. A visibly depressed crewmember is sent to the doctor's room to see if any sleep medicine could be prescribed to her, which is also where Dearka laid bound-up on a bed. His presence startles her, and upon noticing her fragile state, he begins to taunt her over it and whether she just lost a boyfriend on the battlefield. Unbeknownst to him, she actually had, and in reaching her breaking point, the girl lunges at him with a knife nearby. He moves quick enough to avoid getting stabbed in the head but she goes after him again before being restrained, grazing his head in the tussle.

Another distraught crewmember threatens to shoot him, but the girl stops her from going through with it. After this incident, Dearka changes his attitude and apologizes later on, and both he and the girl slowly form an uneasy, but understanding, bond. And when given the opportunity to return to his side, he decides to stay and help protect the ship once they come under attack from another faction. In the final episode, Dearka and his earthy-colored sniper unit head out to protect the ship from an unknown mobile suit. The person piloting it (his former commander, and something of a "traitor" himself as he plays both sides, though he's fair-skinned) overwhelms him with his ultra-fast gunpods and quickly picks his suit apart, with one beam blowing off its head. Despite this, he manages to survive.
[NOTE: Screenshot Source: DVDs]

Lastly, it should be noted that BLEACH's Kaname Tousen also falls into the realm of dark-skinned characters succumbing to head wounds. His death has something in common with Blood+'s James, in that he is dies from a bladed weapon being thrust through his head while in a transformed state, though in Kaname's case, the sword went through his neck and turned into a sickle-like weapon whose blade curves out through his mouth (though he reverts back to his human body briefly before exploding). He was also a traitor in the story--a common trait among the cases (perhaps the most archtypical example of one, and taken out by his former lieutenant, no less). This whole matter takes place in the manga and will presumably be covered in its anime adaptation when the time comes, however, the reason I did not cover this extensively like the others is that I have not read the manga until only recently, only keeping up on it at anime/manga blog site Random Curiosity, where I found out about it (I had only watched the anime up to that point). I did not want to go at length about something I was not completely familiar with, but I still felt it was worth acknowledging as another case-in-point.

To Part 7 (Final)-->

:anime: Free/Low-Cost Anime Pick of the Month:: Haruhi-Mania!!

2010-05-31T01:54:00.002-04:00

Normally with the "Free/Low-Cost Anime Pick of the Month", I like to focus on lesser known or obscure titles, but every so often, I'll cover a notable work if there is something significant regarding it. Such is the case with the more-than-well-known Haruhi Suzumiya franchise.

Largely in honor of the debut--and quick licensing-- of The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya film earlier in the year, the release of the Haruhi-chan and Churuya-san super-deformed manga in the U.S. and the recent run (and licensing) of the controversal "second season", U.S. distributor Bandai Ent., int'l streaming site Crunchyroll, and stateside manga publisher Yen Press have a cross-platform campaign promoting the franchise and its various parts. On the streaming anime front, CR is not only showing the megahit first season, but also the two anime adaptations of the SD manga mentioned. Both shows were just picked up by BEI within the last few weeks, and the second season will, too, make its appearance on CR later in the year. All of the shows can be neatly found here at no cost and in Japanese with English subtitles.

I was huge on the first season but a little disappointed with the direction and execution of S2 (and virtually none of it had to do with "Endless Eight"...), though I still liked it enough. Personally, at least I finally have a chance to watch the manga shorts, after Kadokawa's lacking job of making them easy to find on their YouTube channel last year. In all, it is a show definitely worth checking out if you still haven't or have just heard about it. And if you like it and its gag spinoffs, be sure to purchase the DVDs!

HardDoor, Now Serving:: Cream of Twitter!!

2010-05-26T23:31:00.001-04:00

I was originally going to wait to debut this exactly a month from now for HardDoor's fourth anniversary, but I decided to shift things up and announce the start of HD's new Twitter feed!

Originally, I was never that keen on joining the Twitter-sphere/scape/dome/whatever, and often poked lite fun at it from time to time for some of those banal, minute tweets about meals and lunches. However, I began to see the good in the service and decided that it would make a good match with the blog. I'll primarily be using it in conjunction with HD as a micro-blog of sorts, where I'll tweet about a few things anime, boxing, and a bit of randomness that I come across of--think of it as an extension of HD. I'm not quite sure how my timing will be, but that's all part of the learning curve and the fun! It also gives me the chance to post or comment about quick little things without having to do a bunch of little posts or a big compilation one (though I can't completely rule that out, either ;) ). A little quip on an anime show I watched...some words on a good boxing match that just aired...updates on a feature...interesting news alert...a nice recipe--just a few things that you might expect to see on HardDoor's Twitter page found below (and on the link bar to the right)!

Twitter: HardDoor (harddoorblog)

:anime: Blacks and Head Shots in Anime (Part 5)

2010-05-19T15:40:00.010-04:00

<--To Part 4 | Part 6-->

(Note: As always, because these cases not only involve the death(s) of a particular character(s), but can also delve deep into a show's storyline, naturally spoilers will be involved. Also, most of the titles covered are either for older teen or mature audiences.)

Case #5

Title: A Wind Named Amnesia

Character: No name given.

Format: Film

Description: Robot operator/apparent priest of the city's "god." Balding afro cut; wears a garish attire with tights, a fur cape, long black nails, two (apparently) bone-adorned necklaces (and an additional jewel-laced one closest to his neck), and large beads grapevined around his arms. Semi-realistic features (i.e. facial structure, average-sized lips, and complexion). Looks like a normal man in an outfit crossed between a wrestler and a witch doctor (though much more of the latter).

Background: One day, circa 1997, a wind blew across the earth that caused everyone to lose all of their memories and anything they had learned. With humanity reduced to nothing more than wild animals, the world quickly devolved into a chaotic state. A young man, roaming feral like everyone else, comes across a large building where a boy in a wheelchair is being attacked by a large, hulking man with physic powers and wires coming out of his body. Instinctively, the young man tries to help the boy by tossing rocks at the crazed figure, but he is slammed into a tree by a psychic wave. As he goes to finish him off, the boy shoots the man in the head from behind and kills him. Johnny, as he is called, befriends the young man and takes him to the research facility that was housed in the building.

Both he and the large man that he fought were part of a military experiment in creating human weapons, but while he was engineered for destruction, Johnny was purposed with an expansive memory and had a computer implanted within his brain to handle it, essentially making him immune to the "The Wind's" effects. Johnny makes use of the facility's computer system to restore the young man's intellect and gives him hand-on teaching in how to read, write, and fend for himself. He comes to give him the name of "Wataru," meaning "traveler" in Japanese, as it would be fitting of his task to go throughout and reteach humanity, in hopes of leading them onto the right path. Some time afterwards, after learning a number of skills such as firing a gun, astronomy, knowing the right foods to eat, even how to have fun, Johnny grows weak and passes away, leaving Wataru to carry on the task given to him.

The Situation: Wataru's travels lead him through the nigh-unrecognizable San Francisco in 1999, where he becomes the unwitting target of an automated assault robot still assigned with securing its rough streets (its pilot apparently died after The Wind hit). He also crosses paths with an ethereal woman named Sophia, who befriends him and suggests they escape before the robot he disabled repairs itself and follows suit. Their trip leads them south to Los Angeles, where they encounter a girl on the run from a gang of men. She is rescued by a larger, bulky man, but he is shot by one of the marauders. Before things get out of hand, Wataru shoots the gun out of the assailant's hand and scares them away. Wataru tries to get through to the girl's agitated protector in vain, but Sophia calms him with the touch of her palm. As the pair rest from their ordeal, Sophia reveals from the information she culled from them that the girl, "Sue", was to be married to her people's god the next day. And like all of the "brides" offered, it also meant that she would be sacrificed as a means of appeasement to it.

Wataru decides there to save Sue and "Little John" and take them along. The following morning, the four travel to the beach for some relaxation and Sue finds a white dress on the way back in town. Wataru stops to gather some food and drinks, but as he returned, the pair had already left. Sophia tells him that Sue was going through with the sacrifice, out of concern that some other girl might die in her stead. Upset, Wataru goes after her, arriving at the wedding ceremony at nightfall. Sophia informs him that the "god" the people worship is actually a "computerized urban construction robot" designed to raze old buildings for newer ones. The machine has an array of arms and lasers that it uses to conduct its task, which are now set on cutting through anything it pleases. Proceeding over the ceremony (and the robot itself) is a garishly-dressed black man with tights, long nails, and a fancy cape, who gestures to the crowd to present the bride.

As she is brought forth, Little John breaks through and fights off her handlers. Wataru jumps in to provide back up, but Sue begins to walk towards the robot. Little John is soon overwhelmed and subdued, but as Sue turns back to help him, the "god" starts to move and begins to shoot and crush people indiscriminately. Everyone runs away in a panic as its operator laughs maniacally, but as Wataru guides her through the commotion, Sue tearfully lets go of his hand, still too worried about the consequences of leaving. She runs toward the machine and outreaches her hand, pleading for it to stop, only to be shot in the chest moments later by one of the lasers. Wataru, enraged, points his gun at the cockpit and fires a single round into it and directly into the center of the operator's forehead, killing him instantly. The bullet exits through the other side of his head and hits part of the machine's circuitry, causing a chain reaction that damages it and stops it from functioning. The "god" soon falls into a deep crevasse in the earth and is destroyed.

As morning comes, Wataru teaches Little John how to use a rifle and open a can of food before continuing his journey with Sophia. He attaches an "LAPD Sheriff" badge that Little John always carried in his pocket for reasons forgotten (along with a photo of him in uniform with a familiar-looking teen girl embracing him), which serves as his "badge of leadership". He expresses to him that though Sue is gone and he will never know anyone like her again, he should care for others like he did for her. With that, Little John stood before the survivors and raised his gun in the air, and the crowd rushed to their new leader in jubilation.

Analysis: The death of the black robot operator in A Wind Named Amnesia was the first time I had witnessed a dark-skinned character killed by a shot through the head. It also ranks as one of the more graphic of the cases--second only to the previous one in 3-D Magical Play--as what looks to be his brain matter can be seen exiting out of his head along with a lengthy spray of blood. As such, it, too, ranks as one of the more gratuitous of the cases--again, second only to 3-D Magical Play--with the scene shown in dramatic slow-motion, moment-by-moment, from the bullet breaking through the glass window, to it spinning towards him right up to its entry, and then spraying out of the back of his head.

Amnesia does not shy away from showing bloody, graphic content or death, to say the least, but in a film where a group of people get gunned down in a torrent of crimson firepower, where "death" itself is a central theme, and even where someone is shown being pureed by an airplane propeller in a quick scene, the visage of a man about to literally get his brains blown out at a steady "frame by frame" pace will stand out more than those other parts. That he was black added an additional layer of amazement, since it was uncommon to find someone like him in an anime. In that same vein, it was also sublime to see that very character get shot in the head in spectacular fashion. It took me aback at first sight, though I just chalked it up to the movie being uncompromisingly violent, like a number of films and one-shot OVAs from the mid-80s to the mid-90s (Amnesia was made in 1993). After seeing a similar act in 3-D Magical Play (also in slow-motion) and later in Gungrave, I began to take more notice of what I would soon discover to be as a pattern with an all-too-frequent and singular end.

Across the five cases covered, we have seen the common link of dark-skinned characters dying from head wounds, most of which from a single shot to the center of the forehead. While we have discussed the reoccurring trait of "The Traitor" among some, there is one in particular that connects them all: all of the characters are antagonists. Not in most, if any, of the anime mentioned here or in any other that I can recall have ever shown a dark-skinned protagonist or background character die from such wounds. If one died from a projectile weapon, it would most likely be to the chest--not much different from anyone else regardless of color.

More broadly, there seems to be little distinction between how a non-villainous dark-skinned character dies from one that is light-skinned. For example, in Mobile Suit Gundam F91, Arthur dies after being thrown against a wall from an explosion--not by shrapnel to the head or errant gunfire--and in RahXephon, Jean-Patrick dies after his escape pod is crushed. In addition, a black solider in Blood: The Last Vampire (of which Blood+ was adapted from), is shown being grabbed by a Chiropteran in a tree and ravaged, though that part is not completely depicted on-screen.

However, there may also be the rare instance where an antagonistic dark-skinned character dies from something other than a head shot. For instance, "Black King," an underground mafioso in Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion R2, is shown dead from a shot to the heart after he and many others are killed during a battle that erupts inside a building. In addition, Mobile Suit Gundam 00's Daryl died after his mecha was destroyed and Getter Robo Armageddon's Dr. Cohen (though an alien in disguise) perishes after the biomechanical ship he and his partner-in-crime transformed into is destroyed.

Though rarities exist, there remains a far greater consistency with head shots. Concerning Amnesia, we have a maniacal black man destroying everything around him who gets shot as to stop the machine and the mayhem, as he was the one controlling it. From a plot standpoint, including Wataru being armed with the only capable weapon around (a handgun), it would make sense that the only real way of stopping the machine would be to kill its operator. In that position, he dies for the sake of plot advancement and that's that, like any other antagonist.

And yet, that is similar to how Wolf--a black villain--dies in Blassreiter (though he was ultimately finished off by being cleaved in half), how James--a black villian--dies in Blood+, how Bear--a black villain--dies in Gungrave (stopped once by a bullet, finished off by another), and how Coffee--a black villain--dies in 3-D Magical Play. All of them villains. All of them black. And every single one of them shot (or in James' case, stabbed) in the head, primarily in the center of their forehead (with the exception of Wolf, who had the top part of his head taken off from behind). There can be rationales and plot relevancies that can be levied in many of those cases, even as antagonists, but the fact remains that there is a continual standard when it comes to dark-skinned characters dying.

In the common sense of a "story," the villain/antagonist will often die at the end or will need to die in order for the hero/protagonist to move along with their quest. That these dark-skinned types die, much less exist, is not so much the problem as the distinctive way they do, as some may be compelled to believe, with reason. As a whole, black antagonists have been a source of controversy in the U.S., specifically if they are the main ones in a story or if they fall into social stereotypes (i.e. drug dealers, gang members). This stems in part from works in the early 20th century and before that portrayed African-American men as fools or beasts that terrorized society and white women or hypersexual black women that seduced white men from their wives, as seen in films like Birth of a Nation and Uncle Tom's Cabin (1927). With the proliferation of media and the growth of the civil rights movement, the depiction of African-Americans in film improved, but the racial stereotypes of old fell way to new ones, born from the growing view (and reality) of blacks living in crime-filled, inner-city environments.

The image and stigma of the "black criminal" came into focus in the 2001 film Training Day, when some questioned Denzel Washington winning the "Best Actor" Oscar--the first black man to do so--for playing a corrupt, cutthroat narcotics officer (on a side note, his character dies in a hail of gunfire at the end after failing to come through on a deal). While image problems still exist among dark-skinned antagonists (e.g. drug-dealing, gangs), I do not believe having black antagonists in a story is the problem here or among the cases, so long as they do not fall into those stereotypes and are given as fair a shake as any other. I feel having such characters provides an opportunity to counter those old, racist views and bring an amount of versatility and even respect to the presentation of people of color by providing ones that don't act like thugs or gangbangers.

For example, Washington's character was far from being a one-dimensional derelict and turned out to be a good, compelling one. With perhaps the slight exceptions of Coffee and the robot operator, most of the characters in the cases are respectable ones treated fairly and on a level field with the others in their shows. Now, that isn't to say that the their skin color did not play a role in how they die, and that is the main crux of this entire feature. When observing all of this, the history of blacks' portrayal in media might be invoked in some minds, especially in something from a foreign country with very few minorities to speak of (Japan). Yet, with the overall good depiction of the dark-skinned characters in the anime covered, villainous or not, then the bulk of the issue lies in how those antagonizing ones are being killed--and if possible, why.

Being one of those individuals, we hearken back to the case of the robot operator. The uncanny link between the deaths and the number of those characters in question being "traitors" may very well be at play here, as he it could be argued that he betrayed the people he apparently had some clout over at the ceremony and began killing anyone in sight. There is also the matter of the operator's wrestler/witch doctor-like wardrobe that, while fitting of his "priest" role in an uncivilized land somewhat, could be seen as racially insensitive on some level. There was an old stereotype of African-Americans being depicted as wild "bush people" and savages in media works and publications in the late-19th and early-20th centuries. With his claw-like nails, gaudy cape, and a necklace adorned by what looked like bone fragments, it stands within reason that one could be drawn to that image association. Less offensive are his facial features, which rank among the better and more "realistic" around, and his skin tone is of a general shade of brown frequently used for animated black characters. His more "modern"-looking face offsets his outfit to some degree and, personally, his design is less off-putting than Coffee's was.

While the robot operator's death could be argued as the most graphic or most gratuitous, it stands out less against the amount of violence and dour nature in A Wind Named Amnesia. This is what ultimately differentiates itself from 3-D Magical Play's case with Coffee, whose form of demise badly juxtaposed with the rest of the anime and truly felt unwarranted and out-of-place. That is not to excuse what occurred in Amnesia, though, as the glorified slow-motion of the bullet's trajectory enhanced the moment of death to the wrong effect, even if the director was trying to paint as a "cool" scene. It was my first time seeing a black man get shot like that in an anime, and the slow-motion generated a feeling of uneasiness, even though the film never shied from violence. While I doubt there were any racial intentions behind the staff's actions, I am not completely certain there wasn't anything born of institutionalized thinking or insensitivity either, nor can I say anything about the novel the film was based on, since I have never read it and do not know how closely the film follows it. Japan has a culture driven by tradition and trends/patterns, so part of the issue may be lie there, as evident with cases beyond these five discussed.

[NOTE: Screenshot Source: DVDs]

To Part 6-->

And Now, For Your Reading Pleasure...THE OMNIUPDATE!!!!

2010-05-16T18:18:00.000-04:00

Everything you could ever ask for in a post on HardDoor: anime, boxing, free anime, special features, beatdowns, and excessive fanservice! Let's get it on!!

--As some have noticed, over the past few weeks, I have added pictures to entries in the ongoing feature "Blacks and Head Shots in Anime". Writing about what happened is good, but sometimes "a picture is worth a thousand words," and with that in mind, I finally decided to utilize Blogger's picture feature and put it to use. It had been on my mind to try it out, but I never had much of a need for it until now. Maybe I'll give it a go after all of this is done...

--Right now I'm putting the finishing touches on Part 5, aiming to get it posted it by Tuesday or Wednesday. I initially thought that it would be the shortest of the bunch, but I found that there was much more to say than I planned going in. The plot description was much longer, too, as I forgot about the little complications that lied in it. Miraculously though, I got it all done in pretty much one sitting.

--I didn't want to say outright how long the feature would be, but it looks like I'll be settling on seven parts. That's around what I had projected (well, once I got past the two-post thinking from the early pre-planning), but I wanted to play it by ear than restrict myself into a corner. I wanted both freedom to write at length, but I also practiced restraint in how long I wanted things to go. The feature as a whole has gone longer than anticipated (writing-wise), but I'm also quite happy with how things have shaped up.

--On the Directory side of things, I've added Media Blaster's new high-quality streaming service to it. And I did so with some reservation, given that they have IkkiTousen: Dragon Destiny, Queen's Blade: The Exiled Virgin, and Kanokon. They're dubbed and there are more titles on the way, but those are some pretty dicey ones right there and I'm not too fond of hyper-fanservice shows. But it's a free/low-cost anime directory, so they deserve a mention there to some extent. They aren't hentai, either, as borderline as they can get. On the plus side, at least Queen's Blade OP theme is great...

--Speaking of Queen's Blade, the dub was about what I expected: a mix of new talent and experienced veterans. As such, it was on the mediocre side, but not a total washout or unlistenable. Nice to see the NYC VAs get some attention and some notable names in it, such as one of my favorites in Angora Deb in the lead role of Leina, but I rolled when I saw that another favorite of mine was using a different name ("Darla Chaney") as Melona. Risty's VA, Jessica Paquet, wasn't too bad, herself. I'm not crazy about QB (outside of said OP, score, animation quality), but after letting the video load to check out MB's video quality, I decided to just give it a go. Overall, the service is surprisingly good and it looked great (The episode itself? Still sucked. :P )

--To finally comment on Hopkins-Jones, it sounds like it went as expected, though the former won on a UD. It didn't sound like a big moneymaker, though that's not too surprising, nor was all of the dirty fighting, like Jone's rabbit punching (which apparently lead to Hopkins momentarily passing out in his dressing room afterword). If it were just a few years earlier...

--As for the Mayweather-Mosley fight, I don't think some of the things about were as pronounced as people said they were. No doubt, my prediction was glaringly bad and Mayweather whipped him, but I don't think "Money" was in too much trouble in the much-ballyhooed 2nd round. The first punch got his attention and the second buzzed him, but he wasn't hurt that badly or even close to getting KO'd, as you could tell by how quick he recovered a few seconds later and won the rest of the round. Mosley wasted a prime opportunity to capitalize on a momentarily hurt Mayweather by aimlessly throwing errant punches in his direction and not concentrate on throwing purposeful combinations. Worst of all, he actually clinched him while he was still recovering!

--Throughout the whole fight, even, Mosley fought horribly with no real gameplan in motion (despite trainer Naseem Richardson pointing the way) and was gassed before the half-way point. The 1-1/2 year layer certain factored in, but give Mayweather credit for stepping it up and actually trying make it entertaining on some level, though it still became a lesser version of Pacquiao-Cotto: a lopsided, not-that-enthralling-or-competitive shut out, despite the victor's show of skill. The Marquez fight was more intriguing, even Pacquiao-Clottey to an extent, but at least Mayweather showed up. It was a massive mistake for Mosley to fight him right out of his hiatus and he blew a perfect opportunity to give Mayweather a real fight, instead of the farce that was three Saturdays ago.

--Having first seen Sergei Dzinziruk fight Fri. night, I can definitely see why people having been saying good things about him. For a European fighter, he oddly has a more American style, but more notably, he has tight, but versatile, technical precision and a phenomenally good, quick jab. He appears to be dedicated to fighting the top competition now, having gone as far as to claim that he will fight all of his fights in the U.S. from now on. It remains to be seen how well he'll fare, but I believe he has the right tools and motivation to pull through. If there was one point of criticism against him, it's that he needs to keep his guard a little higher. His gloves were over his face, but they were still low enough to allow a crisp jab to snap his head back too often for comfort.

--After his landslide defeat to a re-impressive Victor Ortiz, maybe it's time for "The Galaxxxy Warrior" Nate Campbell to hang it up. He has fine technical skills, but given his past circumstances, he just peaked too late. Though he fought well, Ortiz is still not that outstanding, and I'm not sure he has, or will ever, lose that "soft" mentality (i.e. pack it up when things aren't going well). He won't get far if he mentally crashes like he did against Marcos Maidana. No one said he had to fight a "fool's fight," but being a quitter or half-hearted won't cut it if you want to advance, either.

--Amir Khan looked quite good in his show of superiority in a shootout with Paulie Malignaggi last night. He's eager to fight the very dangerous Marcos Maidana, which is good and all, but he'll have to be smartly aggressive with him and keep moving. That's not an easy fight regardless of his skill level, and right now, I think he needs deep preparation against stalking hard hitters like Maidana, especially if Breidis Prescott is still on his mind. And he thinks those Prescott was bad, future targets Timothy Bradley and Devon Alexander are like a thousand hims. Digressing, Khan still seems have a good head about things and I doubt either he or trainer Freddie Roach will let him go into any of those fights unprepared.

--FUNimation went on a licensing spree of sorts and announced the dub casts to Casshern Sins, Eden of the East, and Shikabane Hime/Corpse Princess yesterday. Rosario+Vampire (both seasons), Chrome Shelled Regios, Heaven's Lost Property (Sora no Otoshimono), Chaos; HEAd, RideBack, and Geneon license rescue GUNxSWORD are all shows up FUNimation's alley and were only a matter of time until they had picked them up. The dub casts are near perfectly chosen, even everyone's darling EotE, which, through nine episodes, I think is thoroughly limp and lousy. Then there is the far worse R+V, an even lamer, shameless fanservice-obsessed show with the most dead-looking, blank-slate characters I've seen in years. It's especially true for the vacuous females, though one in particular (see Ep. 2, IIRC) comes off as the most pathetic excuse for a girl I've ever seen (and I actually felt sorry for her for looking so pitiful, too--and she's not even real!).[/rant] On the bright side, I'm quite happy to see RideBack get licensed--one of my favorite and most under-appreciated shows of 2009--and that Casshern Sins will be released in August. There should be something for everyone to look forward to from this announcement.

:boxing: ...It'll Do:: Mayweather vs. Mosley

2010-05-01T21:44:00.005-04:00

Though I've been busy with the anime Black History Month special, I haven't forgotten about boxing and nor have I not watched anything (and trust me, I'll have a lot to say about in the near future...). I have been waiting for Floyd Mayweather, Jr. and Shane Mosley to duke it out in the ring for a long time, so I'll finally be getting my wish come May 8.

Wait...it's tonight and not next Saturday? Hopkins vs Jones II all over again...

Once again, I thought a major fight was happening the following week, only to discover that it will that very weekend (it also doesn't help that it's been a busy couple of days for me, also hence the lateness and brevity), which is pretty bad considering it's Mayweather vs Mosley, the fight everyone shouldn't be getting down on because it's not "Mayweather vs Pacquiao" . Yes, it's not that, but it is pretty darn close--and it could damper any chance of that fight happening.

I have always thought that Mayweather, while undoubtedly skilled and physically talented, was overrated (specifically in the recent years) and fought selective competition for too long. Many wonder if anyone could crack Mayweather's code and give him his first defeat. I have long felt that Mosley had all the right tools to do so, with his experience, skills, his own formidable hand speed, and importantly, his punching power and dogged pressuring. If there is one thing that Mayweather has been uncomfortable with, it is effective pressuring, and with all of those attributes, I have thought that Mosley had what it took to hang with him--if not knock him out.

However, if this was May of last year, I would have guaranteed a KO, given Mosley's performance against Antonio Margarito a few months earlier (though not because of that knockout). Right now, as of May 1, 2010, Mosley hasn't fought since that January night (one possible incentive for Mayweather to take the fight, outside of him being the only other major fight--and money-maker--out there and trying to build his legacy). Nearly a year-and-a-half away and facing Mayweather right off the bat is a bad time to start shaking off any ring rust, even against a relative slow starter like him. There is also the issue of Mosley's own problem with quick-fisted, skillful fighters, something that fits "Money" to the "T". Additionally, there is his age of 38, which I have taken less stock in given other like-aged fighters success recently, but I wouldn't discount it altogether. Let's just say that it would be a worse time to start aging in the ring...

In short, the positives weigh more in Mayweather's favor and I'm a little inclined to sway in that direction. But I still, maybe erroneously, feel that Mosley still has the right equation and the right stuff to pull it out. I'll refrain from calling that KO (still a very real possibility), but I'll go with a close unanimous decision for Mosley (two round advantage, max.). I expect a quick pace to be established early by him and soon after by Mayweather, with some blistering combo work from both, but better counterpunching and slickness from the latter. The fight will most likely be decided in the middle to late rounds, with Mosley steadily wearing Mayweather down and getting a little lethargic himself. This might appear more apparent towards the end, allowing PBF to make a stronger case in the final rounds, but losing out in the thinnest of margins.

Prediction: Mosley, UD (if too rusty or unable to produce an answer for his prowess or speed, Mayweather, UD (don't count out a TKO if it's lopsided...))

-----------

Outcome: Mayweather, UD. In all of the predictions that I have done, that was probably was the worst choice that I've made, especially in light of the points I made contray to that and my own leaning in that direction beforehand. Mosley may have had Mayweather in bad straits in the 2nd round, but Mayweather appeared to have adapted (overrelying on the right hand probably didn't help) and picked him apart from Rd. 3 on. If Mosley was clinching as much as he was and looked flustered, that certainly points to his issue with quick and skilled fighters and perhaps the inactivity. However, give it up to Mayweather for keeping his head pass that round and marching right through Mosley. The result now puts a whole new spin on what may lie in Mayweather-Pacquiao, not to mention that it cranks the heat and anticipation to another level. Now there basically is no other excusable option for either man to fight and they'll need to settle the blood testing nonsense (and both sides are at fault) before the true #1 showdown can begin. As for Mosley, he still has a future in the sport, but probably no more than three years.

There's always question marks to be had with his opponents in his last two victory, but by the accounts, at least Mayweather is making the case for his vaunted status by dominating two top fighters. Now why wasn't he doing more of this more often?

:anime: Free/Low-Cost Anime Pick of the Month:: Nodame Cantabile

2010-04-30T23:53:00.005-04:00

Nodame Cantabile

Official Site: Japanese
Additional Links: ANN Entry
Video [Free]: English Dubbed

As I have been churning away on the Black History Month special, I've had to push back many things on HardDoor, from boxing previews to the revamp of the Free Anime Directory. The monthly "Free/Low-Cost Anime Pick" has, of course, been one of them, but I can't just let April slip past without giving up one pick, so here is this month's very belated, quite-to-the-last-minute anime pick: Nodame Cantabile!

That's right! No need for the eyedrops, NC really is available, and dubbed in English, no less. Yet, it's pretty odd that the introduction of one of the highest rated titles in the last decade gets nary a mention anywhere. Sony's Crackle video site hosts the "international version" of it (English dub for overseas market), which I was not aware of until someone made a passing mention of it in an unrelated ANN forum thread. Regardless, it isn't an indication of a coming DVD release in North America, but it's at least great to have an opportunity to watch the much-beloved tale of two pianists who fall in love.

:anime: Blacks and Head Shots in Anime (Part 4)

2010-04-21T23:58:00.011-04:00

<--To Part 3 | Part 5-->

(Note: As before, because these cases not only involve the death(s) of a particular character(s), but can also delve deep into a show's storyline, naturally spoilers will be involved. Also, most of the titles covered are either for older teen or mature audiences.)

Case #4

Title: 3-D Magical Play
[Official Site - Japanese]

Character: Coffee/Cofy (Spelt as "Cofy" in the credits, but as "Coffee" in the subtitles. Because of the connection between names and food items in Magical Play, I will be sticking with "Coffee" for this piece.)

Episode: 1 (single-episode OVA)

Description: Mayor of Dance Valley and self-proclaimed "master of magic and dance." Heavy-set; wears tight, form-fitting green spandex, small white high-heels; wears a large round pendant around her neck and other forms of golden jewelry. Small, thin lips with silvery gloss. Tall, white box-cut hair with a purple-highlighted top. Overall appearance looks to be fashioned in an Afro-Caribbean flavor (introduction shimmying included) with an '80s-'90s flare. Likes to do a lot of dance moves and singing and combine magical attacks with them. Additionally, her musical cues bare resemblance to late '80s, early '90s dance and hip-hop beats. Has three stick figure-like attendants who dance along with her and act as her personal chair together.

Background: Padudu is a young girl looking to make a name for herself as a "Magical Girl" and win a tournament that will allow her to go to Earth and make it big there. She soon finds herself in jail, however, after being suspected of carrying magical weapons, which are illegal in the town she floated through (Magical Girls included). In Dance Valley's jail, she meets an older female Magical Warrior named Nonononn, who tries to discourage her from the path she's following, and is approached by the mayor, Coffee, who makes a flashy entrance and berates the two. After Nonononn insults the land's Queen (with whom she has shares a sordid history with), an angered Coffee decides to up her execution date to that night and invites the whole town to it. At the "party," she issues a challenge that if her "sister" could be defeated, she would be let free. The catch? The green Padudu would be fighting in place of the veteran, with both of their fates on the line.

The Situation: Padudu is given an array of magical weapons to choose from to defend herself. Boldly, she picks out a heavy lance-like weapon before her opponent drops from the ceiling. The "sister" that Padudu has to defeat turns out to be a vicious black panther with a cutesy hood over its head. Once the cat shows her fearsome face, "Panpan" soon knocks the lance out of Padudu's hands, forcing the girl to whip out her far more puny magic wand to do battle with. Both land glancing blows that draw blood, but Padudu gets the worse of it. Nonononn, chained up as a spectator right on the arena grounds, coolly coerces her to pick up the cumbersome lance from before and try to land the killing blow on the panther before it does on her. Padudu manages to distract Panpan before following Nonononn's words and charges straight at her with it.

This, though, was only a diversion for Nonononn to break free and sucker-punch Panpan. She then picks up the weapon--which is actually her's--and uses it to shoot the panther dead. The two try to escape, but an incensed Coffee stops them by using her great operatic singing voice to make gigantic stone letters materialize in the air and fall onto them. Nonononn makes a difficult stand fending them off, but the weight of all of the letters causes the stage to become unbalanced and topple over. Coffee continues her singing attack unfazed, using a giant "S" to hook onto a giant statue of the queen and a couple of other letters to knock Nonononn off it. She nearly succeeds, but Nonononn grapples herself back up and uses the ballistics in her weapon to destroy the statue--and Coffee's perch. Both women begin to free-fall, but as Coffee gloats over Nonononn underestimating her, she places a single round right in her forehead. Padudu, gliding through the sky, catches Nonononn in time and escapes, whereas Coffee is left lifeless on the ground in a massive pool of her own blood.

Analysis: Of all of the cases, this one is perhaps the most appalling. There are a number of things questionable about the character Coffee, starting with her death. It can be argued that she has the most violent and bloodiest one, shown with a stream of blood emitting out of her head (in slow, dramatic motion) and in a scene later surrounded by it. Going by standard story structure, Coffee was the villain (in a one-episode series) and was going to get her "comeuppance" at the end so the heroines could escape. The resultant end, however, felt very excessive and unnecessary.

They could have killed her off any number of ways if they wanted to go that route (villains can die even in G-rated films, remember), without resorting to having her get shot in the head (i.e. letter crushing her, shot in the chest, just falls to her death--with a smaller pool of blood, perhaps). Portrayed as the hardened, "cool" action-type, Nonononn and her fight against Coffee plays out in a very "action movie" way, so it might not be as fortuitous that things played out the way they did. However, it also brings to light a serious problem that undermines the OVA: the juxtaposition of violence, blood, and serious content against lighthearted, comedic designs and elements. None of it, to be blunt, meshes well and feels out-of-place. With 3-D Magical Play showing the bloody aftermath of an apparent magical battle in one of its opening scenes and with Panpan getting shot to death by Nonononn later on, something in the manner of Coffee's death not only emphasises the issue, it in turn underscores and magnifies the pattern of black characters being shot in the head with the level of violence present. That the moment was also depicted in protracted slow-motion only made it worse and a bigger distraction.

Not helping matters are Coffee's design and mannerisms, which border on being stereotypical and racially-insensitive, if not outright crosses it. Against the backdrop of the bigger picture, it may not come as a great revelation that the creators decided to make the mayor of "Dance Valley" a black woman, as she seems to embody more than a few black stereotypes, some of them female-centric (i.e. big, heavy-set figure; does a bunch of dancing and singing; the amount of jewelry), and not much of it ironic. Her powers themselves are based around said artistry and her looks are akin to a mix between Afro-Caribbean (something not lost on the English dub producers, who cast her voice in that light) and what you'd expect from a late-'80s - early-'90s hip-hop/R&B act (and both show in her mannerisms).

What is the chief issue here is not so much that she does those sort of things, but how she does them, especially her dancing. It felt a little offensive and short-sighted in the way she gyrated in an exaggerated manner to some hip-hop-ish, island-tinged music (we're not talking "1920-30's blackface/minstrel" levels here, but it is still something to be taken aback by). I do not necessarily believe the creators meant to be insulting or coarse when they created Coffee, but regardless, there seems to be some ignorance at play concerning her as a whole. There is also the matter of Coffee having a black panther she adored as a "sister" that one could draw any number of conclusions to. While I do think it was a deliberate choice on their part, like her very name of "Coffee," I do not see it as particularly derogatory, though perhaps in slight bad taste. That aside, Coffee's design and cavorting was distasteful and lacking in wit.

Curiously, 3-D Magical Play has a relatively large number of dark-skinned (and not as questionable) characters displayed in the background. The same can be said of its stand-alone successor, the 2D Magical Play, which features the two dark-skinned officers from 3-D MP and a dark-skinned magical girl who travels with Padudu and another girl who serves as that show's primary fanservice bait. None of them have unflattering designs (unless you are put off by Myumyu's barely-there outfit) or traits and are treated like any other character. On a similar note, Coffee actually has a decent personality (and a nondescript, suitable pair of lips, unlike some of the cases), in spite of her presentation and death. She's more of the authoritarian/snooty villain-type and doesn't have a hint of racial overtones in how she talks (script-wise). Yet, those overtones elsewhere outweigh most of the positives found in her.

Coffee's demise in 3-D Magical Play stands out particularly from the others because there is little reason from a plot standpoint as to why she was shot in the head and that the act itself was a exceedingly violent and bloody affair. Unlike in Blassreiter and Blood+, there was no viable excuse on some level for it and nor was there any narrative justification for it along the lines of Bear in Gungrave. The character could have died any number of ways, but once again, a black character dies by a wound to the forehead. One may claim it was all in the name and spirit of an action scene, but when looking at the larger scope of black deaths, it makes you wonder more if it was the result of institutionalized thinking that she, as a black villain, had to die that way. In addition, her mildly offensive design and physical antics make her more of a stereotype than anything, or anyone, else. The crassness of her death blow only made it worse and perhaps the worst of the bunch. In all, one may ask if such a physical stereotype was perhaps a byproduct of an encompassing stereotype, given the death Coffee received...

[NOTE: Screenshot Source: DVDs]

To Part 5-->

:anime: Exclusive Interview with Famed Mangaka "Musashi-oh"

2010-04-07T02:35:00.003-04:00

Wait...what now? April Fool's Day has already passed?! Dang it!!

Just...just forget it.

*goes back to work on special*

:boxing: The Big One:: Hopkins vs Jones II (Or "The Fight I Stopped Caring About")

2010-04-03T00:48:00.004-04:00

Bernard Hopkins and Roy Jones, Jr., two of boxing's most storied technicians, finally meet in a long-awaited rematch to their bout nearly twenty years ago, where a shipshape Jones decisioned a pre-prime B-Hop unanimously. And now, come Saturday night, they meet once more in what could be one of the final matches in both men's storied careers. But, I don't really care.

I would never have fathomed such a statement perhaps a few years ago, but given the circumstances right now, I really could care less. Jones went "lights-out" late last fall when Danny Green iced him in his "qualifier" match prior to the then-proposed Hopkins fight. Both men were supposed to win their matches on the same day or the fight would not happen. Hopkins held up his end in a good fight and Jones didn't in suffering his fifth loss in six years, the third by KO and a little over a year removed from a shelacking by Joe Calzaghe. And here we are a few months later.

So why does Hopkins want to fight Jones, still? As I said before, it's for three things: 1) to avenge the loss that has been nipping at him for some two decades since 1993, 2) Jones is easy pickings for a KO win, which he undoubtedly would cherish to have, and 3) the bout will make him lots of money. Truly, who could blame him? He could just ride off into the sunset under those conditions (unless he still feels compelled to move up to cruiser- and heavyweight).

Of course, for Hopkins, it's dream come true. But when viewed through a wider lens, whatever achievement he accomplishes in the ring that night and whatever chill would be generated from the mere sight of seeing both men in the ring together will undoubtedly be diluted due primarily to Jones' marked diminish. He's not the same fighter he once was by a longshot, reduced to being a shell or simply fumes. I have always maintained that Hopkins is the better fighter and would have beaten him in their respective primes, but a win by the Philadephian Sat. night, while he is still near the top and Jones isn't, will feel more like a cheapened victory instead of true vindication.

If this match took place five or even three years ago, I would have been all over it, but the wind is no longer behind this fight and it shows in the lack of hype and excitement over it. It's really sad to say that, but that's the truth. This once-potent match-up of Hopkins-Jones is now a flat one, only taking place because Hopkins has been begging for it out of closure, even if it is against a shot Jones. There's a good reason why there will be no rebroadcast on HBO: they need all of money they can get out this--something few people have asked for and would have rather waited for the free reshowing the following week (though I imagine it will be shown sometime in the future, especially if it turns out good or something notable occurs). And that's really sad.

With everything said, Hopkins will probably start off more quickly than he usually does and crank it up after a brief feeling out period in the first, judging Jones' mildly diminished speed and his level of power. If Hopkins can sneak in any punches through his guard, he may get more aggressive and push the action (unless he gets countered too quickly, where he will probably wait a few more rounds before starting to pour it on). Normally, Hopkins will wait four rounds until picking things up, but for this occasion, he'll probably look to tee it off after just two. If Jones can effectively uses his speed and quick bursts of combos, he could keep him at bay for good while, but not too long (until Rd. 6, max.). Hopkins make be adverse to quickness, but he can walk that down when aggressive and has rather Jones-like in his recent bouts with his hand speed and quickness. Jones, on the other hand, has been horrible in the past years when it comes to nonstop pressure and less-than-successful when against a skilled fighter. It should be an interesting fight to watch, though the mystique has all but vaporized.

Prediction: Hopkins, TKO6 (Hopkins is all too aware of the implications of this match, and when it comes to history and significance, Hopkins doesn't play around. Jones does have a feasible shot, but I don't buy it completely given how faded he is. If Hopkins has an opportunity to take him out and doesn't respect Jones' strength or speed, there is zero chance that he will let him keep standing...)

:anime: Blacks and Head Shots in Anime (Part 3)

2010-03-30T20:20:00.010-04:00

<--To Part 2 | To Part 4-->

(Note: As mentioned before, because these cases not only involve the death(s) of a particular character(s), but can also delve deep into a show's storyline, naturally spoilers will be involved. Also, most of the titles covered are either for older teen or mature audiences.)

Case #3

Title: Gungrave
[Official Site - English]

Character: Bear Walken

Episode: 23

Description: One of the top executives in the mafia group known as Millennion. An enforcer and absolutely loyal to its leader, Big Daddy, "The Family", and the "Code of Iron". Tall, solemn, imposing figure respected by everyone in the organization. Average black skin tone; Gray beard, black, short, swept-back hair. Always wears a pair of shades and a suit, except at home, where he is normally seen wearing a kimono in his Japanese-styled abode (follows a strict samurai-esque edict). Dotes heavily on his only daughter, who he raised alone after her mother (presumably of Japanese descent) died when she was younger.

Background: Brandon and Harry, the two central figures in the series, are street punks and childhood friends that find themselves in deep water after Harry crosses paths with the wrong people, including a rival gang and its leader's dangerous hitman brother. With three of their friends already dead, along with the uncle of a female friend of Brandon's, Maria, the two come close to losing their own lives until Bear appears to avenge the life of Maria's slain relative, who was an old friend of his boss, Big Daddy, that he had recently visited on his behalf. After the incident, Brandon and Harry go on an angry tear through the city and become one of its most feared forces. Harry, however, begins to feel restricted by its confines and wishes to expand elsewhere, leaving Brandon to take care of Maria.

His friend, on the contrary, wants to come with him and both set out to leave--until they catch Maria exiting a car from a funeral procession. At the same time, a group they (roughly) cut ties have caught up with them begin to open fire. Maria's exclamation at Brandon's peril leads the men she was with--part of Millennion--to come to their rescue (Big Daddy took her in as a favor to his fallen friend). Impressed by their show of power, Harry instantly becomes entranced by the kind of life that might await him there and begs to join. After proving his worth, one of the higher-ups from the scene decides to give him the opportunity and allows him to board one of their cars--and to Harry's grateful surprise, Brandon follows suit, always wanting to stick close to his good friend, as well as Maria, who laid on the other side.

Harry and Brandon begin their rise to the top on different paths. While Harry partakes in the organization's various money schemes and operations, Brandon works in the muscle part of Millennion, helping collect payments and roughing up late-payers. Five years later, he is promoted to "Sweeper" and placed under the wing of the group's best, Bear, where he beings to handle hitman duties and assassinations. One auspicious case arises when two people are robbed and killed in Bear's territory, one of whom hailed from a group with ties to Millennion and was a guest of his. Complicating matters is that the killer was the delinquent son of Bear's closest friend, Sid, who tried to cover for his mistake and help him escape out of town.

Because the organization needs to save face, anyone involved needs to be eliminated. Sid knows what lies ahead and sits alone at a pier. Bear appears, remembering it as the place they fought over when they first joined Millennion, and the two share a smoke and some reverie together. Though he knew about it all along and Sid knew what fate awaited him for violating the "Code of Iron"--the core of "The Family's" beliefs of "never betraying those you promise loyalty to"--the normally hardened and resolved Bear is unable muster the strength to execute him. Brandon, who came along, entered the picture and before a sobbing, trembling Sid, did what Bear could not and put a bullet through his forehead. Tearfully, Bear embraced his now-lifeless body.

The Situation: Harry's meteoric rise to prominence and desire for power would breed a number of malicious turn of events all around. He has claimed over half of the organization, much of it through dubious means unfitting of the Code of Iron, and is the natural successor to the retiring Big Daddy's throne. At the announcement meeting, things do not go as planned and someone else is picked. Afterwords, a sore Harry eavesdrops on a conversation between Brandon and Big Daddy where the latter expresses his concerns about him and Brandon, who still believes his innocence, vows to uphold the Code. A paranoid Harry meets his friend later on in a tense confrontation that leads to his death and Big Daddy's soon after (primarily out of jealousy for "stealing" Brandon's friendship and loyalty from him), where he assumes the throne of the organization.

After the turn of events fifteen years prior, "Bloody" Harry remains the head of Millennion, using an army of reanimated, monstrous soldiers from a project he funded involving "Necrolyzation" from those times to expand the group to unheard of levels. Along the way, even Maria falls victim, as she was gunned down after trying to protect her and Big Daddy's young daughter as she escaped. The girl, Mika, is sent to the care of the runaway doctor who founded the project and Brandon (now known as "Beyond The Grave"), who was revived using the Necrolyzation process and aims to bring down Harry and anyone that gets in his way.

With everything that has occurred, Bear has been all too knowledgeable of the things that Harry has done and has never been fond of him, either. The single thing that has prevented him from getting rid of Harry early on or avenging Big Daddy's death is that his daughter, Sherry, has been deeply in love with him. Bear thinks the world of her and as a widowed father, has always wanted her to be happy. Harry, a ladies' man, was very aware of this fact when he was started moving up the ranks and made it a priority to get close to her and out of Bear's crosshairs. So long as he kept her safe and continued to make her happy, Bear would support him, despite his feelings. In the present time, the two have been contently married for years, with Bear still serving as a top executive, this time to his son-in-law.

Brandon's path of vengeance has already led to the demise of two of Harry's top executives. They had underwent the same reanimation treatment that Brandon and the Orgmen in Millennion's army had, but twinked to work on the living. These "Superiors" possessed superhuman capabilities and the ability to transform into even more powerful, but acutely grotesque, forms, and Bear went through the procedure himself to have the power to confront Brandon and protect the organization. He arrives at his hideout and delivers to him the challenge of a duel, taking place at his own home.

Once he arrives, the ensuing battle is fierce as Bear slices and Brandon shoots the house to rubble. Bear decides to take things to the next level by transforming into his Superior form and subdues Brandon, preparing for the final strike. He makes a full charge at him but is stopped in his tracks when Brandon is able to drop his gun from his obstructed hand into his other hand, which was free, and shoots Bear multiple times with his anti-Superior bullets, with the last one to the forehead. With the rounds' paralyzing and disintegration effects taking hold, Bear asks Brandon to finish it. As he tearfully remembers his deceased wife and Sherry, Brandon solemnly obliges and pulls the trigger.

Analysis: Of all of the cases, Bear's manner of death is perhaps the least egregious. One of the reasons for that is, unlike the others, it was actually fitting in the context of its narrative. Gungrave is a show very rich with intertwining themes and narratives and replete with complex characters and relationships (if the lengthy descriptions were any indication), and as such, his demise had a certain weight and "reason" to it, rather than the "forgone conclusion" feeling emitted from the James example in Blood+ or some of the others to be covered. The bind that Bear was in mirrored that of his best friend's (something that was not lost on him as he awaited Brandon's arrival), as did the consequences for backing the bad son (-in-law) / protecting his daughter, and betraying the organization of Big Daddy's. Overall, it cuts to the main theme of the show, which is the concept of family, protecting it, and the repercussions of betraying it, and the dichotomy between Bear and Sid's ultimate fates stood out as one of its most profound elements. That he died via a gunshot wound to the head felt like a more "sensible" death than any of the other cases.

Bear also has the most acceptable character design among them. In essence, he looks like a normal black person: no big, round pink lips, no stock-ish features, nothing inadvertently offensive. His appearance, depicted over the span of some twenty years, is basic but effective and his facial features are well-proportioned and realistic, as are much of the other dark-skinned characters that are shown. The character himself is very much an authority figure and one that is both feared and respected in the show. Yet, he also falls into the same category as Wolf did in Blassreiter as "The Traitor", though his position is more indirect and ambiguous, as an argument could be made about his perceived betrayal of Big Daddy's Millennion and the ways of old. Regardless, the trope is still present and the outcome remains the same, though played out more directly than in Blassreiter.

While the act of his death was not so, the way in which Bear's death unfolded felt somewhat gratuitous. Unlike any of the other cases, Bear is the only one to have received two shots to the head. Given the stylized gunplay in the show and the thematics, seeing the end volley of the shots that stopped the Superiorized Bear be one to the forehead was perhaps not surprising, if not expected. Regardless, that did not stop the moment from being particularly startling or jarring in its abruptness. Furthering matters is that the second shot, while symbolic and akin to a "mercy killing" (requested by Bear, no less), felt unnecessary. Excluding the first shot to the head and having him just be crippled by the accumulation of of anti-Superior shots leading to the finishing blow would have sufficed, dramatically speaking.

Was the actual end in of itself "appropriate" and effective? Yes, but that air of excess remains. If his type of death was the only one or two depicted in an anime, I might have had little of a problem with it. Yet, the trend of black characters getting shot in the head takes away some of its intended impact and places it in an undesirable, and unintended spot. Also of note is that unlike Wolf and James, only half of Bear's body transforms, so we see "Bear the Human" get shot, not "Bear the Unrecognizable Monster." All of the Superiors largely retain their human facial appearance, as their bodies are often the ones that undergo a hideous change. In Bear's case, his body bulks up and his right side sprouts spike-like protrusions with four or five stone hands floating alongside them.

Gungrave, like Blassreiter, has a very high death toll, with Mika being the only character of significance left alive. As both an unrelenting mafia tale and an action show filled with monstrosities, many of the characters die violently and often under hail of gunfire. As such, it should also be noted that Bear, nor Sid for that matter, were there only ones to have died by getting shot in the head. Brandon himself was shot through his eye at pointe-blank range after Harry riddled him with bullets in his first death and the first casualty among Harry and Brandon's friends in the beginning was insinuated to have been shot in the head, as was Bob, the first of Harry's inner circle to reveal his Superior powers, and Bunji, who was the last of that circle to face Brandon (a bullet hole is never explicitly shown, but it is expressed where he was shot). It should also be noted that Bear is the only black character to have died via head wound, as one of Brandon and Harry's friends from earlier on, who was also black, died from a shot to the chest. As for Bear's daughter, Sherry, she was killed not long after her father by a shot to the heart when she got caught in the crossfire as an ousted Harry fended off an assassin, leaving him an emotional wreck as he clutched her in his arms.

In respect to the series and the character deaths covered in the cases, Bear's remains the most apropos and least offensive of them. Unlike the others, there is a sense of purpose and reason as to why he died the way he did. One of the two head shots he received could have been done without and still carry the same effect as the final one that Brandon delivered at his request. Bear also had one of the most respectable designs for a black character in an anime and had a like personality, as well. While this particular case had its rationale and featured no stereotypical overtones, the same cannot be said for others cases...

[EDIT [04/23/10]: Screenshots added. (Source: DVDs)]

To Part 4-->

:anime: Blacks and Head Shots in Anime (Part 2)

2010-03-20T04:11:00.022-04:00

<--To Part 1 | To Part 3-->

(Note: As noted in the first post, because these cases not only involve the death(s) of a particular character(s), but can also delve deep into a show's storyline, naturally spoilers will be involved. Also, most of the titles covered are either for older teen or mature audiences.)

Case #2

Title: Blood+
[Official Site - Japanese, English; Sony Pictures Home Entertainment, Crackle, YouTube]

Character: James

Episode: 47

Description: One of Diva's Chevaliers, apparently her favorite. Rather generic-looking "black person" design: low-cut black hair, basic facial features and build. Noticeable, large pink lips.

Background: The heroine of the story, Saya, has reluctantly taken on the task of aiding the secret organization Red Shield in dispatching the world of Chiropterans--beastly, vampiric creatures that prey on humans. Part-Chiropteran herself, Saya is also in search of the twin sister, Diva, that she never knew. However, she is at the center of the atrocities and has loyal servants named "Chevaliers" to protect her. These individuals were once human, but after being given some of her blood, now possess the abilities of a Chiropteran: from super-strength and -speed and immortality, to the ability of turning into super-powerful versions of the creatures themselves (similarly, Saya's blood contains the same properties, as she has her own Chevalier, named Hagi). Among Diva's five protectors is the stoic, by-the-books James, a U.S. military officer who is fiercely devoted to the one they call "Mother", who she seems to care for him the most.

The Situation: A year following the destruction of Red Shield and a fateful encounter between Diva and Saya's adopted little brother-turned-Chevalier, Riku, who died after being mated with against his will, Saya's disposition had darkened considerably and now fights on her own, hoping to avoid involving any more of her family in the battle. On the other side, Diva is now pregnant with her and Riku's twins and not only dons a vestige all too familiar to her sister, but also sports a new child-like personality and body which she erratically switches back and forth between (though mostly dwells in).

After nearly killing her once before, James intercepts Saya and her comrades from the reforming Red Shield as they continue to hunt for Diva, but goes down--literally--into a large nuclear waste pit, after losing two limbs in a tough fight, nearly taking Saya along with him. It is revealed after a time that he just barely survived, as he was rescued before Saya's blood could compromise the rest of his body. What was salvaged was fused with one of the bodies from the mass-produced Chevalier soldier project that he oversaw (which, like all of them, happened to be white). As she watches him rest in a liquid-filled chamber in his new body, Diva, in her child-like form, remarks that it is not the James she knows and wants little to do with him.

James, however, is still cognizant of her words through the tank and is driven with stark determination--if not near madness--to win back her approval and get revenge on the ones who placed him in his state. After his recovery, he eventually confronts Saya and the others in his souped-up body, who are edging ever closer to dispatching Diva, and if need be, the twins before they are born. Being incredibly strong and having a near-impenetrable hide, James has them in serious trouble and nearly beat, but his Frankenstein-esque body soon begins to break down and crackle, as the MP Chevaliers have only a finite lifespan and were never perfected. As he becomes incapacitated, Saya dives in from the sky (with help from a winged Hagi) and impales James through the forehead with her caustic blood-laced sword. He dies shortly after and his body crystallizes and shatters, like all of those before him.

Analysis: This case involves another black character who can transform into a monstrous creature. However, what separates this from the Blassreiter example is that James did not have to die principally by head wound. The mere act of making simple contact with Saya's blood would have cause the interacting body part to crackle with fissures, so a well-placed thrust anywhere--especially on a decomposing body like James'--would have done the same job as on the other Chevaliers. Perhaps one could make the point that it was done for dramatic purposes, but when taking into consideration the historic pattern of black deaths, it felt more like it was done as a "forgone conclusion," that it was the one and only way to end the fight and that is just how he should die. In a series that leaned into the clichéd often, it stuck out more than any of its other deaths in just how routine it seemed.

On another matter, one might point to the image of a black man turning into a beast as an implication of the old racial stereotype of black people being depicted as "beasts" or "wild animals" in advertisements, propaganda media, and movies. While that instituted thought could be found beyond the United States in locales that contained black populations, such as Latin America, and in ones that did not, such as Japan, I do not believe that it is the case here. Aside from James and Wolf, there are many other characters that can transform into oddities in both Blood+ and Blassreiter, respectively. Though perhaps of greater notability is that their transformed bodies do not bear any of the typically-racist characteristics that have been commonplace among those old caricatures, like bearing the resemblance of gorillas or monkeys. Of all of the cases involving transformation, Wolf's could be considered the closest with his long, extensible arms, but that could be considered an embellishment, as his appearance-in-whole is decidedly un-gorilla-like. I would not characterize any of the transformation cases as acts of insensitivity, but when dealing with a racial issue like this study does, it remains something worth noting and taking into serious consideration.

In respect to his human profile, James looks rather average and unremarkable (essentially a basic "black person" type), but has a set of big, noticeable pink lips--a feature with its own racial history that still gets overemphasized in anime to this day. One could most likely attribute it to Japan's isolated island culture and largely homogeneous population or go further and suggest that such a limited exposure or outdated view of blacks may also play some role in the repeated instances of head shots among them (e.g. old imported films or other media with a racial tilt to them that had depicted such scenes). Conversely, Red Shield's Lewis, the show's only other major black character, bears a much different appearance. He looks more like a "regular" person and less like a stock character, and while he does possess sizable lips, it doesn't feel stereotypical. It fits his design well, perhaps due in some respect that they aren't pink and just match his skin tone, like most non-black characters. He isn't depicted in a token or stereotypical way, either, yet the same can be said of James, who in spite of his design, isn't handled or treated differently than his other Chevalier brethren or any other character. The same may not be said of his ultimate demise, though...

[EDIT: Made a few minor wording edits in the "Situation" section.]

[EDIT [04/25/10]: Screenshots added (James' profile image came from an old screenshot I took from a fansub when the series first aired in 2005 and Wolf's image came from Ep. 12 of Blassreiter on FUNimation Videos; ~~all other~~ Blood+ screenshots came from YouTube posts of the dub's television broadcast on Adult Swim (posted by [name removed]; Eps. 36, 44, and 47)). Sony's Crackle video site hosts the "legal" streaming of the series, but has not caught up to the episodes covered here as of this writing. I was personally not aware that they had begun to host it when I started writing this piece, as it was unavailable there or elsewhere "officially" when I was searching for video sources earlier in the year (I just found out about it today). Also, I changed James' timing of death to "shortly after" from "immediately killed", as he was technically still alive for a very brief time before ultimately dying.]

[EDIT [09/20/10]: Replaced the screenshots from the user-posted YouTube videos with ones from Crackle on the same site (Eps. 36, 44, and 47). I only found out about their YT page a few weeks after I finished Part 2, which were most likely posted around that time, as I had not come across Blood+ when I the site for the series beforehand. It is fully available for free there and at Crackle from the links at the top (dub only). I used YT for the screenshots, as the player and other objects were not visible when paused, like on Crackle. The new screenshots, while not exactly "HD-clarity", are much better in quality than the previous ones taken and are also in their native aspect ratio, not restricted to the 4:3 TV range of the Adult Swim broadcast from which the other videos were culled. I wanted to wait until I was finished with B&HSiA so I would have the time to take care of this and other image issues. Also, the source information of the previous screenshots have been removed, as there are official streams of the episodes online.]

To Part 3-->

:boxing: Duel in JerryDome:: Pacquiao vs Clottey

2010-03-13T03:00:00.002-05:00

I'm still hard at work on the special Black History Month series that I just started this Wednesday, so pardon as I make this boxing preview brief and to the point:

P4P king Manny Pacquiao meets the tough Joshua Clottey inside Jerry Jones' massive shrine to sports, Cowboys Stadium, in Dallas tonight (home of my favorite football team ;) ). Since the Mayweather fight predictably fell apart and due to both the Pacman's camp still wanting to fight in March and to Jones failed desire to host the pre-failed PBF showdown, the replacement match-up is taking place in Texas. Clottey's not exactly Mayweather and thus the mainstream media does not care about it and they have instantly label him as a pushover of sorts, given his lack of name recognition.

To the more seasoned eye, Clottey's certainly not that, and he is arguably the largest and strongest guy that Pacquiao has fought (he and Miguel Cotto had identical dimensions; Clottey has both beat by at least two inches all around). He's not easy to beat and has only lost to Antonio Margarito and Cotto (late DQ against Carlos Baldomir a decade ago). He's got good skill and tenacity and has a fair shot at besting the champion, but...he's more of a defensive fighter and can clam up when faced with a barrage. He may have beaten Zab Judah, but Manny Pacquiao isn't weak-minded and he's much more gifted, physical, and quick. The setup is clearly advantageous in his favor, but don't mistaken it for lack of class. Mayweather may have Shane Mosley coming up, but "Grand Master" himself is one of the top five welterweights in the world and the only logical opponent out there for Pacquiao to fight (Berto being unable to due to the devastation in his native Haiti following its earthquake).

Clottey's best chance would be to press the action and use the uppercut effectively. Yet even then, as Cotto learned, tenacity can land you on the canvas before you even know it. I've always liked him, but I don't see Pacquiao looking past Clottey and letting him off the hook so easily. Clottey will have his moments, but Pacquiao will most likely make his night a miserable one as he makes the right adjustments and settles in (probably past Rd. 4). However, I would actually be very shocked if he stopped the Ghanaian, whose tough body and chin never betrayed him in any of his losses--all by decision (DQ notwithstanding)...

Prediction: Pacquiao UD (if the Filipino is too lax/flat or cannot get comfortable with his offense, Clottey, TKO9).

_____________

Outcome: Pacquiao, UD. It seems that it went as predicted, though Pacquiao swept nearly all of the rounds, save for one or two. ESPN's live chat coverage made it sound a little more competitive than the various other outlets (still a domination, though). Perhaps it was because they were live on the scene, but as I have learned, seeing a fight with your own eyes can certainly lead to a difference in opinion. If ESPN was correct, then it's good to hear that Clottley got some kind of offense in and tried, even if he was overwhelmed by Pacquiao's 1200+ punch assault (and threw only 153 more than 246 he landed). Still, I'll reserve final judgement until the eventual replay on HBO.

:anime: Blacks and Head Shots in Anime (Part 1)

2010-03-10T18:15:00.013-05:00

This was originally slated to be posted in mid- to late-February for Black History Month, but the past Winter Olympics and fine-tuning pushed its start to March. Parts 2 and beyond will be published every other day.

I have been an avid fan of anime for nearly fifteen years and have watched some 370+ works along the way. As much as I have enjoyed it and so much of its stories and artistry all this time, I could not help but notice a very strange, if not disturbing, trend concerning the deaths of black (or at the very least, "dark-skinned") characters.

Anime, however fair, has been infamous for being "ultraviolent," and for featuring "inventive", spectacular, and frequent deaths. This stigma may be overwrought, but there is a sliver of truth in it, with character deaths being a rather normal occurrence in particular dramas, actioners, and other genres and as a topic of discussion on many Internet forums. The concept is not a common one in many shows in the U.S., so perhaps that in of itself lends to its notoriety. Be that as it may, given the deaths that have befallen many a character over time, there has been one, consistent pattern in the demise of black characters: nearly all of them have died from head-related fatalities, most often from a single shot to the forehead. 1

If this were a singular occurrence, I would have written it off as just another guy getting killed, but when the same thing is repeated with the same type of person, it becomes something you take notice of. Being that blacks and other people-of-color are not a usual sight in Japan, and neither terribly much so in their animated works, either, it makes you wonder why exactly such characters in an anime not only die in such a particular way, but that there is a something of a focus on it. As a person-of-color myself, I have found it concerning to see a pattern of occurrence such as this.

Prior even to starting HardDoor, I have longed to cover this issue of blacks and head shots in anime. It is something that does not appear to have gotten much attention among fans and I feel that it deserves to be brought to the front and observed. I will be focusing on five cases, detailing the situation leading to the given incident, any rationale (story-wise) behind it, and how that character was depicted in the story. In respect to the "rationale" I feel it is important to know what relevancy their fashion of death had to the story itself, though it should not be viewed as an "excuse" of any kind, as it is vital to know why the creators thought it should be carried out in the way it was. Also important is knowing how that character was shown--equally, stereotypically, racially, etc. It is hoped that taking all of these factors into consideration will lead to a better understanding and analysis of these incidents and of what may lie beyond it.

(Note: Because these cases not only involve the death(s) of a particular character(s), but can also delve deep into a show's storyline, naturally spoilers will be involved. Also, most of the titles covered here either for older teen or mature audiences.)

Case #1

Title: Blassreiter
[Official Site - Japanese, English; FUNimation]

Character: Wolf Göring

Episode: 19
[Sub - FUNimation Videos, Hulu; Dub - FUNimation Videos]

Description: Chief of XAT, a German government agency tasked with dealing with the mysterious Demoniac attacks. Black (average skin tone); ditoned (blond down the middle, black on the sides) hair. Well-built, level-headed, good leadership qualities. Well-respected by peers.

Background: The condition that turns people into the bio-tech monstrosities known as "Demoniacs" (also called "Amalgams" in the show) is contagious--and Wolf soon finds himself feeling a few peculiar symptoms. Having given orders to hunt down the Demoniacs and having witnessed their demises first-hand, the normally strong Wolf is overcome with the fear that he will end up like they have. Enter the main villain, Xargin's, herald, Beatrice (herself dark-skinned, but with a lighter tone), who seduces Wolf into accepting her "medicine", which will give him the power he needs to protect himself. As such, he helps undermine the efforts of his own men and joins in on the ambush of XAT with his new-found Amalgam abilities when their headquarters becomes infected, personally believing that he is "saving" them from destruction.

The Situation: Having switched entirely over to Xargin's side, Wolf is now the commander of his vast Demoniac army. He is fully committed to the cause and opposes the very few people left alive from the assault, and among his ward is Alvin, his team's go-to sniper from the XAT days--and one of the earliest casualties--who was personally revived as a like-suited Demoniac. Two survivors from the team, one of them now a Demoniac himself, square off against Wolf and nearly defeat him until Al provides backup. They both soon find themselves on the ropes as Wolf tries to recruit his former allies. However, memories of the past begin to stir in Al, allowing him to recognize who his friends were and what their leader did to all of them. Al redirects his rifle onto Wolf and takes off the top part of his head, causing him to stagger about. As he curses the "ungrateful humans", Hermann, the Demoniac survivor, delivers the final blow by slicing him in half. Wolf's body turns to dust, and Al, finding his coming-back-from-the-dead to be "too creepy" for him, turns his gun on himself in seclusion and blows his own head off, effectively ending his own life.

Analysis: Wolf is a very interesting character, as well as sharing a particular trait with a few others this post series. He is given a reasonably fair, even-handed portrayal both in personality and looks (e.g. not stereotypically "loud" or "token", no overemphasis on "big, round, pink lips"), and is actually treated as a normal, realistic person, rather than a caricature. It is also easy to relate to him on some level and see why he became paranoid, though of course, he went off the steep end with his actions.

This brings us to the event of his death in Episode 19. The specter of "The Traitor", and their eventual comeuppance, is a common theme among these cases: the trusted character, the bastion of justice and authority, the form of leadership suddenly becomes one of the biggest threats to the heroes and after he is confronted and defeated, retribution is meted out. Most often, in the classic sense, the character is "executed", sometimes in the traditional visage of a single shot to the head. It would seem only natural that the betrayer would pay for his crimes in the end and Wolf, for everything he had done, would fit this bill.

In conjunction with this is the fact that Demoniacs can only be killed by either being shot in the head, by another Demoniac, or by completely obliterating them. While Wolf was ultimately done in by being cleaved in half, his demise was initiated with the scalping shot to the head, which seems only logical at first. At the same time, however, the scene felt excessive in some respect. Such a statement may come as a surprise with a series like Blassreiter, where all of two characters survive and a few others die in more agonizing ways than Wolf, but the entire scene of him him lurching around with half of his head blown off felt a little more distracting than "fitting" or "affecting". I believe this was influenced by having seen previous examples of black characters being shot in the head in other anime, even if Wolf was certain to die for his betrayal and due to the show's nature. Of all of the cases, it is one of the more violent and graphic deaths (only eclipsed by one egregious case in another series). On another note, with everything in consideration, two other infected characters, Al included, died via head shots, whereas Beatrice, the only other dark-skinned character in the show, died from a stab through the heart after a pitched Demoniac battle with Hermann.

Perhaps my feelings over Wolf's death was partially influenced by the episode itself being the poorest in the series and shabbily written, as nothing seemed clicked and everything felt "off", which was quite puzzling for such a major episode. Regardless, my sentiments would have likely remained the same even if the episode were well-composed. There have been so many instances of blacks dying almost exclusively by head shots, that it would be difficult for it not to be noticed, however fitting or "par for the course" in a violent, bloody series (even if he was in his monstrous form). In spite of how his death was handled, Wolf is one of the better black characters to have appeared in an anime. His looks, personality, and role in the show were quite good and didn't fall into unfortunate caricatures. Comparatively, he could have been white and his character would have still fit in well and carry the impact he had in the story--meaning he was not treated any differently than anyone else in the show or just there for token purposes. But admittedly, being an uncommon ethnic character in an anime enhanced his profile and presence. After all, he ranked 5th in a character poll of ten on the show's website during its airing.

1. Should really read “most” or “so many”, not "nearly all”, wording I didn't notice until afterwords. Pardon the hyperbole… [10/23/10]

[EDIT [04/24/10]: Screenshots added. (Source: FUNimation Videos, Eps. 12 and 19)]

To Part 2-->

:anime: Free/Low-Cost Anime Pick of the Month:: Global Shinkai Day

2010-03-05T20:07:00.013-05:00

Today marks the beginning of Global Shinkai Day, an online weekend festival celebrating the works of anime auteur Makoto Shinkai. The commemoration first started last year at this same time by fan site Cherry Blossoms Falling and Crunchyroll, who streamed his first three major works for free. It became a substantial hit and makes it return tonight at 5 PM PST (8 PM EST). Once again, they will be available for free viewing until 8 PM PST (8 PM EST) Sunday. All of the features will be available in Japanese with English subtitles, though a dubbed version of 5 centimeters per second will also be present. [Correction: Scratch that, the dub was initially present, but was taken off a few hours later without any given reason.]

Voices of a Distant Star (2002)

This half-hour feature put Makoto Shinkai on the map. Though he had made various shorts prior to it, Voices of a Distant Star was his first fully-fledged work, but what made it so noteworthy was that he made it entirely by himself (except the score, which Tenmon produced and has done so for all of his other work to this present). It was also originally voiced by himself and his wife (who has helped him in later works), but the version presented here was handled by professional voice actors. It is a deep and beautifully animated piece reminiencent of the '80s masterpiece Gunbuster that explores the distance between two young lovers, a reoccuring theme in many of Shinkai's stories.
ANN Link

The place promised in our early days (2004)

Shinkai's first full-featured film (though technically divided into four episodes) is perhaps his most praised work. The focal point of "distance" is still present, but this time it involves a love triangle between two best friends and the mutual female friend that both of them like. Like Voices, their tale is told against a sci-fi/war background (with planes involved rather than mecha), and yet, it is even more gorgeous and unique than its predecessor. Thanks to that title's success, Place was staffed with other animators besides Shinkai to help make it. But in the spirit of his breakout hit, he still had a hand in virtually every aspect of the film, from direction and writing, to 3D work and photography (and even the ending theme lyrics!).
ANN Link, CoMix Wave Link

5 centimeters per second (2007)

The most recent work of Makoto Shinkai was yet another beloved, award-winning piece. An hour long and separated into three "episodes," 5 centimeters per second takes the "distance" theme and both makes it the central theme and takes it to another level. Unlike the previous two, 5cm is based more in the realm of reality than in science fiction save for the middle section, which still has a tinge of the "other" subject that Shinkai loves to dip into. On the flip side, unlike Voices and Place, 5cm is currently out-of-print in North America after ADV Films lost it and many other titles in the wake of the Sojitz fallout. It remains in limbo, but Japanese producer/distributor CoMix Wave financed a new dub by Bang Zoom! that was debuted for last year's event. I recently learned that this dub is apparently being used by Australian distributor Madman for their region's release, but it appears that ADV's old dub (widely considered to be a masterpiece) may remain lost to the ages like the company that once held its license (though it should not be hard to find it on YouTube and elsewhere). Personally, it is my favorite work of his and it is one of the best anime I have ever seen--which is saying a lot, given my short list and selectivity on such praise). Like his other masterworks, it is punctuated by excellent animation, acting (especially on the Japanese side), and score, most notably the use of background songs and the primary theme, "One more time, One more chance" by Masayoshi Yamazaki. Much of the same staff is currently at work on Shinkai's next feature to-be-named.
ANN Link

Other Links

Makoto Shinkai's Personal Site

CoMix Wave

Chief Site of Shinkai's Work