rezi - another amazing artist

Sep 29, 2009

rezi

Yesterday, I came across an artwork by rezi, and it left me speechless. I was dumbfounded, particularly by the level of details. You can see yourself how elaborately the shading, folds, curves, simply everything is done. To top it off, the colors are very soft, not garish. I think that artworks done this way, with soft colors, gleaming light and matching soft shades, are almost always on a whole different level.

WARNING: Following stuff is NSFW!

rezi

Rezi usually draws own original characters, but there are also some drawings of characters from certain anime series, such as Hayate no Gotoku or Maria Holic.

rezi

This Hinagiku is the picture I saw yesterday. Those who read my post yesterday certainly remember it, right? Hina is one of my favorite characters and I really like this picture.

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You can find more of rezi's pictures at Gelbooru or rezi's Pixiv account.


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International Saimoe League - Double Elimination Begins

Sep 28, 2009

Shinku and Suigintou

Don't forget today is the first day of Double Elimination and support your favorite characters in their endeavour to become the queen of moe, and get the tiara for the winner. Their paths are thorny and the way they have to fight surpasses your wildest fantasies. After all, it's extremely hard to make people worship them, and gather such a large base of followers that will ensure them victory ^^

Nice gibberish I've spewed there XD Now, to the point. There is 16 contestants left in the Double Elimination Play-off. The Double Elimination is a tournament with the top 16 ranked contestants over the entire Regular Season. Double-elimination style involves a Winners' Bracket and Losers' bracket where contestants must be defeated twice to be removed from the competition. The winner of the Postseason will be awarded the Tiara.

First Round bouts: Shana vs. Horo , Kagami vs. Rin , Suigintou vs. Mikuru , Suiseiseki vs. Kyou , Tomoyo vs. Nanoha , Hinagiku vs. Fate , Shinku vs. Haruhi , Yuki vs. Taiga.

Besides Double Elimination, there is also Relegation Tournament going on. As far as I know, it's a table-style tournament, where everyone faces each other, which means there will be 13 rounds. 5 highest ranked competitors will advance into the ISML 2010.

Go vote for your girls then.

Katsura Hinagiku

And remember to support Hina, and also Fate-chan, and Tomoyo. Oh, easy to say, but hard to do, because Hina faces Fate in the first round... What shall I do? ^^'


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Katsura Hinagiku and Sanzenin Nagi Parka

Hinagiku Katsura Jacket

Fans of girls from Hayate no Gotoku, namely Katsura Hinagiku and Sanzenin Nagi, have been given a chance to show which one of them is their favorite character by means of outerwear. Cospa has produced two parkas, one with Nagi and one with Hina. Both of them have zips, which make it easy to take it off or put it back on, and both are available in M, L, and XL size. They differ in colors. Hinagiku Parka is light grey with pinkish printing, and Nagi Parka is black with white printing. So, would you wear one?

Hinagiku Katsura Jacket

Sanzenin Nagi Jacket

Sanzenin Nagi Jacket

You can get them from CDJapan or Hobby Search.

Those who are not interested in Hayate no Gotoku apparel, but want to buy a similar jacket with anime design don't have to give up their hopes. K-ON! Parka is there, too.


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Nendoroid Megurine Luka with Nendo Puchi Tako Luka

Sep 26, 2009

Nendoroid Megurine Luka and Nendoroid Puchi Tako Luka

Megurine Luka Nendoroid release will include this extremely cute Nendoroid Puchi Tako Luka. Her hands, or rather two of her tentacles are movable, and she has that smile so typical of her. Reservations will open sometime in October.

Nendoroid Puchi Tako Luka

I wonder if the price will be higher than the regular Nendoroid price, as there are actually two figures. At any rate, I am sure I will be getting them. I have already ordered Tako Luka key-chain, so I will be able to do something like in the picture below.

Nendoroid Megurine Luka and Nendoroid Puchi Tako Luka

More pictures at Mikatan's blog.

Nendoroid Puchi Tako Luka


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Japanese Windows 7 Ultimate voiced by Mizuki Nana

Sep 25, 2009

Japanese Windows 7

An awesome news for all the fans of Nana-chan. The Japanese version of the new OS Microsoft Windows Ultimate Edition will contain a sound pack voiced by this popular singer and seiyuu. Windows 7 will have its own cute female character, called Madobe Nanami. The first name is definitely derived from Nana's name, and "nana", though written with different kanji, also means "seven". The surname Madobe is probably a pun on Japanese word "madobe", meaning "by the window". Besides the sounds, there will also be Nana-chan's original wallpaper included.

They have probably realized that nobody cares for the lame sounds that have been part of the Windows installation, and have decided that it is about time for an improvement. I'm sure that this will even increase the sales of the Ultimate Edition in Japan, as many fans of Nana will certainly pick this version just for the sake of that sound pack.

I hope there will be nothing to make it impossible to insert this sound pack even into non-Japanese versions of Windows, because I want to have it badly ^^ If there's no strange encryption applied to it, I think it should be possible to put it into previous Windows versions, too. Of course, providing that you get the sound pack from somewhere.

Source: Kyouran Kyodai via ANN


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Pettanko Thursday - Yue, Evangeline, Setsuna

Sep 24, 2009

Ayase Yue

Today is thursday, which means here comes another installment of Pettanko Thursday. Last week, it was Akamatsu Day 1, so this time will be Akamatsu Day 2. Three characters from Mahou Sensei Negima who rank the lowest positions in the class bust size comparison, not counting the Narutaki sisters who just look too much like 5-year-old kids.

Ayase Yue

First comes Ayase Yue (綾瀬 夕映), number 4 in the class register. She is very smart and keen on learning what catches her interest. One of such interests is exploring the depths of the extremely large and mysterious school library. However, she hates studying so her grades in school are one of the poorest. Together with other students with poor grades, they form "Baka Rangers" study group and Yue is given the nickname Baka Black and is regarded as the group leader. Her best friend is Miyazaki Nodoka who also likes books and belongs together with Yue to the Library Exploration Club. Yue is also a member of Philosophy Club.

As well as many of her classmates, she fell in love with her teacher Negi Springfield. Though, she tried to suppress it initially, due to certain reasons.

Ayase Yue

She was born on 16 November 1988. You can often see her drinking strange drinks from juice boxes, and it makes her use restroom quite frequently. Her bust size is 66 cm, and every now and then she shows that fact pisses her off.

Evangeline A.K. McDowell

Evangeline A.K. McDowell, student number 26. The only caucasian girl in the class. Her body stopped aging at 10, but she has been living for over 500 years. Actually, she is a witch and vampire and once there was even a bounty on her head. They call her "Dark Eva" among many other nicknames. She is cunning, but her contact with others is very limited by her lack of interest. Furthermore, she rarely talks in the class, and usually gives an evil look to those teachers who ask her something or are about to do so. One of her interests is Go, and she is a member of Go Club. Besides that, she is also a member of Tea Ceremony Club.

Evangeline A.K. McDowell

Evangeline uses dark magic and ice-based spells. When she is at full power, few people stand a chance against her. She is also called Doll Master, because she can animate dolls and even control other people as though they were puppets. She created the magic style Magia Erebea that absorbs magical power into the user's body and gives him or her enormous power boost.

Evangeline A.K. McDowell

Her three sizes are 67, 48, 63.

Sakurazaki Setsuna

Sakurazaki Setsuna 桜咲 刹那, no.15 in the class register. Birthday: 17 January 1989. She is an awesome Kendo expert of the Kyoto Shinmeiryuu School. She is a half-demon, being a daughter of human and crow-demon. However, she is an albino and bears white wings.

Besides her fighting skills, she possesses some magical knowledge, too. For example, she can make paper dolls and transfer a part of her life energy into it. Such created things, called Chibi-Setsuna or Mini-Setsuna, are able to move, think, and communicate with Setsuna herself.

Sakurazaki Setsuna

Her best friend is Konoka Konoe, who she has promised to protect. She calls her Ojou-sama, meaning something like Milady.

Sakurazaki Setsuna

Her bust size is 71 cm, but I believe she can still be categorized as pettanko.

Next time, we'll probably see Akamatsu Day 3. There are still some nice characters left who can be regarded as pettanko, in my opinion. Well, look forward to the next week.


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Hayate no Gotoku!! Second Season - END

Sep 23, 2009

Hayate no Gotoku

It's sad, but reality is merciless. Last episode of Hayate no Gotoku aired some 4 days ago and it is the end. No more Hina-chan and others. No more funny gags that some people find stupid. No more misfortune of the dept-ridden, luck lacking combat butler... But I hope there will be another season.

Hayate no Gotoku!! episode 25

In short, the last episode was about Nagi being sick. She was in bed almost the whole time, but that didn't matter at all, because a lot of things happened.

One thing I realized was that there was few scenes with Klaus in this season. I quite miss him. After all, he was also a very funny character and somewhat unique. You never knew what to expect of him, and he made kind of a good combination with Hayate. So, I hope there will be some "Klaus action" again in some third season.

Hayate no Gotoku!! episode 25

Hayate and Nagi were alone in the mansion. Just the two of them. That's the reason Nagi blushed that much, having wrong expectations of what Hayate might do (to her).

Hayate no Gotoku!! episode 25

Nagi had been told by Mom that men are wolves in sheep's clothes. Seriously, when exactly did she told her that thing? I mean, how old was Nagi then? Three, four?

Hayate no Gotoku!! episode 25

Nagi couldn't fall asleep, so she wanted Hayate to do something to make her feel sleepy. And Hayate presented her his Miku Dance lullaby video. I would never expect something like that, but Miku had made it into a few anime series before, after all. So when it comes to Hayate no Gotoku, it is only natural that they used Miku, too.

Hayate no Gotoku!! episode 25

Should you wonder how Alice in the Wonderland ended, remember this one thing. Alice (read Hina), having defeated all the card soldiers, stood on the top of the land and started a new kingdom, which she called the United States of Japan. And, of course, lived happily ever after.

Hayate no Gotoku!! episode 25

Nagi didn't like this ending at all. That's why Hayate came up with an ultimate punch line: "Look forward to next week."

Hayate no Gotoku!! episode 25

It wouldn't be an anime if Pxcky or Rocky, or however they will call it, didn't make its appearance XD

Nagi wanted Hayate to get her a packet of Packy. But there is one thing for sure. When Hayate really needs something, he really won't get it. Perhaps everyone in the town got a sudden urge to eat Packy, and it sold out everywhere. Or as Nagi said: "I bet Packy's extinct."

Hayate no Gotoku!! episode 25

Hinagiku feeded Hayate a stick of Packy, which made Nagi extremely angry. Yeah, I forgot to mention. Nagi put a camera on Hayate's necktie before he left, so she observed his Packy buying adventure together with Maria.

Hayate no Gotoku!! episode 25

Hayate resorted to the only solution left and made a packet of Packy himself. However, he got hit by a truck right before the gate to the Sanzenin residence, and only one stick of Packy survived. Of course, Hayate was unhurt, because he was holding a ball and used it as an impact absorber. A piece of cake, isn't it? Isn't it?!

Hayate no Gotoku!! episode 25

Flags hanging from the Packy stick. Okay, it's obvious there had to be the Japanese flag, and it's no surprise there was the American flag, too. But what, what the hell the flag of my country was doing there?! O_o And even on the first place, if you take that the first one is the nearest one to the stick. I can think of one reason, though. But it is probably just a coincidence. Actually, the head butler Klaus looks like our president, whose name happens to be Václav Klaus. He looks a bit different now, but some 15 years ago he looked very similar to Klaus from Hayate no Gotoku. Just see the photo below. I'd really like to know if it's just a coincidence, or the author intentionally made Klaus to be a parallel of Václav Klaus.

Hayate no Gotoku!! episode 25

Is this the new character that was to appear in the last episode? I think yes. It must be her. That childhood friend of Hayate. Okay, she did appear, but only on the last threeseconds of the episode. That's one hack of a cliffhanger.


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Free Shipping from HLJ

Sep 21, 2009

Hobby Link Japan have upgraded their check-out system and made it easier for people to pay with PayPal. In order to promote it and show the convenience of using PayPal, they offer their customers free shipping if you pay with PayPal. It applies to all orders placed and paid with a PayPal Billing Agreement until September 28, 24:00 (JST). All items purchased this way, under the promotional campaign, will be shipped by Federal Express or EMS.

All you have to do is find your item, click on "Buy This", and choose "Set up a PayPal Billing Agreement" during checkout. Then, agree to pay for your order via Billing Agreement.

The only limitation is that you can get free shipping only for items which can be shipped during the campaign period. Any backordered or future-release items will be shipped once they become available, so they will charge the shipping.

They say that you will initially be charged for both the purchased item(s) and shipping. However, the cost of shipping will be refunded to your account some two days later.


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CLAMP's Kobato Trailer Streamed

Sep 20, 2009

Kobato

CLAMP's current manga, Kobato, is getting anime treatment and its first trailer has been released recently. The animation isn't the usual CLAMP style as you may know for example from Tsubasa (extraordinarily long legs, arms, and body). MADHOUSE was in charge and they did a great job. Broadcast is beginning on October 6 and it will have 24 episodes.

Anotation taken from AniDB:

Adaption of Clamp's shounen manga serialised in Newtype. Kobato is sweet and perky girl, but also extremely naive about the world around her. She has a "mission", which is to fill a mysterious bottle of hers with the suffering from people's hearts so her wish to go a certain place that she desires to go can be granted. However, she must not fall in love with a particular boy she works with and whose heart she must heal.

I think I'll give it a try.


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JIMANG - La divina tragedia ~Makyoku~

Sep 19, 2009

Ushiromiya Kinzo

Umineko no Naku Koro ni Ending Single, La divina tragedia ~Makyoku~ by JIMANG, was released three days ago. About time. I love that song and I had been looking forward to the full version very much. JIMANG's voice is that kind of voice you either love, or hate. And I'm one of those who love it. The song itself has good, alternating pace and is emphasized by awesome background choruses. Atmosphere fits pretty well into the anime, as you can feel that longing for Beatrice.

Well, which side do you belong to? Loving, or hating?

I don't guarantee for lyrics accuracy, because I've copied them from here and haven't seen the CD booklet yet. I'm too lazy to transcript it into romaji now, maybe later I'll edit this post.

この夜が終わり 我は何を求む
追憶は残酷に 嘲笑うわ…

闇を切り裂く欲望(Oh Desire) 拒むなかれ愛しい者(ひと)よ
逝ける場所なき 欲望(Oh My Prayers) 最後の狂宴(うたげ)よ
我心(やみ)を引き裂く欲望(Oh Desire) 叶えたまへ愛しい魔物(ひと)よ
赦されなき欲望(Oh Desire) 今宵愚者共を汝に贈ろう(sacrifice a sheep to a god)

この夢が終わり 汝(うぬ)は何を想ふ
憐れみの詩歌(うた) 蔑みの微笑
追想は永遠に 廻るだけ

魔力(やみ)を崇める欲望(Oh Desire) 拒むなかれ愛しい物(ひと)よ
往ける場所なき 欲望(Oh Desire) 奇跡の狂宴(うたげ)よ
恐れ(やみ)に戦く欲望(Oh Desire) 探したまへ愛しい童(ひと)よ
諦めなき欲望(Oh Desire) 今宵好餌を汝に贈ろう(sacrifice a sheep to a god)

さあ、神秘の成就さ

地獄(やみ)を切り裂く欲望(Oh Desire) 鳴く事なかれ愛しい生贅(ひと)よ
生ける場所なき 欲望(the Man of Sorrows) 誓いの狂宴(うたげ)を
絶望(やみ)を愛でる欲望(Oh Desire) 抗いたまへ愛しい未来(ひと)よ
誰が…為の欲望(Oh Desire) 今宵褒美を汝に贈ろう(sacrifice a sheep to a god)

The single sells for 1,260 yen and you can get it at CDJapan.


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