Jun 29 2008
As promised I’m going to do a quick run summary with lots of screenshots. This is for two reasons:
1. I’m behind on the series, no doubt there will already be many reviews and I wish to catch up.
2. I’ll spoil less of the storyline if I do this (my ‘proper’ excuse for being lazy)
Jun 22 2008
On my previous post on Strike Witches I mentioned that it would start to air on the 3rd July 2008. Whilst that information is true, I recently discovered a great piece of news. Not only is Strike Witches to be aired internationally on Youtube and Crunchyroll, but it is also going to be released simultaneously!
More information can be found here on the GDH website http://www.gdh.co.jp/news/20080619.html, including the air dates for all the different TV stations, providing you are in Japan or able to receive its airwaves. Still, for all of us who thought we’d have a delay before being able to see it, this will come as great news!
Jun 21 2008
The first time I saw Strike Witches, the first thing that popped into my head was Sky Girls (スカイガールズ). Now apparently there is a reason for that, so read on to find out.
Strike Witches the Series is being released from the 3rd July 2008 and said to have 13 episodes. The storyline follows an alternate universe much like Earth in the mid twentieth century, where a mysterious enemy has appeared called Neuroi. The enemy fights mainly using propeller aircraft but also spreads corrosive miasma?
Jun 21 2008
Just went out to buy a birthday present for my mother – didn’t know what to get so perfume always seems like a generic present, well appreciated you know. Anyway, the sales assistant cheated me of £54.99. I say cheated, but really I just went:
ME “I’m looking for something for my mother”.
SA “Around what price range?”
ME “£50 or so?”
SA “I like this one *shows bottle*
ME “I’ll take it”
So really it was me being impatient, though I don’t know what difference it would have made even if I was patient – I mean come on, do I really have a clue when it comes to buying perfume? She gave me those little strips of paper to try, so I just held them to my nose…I have a blocked nose so I just nodded in agreement.
Jun 21 2008
For more information about the CD and song, please check my previous post here: http://www.starlightbreaker.co.uk/?p=7
I’ve just ordered mine from CDJapan, who offered both the regular and limited edition – the limited edition comes with a DVD, hopefully having the footage shown in the video on my previous post 
The order came to ¥1800 and I splurged out on the 2nd best shipping method, costing an additional ¥1210. However, if you’ve signed up to CDJapan recently you get 300 welcome points, equal to ¥300, so it comes out to ¥2710, around £13. You earn points every time you buy something and if you spend over ¥5000 you get ¥500 off, a whole 10%…I’m not advertising for them or anything, just stating the facts. 
(Hmm…they do have an affiliate program – I could earn some money..)
Anyway – here’s the link to the limited addition CD, check it out if you want:
Jun 20 2008
The Sky Crawlers is Mamoru Oshii’s (押井守) latest work. He’s well known for his previous titles, particularly Ghost in the Shell. The Sky Crawlers seems to be adapted from a novel published in 2001 by Hiroshi Mori (森博嗣). The novel was the first of a series to be published, but also meant to be the last book of the series, so that the books were jumbled up as they were released.
Jun 20 2008
It seems like Vocaloid are getting a new addition – Gackpoid. Following along the lines of Miku Hatsune the voice is targeted mainly at anime songs. The new voice is a male voice based upon Gackt, a infamous anime voice actor, who has done shows such as Genesis in Crisis Core – Final Fantasy VII.
Personally I’ve never heard of him, nor will he match up to Miku Hatsune, but perhaps it’ll be the male voice Vocaloid fans have been waiting for? His voice is deeper than Ren’s, who (in my opinion) has a really high voice.
Two short demos have been released, which can be streamed at http://www.ssw.co.jp/products/vocal/gackpoid/demosong.html
The main website can be accessed at http://www.ssw.co.jp/products/vocal/gackpoid/
Jun 20 2008
Zettai Karen Children literally translates to Absolutely Lovely Children – sounds great so far huh? In my personal opinion the general storyline sounds like a good one, recently more and more humans have been turning into Espers, those with psychic powers of some sort, so much that it has become a norm somewhat. The story follows the lives of three 10 year olds who are Japan’s only Level 7 Espers, level 7 being the highest level attainable, and similar in power to a weapon of mass destruction.
They have been taken in by B.A.B.E.L (personally I think the director Keiichiro Kawaguchi wanted to put a lot of bible references in. His other works include Hayate the Combat Butler and animator in Great Teacher Onizuka). B.A.B.E.L is an organisation which works to hunt down and capture criminal espers, B.A.B.E.L does actually stand for something, but I thought it was so ridiculous I didn’t bother putting it in
Anyway, lets move on and introduce the characters, first up is the ‘main character’ as she seems to be the one with the most powerful (and useful) power. Kaoru Akashi (明石 薫) is a level 7 phychokinetic, which basically means that she has the power to move physical objects (this also allows her to ’shoot’ as it were, beams of her power to blast physical objects.
Jun 20 2008
Just thought I’d introduce a game to you all – its online, free, third person shooting RPG. That sounds like a mouthful! I think its pretty decent though, once you get into it you just can’t stop…or perhaps thats just me.
General Overview
You play via a third person view – the general game play is much like a first person shooter, except with a few twists – you get to select not only guns, pistols, rocket launchers etc, but also swords. They become an integral part of your weapons cache as you play the game. It has an RPG element, where with each kill you gain experience, thereby leveling up your character.
Jun 19 2008
I have to admit I fell in love with this song the moment I heard it. The combination of the lyrics and the uplifting beat just swayed me. It’s the OP for the new series Zettai Karen Children, sung by the Karen Girl’s (可憐Girls). Try as I might I can’t seem to find much information about them, it appears to me to be their first song – in which case I give a thumbs up and say good job!
The three singers are Yukia Shima (島ゆいか), Ayami Muto(武藤彩未) and Suzuka Nakamoto (中元すず香) in case anyone want’s to keep an eye out for them.
Their CD is coming out on the 25th June 2008 – incidentally the same time L : Change the world is coming out on DVD (I believe, please do correct me if I’m wrong). It seems like a lot of things are going to come out on the 25th, can’t wait. No doubt I will be purchasing the CD.
The CD will contain the song, 3 remixes and the instrumental version (for all you adventurous lot who want to sing along with it).
1.Over The Future
2.Over The Future（Catasrophe mix）
3.Over The Future（Light Speed mix）
4.Over The Future（Untouchable mix）
5.Over The Future（Instrumental）
Anyway, the song is posted below, courtesy of youtube, feel free to leave your thoughts on the song (I realise it is a niche genre type of song, but I love it!)
More information can be gleamed from the Zettai Karen Children website, specifically at http://www.z-child.com/news/cd.html
