RANT: Trolls are Stupid

Remember my blog post about going to WonderCon back in May?
While I was there, pushing my way through the crowds of people, some random guy and his friend passed by me and said very clearly something along the lines of "Look at all these assholes." followed by a chuckle from his companion.
I'm sorry sir, but you paid MONEY to get inside of a convention. So why are you bashing the people here? What, I wonder, is the point of spending a perfectly good Saturday afternoon in a place that you had to pay to get in to with when you're just there to make snarky comments about those who want to enjoy themselves?
This memory was brought up by a deviantArt member who posted a journal detailing someone saying they "HATE" what she's done to the new My Little Pony fandom. Whether you're a hardcore brony or don't give a Pinkie Pie cupcake about the show, the artist gave a very good argument:
She hadn't drawn the picture to offend anyone, and it wasn't targeted at the commentator, obviously - the two had never crossed paths before. The commentator made on of the most cowardly moves I've ever seen a troll make, however: they blocked the artist from commenting back. On a separate account, the artist chewed out the commentator rather explicitly, but as said before, made an excellent argument.

I see this sort of thing all the time on YouTube: someone posts an anime clip from the English dub of the show. Let's say it's Ichigo's transformation in Bleach for argument's sake. Johnny Yong Bosch is on the screen screaming or laughing maniacally as it's Hollow versus Soul Reaper in one body, and below there's the comment box. While I raise my eyebrows, impressed by Johnny's talent once again, people are writing careless messages like "the original's better" or "this dub sucks". You get the idea.
The most offensive one I recall was on a video posted by the voice-actor. Steve Blum is probably most well-known for his role as Oroshimaru and Zabuza in Naruto. He put his demo reel up on YouTube for loyal fans, and one gutsy viewer posted a comment saying they wished Steve was away from the microphone forever, mentioning a club for those with that shared belief.

Why on Earth have we slipped so low?
There is a very simple rule to anything on the internet: Don't like? Don't watch. Why is it so hard for people to understand this principle? Why waste your time torturing yourself with a show, dub, or even a CONVENTION for God's sake that you don't enjoy? Does the masochism make you cooler? If so, do you REALLY need to share your complaints with EVERYONE? Even if you disagree, what's the point in picking a fight with some hardcore fan? Believe me, I've tangled with enough Twilight fangirls to know how to say, "I don't like the series, okay? We don't have to talk about it." Rather than pick a fight. The argument will go nowhere, and someone will get hurt.

- Much luvz, Hideki.

Kingdom Hearts: A final end

When was the point where it stopped being fun?

Are you still waiting for your life to start?

Once upon a time in the far-away land on Eng, there lived a girl named Jenn who loved a girl named Kelly. Jenn needed a way for Kelly to notice her, so she donned her mullet wig and Organization XIII coat to start a web show. This is the story of the hugely popular Demyx Time YouTube series. What started as a crush spawned into a now widely-known internet sensation that's grown by over 40,000 subscribers, sprouted from one girl in with a camera to an entire cast and was born from a love story that's now touched hundreds of people's hearts.
However, all good things must come to an end.
After about four years, it was announced that the fifteenth and final episode of Demyx Time had been filmed, and the show would soon be ending. However, the end seemed to have a larger effect on Kelly and Jenn, the internet stars.
Trying to break away from their Kingdom Hearts roots, Parle Productions began releasing their newest series The Marauders, based off of Harry Potter. After various announcements about a Left 4 Dead music video to be filmed at the next convention they were attending, the two uploaded a video of them cosplaying Nick and Ellis from L4D2.
The newest video spawned countless comments somehow relating back to Demyx Time and The Sora Show. Yesterday, Kelly officially announced it on her journal:
Parle Productions is quitting Kingdom Hearts cosplay permanently.
Time has passed, and simply put, they're tired of Axel and Demyx. They've essentially exhausted Demyx Time, but Kelly mentioned that she doesn't enjoy playing Sora any longer either. Therefore: After the final episode of Demyx Time is released, Kingdom Hearts will end for Parle.
Today, Jenn put her final cosplay picture of Demyx on DeviantArt, and Kelly wrote an update detailing that they're looking for a house.
I'm sad to see it go: truly, I am.
If it weren't for web shows like theirs and The Misadventures of MarVex I'd have never enjoyed the fandom as much as I have. Also: Jenn and Kelly have helped me with some personal problems as well.

Parle isn't dead.

The Marauders will continue, and I'm hoping The Shinra Files will as well.
I hope Jenn and Kelly the best: whatever they choose to do, there's no point in doing it if they don't enjoy it as much as the people watching.

Parle, here's to you.
Have a good future.

- Much luvz, Hideki.

New Blog

I'm not done with anime, but someone new has appeared in my life.
Actually, three somethings.
I aqquired three hermit crabs last Saturday that are now alive and well at this very moment. Their names are Sei, Kino, and Marluxia. You can read it here.

Thanks!

- Much luvz, Hideki.

Misery

For once, this blog is about something non-anime, not about my life, and not about a movie that spawned into a popular video game. However: a nerd is a nerd is a nerd, and I know there are Stephen King freaks out there.
In my continuing experimentation with horror movies and thrillers, tonight my dad and I watched Misery. The tale tells of author Paul Sheldon who crashes on a mountain road during a blizzard. Annie Wilkes, claiming to be his number-one fan, pulls him from the wreckage and brings him back to her home to nurse his broken limbs. Soon it becomes clear that Annie isn't quite right in the head. She lies to Paul about her contact with the outside world when she has no phone. When leaving the house, she locks his room, and when discovering that he's killed off the heroine, Misery Chaste, of his hit romance series, she throws a tantrum and forces Paul to write a continuation. Crippled and praying he can deceive his captor, Paul starts desperately searching for a way out.

When I watched The Shining, I liked the IDEA of the story, and the movie left me unimpressed. However: I believe that stalkers are some of the most terrifying people you could come across. Misery had a character that lived up to that expectation - rapid, uncalled for moodswings; obsessive-compulsive habits and paranoia. This movie made me jump, sit on the edge of my seat, and had everything I look for when taking a dose of horror.
For gore lovers, I'm sorry: there's a minimal amount of blood. One person is shot through the chest before Paul and Annie's final struggle where the both bleed quite a bit.
The acting was excellent: Paul was a clever man who had to act for his life to fool Annie. The sheriff that goes looking for him was charismatic with a hysterical wife.
I really enjoyed Misery. With this on top of my friend's rants on Stephen King, I think I'm finally sold on actually reading one of his books.

- Much luvz, Hideki.

Kitchen "Energy"

I swear to whatever God you may or may not believe in, I just saw something in my kitchen. My dad says he often sees “passing energy” in our house, but this is my first visible brush in several years.

“It might’ve just been that.” Reassured my brother when I told him.

“I swear to God, it wasn’t the coffee maker!” I cried, gesturing to the appliance’s glowing face.

“What, like a glowing orb?” He grinned, almost teasing.

“Yeah, like a glowing orb!” I repeated.

I have a strong belief in ghosts and spirits. Whether you agree with me or not, I DO respect your opinion.

However: I just saw something in my kitchen.

- Much luvz, Hideki.

Twin Spica

I don't often rush to review a series that I haven't read or seen a substantial amount to draw an opinion on, but tonight I found the manga series Twin Spica so awing and dream-like that I HAD to share it.

As the story goes, in the year 2010, Japan's first manned spacecraft failed to launch when the gas caught fire. The entire crew was killed and the rocket crashed into the nearby city, killing many people. Asumi Kamogawa was born in the same year, and grew up knowing her mother only in a comatose state, completely covered in bandages before she passed away when Asumi was five. Once the funeral had passed and her mother was created, the young girl meets and befriends "Mr. Lion", a man who wears a cartoon mascot head. Mr. Lion teaches Asumi about outer space and the stars, and the girl's passion to someday pilot a rocket grows. She promises her father and friend that they'll get on her space ship for free.

At fourteen, with some trials and bumps in the road, Asumi applies for the Tokyo Space School. With the love of Mr. Lion and her father, she's sent off into a strange new setting where she spends her first week locked in an isolated room with two strangers. There, Asumi defies the impossible after reliving the trauma in her childhood.

* * *

At this point, I haven't gone into much detail and not much has happened, but the cartoony style of Twin Spica portrays a shocking story with hidden meanings.

Never have I seen this accomplished with an art style so freakishly similar to Akiko and the Planet Smoo by Mark Crilley.

Supposedly a series with so much true fact blurs the lines of life, love, reality and legend in only this one volume I picked up at the library today.

When Asumi first meets Mr. Lion at age five, he's surprised that she can see him and claims he's a ghost. Further hints about his identity are revealed later. Who he is and his purpose is so far a mystery, but he is the element that's turning your science brain upside-down as you read.

The book is ridiculously easy to fall in love with, and I'm already longing for more.

Twin Spica is like nothing I've seen yet.

- Much luvz, Hideki

Ringing Bell

I came across an AMV from a movie titled Chirin no Suzu, or Ringing Bell of Chirin. As I write this, the YouTube window for the American version of the movie, titled Ringing Bell, is already up.

When I saw the AMV, I checked the Wikipedia page to see what in the world I was watching. The movie was so intriguing when put together with the AMV that I had to sit down to see it.

It starts as a movie very obviously aimed towards kids. Chirin is a young, hperactive-lamb living with his mother spending his days running free and eating clover. Due to his ADD personality, Chirin wears a bell around his neck so that he won't get lost where his mother can't find him.

Barely managing to get through to her distracted child, Chirin's mother warns him never to venture outside the fence into the mountains where the Wolf King dwells, his favorite food being lamb.

As fall arrives, one night the sheep in the barn are awoken by the sound of dogs fighting. The door bursts open, and the Wolf King enters. Chirin, still half-asleep doesn't flee with his friends and family. As the Wolf attempts to attack, Chirin's mother throws herself in the way to save her child.

Needless to say, Chirin's mother doesn't survive. This is where I bring in the description of the YouTube video I was watching this on: the uploader points out that the lamb goes through the five phases of grief, these being denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance.

Denial comes first, obviously. As soon as Chirin realizes that something is wrong, he immediately launches into the heartbreaking "please get up", "you can't leave me" rant.

Chirin charges into anger as soon as he's done sobbing over his mother's carcass. He marches into the mountains, calling out to the Wolf. In a pathetic attempt to attack his adversary, Chirin reveals that he plans to kill the Wolf as he killed his mother. However, the apathetic wolf literally flicks the lamb away.

When he returns to bargain, Chirin begs the Wolf to make him his apprentice. The lamb claims he hates being a cowering sheep and wants to become a strong wolf also. The Wolf refuses, and Chirin even suggests letting himself get eaten if things don't work out. Still, the Wolf King couldn't care less. Chirin swears he'll become a strong wolf and sets off on his own.

Our poor little lamb makes an attempt to hunt down prey, but it's obvious he doesn't know where to start. Taunted by the animals he tries to eat, an isolated Chirin starts following the Wolf on his travels, still insisting to be taught. Here we are treated to the Wolf King's harsh lifestyle where he shocks Chirin with his brutality. However, the lamb bears through it, following the wolf exhausted through the mountains. Occasionally seeing other animals with their mothers and remembering his deceased mother, the lamb slips further into his depression.

After accidentally smashing a nest of bird eggs, Chirin falls apart as the Wolf watches. He tells Chirin that sorrow is good, that it will help him "grow fangs" as he finally agrees to take the lamb as his apprentice. Once more, Chirin swears he will defeat the Wolf.

The Wolf is a harsh teacher, and he changes the once happy lamb into a vicious ram with a pair of horns to be reckoned with. The Wolf says he's happy with Chirin's progress, and the ram replies with this:

"You can't imagine the times I looked for a chance to kill you, but, somehow, I could never find one. I could never make myself do it. Living on this mountain has changed the way I think about life, and about you. For now, I think of you as a father, and if the world you live in is a Hell, then I'm willing to live there with you."

Here is Chirin's acceptance, but the story has a bit more to go.

The narrator tells us Chirin and the Wolf are now known far and wide for their ruthless and reckless killing.

On a dark and stormy night, the Wolf and his adopted son return to the ram's childhood home. Claiming he'll have no problem with the sheep, Chirin is shocked that he can't bring himself to attack a young lamb that's shielded by its mother. The Wolf, saying it's the last thing he'll "teach" the ram, tries to enter the barn. Chirin begs him not to enter, attacking the Wolf in an attempt to save the sheep inside.

Running wild, the ram remembers and cries out "I'm a ram! You're the wolf that killed my mother!" and gores the Wolf King on his horns.

The Wolf congratulates Chirin as he stands dying impaled, saying he knew this would be his demise: dying at the hand (or horn) of someone stronger. However, he says he was glad it was Chirin before falling dead to the ground.

Grieving in the rain, the ram turns to his childhood home, hoping to be accepted. The sheep, terrified by the attack and then murder, shut the door in fear of a creature that is neither wolf nor ram. After all, there was no way this fearsome monster had come from their field, right?

A confused and depressed Chirin returns to the mountain, thinking back to the time when he so desperately wished to kill the Wolf. Without a home or companion, the ram screams into the night for his adopted father.

As snow begins to fall, he asks "I'm still alive, but where do I go now?!"

The camera shows us a blizzard over the mountains that the Wolf and Chirin once roamed together as the narrator finishes the story: Chirin was vaguely remembered by some, but quickly forgotten as life moves on. In his field, he was never seen again.

* * *

As I figured I might, I'm not sure how to take this movie. It's an older anime from where the style didn't have the defined style it does today. An unknowing parent who might pick up the VHS tape for their child (God forbid) might not even know that it wasn't originally produced in America. However, the dubbing is excellent for a movie licensed in 1978.

The acting has that feel to it as well - done in a style making me think of Kimba the White Lion and Speed Racer. Therefore, it's hard to judge in 2011.

The movie itself moves at a good pace for kids, despite its heavy storyline. It features musical numbers, oddly. Not by the characters but some band probably hired by the company who dubbed it.

As for watching it, the movie has no DVD. It was released in the VCR days, therefore piracy is barely noticed, that's why I let myself watch it on YouTube. If you have the time, whether you actually want to go through with watching Ringing Bell is up to you.

- Much luvz, Hideki.