Ristorante Paradiso 2

Well things are moving very…slowly. I have been working almost everyday for the past 3 weeks so haven’t had too much time. Tried writing a few things but being interrupted every 5 minutes or so started to piss me off. When I get off work though it’s usually straight to FFXI or watching any new anime episodes. Trying to get the troublesome extra time consuming stuff out of the way in FF so when the semester starts up I can play semi-leisurely.

Anyways on to the main topic at hand: Ristorante Paradiso 2.

Ristorante 1 was of course an intro to the series introducing the cast, setting, story, and mood. In Ristorante 2 Nicoletta is presented a problem that was sort of brought up in the 1st episode: What is she gonna do now that she is in Rome?

The intro begins in the restaurant with a person asking what almost everyone would ask:

Obviously a new comer.

This is an Old Man Megane Waiter Cafe!!! But it’s actually just a peculiar restaurant. After the intro we see everyone eating dinner while Nicoletta asks about the pictures on the wall which show the restaurants history and they even explain how much the owner cares about his wife (Nicolettas mother). Feeling a bit sour towards her mother how she could be so happy and loved after leaving her behind. I wouldn’t classify this as curse bearing grudge but it’s more like resentment. Pan out to her apartment where she is talking on the phone with her grandmother about her predicament and some of her love problems (whether she really likes him or not). At the end of the conversation she decides that she has to do something like a get a job while she is in Rome.

Strolling around looking for a job….and I’m not sure if it’s the employment office or just another place that was hiring (probably the later) but it was closed. Disappointed she continues on walking. In the same area we have Luciano sitting with his grandson Francesco.

Time Makes Fools of Us All

It’s been a long while since I’ve posted. Well, whatever your definition of “a long while” happens to be. I was reading a friend of mine’s blog, (I’ll have to keep reading that)  and it reminded me that this was a great way to put off studying. Seeing as how I will be up all night anyways, taking a few minutes to procrastinate never hurt anyone, right? Well.. maybe.

Summer 2009 Anime

Well it’s about time for the Summer season to start, and it sort of already had with the 1st episode of Suzumiya Haruhi no Yuutsu season 2. There’s a few good shows this summer though if I have enough willpower to watch most of them is another matter.

Without further ado here’s what you’ve been waiting for:

My MUST watch list?

CANAAN – Type Moon anime??? Fuck yeah!
Umineko – I saw a few pictures for wallpapers of Umineko and proceeded to wiki it and suffice to say the story and characters look very interesting. Umineko, like Higurashi, is a popular doujin game.
Bakemonogatari – SHAFT?! looks Horror but really a Comedy?! Count me in.
Sora no Manimani – Slice of life and astronomy? Awwww yeahhh.
Yoku Wakaru Gendai Mahou – Sounds somewhat like Someday’s dreamer with magicans. Looks like a slice of life, we’ll see.
GA: Geijutsuka Art Design Class – Slice of life and art? Where’s my Sketchbook Full Colors season 2?! lol.
Zan Sayonara Zetsubo Sensei – Oh Shit!!! More Zetsubo Sensei!! I was kinda sad when they said at the end of the OVAs that it would really be sayonara T_T. But now I’m happy again!
Spice and Wolf II – More economics lessons and Horo!

Maybe:
Princess Lover!
Kanamemo
Hetalia Axis Powers 2 (saw a first episodes of season one, all I can say is lol at history.)

That’s about it really. Been recently playing FFXI again and having a lot of fun on the Fenrir server. Met a bunch of cool people and even found someone who is a fan of Legend of the Galatic Heroes aptly named Mittermeyer. A lot of stuff in draft on documents at the moment, stuck at work for today so waiting to get home before I give it some final touches.

Your Desk, DannyChoo Contest

Here’s my desk/workplace loaded with my figs and collectibles. Back home for the summer so using the small desk we’ve had for a long time. This is for a giveaway Danny is doing for people who take pictures of their desk/workplace and post it. Rules and information are in the link. Will update with an edit when I post my submission.

My desk at home loaded with my figs. Click for larger resolution.

Ristorante Paradiso episode 1

The genre I look out for when choosing shows is of course “slice of life”. I watch other things but I really look for the slice of life gem of the season which just happens to be Ristorante Paradiso by David Productions.

Ristorante Paradiso

When I read the synopsis of the story I was immediately hooked and desperately wanted the 1st episode to come out. When it did I immediately grabbed it and watched it and man was I not let down. This is everything I love in an anime great characters, soothing music, and a slow paced atmosphere that just sucks you into it and makes you wish you were there. I think it’s because I am a fan of Aria (diehard yo) that I love these slow paced shows, they’re not for everyone mind you, but the people who like this genre truly understand the greatness of the “Slice of Life” genre. In the first episode everything that is written in the synopsis is laid out: Nicoletta (our heroine) goes to Rome to confront her mother and upon reaching Rome she enters the Restaurant Casetta Dell’Orso where the rest of the story will unfold.

Spring Anime Impressions part 1

A bit late but better late than never this Spring season has been full of good stuff. Usually I only watch about 50% of the shows in a season, sometimes less. What happens most of the time is I start watching something and I don’t necessarily drop it but I forgot to watch it after 4 episodes or so because I get so busy. Not this time around, this time around the animes are making me HAVE to watch the next episode or else the world would end.

Without further ado here’s the first part of my impressions:

Some of the cute girls of Hatsukoi.

Hatsukoi Limited is anime adaptation based on the manga of the same name. If you think the characters look really familiar to you it’s because it’s by the same creator of Ichigo 100% Kawashita Mizuki. Having read the manga I already knew how the story would play out but hearing the voices of the seiyuus on top of the super cute character designs was enough to K.O. me and make me want more. I liked the style of Kawashita Mizuki as she focus on “koi” which is passionate love and her works have made me feel the energy she is pouring into the characters and story. It is enough to make you wish you had a passionate youthful love life or wish. I will tell you this though: the first couple of episodes will deal with each girl (sorta) and their sepreate first loves however their stories will all merge together in the end.

Back on track, new fig pre-orders

Summer Time!! GAME ON!!

SUMMER IS HERE!!!
Well final exams week is finally over and I am happy as a motherfucker. I have a little bit over a month of free time as I will be taking Summber B classes that will start around June 29. During this time I hope to write all that I have been saving up this last month or so. So to start back on track I’m just gonna write a really simple post about what figs I have pre-ordered for the rest of the year.

So pre-ordering figs is a pretty easy task as all it requires is the click of a button once I figure which ones I want, when they release, and how much they will cost. So this is my current loot table for summer/fall:

Saber Lily Distant Avalon (I simply cannot wait for this to arrive!!!)

So pretty~

Aozaki Toko

Picture courtesy of Hobby Search

Black Rock Shooter

Black Rock Shooter, about 5 pounds! E-gads!

and considering

Katsura Hinagiku

H-I-N-A: HINAGIKU!

There’s a few more I’m eying at the moment but they aren’t in stock yet, I’ll make a new post for those. Recently after joining the Toyslogic forums I found out 2 awesome things.

1. Toyslogic is now using a VIP Membership Program. Basically when you spend money the purchase goes towards your VIP membership:

Bronze for $500 1% discount
Silver for $1000 3% discount
Gold for $3000 5% discount
Platinum for $6000 6% discount

Once you get Gold+ you start having awesome benefits. More info within the thread.

2. I found out about a nifty site called Figure Tsuki where much like MyAnimeList you can keep track of what figures you own, have on pre-order, or wish to have. Very helpful and also gives you a giant gallery of figs to browse through along with pricing and date of release. Try to guess what my user name is lol.

Well that’s it for now, we will not continue with our “Irregular” schedule. Next post will definitely be about the anime season I swear!

What Curryninja’s watched so far this season!

Gaahhhhhhh

Small update, really busy with 2 tests this week. I’ve been watching anime in my break time so it goes about 2 1/2 hours of studying -> 1 or 2 anime episodes -> back to studying -> etc. So far I’ve watched everything I wanted to I think, including some I didn’t think I would. There are still some shows getting subbed but here’s what shows to expect the next post to be about:

Valkyria Chronicles, Shangri-La, Tears to Tiara, Sengoku Basra, Saki, Higepiyo, Natsu no Arashi, K-ON, Hayate 2, and Queen’s Blade.

I think the post will be split up into 2 lengthy posts as to not have one overwhelming one. There’s a lot of good stuff this season, some stuff that looks okay on the top but deep down is good fun inside. Hoping to see more of the shows subbed (and if it takes forever I’ll just watch the RAW).

Back to studyingz!

All Professor Layton Games confirmed for US and EU!!

YAYYYY!!!

It’s true folks all 6 Professor Layton games by Level 5 are coming to the U.S. and Europe!! That is the 3 games currently out right now in Japan (Curious Village, Devil’s Box, and Final Time Journey) and the 3 in development. The 4th game is “Professor Layton and the Devil’s Flute” which is actually a predecessor and is set before Curious Village.This is great news because I love the Layton series, it challenges your thinking ability yet when you can’t think of it and you see the answer it’s one of those “Oooooohhhhh, goddamn that’s so simple!”. Another great gem by Level 5.

The 2nd Professor Layton game is named “Professor Layton and the Diabolical Box (subject to change me thinks)” for the rest of us.

Wired Link
Professor Layton series rundown

March Type Moon Loot

Towards the end of February/ beginning of March I was just browsing around on ebay to see if I could buy some cheap Aria art books (I did buy one but that didn’t come in yet so nothing to write about). While I was at it I also browsed for some Type-Moon stuff and man what a browse that turned out to be! I snagged myself a Type-Moon 2009 calendar and Tsukihime Art book”Dokuhon Plus Period”. The calendar was $22.99 after shipping and the art book was $22.75 after shipping , the art book price was also being sold at 70% off (I have no idea why) so I clicked immediately. All in all paying $45.74 is a steal especially considering how hard it is to find these items; the calendar being sought after and new, the art book because it’s out of print and hard to get.
So enough about how much of a Type-Moon fag I am here’s some pics, I don’t have a scanner and they are kind of a large file size because I left my camera at home so I had to use my friends camera. Oh well, better resolution is better right?

Pics:

Tsukihime art book and Type-Moon 2009 calendar

Calendar:

Miss January is Saber Lily

I just love the look of Saber Lily, refined and pleasing yet kick ass at the same time.