New Anime Series! Sword Art Online episode 1!

Hello there my lovely readers! I thought today was going to be a grand day of catching up on all the new Summer Animes that are coming out. But apparently I have been caught up in The Walking Dead marathon AND I am going to see the new Spiderman movie. XD So…maybe aiming for three episodes today was a bit silly.

Behold Tenchi likes pretty animes. XD

Let’s try for one in between Daryl’s scenes. He has so many good zombie apocalypse skills I’m jealous. Lets see…what to watch first. OHS! Another online video game show. Sword Art Online episode 1! I believe this show is made by the creators of Accel World so I guess I can expect more random terms and pretty art? Spoilers for the first episode happening at the speed of fast!

XO You are not a true gamer if you aren't devoting an entire day to a new game.

Episode Summary: A very perky newsgirl is going on and on how the day has finally arrived! Sword Art Online has been released in limited numbers and tons of people waited for hours to get a copy. One particular player (Kirito) watches the launch online and reads a magazine about the creator. Then right at 1:00pm he places his Nerve Gear helmet and logs on. WOOHOO Launch! Kirito takes off the second he logs on, happy to be back. Another player named Kline stops him and asks Kirito if he was a beta tester. Kirito answers yet and Kline asks him to teach him the basics. Kirito does so, talking about how there is no magic in this game and a variety of different game..things. They spend more time leveling a bit and chill in the grass. Kirito seems to be happy to be in a world where a sword can take you far. Kline says he is going to log off and eat a pizza but will be back on later to play with some friends. He tries to invite Kirito to play with them but Kirito gets uncomfortable. Kline gets confused when he can’t locate the logout button. After some investigating they decide this is a bug and the GMs must be working on the problem. Kline still freaks out and tries to remove his Nerve Gear so he can eat his pizza. Kirito then talks about the Nerve Gear and how they won’t be able to take it off.

Psht who needs a logout button anyway....

Just as Kirito wonders why the GMs haven’t made a mass announcement everyone is forced summoned to the courtyard. A crazy….thing forms in the sky and informs everyone he is the game creator Akihiko. The figure starts off explaining that the game has no log off button on purpose. While everyone is contemplating that Akihiko says that someone logging you out in the real world will result in your death. He then shows clips of the 200 plus players who have already died when their loved ones took off their Nerve Gear helmets. Akihiko explains that this should make everyone feel better, that the press around this event will probably make them safer and no one will remove their helmets. As a final blow to everyone’s brain Akihiko says there is no method to revive people in this game and if you run out of HP you die in real life. The only way to leave the game is to beat it, reaching floor 100. Akihiko gives everyone a mirror which turns changes them to look like they do in real life. Akihiko talks a bit about why he is doing this (really he says nothing) and leaves. Everyone starts freaking out and Kirito pulls Kline aside. Kirito says that with limited resources in this game they must hurry and make it as far as possible before people realize that too. Kline tells Kirito that he can’t leave his friends behind and knows that Kirito won’t take extra people. Kirito starts to run off but both guys take a moment to say goodbye to each other and that they will meet up later…maybe. Kirito runs off and dramatically takes out a wolf before anyone else arrives. In a huge church like a room a screen is shown. Since the game started a month ago over 2,000 players have died. THE END!

You must play forever!!!

I told you it was at the speed of fast! Like oh snap everything was fine and dandy then BAM the entire plot of the show happens at once. Okay maybe as the show progresses there will be tons more plot. Like this is only scratching the surface and it only seems that all has been revealed at this point. I will have to be careful with spoilers though. When I went to MyAnimeList to spell people’s names I saw that Kirito has two little spoilery links. That seems like a lot to me so clearly this show is not going to be as cut and dry as it appears.

Slimes are very complicated people.

Lets get started with this blog post shall we? As with any show, especially one that deals with technology, a lot of terms and phrases were thrown at the viewers all at once. Playing video games isn’t necessary to understand this show but I think it would help. XD It seems to be the kind of show that caters to that crowd anyway. That or make fun of them. Haven’t decided yet.

Aw training the newbies. Good times good times. XD

Once again, like Accel World, this show brought up fond memories of my online gaming days. Nowadays I play games that have very little interaction with people. Mainly just alone with people sending me stuff when I need it and vice versa. But watching this show made me smile and think back to when I would stop and help random newbies whether it be training them or giving them useless items that they needed. Because I remember when people would do the same for me. Of course there were other parts of the show that I don’t relate to, like waiting all night for a video game but still it brought up fond and sad memories in me.

WEEEEE! Look what street this is!

The first red flag that weren’t on the up and up with this new game release was the fact that there were only limited copies of this game made. Maybe I am just used to living in the United States with a population bigger than Japan but 10,000 copies of a game doesn’t seem like a lot to me. But maybe they are catering to a small audience. Still I think with this new technology video games would reach a larger audience and 10,000 copies seems like a very small amount for such a hyped game.

Ah yes. Back from beta weeeee!

I do like that Kirito has had prior knowledge to this game. That he just isn’t randomly awesome. The backstory with being a beta tester makes sense on a number of levels. Why Kirito was so eager to play the game, why he was able to train someone else, and to show that he is probably a game otaku. All that is explained with this believable backstory. If Kirito is such a game otaku there would be no reason for him to be all suspicious of a game since he has played so many in the past.

Ah yes...but where is the magic?!

Kirito’s interactions with Kline (Or Cline…) were pretty basic. Like oh yes let me talk to you to explain all the concepts that the viewer needs to know. This has to happen in most fantasy animes so there is no reason to hate on it happening again. I thought in this instant it was done the best given that it had to happen. Kline was aware of some gaming terms so when Kirito explained things it was a comparison. Like oh these monsters are like slimes in other games, no magical skills like other games, and how to move his avatar. I think I would have preferred slime monsters though. I guess that is besides the point. XD

Behold...the future of video games in 10 years!

The only thing that felt really forced in the conversation was the talk about the game helmet itself, The Nerve Gear. I am not sure how that could have come up naturally in conversation but it was almost given to us like a laundry list. But it had to be done and for someone like me who apparently needs things explained to her 23982 times so she can forget them down the road it is necessary.

So...everyone was playing for 4 hours and there wasn't a panic or anything?

I do find it a bit…special that no one tried to log out before Kline did. I mean I am sure other people tried to but were unable to. Maybe Kline and Kirito were too far out to hear anyone else having problems. But if that outside area was the basic place where people level up why was it so empty? I don’t know, that part felt unnatural to me. Should have been covered in newbies. XD Guess there is no feature where people can shout out over the server or something. This would be me thinking in gaming terms of this time though yes?

Just laying it out all in episode one!

After a few hours with meeting new friends and getting used to the new game everyone is summoned to the main square. By now I am sure most of them realized there was no log out button but decided it was just a glitch. Or maybe some nonpizza eaters were unaware of the fact. But Akihiko decided that the show was over and time for the real fun to begin! Obviously this game maker is made of insanity but one has to admire his flair right?

:( So many families feeling guilty.

So yes. Akihiko the homicidal game maker from hell dropped several bombs on people. The first one being that the log out button NOT being there is a feature of the game. So no one else can leave the game. Number 2 is that if in the event someone tries to log you out via removing your helmet you die. Which is pretty awful in itself. Just imagine how mothers (I am just assuming moms since they are the ones most likely to say GET OFF THAT VIDEO GAME) felt knowing they are the ones who “killed” their kids. Or loved ones. I know that they are not TRULY responsible but they will feel like it. And rounding up the fun fun fun is boom shell number three. If you die in the game you die in real life. WOOHOO! Take that Accel World.

What do you mean we don't look cute anymore?!

Really I thought there would be way more freaking out. It was like they all waited for Akihiko’s…floating blood avatar to disappear before everyone started wailing away. I would have been MOG NOOOOO when he started talking. But I guess a lot was thrown on them all at once. More than two hundred already dead, death if you die in the game, and now people have to walk around NOT looking sexy. Oh yes did I mention that yet? I am not sure what the point was behind that. It did stress some people out, that they have to be their real selves now. Maybe that will play more into the plot later. That the game maker was tired of people pretending to be something they weren’t and what not. Perhaps that is what is going on with the dissolving of the avatars. But yeah some people were freaking out more about that then the whole death thing. XD

Picture

Don't things respawn? X___X Confused here.

Kirito was on point though. Like time to go Kline. Instead of panicking or trying various things that weren’t going to work Kirito decided he was going to put a lot of distance between them and everyone else playing the game. I am not sure about that “rule” in the game though. Kirito said they needed to get as much done as possible because there were going to be limited resources. That has never occurred in any multiple player online game I have played. Maybe the spawn rate would be crap and everyone would be running around ksing but limited number of monsters AT ALL? Maybe that is what he meant to say but how I understood it that there only ever going to be a limited number of resources.

Take note my husband. DO NOT LEAVE ME BEHIND! Saying I need a zombie apocalypse skill....

Kirito seems to like to work alone. Kline wanted to bring Kirito along to meet his friends and Kirito acted all weird. Could have been an awkward moment but Kline let it slide. So Kirito could have just run off on his own but he did break out of his comfort zone and tried to take Kline along. That was pretty amazing of him. Kirito had a calm head in this disaster and would probably be better off alone than with a newbie. Yet he was willing take along one person with him. So Kirito not wanting 3 other people tagging along in a life of death game is understandable and Kline not wanting to leave his friends behind was understandable too. Both men made the best decision given the circumstances.

I tried to capture how amazing this looked...and I think I failed. XD

The episode ends with Kirito vowing to live and an update on how many people died during the first month of the game. 2,000 people? Seems like a lot. X__X But does this mean that there is going to be a time skip already? WAI! Still looking forward to seeing the next episode weee.

Read more!

K-On!! Season Two Episode 8

What do you mean I have to be a mature adult one day?!

My fingers are burnt, I had to stay an extra hour at work, and I am about 50 episodes behind on LOST. Not really feeling very joyous today. Go Wednesdays indeed.

However K-On!! delivered a really good episode and really improved my mood. Although since it is K-On!! I doubt it could have made my mood worse. Even a bad episode of K-On!! would brighten up my day. XD Yui and her band of misfits have that effect on me.

I am going to blog this episode while watching LOST season 4. Let’s see how long it takes me to get this done. And how much I have forgotten about this crazy show called LOST. Which I am going to assume is a lot.

This episode is brought to you by Hulu. Hulu. The website that will catch me up on LOST. Thanks Hulu.

But what about the turtle?!

Episode Summary: The episode starts off with a flashback to baby Yui and her love of turtles. And eating dirt as she trips. Back in the now Nodoka freaks out because she learns Yui has not turned in her form about her plans for the future. Nodoka calls Yui a future NEET and Yui finally starts worrying. She questions her friends about their choices and for each answer she agrees that is what she wants to do. But Nodoka admonishes at every turn. Yui and Ritsu rejoice in their inability to decide when they are called into the office by Sawako. Nodoka goes to tell embarrassing Yui stories but Mugi makes the group head towards the club room so they can include Azusa and cake. Nodoka talks about the good old days when Yui was eating crayons and being a freak (or was that yesterday…). Everyone really enjoys these stories while Sawako tries to scare some sense into Yui and Ritsu. It doesn’t work.

Being 24 and single=death in Japan.

Ritsu and Yui rejoin the group and there are a few more Yui stories. Yui tries to talk about the future but somehow the subject changes to baby Mio stories. She used to be shyer than she is now if you can believe it. Ritsu teased her but eventually helped Mio become slightly braver. Back on topic Yui tries to think of what she could be when she grows up. The girls help by suggesting ideas but then other girls explain why Yui would fail at every job. Ritsu and Yui seriously try to turn in their papers under “musicians” but they are laughed at. Yui tries to go around her school asking what her classmates plan on doing but that just confuses her even more. Eventually she puts down “For now I will do the best I can”. It is almost a magical moment….until Sawako says now. All is well in the world. The end!

Ah the future. I like how this episode was meant to make the girls focus on the future and instead they spent half of it talking about the past. Somehow I saw that happening and I am quite pleased with that. XD

Begone fun killer!

Although I do roll my eyes at the thought of Nodoka being a MATURE 4 year old. Of course not all 4 year olds are as special as Yui and her crayon eating self. But I don’t think tiny kids have the ability to be mature. Unless they are indigo kids or something. I am happy that Nodoka hasn’t gotten her own episode yet, she proves me right again. Boring.

Red dye 40 alert!

But tiny baby Yui was awesome. I knew she was going to eat that crayon. Or at least try. I do think those kids were pretty mean to laugh at her sweet and innocent dream of becoming a kindergarten teacher. RUDE LITTLE KIDS! Yui forgetting ingredients is funny and I blame her group. Really, leaving the most important ingredient to someone you know is a flake…they are the special ones.

QUESTIONS ARE HARD!

Baby Mio flashbacks were a happy surprise. XO What a spaz that kid was. Asking a simple question made her almost have a meltdown. She is kinda lucky that Ritsu took pity on her silly self. XD But at least Mio has been consistent in her freak outs. I guess some kids are just nervous and when people ask questions about books they lose their minds.

Well...it is funnier than underwear.

Ritsu came out looking like a star in the Mio flashback. Sure she might have teased Mio a bit much there….but I probably would have too if Mio was going to be a baby about simple questions. But Ritsu really stepped up to the plate when Mio really needed her. She proved that she could be a caring friend and helped get Mio to come out of her shell….sorta anyway. Yay for pineapples.

WHY DIDN’T WE GET BABY MUGI FLASHBACKS?! I feel as if K-On!! hates Mugi sometimes. Haters! :( She would have been so cute. I guess she was left out since she didn’t have a buddy to reminisce with about the good old days. Still…sadness fills my soul.

Who needs English when you have...friends who can translate for you? XD

I can really relate to Yui and Ritsu’s apprehension towards the future. Heck I am 26 years old and I really don’t know what I want to do with my life. I am kinda just drifting along and delivering pizzas while doing so. So I can see how at 17/18 the idea of deciding your future is really scary. Oh let me write down one sentence that will determine the rest of my life OKAY! Scary stuff man.

If you hadn't laughed at her then she wouldn't be in danger of being a NEET now.

I know that there is some pressure here in America to decide your future in high school. For me it was go to college or…well you better go to college. But I am sure the pressure is much worse in Japan where if you do not decide to automatically go to college/seek work you are destined to be a NEET. And being a NEET is horrible people. The worse thing ever. So instead of glaring at Nodoka for pressuring Yui I guess I will thank her. In the context of their culture I shall not stab Nodoka.

How can you mess up being a florist?!

I think my favorite part of the show was when people were suggesting to Yui what she should be and immediately someone else would think of a reason on why that would be fail. Poor Yui. People tell her to think of her future and in the next breath they tell her she is good at nothing. Good times good times. What was my favorite almost career scene? Well I do think that Yui would make a good florist but her almost puking on the bus was pretty funny too.

Yui...being mature?! XO

When Yui turned her paper in to Sawako saying “going to try my best” I went wow. That is really the correct answer. Yui was told to fill out the paper about what she wants to do with her future. Trying her best is what she can do for her future. She really has no idea what she wants to do and saying anything else would be a lie.

DENIED!

But then the AW moment is smashed to the ground and broken into a million pieces and pooped on by a giant elephant. It was awesome. Sawako was like NO you fail try again. Perfect. So perfect beyond words. I laugh at Yui’s pain. Maybe laughing is cruel….but expecting Sawako to see beauty in Yui’s answer is like expecting my cat to love me. Never going to happen so might as well laugh at Yui’s sad little expression.

In the end Ritsu and Yui have no idea what to do with their lives. Which is fine to me but probably bad considering their culture. But either way I am sure it will work out. They can go to college and play around until something sticks. XD Of course it is better not to play around in college since it costs money but if they are being forced to go they can do a variety of things until something holds their attention. I have the faith in them. Because as seen in last episode, once you graduate from high school you get a new wardrobe and brand new mature attitude! So rejoice Yui and Ritsu, all is not lost woohoo!

This episode was pretty awesome. This blog post might not be as I am busy having my mind explode over LOST. I have forgotten so much and now they are throwing new confusing stuff at me. That and Miles is really hot. I hope he doesn’t die too soon. But yes confusing LOST and awesome K-On!! episode. Next week hopefully I will be less confused and be lucky enough to have another great K-On!! episode. See ya then.

Total blogging time: 2 hours and 27 minutes. YAY FOR LOST!

Read more!