1. 

   Os
   March 23rd, 2006 - 13:45

   If this was a reality, I’d move here right away. Disowned from the family? Dont care, this’d be the life for me.

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2. 

   jpmeyer
   March 23rd, 2006 - 14:27

   You can actually make it a reality. I know I am!

   (one more semester left with the MA and then it’s Ph.D. time!)

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3. 

   wontaek
   March 23rd, 2006 - 15:51

   I have to let my wife do the lecture in marriage. I don’t want to risk my head by slip of my tongue. To make up for that, I can do one Anime Musicology and Theory. Here would be list of songs discussed

   1. Bird’s Poem ( AIR opening ): The best made song, theoretically speaking. It uses natural minor mode for each section, which is in basic 2 group form, while the sections change mode following a melodic minor scale. Not many music pieces make use of natural minor mode, thus the increase in difficulty in harmonizing. Its transitions are short, yet very meaningful to overall scheme of the things. I am not kidding here: This song would be a something worthy of analysis in MUS 363 ( Music Theory III: 4 part harmony ) or MUS 490 ( Music Forms and Analysis ) class. The impact of this song propelled the Air series to a new height rarely seen before.

   2. Mazinga Z theme song: I believe 50+% of people in South Korea knows this song ( in Korean translation ) by heart. I also believe 25+% of people in Japan knows this song as well ( I have memorized only about 60% of this song in Japanese ). I also heard that there is Cantonese version and Mandarin version of this song.

   3. Laputa: One of the most beloved anime song ever.You can’t be an Otaku in Japan unless you recognize this song. ( This song in cell phone tones was used in ending sponsor credit scene in Genshiken ep. 1 )

   4. Ai, Oboete Imasuka ( Love, Remember? from Macross the Movie ): This is the song that started the whole Anime Idol business and Voice Actor CDs. It terms of commercialism, this is the song that made Anime songs a profitable business venture. Macross ( Robotech ) the TV series did try that, but it just can’t match this song as well as the best composed song in Macross series which is the ending song of the movie, Angel’s Wing. I still get shivers when I see the Zentrani and Meltron fleet turning around to attack Bodruza; one of the most famous scenes in 1980s.

   5. Megazone 23 part I and part II: This series is the starting point for the whole cyber( virtual ) Idol thing. Everyone is trying to make EVE a reality, yet none has yet made it to the EVE level. A curious note: I saw this series in Japanese and in English as this was one of the first OVA to debut in dual language format. I have to say English version has better voice acting, better explanation of the situation ( Absolute Destruction of Available Matter ), has a bridge episode from part I to part II, and gets rid of the needless X scene.

   6. Space Battleship Yamaro theme song: Best use of male choir in anime song

   7. Legend of Galactic Hero: They asked Stuttgart Philharmonic Orchestra to perform symphonic pieces by Carl Nielsen, Gustav Mahler, and Tchaikovsky, and its use of Ravel’s Bolero might have made the composer proud.

   8. v Gundam, Char’s Counter attack: I believe Tokyo Philharmonic did this one as most of the works were original orchestral composition by the composer. This is one of rare case where they spent unusual amount of money to create the music. Its ending song ‘ Beyond the time ‘ was performed by very popular Japanese group of the time as well, and the song was known to many who had no knowledge of this movie nor its use in it.

   9. School Rumble season 1 Ending Song: One of most comical text and scene ever. Its parody of its ownself in OVA 2 raised it to a new level.

   10. Destiny ~ Fate ~ from Lament of the Lamb: The OVA series was a total injustice to the manga and its own ending song. This song used many cliches, and it used them correctly to inspire chilling song of affection.

   11. Scrapped Princess Ending song: It uses modes and methods found in early 13th and 14th century motets. Now this is something that only Early music fanatics like me can notice.

   12. Beata Viscera performed by Hilliard Ensemble used probably without permission in Twelve Kingdoms. I know where the music came from for I am one of those few people who owns this rare CD titled ‘Perotin’ an early 12-13th century composer in France recognized as one of founding members of European Multi-part harmony. I did not see this information in the credit, thus believe the producer used it without permission, guessing there would be only about 100 person in Japan, 20 person in Korea, and no one who watches anime in US to ever heard the CD made by Prof. Paul Hillier who now teaches at Indiana University In Bloomington. Well they guessed correctly about the first two, but they didn’t know of my existence.

   13. Ningyo Hime from Chobits: A haunting song that I consider to be better than the Chobits series.

   14. Azumanga opening song: To properly analyze this song, you need MUS 364: Music theory IV, modern harmony. The text as very suggestive of drug use, though. ( isn’t White Flour a nickname for one of the narcotics? ) Its closing song is very reminiscent of Scrapped Princess’s ending song in its vocal texture, harmonic use, and form.

   15. Banner of Stars II Ending song: Its use of sequence has led to interesting harmonic passage. Personally, I disapproved of their choice of modern harmony, for that chord just destroys the mood of the song. It does have effect of ingraing itself in your head, though.

   16. Touch II ( the movie ) theme song: Its text and music adds much to what is going on in the movie. The famous line: Nitta ‘ This is my gift to you ‘ as he bats Tatsuya’s pitch over to the top of Centerfield scoreboard.

   17. Z Gundam 2nd opening song ‘from the star of water’: One of better song in gundam series.

   18. The song during fight between Ray and Raoul in ‘Fist of North Star the movie’: My friends favorite. Energy indeed!

   19. Solty Rei’s songs: It is very underrated by many.

   20. Fruits Basket: Very good use of calm melody. Music from Koi Kaze is another good example of calm songs.

   I can’t manage a web page yet, so I can’t readily provide you with soundtracks of these yet. If I ever finish my MS thesis, I might be able to post detailed music score analysis of some of these songs, unless I get hired by another choir.

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4. 

   wontaek
   March 23rd, 2006 - 15:58

   A side note: Korean version of Azumanga uses a different ending song, one that was originally composed in Korea, and I rate that song to be best made original anime song by a Korean.

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5. 

   Zyl
   March 23rd, 2006 - 16:15

   Extra credit will be given to pretty female students who wear the Venus to class.

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6. 

   wontaek
   March 23rd, 2006 - 16:29

   We need to organize our own anime festival. There is money to be made here as well.

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7. 

   Arakan7
   March 23rd, 2006 - 16:43

   Ahhh, we’re forgetting something~! Anime & Game fashion vs Mainstream & ‘High’ Fashion (Paris). I don’t know about you but the stuff they come up with over there is downright frightful….

   The need for gauntlents or overcoats that make that cool ‘dramatic’ flutter in the wind should be recognized. The cosplayers need their time to shine.

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8. 

   crimson
   March 23rd, 2006 - 17:19

   whoa, wontaek, have u watched Bubblegum Crisis 2040′s ED (tv version ED not the long version) before?
   It would be wonderful to get some comment from one of my all time favourite

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9. 

   crimson
   March 23rd, 2006 - 17:21

   sorry, i mean “It would be wonderful to get some comments for one of my all time favourite”.

   lol, i think i can ‘teach’ about combat mechanics better than quantum physics.

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10. 

    Kurogane
    March 23rd, 2006 - 18:15

    Damn…. I’d like to do that too…..

    I do hope I haven’t lost my touch….. I really haven’t been blogging lately….. grrr….love can be sooo distracting….

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11. 

    Stripey
    March 23rd, 2006 - 23:07

    Os: haha nah, I don’t think you’ll get disowned for being involved in tertiary education? Of course I’m not sure if parents would be approving of a degree/PhD/career in anime. Just don’t specialise in siscon studies if you have siblings at home

    jpmeyer: congrats on your imminent upgrade! Living the life already i see… urayamashii….

    wontaek: That’s it! you are heading the Department of anime music (if we do set up the campus that is)

    Zyl: Ah that’s on another Island I’ll be setting up.. and hmm venus no subtlety leh… plugsuits and seifukus are way more sensual

    Arakan7: Ah the all important cosplay realm… thanks for reminding me that essential sphere of anime fandom.. I wonder if the students will call the gender/fashion police if we decreed seifuku in tertiary institution….. I have a few designs in mind alr..

    crimson: I have faith in you! I can already see the mandatory experiment in your course, “Energy quantisation in GUNDAM models”

    Kurogane: Again, I say as Mikoto would, ” Love is good, ummh!” All the best and blog only when you want to.

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12. 

    wontaek
    March 24th, 2006 - 01:11

    Crimson: I have seen the earlier bubllegum crisis, but not the 2040 TV series. Will let you know after I get a chance.

    It is interesting, that I was TA for graduate level Electrical Engineering class which had heavy emphasis in quantum mechanics. I am planning to take Advanced Quantum mechanics course within a year or two.

    Stripey: Thank you for appointing me to the music department. finally I may get to use all those music training I have acquired.

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13. 

    crimson
    March 24th, 2006 - 02:30

    wontaek:
    if u get to touch bgc2040, do watch the ED on TV too, not just listen to the song.
    oh, do u play any instruments?
    What do u major in? I seem to get hints of…music major, electrical engineering

    Yeah, i got like half of the songs u listed, those are excellent. Still trying to get the others that u listed and match them with your description to better appreciate them.

    stripey:
    lol.
    Journal of Applied Anime has a nice ring to it.
    I’m alrdy looking forward to Journal vol II.

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14. 

    wontaek
    March 24th, 2006 - 07:45

    I am majoring in Physics and I also have master’s degree in Electrical Engineering. I have some experience as choir director, have participated in several recordings of Gregorian Chant, and is currently singing tenor in Lafayette Chamber Singers, a semi-pro choir specializing in rarely ( Which means hard to do ) performed choral pieces by the like of Carlos Gesualdo, Hugo Wolf, Benjamin Britten, Morten Lauridsen, and Frank Ferko. Once I get a stable job, I hope to become a choir conductor again.

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15. 

    Saria
    March 24th, 2006 - 12:45

    Yay for panties! I can talk about them ALL day! Wait, is that the only reason people visit my blog…? XD

    I think my dream life would be…the same. I would love to be filthy rich, live on my own private island with awesome weather, and do nothing and just watch anime and play games all day. But this would be the closest I could come to that, so I’d probably just leech off of you and bum on your island forever. FOREVER.

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16. 

    Xellos-_^
    March 24th, 2006 - 13:56

    I will specilaize in Tentacl Monsters.

    101 Tentacles. MWF 12:00 am to 1:00 am

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17. 

    wontaek
    March 25th, 2006 - 12:37

    I have seen the Bubblegum Crisis 2040 from a video rented from Von’s. Here are my thoughts.

    1. opening song: Hard rock imitation, Its transition between modes are not refined as it should have been. Anyone can create a good tune or two, but only good composers know how to compose good transitions to bridge different ideas. Other than the bridging problem, it is a fine song.

    2. BGM: Too reliant in rock style and techno stuff. Good enough for most part, although they could have used little more music to set the mood.

    3. Voice Acting: Can’t find a fault.

    4. Eye Catch music: somebody displayed some skill with the electric guitar there.

    5. Sound effect: Somewhat corny in some places, but mostly adequate.

    6. Ending song: It is a good song. It might have been better to stick with more harder rock style for the overall mode, but on its own, it is a song worth listening to.

    PRISS in Bubblegum series is the AIC’s hard ( ? ) rock answer to sweet singing Minmay of Macross and EVE of Megazone. The character has some histrorical value as it was perhaps the first Female rocker character in Anime and helped bring about better acceptance of female rockers in Japan and Korea. ( though Koreans will never admit this for the Korean news media and government believes anime music of something unworthy of copyright ) The most well known song is the Hurricane in the first OAV series, which holds important distinction of being one the early popular anime Rock & Roll song done by Japanese female rockers. Before this, rock was more or less in domain of male group and foreign singers. Although there are other rocker characters to appear in anime before this, there is a noticeable increase of their appearance after the success of the Bubblegum series.

    Disclaimer: I may be wrong so don’t hesitate to correct me.

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18. 

    wontaek
    March 25th, 2006 - 14:23

    Added comment to Bubblegum Crisis 2040. There are some songs inserted in the episodes. I applaude them for making new songs for new episodes, but there is a noticeable disconnect between song and the scene. Songs, by itself, is not of bad quality, but I expected more wilder or heavy metal stuffs with the scene.

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19. 

    wontaek
    March 25th, 2006 - 14:33

    correction on 6. Ending song: Change mode to mood.

    Interesting they would mention Cat’s Eye, a famous series of female art thieves. I believe it was created by the same person who created City Hunter another series with fine music and lecherous character. I wish there were several issues of Cat’s Eye vs. City Hunter, though.

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20. 

    crimson
    March 25th, 2006 - 20:00

    whoa wontaek, your comments are gold. The world of music seems to be opening up for me on another level

    I have no musical knowledge so i’ll just state my opinions in the viewpt of a normal consumer:
    Yeah, i dont find the OP that great but i’m so glad the ED took a different approach.
    The ED seems pretty artistic to me – nice music with a weird mix of mtv sequences, along with eye catching colors (like the one on the mask). No characters in bgc2040 seems to be related to the ED. But the lyric seems to highlight certain themes in the anime. I dont recally seeing many EDs dont with that approach anyway.

    I guess the techno stuffs were trying to cater to the cyberpunk theme but they werent especially appealing.

    Anyway, how did u manage get those history of rock and stuff in jap or in other places?
    Can u recommend some topics that i should be familiar with so i can view music the way u do? (music theory 1,2,3,4, etc?) Thanks alot!

    Oh yeah, about Hurricane in bgc2040, it seems to have a more modern twist to it now compared to the previous version.
    Btw, i think the nice songs in bgc2040 are:
    -waiting for u (tv version)
    -journey (u only hear a very short section of this at the end section of last episode..try to get the full thing)
    -drowning in your brisque love (forgot the jap name for it)

    I read somewhere about new songs and characters is that its expensive for them to get the license for it to use in bgc2040. So they just rather do new songs and new character designs
    If u ask me, i’m glad the character designs are different.

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21. 

    crimson
    March 25th, 2006 - 20:05

    oops, about bcg2040 with regards to the song and scene thing,
    i dont remember them using heavy metal
    Heavy metal would have made things more intense.

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22. 

    wontaek
    March 25th, 2006 - 22:58

    I was a teenager in Korea during 1980s, and I also had exposure to many Japanese music smuggled into Korea so it was more like I lived through the changes in popular music in Korea and Japan. Undoubtably, there were many female rockers before Bubblegum Crisis series started, but they were treated like abominations by mass media until the song Hurricane became one of the top selling Anime songs.

    If you want to raise the familiarity of music to a new level, taking Music Theory classese will be of great help. Music History is also important, and since the Music Theory class is more like dull Math class, it might be better to start with Early Music History. Music Theory I deals with whether you can read a music score or not, so many skip it. If you have no musical training whatsoever and has just enrolled in a college, I would recommend taking Music Theory I first, and then find a cheap piano instructor and take piano lessons for a semester. Some colleges allow students with no experience take piano lesson from Graduate students for credit, thus saving you lots of money. After a semester of Theory I and semester of Piano lesson, I would recommend Theory II. Once completing these three, you would have good idea how to further your understanding if you choose.

    BGC2040 didn’t use any Heavy Metal music, but I think they should have.

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23. 

    crimson
    March 26th, 2006 - 19:15

    sorry stripey, sidetracking a wee bit.

    wontaek, if u dont mind, can i drop you a email? (your addy pls or drop me a mail@ crimson.skies@gmail.com and i’ll reply)
    i would like to ask u something about the instruments

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24. 

    Stripey
    March 26th, 2006 - 22:49

    Saria: LOL! Well there’s probably only one criteria for you to stay indefinitely on the island… you have to KEEP blogging! mwahahaha! I enjoy your posts a lot….. keep them coming.

    Xellos-_^: LOL! We probably have to set a quota on the male intake for this course.

    crimson/wontaek: haha hey np. go ahead, chat away.

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25. 

    Xellos-_^
    March 27th, 2006 - 11:04

    Men? O_o why would i let any men into tentacle monster class? We will have a full class of 101 women :p why else do you thing is the class call 101 tentacles ;D

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26. 

    crimson
    March 27th, 2006 - 16:18

    sounds like your class will have a age requirement..

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27. 

    Xellos-_^
    March 27th, 2006 - 17:28

    It would depend on the country the class is held in

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