hontou ni » Bakemonogatari

[Zyl] Comic Market 80 Cosplay Picks II

Zyl — Sat, 05 Nov 2011 05:08:44 +0000

Possibly one of the least disturbing images to bear the caption "Stripey with Child"

Part Two of my selected C80 cosplay photographs; the first installment was posted over at Sea Slugs!

My second favourite: Bakemonogatari's Shinobu Oshino

Don't think Shinobu ever wore any footwear though...

She's definitely an experienced cosplayer - no shorts underneath but not a flash of pantsu ever

Comiket staff member (middle) counting down on the photo shoot in the background (left)

My third favourite: also from Bakemonogatari, Mayoi Hachikuji

Give me your "lost" look, says I

Mari from Evangelion 2.22

MISAKA Imouto (Serial Number unknown)

Yuki Nagato (Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya Ver)

She kept in character the whole time - speaking extremely softly, deadpan expression throughout

Fate Testarossa (1st Season and A's Ver)

Come to think of it, it's quite rare to see StrikerS Fate cosplay

The ever popular Asuka and Rei combi - this race queen version doesn't even appear in the TV series or movies!

Just look at the number of camera lenses pointed at them...

Mikoto and MISAKA Imouto - I just *had* to get them to pose together and was gratified that both were very receptive and sporting; loved how the MISAKA cosplayer always addressed the Mikoto cosplayer as "Oneesama"

Menma and Poppo from Ano Hana

Somehow Ano Hana just rubbed me the wrong way so I never got past Ep 5. Apparently I'm not the only one. Maybe one day I'll give it another go someday when my default emotional state is less foul.

I know next to nothing about Touhou except it's a bottomless swamp; this is Sakuya Izayou I presume?

Speaking of bottomless swamps, I've lost count of the times there's a Madoka cosplayer in the background of my photos LOL

Eda and Revy from Black Lagoon - almost could not stomach the final ep of Roberta's Blood Trail

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[Stripey] BakeMono Tribute – 5 favourite anime romances

Stripey — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 15:54:01 +0000

Sengoku Nadeko - Where a cap is fine too

Bakemonogatari has to be one of the best anime romances in recent years (in the league Toradora and True Tears). Was so smitten that I had to bust out a favourite anime romance list so that BakeMono can be forever enshrined on the tanuki charts. Just a short preamble the how these series made the list -

1) Credible and well-substantiated basis of love/attraction between couple.

2) A coherently developed relationship that is consistent with the characters and preferably supported by the plot.

3) The characters themselves grow/mature as individuals as a result of their love/interactions.

While only a couple (on the list) does these 3 perfectly (BakeMono was one of them), all of the below-mentioned come highly recommended by tanuki kind.

Without farther ado and in no order of preference, here's a very personal list of favourite anime romance.

A) Bakemonogatari

The biggest testimony to the very worthy Araragi-Senjougahara love was that at no point in time did the tanuki hanker for a Sengoku-Araragi pairing despite the uber-lolicious allure of Nadeko chan. Even the alleged-lolicon Dark Stripey (who had pictures of Sengoku in negligee plastered all over his lair) approves of the AraSenjou Connection.

B) True Tears

One of the best anime romances in recent years and accomplished without panty flashes or near topless Sengoku 14 yr olds. Artistic masterpiece with solid storytelling and memorable characters. Hiromi is the only bishoujo-goddess who came this close to ousting Shirakawa Kotori as resident bishoujo on Hontouni.

C) Iriya no Sora, UFO no Natsu

Iriya manages to deliver poignant, powerful emotional moments in its short 6 OVA run where few with such limited airtime have succeeded. You'll cry, you'll laugh, you'll rage, you'll contemplate about time and finally pine for its TV series like this tanuki.

D) Da Capo

Surely not unexpected given that some of the older bloggers know me as "Da Capo Stripey" and it was this series that misled many into thinking I'm a siscon Let me be honest and state that D.C is not all consistent. The real meat only occurs towards the mid-series and then, it's a heavenly spread til the end. Again, how I'm a THROUGH and THROUGH Kotori fanboy, there is no question that Junichi and Nemu is THE designated couple. The tale justifies and demands so.

E) Toradora

I've raved about Toradora before and my 2nd seating with Wife chan strengthened that love. Toradora does 'the process of falling in love' exceptionally well. There is not a shadow of doubt that Ryuuji is worthier than any of the 3 Toradora girls. Frankly, he deserved better but love was never really about being deserving. Wife chan made an interesting comment about Minori - "If you knew your best friend has just this one shot at love in her entire life, you'd probably just give him (Ryuuji) up too." She probably didn't give Taiga enough credit but we both know that our admiration of Ryuuji is not misplaced.

The truth is I have planned for a top 15 list but the rigours of work today and deadlines tomorrow compels me to stop here. Either way, I've pimped my love for BakeMono which is the main thrust of this post. For those who are curious, no. 6 - 15 are as below (not in any particular order)

1) Kannazuki no Miko

2) Byousoku 5 cm

3) Zero no Tsukaima (Season 1.. ONLY! )

4) Canvas 2

5) Onegai Twins

6) Otome wa boku ni koishiteru

7) Ef ~ A tale of memories

KimiKiss ~ Pure rouge

9) D.C.II S.S

10) SHUFFLE!

Do take a peek if you have the bandwidth. They're also compulsory viewing for those taking my course on "How to be a harem-lead" (specially prepared for my son if I'm blessed with one ).

Picture source - e-shuushuu

Artist - Takeiooki

Bakemonogatari 15 (Final)

Zyl — Sat, 03 Jul 2010 09:32:28 +0000

Stand Alone Complex no more

Summary:

Somebody called for an exterminator?

Tsubasa Cat reveals to Koyomi how Tsubasa fell for him when she witnessing his vampire holiday, how her stress has built up tremendously while she struggled not to reveal any of her feelings to him and to support his relationship with Hitagi. When Koyomi refuses to break up with Hitagi and pair up with Tsubasa, Tsubasa Cat attacks him and says that she is going to make sure that she removes the source of Tsubasa's stress once and for all; she's going to killing him. Koyomi initially feels is a fair exchange as Tsubasa had previously saved his life but comes to his senses when he realizes that Hitagi will seek revenge. He calls out to Shinobu for help and she emerges from his shadow, rescues him and drains Tsubasa Cat, just stopping short of seriously harming Tsubasa due to Koyomi's plea and disappears back into his shadow.

Tsubasa doesn't seem to remember what happened and he is determined to ask her about it - but only after some time has passed. Hitagi welcomes him back and tells him to plan the next date; this time he will show her his treasure. Back at the ruined cram school with Hitagi, Tsubasa and Suruga, Koyomi finds that Meme has acted on his hint and has decamped; he also realizes that Meme had released Tsubasa Cat and had not intervened as he was confident that Koyomi could deal with the Shinobu and Tsubasa Cat situations on his own. Back in school, Koyomi's class opens its stall for the cultural festival: a haunted house.

Life imitates Art

Reaction:

Needs salt

A wonderful conclusion to one of my favourite series of 2009. I especially liked how things came full circle with Shinobu, the first character Koyomi saved, returning the favour at last and saving him and thus saving her own meaning to continue existing. And how she was hidden in his shadow and how she continues to live there - I couldn't help but think of one of my favourite Koshisms: "I have always been here."

One of the main reasons why Bakemonogatari stands out as a classy sexy harem series is how much I enjoy Koyomi's screentime and dialogue. He's got his weaknesses, like his martyr complex and his sometimes wilful blindness to his haremettes' feelings, but the way he learns and grows while struggling with those weaknesses add to his attractiveness and interest as a lead character. This episode had one of the most frank exchanges between harem lead and haremette; Koyomi expresses his dissatisfaction about how everything that Tsubasa Cat told him, Tsubasa could and should have told him directly; in his compassion, the cat spirit is a victim of sorts too. And also what's left unspoken but so vividly realized, like his sudden awareness of Tsubasa Cat's tough love and compassion for him, despite proclamations to the contrary, when he saw the look in her eyes and recalled her request for him to stand under the light so that his shadow would be solid, solid enough for Shinobu to appear when she finally forces him to call upon her.

Yet so near, yet so far - that timorous gap closed at last

And, having come full circle, I also liked how the lessons of the past was consolidated, the mentor figure has given his blessing and exited stage right. No longer children, no longer naive but with their beliefs in life, love and each other rediscovered, rekindled, reaffirmed, they savour the past, get on with the present and look forward to the future.

Queen of All She Surveys, Staples and Slices

These Reads I Enjoyed

Ghostlightning's contrast between the authenticity of Hitagi and the inauthenticity of Tsubasa and thus how the latter is the only one to suffer a relapse. And to be explicitly rejected by Koyomi.
Feel Kyokai's Bakemonogatari love. Fufufuu~