But What About the Women?

After my post about finding a common thread among someone's favorite anime characters, a good friend brought up the suggestion that I should make a list of the female characters I admire as well, to get a more complete picture. In truth I hadn't even noticed there were no women featured in the list, but this also brings up an irritation I have with anime in general.

Too many shows I've watched just don't have a female character with a strong enough story to make them believable--at least, to me. My friend certainly has a point that many of them just aren't old enough to have such a history behind them, while male characters are generally a little older and/or have a deeper backstory. Looking back on my previous "favorites" list, I noticed only one of them was under 20...and Sasuke has enough backstory to practically drown in.

Women in anime, in my opinion, are too often shown as being largely reactive to their environment rather than acting from something within themselves. I get the feeling this has a lot to do with what I mentioned above: that they're just too young to have that kind of personal revelation. It might be due to the fact that the most popular animes seem to feature high school life that there aren't more women over 18.

Those characters that do act from an inner strength and personal resolve tend to be portrayed as masculine, greatly reducing the effectiveness of the reality that she's a woman--except for the shots we see of her only half-covered. (Stand Alone Complex's Motoko Kusanagi comes to mind immediately.)

When they do have an interesting history (Scrapped Princess' Raquel, anyone? .hack's BT?) it isn't always given as much time as it should to be explored. As a result, there aren't many female characters I can really call a "favorite" for the simple fact that they rarely live up to my expectations.

That said, after thinking back to the animes I can remember watching, three characters in particular stand out in my mind as having been able to stand apart from the others, finding something to fight for (instead of merely reacting to their environment). In no particular order:

1. Saya, Blood +
If you've watched the anime, it's impossible to forget her name...especially since that single word makes up 85% of Haji's vocabulary. Now, see, this is what I mean--she has a pretty fascinating backstory, but she's also over a century old. Anyone is bound to pick up some baggage along the way. While I had some issues with the violence level in Blood +, I admired the fact she wasn't afraid to cry just as much as she wasn't afraid to fight.


2. Tohru Honda, Fruits Basket
Yes, I know. Strange that I would choose a character from a comedy as a favorite, right? Truth is, Tohru is kind of special to me. Back when my mother was having heart surgery and my family wasn't sure if she would live, I started reading Fruits Basket as a distraction. The way Tohru was able to stay so focused on moving ahead with her life, even when her world literally crashed down on her, was nothing short of inspirational.


3. Sakura Haruno, Naruto
Yet another Naruto character. Although she's fairly young at the start of the series, she's far from a "reactionary" character. This may be due to the fact that the Naruto series is long enough to devote entire episodes to her development. By losing the person she loved most, she ended up finding her inner strength by choosing her own path to becoming a ninja.


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Now playing: Evanescence - My Immortal
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One Man, Two Viewpoints

As I mentioned yesterday, here are the other two Fullmetal clips I saw. They were made by different people, yet always seem to end up next to each other on the "related" list. For good reason, too--they go together perfectly. They both focus on Roy Mustang, from completely different viewpoints.

The first clip was done from Ed Elric's view of him for the first two-thirds of the series. The second is Mustang's opinion of himself; this probably goes without saying, but I should warn that the second one can be a little depressing.

Ed's POV:


Mustang's POV:

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Now playing: Seether - Fine Again
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Fullmetal Mix

I don't normally devote an entire post to a single YouTube clip these days, but in my internet travels today I came across a very interesting AMV. It's a well-edited music video using Fullmetal Alchemist clips, put to what has to be the most amazing and creative remix of "Crawling" I've ever heard. I found two other clips that I might showcase tommorrow, but I thought this particular clip deserved its own post.

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Now playing: Johann Sebastian Bach - Prelude (Cello Suite No.1)
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If Only I Could Actually Read Their Names....

A little while ago a friend sent me a fascinating, if confusing (and more than moderately traumatizing) Japanese visual novel called Kichiku Megane, after learning I was interested in the main plot's premise. I had also heard its opening theme ("Under the Darkness" by C.G. Mix) on YouTube and loved it, and to this day I maintain that it's the best theme song for any game I know.

There are several sites you can visit to learn more about the game, so I won't spend time discussing it here except to say I learned five valuable things from KM:

1. Pomegranates are evil.
2. Glasses are very evil.
3. Strawberry shortcake should never be eaten if you don't remember putting it in the fridge, because it is concentrated evil. On a plate. With whipped cream.
4. If something is physically impossible, turn it into a dream sequence with an omake.
5. Omakes are evil.

That being said, I have to say I was incredibly impressed with the voice acting. Between the language barrier and an often fragmented translation, I occasionally found myself relying on voice inflection and emotion alone to figure out what was being said. They matched the character personalities perfectly, catching even subtle complexities well.

I find it interesting that none of the seiyuus have the game listed in their resumes, yet none of them used a pseudonym for it, nor was their participation in the project a secret. Are eroge games just par for the course in the life of a Japanese VA--something done in between mainstream work, acknowledged but never emphasized?

/digression

Anyway, I ended up searching online to see what else the seiyuus had done, and was amazed at the sheer number of projects many of them have completed. For the sake of focus and brevity, I'm concentrating on the main four actors. To give you an idea of their distinctive voices, I'm including links to four episodes of mainstream anime that they've each worked in.

1. Daisuke Hirakawa
He probably had the most...uh..."interesting" role in the game as the protagonist, using a higher range for his Normal Katsuya voice and a much lower range as Megane Katsuya--or, as I called him before I knew his name, "Mr. Dead Sexy". I found him fascinating because he ended up doing a few scenes that required both voices (and this is where the phrase "physically impossible" would come in.) In Chocotto Sister you can hear his higher range, which he's apparently called on to use a lot--he was also the protagonist in the School Days anime, which I wouldn't recommend for those who like happy endings. In any case, Chocotto Sister's not really my kind of show, but if you can get past the two or three panty shots at the beginning, it's kind of cute.


2. Koji Yusa (sometimes spelled Kouji Yusa)
He played Mido, the 32-year-old director of Katsuya's parent company, who probably ended up being my favorite character in KM...and, sadly, the most abused. Yes, he was an egotistical jackass for half the game, but how could anyone actually like the way he was treated for the other half? There's payback, and then there's outright sadism. My grumblings aside, his voice is probably the easiest to catch immediately in nearly anything I've heard. Here in Amatsuki he plays supporting character Kon Shinonome, who shows up after 3 minutes or so (the one with a lollipop in his mouth.) Haven't seen too much of it yet, but all I can say is .hack//Sign apparently wasn't the first to come up with the idea.


3. Hiroki Yasumoto
Played Honda, Katsuya's college friend and co-worker. Another distinctive voice, particularly when the character is angry. He's been in several shows, ranging from comedy to some rather dark dramas. Here he plays a supporting role as the amateur manga-ka Justice (the tall character with light hair and glasses), in the firmly tongue-in-cheek comedy Doujin Work. The thirteen episodes are half the length of regular shows, clocking in at just under 14 minutes each. (NOTE: instead of episode 1, I used episode 4 since that's where he seems to show up the most.) Oddly enough he's playing another childhood friend, and Justice sounds exactly like Honda--especially when he's upset.


4.Makoto Yasumura
Played Katagiri, Katsuya's office supervisor and probably the gentlest character of them all (which was nice, although he could have grown a slightly firmer backbone.) Another VA with a stunning number of shows on his resume. Apparently I actually heard him in an anime first before hearing him in the game, but it didn't hit me for a while. That anime was REC, sent to me by a good friend. Upon viewing the series a second time, Matsumaru sounds a lot like Katagiri as well, just younger and possessing the aforementioned backbone.


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Now playing: Dido - White Flag
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Another Year

It's June 25th again, and another birthday rolls around. Supposedly this is the space where I reflect on everything that's happened in the past year, and conjecture as to what's coming in the next year.

But, truthfully, for once I don't have the energy or desire to reflect on anything, and I sure as hell won't even try to figure out what's going to happen in my life for the next year. Avoidance? Maybe. Do I care? Not really.

Thankfully, I don't have to. At the beginning of 2008 it was decided by a few friends that, rather than making yet another long-winded post no one will read, we simply choose one song that most accurately describes our life at this point in time (so long as no one, NO ONE picked Aqua's "Barbie Girl", at the risk of being shot), and one song that reflects our view of what real love is like. I've given it considerable thought over the past few weeks, and came up with the following.

My life as it is right now:


What real love is like:


Nothing wrong with being realistic, right?

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Now playing: Nightwish - Nemo
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.hack Afterthoughts

Okay, so ever since I finished watching the somewhat anticlimactic ending of .hack//ROOTS, I decided to take matters into my own hands and find out what happened after that. Thank God for YouTube, and informative cutscenes. Anyway, the entire story of .hack//G.U. helps clear up a lot of issues left unfinished in ROOTS, but is still so confusing to the point I almost don't care. It seems like half of the characters in ROOTS/G.U. were being played by people who had been other characters in the previous .hack game quartet, but the biggest surprise was (spoiler here; highlight to read) Haseo, who was originally Sora. Sora--the idiot PKer who would kill those who refused to give him their member address. How did he ever grow up to be so noble? Endrance was less of a surprise once I learned he had an attachment to Mia and noticed he acted a lot like Elk. There were more, but if you're really interested I won't spoil it any further.

Frankly, I think the .hack universe is getting way too big. Nothing about it has ever really captured my interest as much as the first series, .hack//Sign did. Still, I enjoyed watching the cutscenes, mainly because I realized I recognized quite a few of the VAs.

The endings were quite fun, too: apparently Haseo (voiced by Yuri Lowenthal) has the option to send a "Promise Card" to a member of his party, and depending on several factors in the game he can end up holding an in-game wedding, hit the town with a friend, or even find himself in a few...ah, strange situations. Each ending has the same thing in common: the romantic endings show the words "Forever In Love" before rolling the credits, while the platonic endings show "Best Wishes", but the key is to look for the two scene-specific CGs at the end, along with a sentence said by the character chosen. Some were quite touching, while others were hilariously frightening. Out of all the endings I watched, I picked the four best (in my opinion) scenes for your viewing pleasure.

1. Best Romantic Ending: Shino (Kari Wahlgren)
I'm sure there are folks out there who believed Haseo should have ended up with Atoli, Alkaid, or even Tabby, and there are endings for those people. But...no. It was obvious from the first episode who he really liked.


2. Best Platonic Ending: Bo (Erin Fitzgerald)
Adorable. That's all I have to say.


3. Best "Say What Now?" Ending: Endrance (Liam O'Brien)
Heh. Extra kudos to Liam for being able to do this scene with a straight face.


4. Most Bizarre Ending: Azure Balmung (Crispin Freeman)
Kind of surprising, considering he's just a spooky, shambling AI replica of the real Balmung. Start running, Haseo.


On a related side note, I also came across an interesting music video using footage from both Haruhi Suzumiya and a special .hack episode, the latter of which is only available in North America by purchasing the Limited Edition of .hack//Sign's 6th volume DVD. The episode featured characters from both .hack//Sign and the first .hack game quartet. It isn't considered canonical, but it's obviously a lot of fun. (Which means I really, really want to get it now.) At any rate, it may not make a whole lot of sense if you haven't seen both shows, but then...who cares?

And yes, Balmung really did just say "This shindig looks like the bomb-diggity." Enjoy.

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Now playing: 菅野よう子 - Heaven's Not Enough (feat. Steve Conte)
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Yes, But What Archetype Are You?

In one of the more animated (pun might be intended) anime discussions I've witnessed, it was suggested that someone's favorite characters may tend to fall in line with a particular archetype. In other words, if you find yourself choosing characters in various shows as your favorite and they all share something in common, you probably identify more closely with that trait than the traits possessed by other characters.

I'd given this some thought in the past, but never really sat down and made out a list of who I considered to be my truly "favorite" characters. Now that I have...I think there's a definite point to that discussion.

I present to you, in random order, my eight favorite anime characters. Let's play "Find the Archetype", shall we?

1. Amon, Witch Hunter Robin
Probably my first favorite anime character, since WHR and Wolf's Rain were the first two shows I was exposed to when I ventured back into the realm of animation. Part of an anti-witchcraft force, Amon trains the title character as his partner, and confronts the hidden truths behind the organization he works for.


2. Jin, Samurai Champloo
What we have here is a prime example of a wonderful, creatively written character left abandoned in an otherwise mediocre anime. Jin is probably the only bright spot in the show...relatively speaking. Forced to kill his dojo sensei and flee, he's technically one of the "last samurai" as the era is coming to an end.


3. Ran "Aya" Fujimiya, Knight Hunters/Eternity (Weiss Kreuz/Gluhen)
I've only seen the sequel, Knight Hunters Eternity, but "Aya" apparently has quite a history behind him--enough for me to list him as a favorite without having seen the original series. There were some copyright issues after the original Knight Hunters, which is why he looks quite different in Eternity (namely, brown hair in a braided ponytail rather than red); he's also an adult in Eternity, since several years have passed between the first and second series. And yes, there's a very good reason for the earring.


4. Alex Rowe, Last Exile
I didn't really think I would like Last Exile at first. But not only did I like it, I found myself fascinated by this character. Pilot-turned-marauder, Rowe lives only to exact revenge on the enemy who smiled as his friends died. How can you not love a character like that?


5. Tsuzuki, Descendants of Darkness (Yami No Matsuei)
Another representative of the "amazingly complex character in a confusing anime" category. Actually, the plot itself is very well done as the manga portrays it, but with only 13 episodes, the anime had to cram a lot of information into a short period of time. The result is a fast-paced ball of confusion, with occasional flashes of nothing less than sheer brilliance. Tsuzuki is a laid-back Shinigami (death god) with a voracious sweet tooth and a secret from when he was alive that could destroy him--and anyone in his path.


6. Haji, Blood +
Frankly I'm not sure there's a single girl out there who doesn't count him among their favorites (though their reasons probably vary.) The series itself was well done, except for the inordinate amount of violence and blood--although I suppose I should have seen it coming, considering the anime's title. Haji acts as the main character's chevalier, living through the long decades to help her fulfill her lethal vow while keeping silent about his own single desire (and generally being far too good to be real.) This video is different from the others; it was made by the show's creators both to showcase the animation as well as the classical piece that Haji usually plays.


7. Roy Mustang, Fullmetal Alchemist
It's my belief FMA became popular in the US mainly because Adult Swim featured it prominently for quite some time, just as it's doing with Bleach and (unfortunately) Death Note right now. In the beginning of the series Mustang seems harsh, arrogant and unusually demanding, but as the anime unfolds it becomes clear he has a reason for everything he does...and a past that can't leave him alone.


8. Sasuke Uchiha, Naruto
This one even surprised me. Naruto is still considered to be a show for children, but there's a great number of adults that enjoy it too. The reason's pretty simple: despite the focus on fighting and the annoying filler episodes, the main plot and several of the subplots have enough solidly written material to outdo the best primetime dramas on TV today. The same holds true for the characters, particularly Sasuke. As a foil for Naruto's character, going from bitter rival to teammate/best friend to sworn enemy and best friend (yes, at the same time) takes real talent to pull off, yet the anime's creators managed to do it--and do it well. Sasuke is the perfect example of what obsession taken to the extreme can do, and begs the question: what happens when you do all the wrong things for all the right reasons?


So, now that you've seen all eight characters, did you figure it out?

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Now playing: Phil Collins - In The Air Tonight
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Alan Wake Postponed...Again...

It's beginning to look more and more like Alan Wake may not make it to an XBox near you.

You may remember my post last year about the game, originally planned for release on XBox 360, Playstation and PC until they signed an exclusive contract with Microsoft. It was announced as the next biggest survival horror game, but it was the billing as a "psychological thriller" that interested me.

But after being first unveiled in early 2005, its release date is continually being pushed off. For a long time the developers said to expect it in 2008, but yet again they've postponed it until 2009. You can read more about it here.

As Remedy Entertainment has said, they'll release it "when it's done". That's fine, but is it really worth spending an extra year to get those trees to look just right when the game itself may take two weeks to play?

My insatiable curiosity for suspense and clever plots that cheerfully drag you on a daytrip through Hell is slowly being replaced by irritation and overwhelming boredom. As other fans have already suggested, by the time this game comes out it may already fall woefully behind the games other developers have created to keep up with changing technology. Come on, Remedy: it may be the "best game ever to exist in the history of computerized entertainment"...but it's still just a game.

In the meantime, it's been suggested to me that I turn my sights to a suitable replacement for Alan Wake. It's called Overclocked: A History of Violence, released for the PC by Lighthouse Interactive a couple of months ago. According to those who have played it, what it lacks in updated sound and visuals it more than makes up for in actual plot and gameplay. You play Army psychiatrist David McNamara, called into the Staten Island Forensic Hospital on a case involving five individuals who were found wandering the streets of New York naked, screaming and each holding a gun. They don't remember anything, and it's up to David to figure out what happened. A warning in advance to those of you who don't like getting in over your head: as one game reviewer put it, "It's advisable not to go anywhere near Overclocked if you're looking for a game to cheer you up."

Will I play it? Honestly, I have no idea yet. There's too much going on in my life right now to decide that. But Overclocked does seem to fit my requirements: it's dark, suspenseful, a psychological thriller...and most importantly, available.

Trailer:

Outtakes, Anyone?

I'm taking a brief respite from my Broadway Gems series until I can find enough clips of good quality on YouTube to discuss the remaining shows. So, in the meantime, this post will feature another topic of interest.

I've always been fascinated by outtakes. Television, live theatre, animation--the spontaneity and humor behind such moments tend to remind us of our humanity in a lighthearted manner. It's just nice to see actors have some fun with their roles, bringing a certain insouciant element to their work where other professions don't always have the luxury. The ability to have fun and laugh at yourself is crucial to every performer's well-being, and I'm always grateful when the audience is allowed a glimpse into these moments.

YouTube has a number of such outtakes from various animes. You don't have to see the show to understand the outtakes; some of the scenes I've listed here are from shows I've barely heard of.

Weiss Kreuz/Knight Hunters:








Samurai Girl:


Princess Tutu:


Berserk:


Rorouni Kenshin:


Samurai Deeper Kyo:




Midori Days (WARNING--adult language):


Negima (WARNING--adult language):


Mythical Detective Loki Ragnarok:



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Now playing: The Monkees - The Door into Summer
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