Bleed in Blue

Survived another Katsucon. Had a great time and overall seem to have increased my stamina as I did 4 costume changes each day and never really sat down at all, was constantly on the move and yet was totally fine. ...which has never happened before. lol Usually I'm completely wiped out the first day if I do that. And didn't take me that long to recover post-con. I think maybe working at Hancock where I'm ALWAYS moving has helped increased my tolerance for such things. But anyways actual con report will come later on once I've gotten more photos from folks.

Fandom updates...

Pandora Hearts - Chapter 69 = AHGIPHDGIAPGHIDPGHAIHDGIPAHGIDGHAIHFPHUPGD!!!!! The End.

...

...no, seriously, the latest plot twist blew my mind. And I'm going to just remain spoiler-free here so I don't have to cut it. I should have seen it coming but I totally didn't think of that possibility. But it totally makes sense. And I gotta say just how much I love the plot of this manga and how its done. Its really amazing. Like I often wonder with all the semi long epic plot-twisty mangas I read if they authors planned everything ahead of time or are just making it up as they go. Like CLAMP obviously made up Tsubasa as they went and like just plain forgot about what they were doing in the beginning. 'Cause it got too complex and it didn't really work in the end. But it could have. And well from pretty early on I was worried Pandora might go the same route Tsubasa did because we were getting to a point where there was A LOT of complex plot twists going on and it could go get messed up very easily with just one poor plot mistake. But no, I honestly think after this chapter that Jun actually plotted EVERYTHING carefully before she started writing it (which is a little surprising considering the pilot chapter is COMPLETELY different so you'd think she must have changed her mind a lot from the start but the actual manga all works together with little hints you can find from VERY early). Because this chapter kinda revealed that FREAKING EVERYTHING is connected. Things from WAAAAAAAAAY back in the manga are finally connecting and its just BRILLIANT! God I love this manga. So much. Even if the story is so heart-breaking. Especially with this latest revelation.

Persona 4 - Episode 19 - I've been waiting for this episode since they first announced it was going to be an anime, hoping they would do the school festival. And they did! Though I was a bit disappointed how short the pageants were. They only spent like less than 10 minutes to include both when they could have made that part into an entire episode itself. So it wasn't as funny as it was in the game. HOWEVER. This was made up by the first half of the episode where they made the group date cafe even better than in the game. Granted this part all depends on what options you make as to how the results are but I was so glad they went with the "Souji on the girl side" scenario. Especially when he starts using that feminine tone voice. But the way Yosuke reacted! Pfffft! Ok this anime keeps REALLY suggesting the Souji/Yosuke pairing. I think they know how much the fandom loves it 'cause that has GOT to be on purpose. XD It was beautiful though.

Videogames:
Final Fantasy XIII-2 - Started playing it but haven't gotten that far in due to preparation for Katsucon though now that that's done, I plan to spend a lot more time with it. I actually do like it but I gotta say that I question their decision to throw time travel and alternate universes into a plot that was already kinda underdeveloped and confusing to begin with. I honestly would have preferred if they had spent more time in the present day and exploring of Pulse because there is so much there that was never really explained in the first game and I dunno, I just didn't really feel like i got enough out of the characters and plot. I mean I could be wrong and maybe this game will still add to that but just the fact that we're going to be going into the future and will be jumping around a bit in timelines...oiiii. I just know my brain is going to hurt.
Okamiden - Finally started playing this too but also not very far in. But OMG soooooo cute! And lol that's about all I can say on it since I haven't gotten far enough to really make judgements on the plot. But I do say the gameplay isn't as much fun in this. I mean I thought it would be great with the use of the Stylus and all but it seems so...restricting. I guess since you have a bit of a smaller screen and lower graphics, it makes sense. But still. And maybe its just 'cause I barely use my DS so I haven't really gotten used to the dual screens (yeah, sad, I know lol but my other DS games didn't really do anything heavy with them).

In other anime news, I'm very much interested in Inu x Boku SS. Watched the first episode and plan to continue watching it. May even cosplay from it because eeeeee fox-demon-ness. XD And I still need to get myself to watch Mawaru Penguindrum though not sure if I'm going to like it or hate it. lol We shall see. From what I've been told, it could go either way with me. I'm a little bit behind in Last Exile: Fam though it has finally started to get more interesting the last few episodes I did watch so that's made me more interested in it in general. Still need to read the manga bits that come before it though.

Takarazuka: Still binging on shows. XD In fact that's probably why I'm behind in a lot of things anime/game wise 'cause I've been spending most of my free time watching Zuka. Feel like I'm trying to make up for all the years where I didn't watch much. lol And I'm quite excited to hear that Masao will be the new top star for Tsukigumi even though I had a big feeling it would be her (or if not this time, during a future top star vacancy). Considering I'm still not all that familiar with the newer troupes, its exciting to know one of the girls I DO know is going to be top. Especially since she should be around when (if) I go to Japan now. Also super excited that her debut will be Romeo et Juliette 'cause I love that show entirely too much. And semi Zuka related, got my "Waocula" DVD right before the con. Sadly of course didn't have any time to watch it then but I did watch like the first 20 minutes. And now that the con is over, I've been gradually watching the rest. Have a little less than an hour left to go. So I'll wait til I've finished it before I do an actual review but overall very glad I bought it. Wao is really hot (but isn't she always? XD) and its so awesome to see her and Hana performing in a show together again. I've also never actually seen Bram Stoker's Dracula, in any of its variants, so this is my fist exposure to the story.

~Lyn

First off, my weekly Persona 4 review...

( Persona 4 - Episode 3 )

I'm also watching Sekai-ichi Hatsukoi season 2, which I'm very much enjoying as its one of my favorite BL mangas. ^^ And its nice to see some of the Chiaki story that we don't really get to see in the manga. I also really need to watch the new Last Exile anime. I kinda forgot that it was coming out but luckily I've only missed 2 episodes. Though I'm still a little wary of it just 'cause Last Exile was so perfect by itself, I don't think it needs a sequel. But I did look at the opening and it looks really pretty and the fact that Dio is in it makes me happy.

I'm also curious about the new Hunter x Hunter anime...but unsure if I want to watch it or not since this is retelling of it and the story is somewhat different and not sure if I'll like the changes or not. Its also been like a million years since I watched the original though and for all I know, this could be closer to the manga as I never did get around to reading it so not sure how it goes. But I did skim some of the first few episodes and can't help but be curious. I just am trying to stay away from any super long shonen series though. I don't have the patience for them much anymore like I used to. I just stick to Saint Seiya these days (and I'm only up to date on the anime and Next Dimension manga, I still need to actually read Lost Canvas and the original manga or at least whats been scanlated. At least I've read all the Episode G scanlations but that one's really behind..). And not sure what category Claymore falls into but I sorta am still up to date on that. And fallen behind in Naruto but trying to keep with that one just 'cause I've been reading it for so long, don't want to give up on it yet but this is the farthest I've fallen with it so far. Gave up on Bleach years ago though. And still reading D.Gray-Man even though I'm still not very happy with how she changed her style and just how its not the same manga anymore.

Overall I'm really not as up to date on anime and manga as people tend to assume. I mean yeah I used to be but I don't really have as much time for it anymore so I tend to prioritize stuff and I no longer watch stuff just 'cause its what people are watching and I want to see what's going on and review it (after all I watched all of Chobits even though I didn't like any of it but only just so I could properly give an opinion and know the series, same with .hack). Nowadays if I don't like something from episode 1, probably not going to stick with it.

~Lyn

The Persona 4 anime premiered today and was quite pleasantly surprised to see that its being streamed by Anime News Network, which means we get subs right away and nice quality too.

So far it was pretty good. It kept a lot of the game elements in it which I really liked. Though not much of the story has happened so far so can't say for sure yet if its going to be good or not. I'm a little nervous just 'cause the last time I watched a game-based anime that started out true to the game..and then went REALLY downhill (fucking Togainu no Chi anime *twitchtwitch*) so REALLY hoping that won't happen with this one.

But yeah I think one can watch the anime without having ever played the game and still enjoy it. Even though I think its still better to play the game just 'cause you do get a different perspective with the anime. As now its more of a 3rd POV instead of the more 1st POV you get from playing as Souji instead of just watching him like you do with the anime. But for those who don't plan to play the game, the anime does offer a nice way of still checking it out.

Anywho, going to go into a pretty length full review of the episode 'cause I got a lot to say about it as compared to the game and all. Persona 4 is my 2nd favorite game of all time (1st being FFVII of course) and actually managed to push Tales of Symphonia down to 3 which was kinda a big deal to me as ToS has been 2nd for a loooong time. But yeah, P4 is a fandom that I'm actually still quite active in despite the fact I don't talk about it much.

( Full review under the cut )

~Lyn

http://www.mayonaka-tv.jp/

YES.

YESYESYESYES.

I don't even care what it will be. Just the fact there will be SOMETHING new for P4 makes me insanely excited. Sources seem to suggest it is most likely going to be an anime (surprisingly enough!) but I'd be just as happy with a P4P. (though I still need to get P3P some day...maybe...I dunno still debating if I want it or not but I'd get a P4P without hesitation man! XD)

Oh and the sakura matsuri was awesome this year. More on that later.

~Lyn

Otakon was overall a pretty good con for me this year. Insanely tiring but good. It went by really fast but most likely because I was doing a lot.

( Super duper long report ahoy! )

You can see the rest of my photos here: http://rosebride.com/lyn/o2k10.html

~Lyn

Anyone want a P4 badge-thingy?



This was the practice one to see what it would come out as. I'm embroidering my actual one directly onto the jacket. So this little one here doesn't really work for the jacket but if anyone wants it as like a bag badge or whatever, let me know and its yours. XP

~Lyn

So I went on a mad search for the Mulan OST. First download gave me Spanish. ... Second download gave me Russian. Then discovered that there's a Mulan II? ...why? But then finally I found what I was looking for. And I am pleased. ^_^ As this is still by far my favorite Disney movie.

But why was I suddenly in the need to download it?

Because I've been reading far too many Persona 4 fanfics the last few days. And I read not one, but freaking two P4 fics that involved Mulan songs. And...it worked. lol (Mostly because you-know-who sang/spoke Mulan's parts of the songs and it worked so wonderfully well and was way too adorable. XP)

Oh and ya know what I said about liking P3 more than P4? I lied. XP If nothing else the fandom has made me realize that I do like P4 more now. Though we shall see if that changes any when I finally get my butt in gear and play P3 FES now that I do have it.

And I do kinda want to cosplay Yosuke some time. Just no idea how I'd fit it into my crazy cosplay schedule as is. Bleh. And I know most of my friends doing P4 cosplay already have their own groups well established. Ah well. Still want to do it. >>;

~Lyn

So I think I've been playing too much Persona 4 or something. 'Cause I recently finished Heaven Paradise so there's been a lot of Nanako related things in the game. So last night I had not one but two dreams where I was a "big brother" to a Nanako-looking character. LOL But oddly enough both dreams were kinda cool so I'm going to write about them.

( Must rescue Nanako even in my dreams! XP )

~Lyn

I hate it when you're doing good, gained several levels, accomplishing quests...

...only to have your main character one shot killed. (In this case he had enraged cast on him and the enemy blocks physical attacks so before I could do anything, he attacked and killed himself...)

...there goes an almost full hour of gameplay to waste.

*sighs* Time to go back and do it all over again.

~Lyn