Well, hello, it's been a while. I have my excuses (perfectly valid ones!) for being away, but I'm fairly sure that that's not what you came here to read.

And yeah, I promised a recap of Kalafina's moonfesta PV. It's been forever, but I'm not about to give up on it. Not just yet. But it'll probably take some more time before it's done.

In the meantime, let us all rejoice at the announcement of Kalafina's new single, Hikari Furu, which will be released on the 24th of October.


More Kalafina is always good news!

The title track for the single will be the theme song for the second Madoka Magica compilation film. The title of the movie, by the way, is Puella Magi Madoka Magica the Movie Part II: The Eternal Story, which is too long for me to attempt to fit gracefully into the previous sentence. Anyway, I'm very excited about all this, which should not surprise anyone who has been and is still reading this blog. I'm going to stop hazarding guesses as to many of you there are.

The single comes in four (whew) editions: Limited Edition Type-A (includes DVD of the title track's PV), Limited Edition Type-B (same PV, this time on Blu-ray), Regular Edition (no PV) and Anime Edition (includes "...bonus DVD with special animation").

It's available for pre-order on Play-Asia as well. The site has not deigned to tell us which edition is which just yet but a comparison of the catalogue numbers suggests that it's Type-A, Type-B, Regular Edition and Anime Edition. But you don't have to take my word for it, we can wait till they provide more info.

I'm not usually interested in Anime editions but that bonus "special animation" (of the Madoka movie, I presume) sounds intriguing...

In other not-so-new news:



The Rurouni Kenshin live action movie (you know, the one I talked about once or twice or more), which opened in Japan on 25 August, has made a ton of money. It is also, according to the one in-depth review I found that was in English, quite awesome. The movie also been licensed for distribution in over 60 countries. Which is very nice and all, but is Singapore one of them? I think it's likely but they haven't confirmed it why can't they just tell which countries are among those 60+ countries the suspense is killing me here.

Oh, speaking of movies...



Hosoda Mamoru's Wolf Children opened in Singapore this Thursday. Catch it at Bugis+'s Filmgarde if you haven't already. I did, and I greatly enjoyed it. There are several reasons as to why I recommend it but not the least among them is aaaaah widdle wolf kiddies so cute! Okay, seriously, the story is heartwarming and the animation, for the most part, is gorgeous. I'll see if I have time for a proper review.

Just when I think I can't get any more excited, they give us more glimpses of awesomeness. Aoi Yuu~~ her portrayal of Megumi looks to exceed my already high expectations.

And Takei Emi is still amazing.

Source: Anime News Network 1, 2

Nadeshiko


Samurai


Footage highlighting Kenshin:


Footage highlighting Kanryuu:

Original source: Yahoo! Japan



The plot seems to be largely an amalgam of the Jin-e and Kanryuu/Megumi arcs, with Kenshin and Kaoru's first meeting (with Jin-e in Hiruma Gohei's place?), Yahiko and Sano's introductions worked in...

I think I'm just going to quit worrying about the plot being too compressed, because it looks like everything else is going to be awesome. The actions scenes look very well done.

The characterisation is still what I'm most excited about, though. I was glad to see more of Sanosuke, Yahiko and Megumi:






Megumi, you fox...




I think I'd already expressed my satisfaction with the glimpse of Sato Takeru's portrayal of Kenshin.




This time, it's Takei Emi who's really charmed me. The forcefulness in that first confrontation with Kenshin, the earnestness in her expression and voice when trying to reassure Kenshin that it doesn't matter to her that he was a hitokiri...The woman is Kaoru.






She's just standing there, and yet she's somehow already exuding Kaoru-ness. It's awesome.


Anxiously awaiting news of a Singapore release

**UPDATE** The movie's official site now has links to trailers subtitled in English, French, Spanish and Chinese. I think the chances of this getting overseas releases not long after the Japanese premiere are looking good...

I've embedded the one with English subs. The video quality is a lot better than the previous video too:







A bit late, and this has been popping out all over the place but...Trailer starts at 0:45:





- I really wish they'd chosen a song other than 'Niji' for that first bit

- HE SAID ORO *squeals* Nice to see how true this Kenshin is to the manga, and seeing Sato portraying both Kenshin's badass side and rurouni side so well is just wonderful.

- Takei Emi looks pretty good in her role too. That scene where Kaoru confronts Kenshin? Totally pulling it off.

- First proper glimpse of Aoki Munetaka/Sanosuke and damn is he badass or is he badass? In terms of casting and characterisation this movie seems to be excelling.

- So much so that I'm not terribly bothered about the storyline. Jin-e, Saito, Kanryuu — based on the number of antagonists it looks like it's going to be severals arcs compressed into the movie. Is it just me, or does the guy in the Hitokiri Battousai poster look like Jin-e? That seems like a plausible way of combining Kenshin and Kaoru's first meeting with the Jin-e arc. And is that white-haired guy at about 1:28 — no way —

- It may be a little premature to judge, but it really does seem that even if the movie is departing somewhat from the original plot, it's staying true to the spirit of the manga and the characters. And that's what I was hoping for the most.

More Live-Action Rurouni Kenshin Film Images Released


Offhand, I can't tell which part of the manga this scene is from...does anyone know? I'm not ruling out the possibility that this is something new.



Not bad. Not bad at all. Sato Takeru is really managing to look the part. That's quite a feat in itself. First major hurdle crossed.





That's Takei Emi/Kaoru, right? She looks like...a poor Japanese girl. Which is about right, but from just images it's harder to tell with Kaoru whether the actress fits the character.

More images, plz! A trailer would be awesome too.

I keep saying I don't want to get my hopes, and it's still way too early to tell up but all these images and details are making me a very excited fan.

Sasaki Hisashi, the movie's deputy director posted four photos taken on the set -- it seems that they've got the Kamiya dojo mostly up. Looks pretty good. But first, check out who showed up at the set to watch:

Aoi Yuu and Aoki Munetaka added to live-action Rurouni Kenshin cast

Aoi Yuu. Aoi freakin' Yuu. Playing Megumi. This definitely needs to be seen.




My excitement springs from the fact that Aoi Yuu is one of my favourite Japanese film actresses. Actually she's one of the few Japanese actresses I'm familiar with I'm just not much of a live-action person. I first saw her in Hana and Alice (she played Alice) and thoroughly enjoyed her performance (it was a great movie too. Weird, but great). She was 19 then; she's 26 now. I admit I haven't watched her most recent films, but I imagine she's only gotten better.

You don't have to take my word for it; check out that list of credits and awards. She's the biggest name on the cast list so far.

My only (very minor) cause for reservation is that I think she looks a little too, well, girlish to play the Kenshingumi's resident Fox Lady (Megumi's maturity is supposed to make her contrast against the younger Kaoru). Might not work too well if she doesn't look any older than Kaoru's actress (Takei Emi). But it's not much of an issue. I have faith that Aoi is more than talented enough to pull it off.

Oh yeah, they've cast Sanosuke too. Someone I don't know (big surprise). His name is Aoki Munetaka:



The article lists roles in Kamen Rider Den-O and Beck, among others; he's not an unknown, at least. I think he really looks the part though. He just needs a lot of hair gel. Or a spiky-haired wig.

They've also cast a Tanaka Taketo for the role of Yahiko. Apart from the fact that he's 11 years old, there's not much info on him.

I'm still trying to temper my hopes, but right now this live-action project is looking pretty good. I'm mostly worried about how loyal the characters will stay to their manga counterparts. I can accept changes to the plot, but please, please don't ruin the characters.

Sony already announced earlier that extra bonuses are included with purchase of Kalafina's After Eden album from Animate, AniBro Gamers and Toranoana. One of the bonuses is a Kalafina postcard (a different one from each store). The other one was just revealed recently:


Madoka characters cosplaying Kalafina

I love it when my favourite things cross over. Way to draw in the fanboys (and fangirls), Sony.

As a user on cante-per-me.net's forums pointed out to me, they're wearing the same dresses Kalafina are wearing on After Eden's cover. I can't believe I managed to miss that -_-;; Homura's dressed as Keiko, Mami as Wakana, and Madoka as Hikaru. If I had to match each Kalafina member to a Madoka character that most resembled them I'd have come up with the same result.

I want...


In other news, I've managed to convince myself that the Rurouni Kenshin Kyoto arc remake OVA is a prelude to an animated version of the Jinchuu arc, and not the end of it (I may write up an entry explaining why, if I feel like it). Also, seeing (hearing?) the old anime voice acting cast again is something I'm anticipating. To celebrate, here is Kenshin's seiyuu, Suzukaze Mayo, in a video from her days as a gender-bending Takarazuka otokoyaku (male-role actress), singing about how her name is Oscar:



As of sometime in the 2000s, she still sounds pretty good:



Or maybe I just wanted to post some Takarazuka. What? It's awesome.

"The production company Aniplex confirmed on Saturday that the previously announced new Rurouni Kenshin anime series will be a two-part Shin Kyoto-Hen (New Kyoto Arc) original video anime series. The first part will play in Japanese theaters in December.

The new anime series will remake the Kyoto story arc of Nobuhiro Watsuki's original manga and the previous anime adaptation..."

I can't help but feel let down; I was really hoping to finally see the final arc (the Jinchuu arc) animated. The anime handled the Kyoto arc well enough, do we really need to see it squeezed into a two-part OVA? And what are the chances of overseas fans getting the opportunity to enjoy a theatrical release as consolation?

I'm still harbouring hopes that a Jinchuu project is still possible, and that Aniplex is using the response to the OVA to gauge whether animating Jinchuu will be worthwhile.

The announcement that the majority of the main cast will be reunited for the OVA is pretty cool though -- most of the old cast is still doing seiyuu work but Suzukaze Mayo and Fujitani Miki in particular (our leads Kenshin and Kaoru) don't seem to have had any involvement in anime for a long time. Heck, they've even gotten the composer of the original anime's OST, Asakura Noriyuki. They really seem to be banking on nostalgia here...

I can't find Doi Mika's (Megumi) name listed, though, I'm hoping it's just something they missed; I'm a fan of her work and I'm hoping she'll come back to being a part of this.

One confirmed notable change: Narita Ken will be replacing the late Suzuoki Hirotaka as Saitoh Hajime. The role I mostly remember Narita for is Sesshoumaru of Inuyasha, another cold, belligerent and ridiculously popular anti-hero character; I think he'll pull off Saitoh just fine.

/optimism

Emi Takei to Play Live-Action Rurouni Kenshin's Kaoru

I'm mostly extremely relieved that she's not a member of AKB48. I don't think I could have taken this adaptation seriously if she was.

She's 17, like Kaoru would be in the manga. I was actually expecting them to cast someone older, but hey, she might actually be able to pull it off. She seems to have quite a bit of experience under her belt (some prominent J-drama roles and Liar Game 2? Not bad). A quick YouTube search turns up quite a number of CM starring her -- she's quite an idol, it seems.

I asked the foremost authority on J-drama readily available to me (my little sister) how she was in Taisetsu na Koto wa Subete Kimi ga Oshiete Kureta and she said, "Yeah, she's okay." And that's pretty much all I have to go on. I would have asked the kid if Takei could pull of 'tsundere' but she doesn't know what that means...

As for how well her looks match up to the character.




Pretty (but for better or worse that's pretty much expected these days, right?). Looks good in a ponytail. I just hope her acting measures up.

For a better comparison...



You know, I really think this could work.

And if you, like me, want to know what she sounds like (I was wondering how well she could yell) here's a small acting sample and a video of her working the Wii...

Anime News Network report

Nearly choked on my cereal when I read the headline. I'd pretty much dismissed the rumours about this that came out some months ago but it looks like they did have substance after all.

I've mentioned it before, haven't I? I'm a huge fan of Rurouni Kenshin. Some of my fellow fans are excited, others are apprehensive. A new anime, and a live-action film -- pretty cool for a series than ended more than a decade ago. But of course, they are worries about how well the source material will translate to the big screen, casting quibbles, and the occasional cries of "NO THEY GONNA RUIN MAH CHILDHOOD FOREVER". My opinion is that this has the potential to be epic, but I don't want to get my hopes up -- I'll reserve that for the upcoming anime adaptation instead.

I have to wonder, though, how they plan to adapt the story, which arcs they plan to cover, which characters will appear, so on and so on. It seems to be a given that it's not going to be based on what the Tsuiokuhen OVA already covered, which I think is a reasonable assumption. The plot will have to be compressed, naturally, for a movie, but...

"...The Sankei Sports newspaper adds that the staff aims to release the film internationally and eventually make a series."

The part about an international release is cool, but not surprising; from what I've heard, the RK manga has sold pretty well overseas, particularly in the US. As for the other bit...If they're planning for this to be the first of a series (a series of movies? Or are they going for a TV drama?)...It gives me more hope that they wouldn't completely butcher the story.

On the topic of casting, we only know who's playing Kenshin right now -- one Satoh Takeru:

Satoh Takeru and an apparently handless Kenshin *shrug* I just grabbed the first decently-sized image I could find.

Meh. Could work, I guess? I don't know much about the guy. There's a list of his acting credits in ANN's report but I've never watched Kamen Rider or Beck fan. He's 22, but Kenshin is supposed to look too young for a 28/29-year old. How tall is he? I couldn't accept a tall Kenshin. And I hope he gets a decent red wig.

I should probably be more concerned about his acting chops.

Anyway I'm looking forward to see who else they'll cast. Especially for the role of Kaoru.

On YouTube I'm LadyEmissary. When I don't feel like I've spent enough of my life on ultimately useless pursuits, I like to make anime music videos. They're nothing amazing, and I usually accomplish little more than to make myself completely sick of the songs I've been using (for a little while anyway) but hey, I have fun.

I made a Rurouni Kenshin: Tsuiokuhen one quite a while back, set to Aikawa Nanase's Koigokoro (Nanase-san, why don't you rock this much anymore?):



And oh, hey, look what's been distracting me from those episode summaries. Crossing over two of my favourite things. And it's still rather unpolished and incomplete (it looks better now and is about 75% done at the moment though):



Aaah I really need to start acting like a useful member of society soon...

Aaaa only a few hours to the Madoka broadcast. I may have to steer clear my usual Internet haunts until the subs are out due to a mortal fear of spoilers.

In the meantime...Another update on Random Things That Interest Me

The announcement regarding the new Rurouni Kenshin anime has me very excited. I'm now trying to remain merely cautiously optimistic, even if I did explode into a fit of unrestrained yelling upon first reading about the news...There hasn't been any solid details yet thus far -- it's still unclear whether it'll be a remake, a continuation of the previous anime series, or just an OVA. Whatever it is -- please, please, please let the Jinchuu arc be animated.


My OTP needs their animated happy ending.

In music news, Onisuka Chihiro's new single, Aoi Tori, and album, Ken to Kaede, were recently released. I want the album, but I think I'm going to have to wait a month before I can afford it. In the meantime, there's the PV for Aoi Tori to enjoy:



One good thing about Onitsuka switching labels is that the PVs For Life Music posts are of actually watchable quality...

I really like it. It's a lovely, stirring folk-rock song, and Onitsuka-san sounds beautiful as always. I love her power ballads, but I also think it's great that she's moving away from her usual sound.

I randomly checked out the indies Oricon chart, and was surprised to find Aldious at no. 1. Mostly because I didn't realize they had the single out -- why they're number one isn't so hard to figure out.



I've been trying to keep up with them, -- their debut single was pretty good -- but the stuff that came after didn't really impress me. Maybe I'll give them another shot -- this song is pretty okay.

On the pop charts, B'z has the number one single, which is about as surprising as the revelation that the sun rises in the east.