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
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
(Written in bits and pieces over several weeks, with less proofreading than should have been necessary. I hope it's still passably coherent...)
Ah, Kalafina. I can't remember being as enamoured with any other musical act since I quit idolising boybands as a teenager. And I'd never gone to another country (even if it was just neighbouring Malaysia) just to watch an artiste perform live.
Kalafina were certainly worth the journey.
I'd planned to reach Kuala Lumpur on the afternoon of the 8th of June. It turned out to be an even better idea than I'd have thought because AFA later announced that an open-door press preview would be happening that day. And of course, making an appearance was...
Ah, Kalafina. I can't remember being as enamoured with any other musical act since I quit idolising boybands as a teenager. And I'd never gone to another country (even if it was just neighbouring Malaysia) just to watch an artiste perform live.
Kalafina were certainly worth the journey.
I'd planned to reach Kuala Lumpur on the afternoon of the 8th of June. It turned out to be an even better idea than I'd have thought because AFA later announced that an open-door press preview would be happening that day. And of course, making an appearance was...
Real life has been really distracting lately, but I did manage to find some pockets of free time that I could have used for writing up a decent post.However, I ended up using that time to play with my two new acquisitions. *shrugs* It was fun. So instead of a post with some semblance of substance, here are a bunch of photos of the very poseable Figmas Mami and Kyoko:
Mami looks really awesome. And Kyoko! My favourite. She was a lot harder to set up than Mami, because her hair kept getting in the way when trying to attach her to the base...but it was worth it.
I think I can only afford two Figmas for now...
Fun with Kyubey
Mini Madokami wants a shot at him too
"Want one?""Oh, don't mind if I do."
Mami looks really awesome. And Kyoko! My favourite. She was a lot harder to set up than Mami, because her hair kept getting in the way when trying to attach her to the base...but it was worth it.
I think I can only afford two Figmas for now...
Fun with Kyubey
Mini Madokami wants a shot at him too
"Want one?""Oh, don't mind if I do."
This post has been moved to the following URL: http://audiovisualstyle.wordpress.com/2012/03/15/pv-reviewrecap-kalafina-to-the-beginning/
It's here!
...I have to say, though, I expected better.
No time to recap now, but I'll do my best when the time comes. And it will. I've already got ideas...
...I have to say, though, I expected better.
No time to recap now, but I'll do my best when the time comes. And it will. I've already got ideas...
**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.
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.
Oh, look, it seems that I am alive. My day job seems to have been dedicated to changing that lately. I've got a bit of a break now though.
If you're half as obsessed as I am about Kalafina you'll probably have heard that the ladies will be singing the second OP of Fate/Zero, titled to the beginning (links in the sidebar!). I'm waiting for Play-Asia to put it up for pre-order but I'm not sure they'll offer the postcard calendar bonus that CDJapan has. I WANT.
The DVD/Blu-ray that comes with limited editions will include the PV — words cannot express how much I am looking forward tomaking an irreverent recap of that.
Oh hey lookie sample!
It didn't really impress me at first; I thought it sounded too much like a FictionJunction song than a Kalafina song. But really, that's not a bad thing, is it? And they sound great anyway — I quite like how the main vocal switches more often during verses than usual. Again, not their usual style, and again, nothing wrong with that. It's a refreshing change from hearing just one of them singing lead for most of the song.
If you're half as obsessed as I am about Kalafina you'll probably have heard that the ladies will be singing the second OP of Fate/Zero, titled to the beginning (links in the sidebar!). I'm waiting for Play-Asia to put it up for pre-order but I'm not sure they'll offer the postcard calendar bonus that CDJapan has. I WANT.
The DVD/Blu-ray that comes with limited editions will include the PV — words cannot express how much I am looking forward to
Oh hey lookie sample!
It didn't really impress me at first; I thought it sounded too much like a FictionJunction song than a Kalafina song. But really, that's not a bad thing, is it? And they sound great anyway — I quite like how the main vocal switches more often during verses than usual. Again, not their usual style, and again, nothing wrong with that. It's a refreshing change from hearing just one of them singing lead for most of the song.
I'm going to be so broke in March...
Kalafina After Eden Blu-ray and DVD announced!!
DVD and Blu-Ray of Kalafina's After Eden Special Live at Tokyo Dome City Hall, to be released on March 21. CDJapan's got them up for pre-order already (DVD and Blu-Ray). Canta-per-me.net's got the set list here and ADORE IS ON IT. I MUST HAVE THIS NOW.
Also, Kalafina's live performances for Animax Musix Studio Live and the Animax Musix 2011 concert have hit YouTube.
...Not their best performances, but still watchable. I thought Oblivious in the studio live was quite good, actually. That Sorairo Days performance, though, was doomed upon its conception. The song really doesn't suit them, and they really don't suit it. I'd normally find the idea of Kalafina doing something different refreshing but this is just too jarring. Seriously? Who came up with that? What a waste of an opportunity. There's a hundred other, better songs I'd love to have seen Kalafina cover...
That studio live was pretty easy on the eyes. Nice roving shots, and lots of gorgeous close-ups of Hikaru's super-fierce expressions, Wakana looking...like Wakana (well, she looks good), and Keiko...well, Keiko.
Super-fierce
Wakana.
And Keiko...well, Keiko
And some bonus Wakana!dansu
(This blog has 10,000 hits how the heck did that happen??)
Kalafina After Eden Blu-ray and DVD announced!!
DVD and Blu-Ray of Kalafina's After Eden Special Live at Tokyo Dome City Hall, to be released on March 21. CDJapan's got them up for pre-order already (DVD and Blu-Ray). Canta-per-me.net's got the set list here and ADORE IS ON IT. I MUST HAVE THIS NOW.
Also, Kalafina's live performances for Animax Musix Studio Live and the Animax Musix 2011 concert have hit YouTube.
...Not their best performances, but still watchable. I thought Oblivious in the studio live was quite good, actually. That Sorairo Days performance, though, was doomed upon its conception. The song really doesn't suit them, and they really don't suit it. I'd normally find the idea of Kalafina doing something different refreshing but this is just too jarring. Seriously? Who came up with that? What a waste of an opportunity. There's a hundred other, better songs I'd love to have seen Kalafina cover...
That studio live was pretty easy on the eyes. Nice roving shots, and lots of gorgeous close-ups of Hikaru's super-fierce expressions, Wakana looking...like Wakana (well, she looks good), and Keiko...well, Keiko.
Super-fierce
Wakana.
And Keiko...well, Keiko
And some bonus Wakana!dansu
(This blog has 10,000 hits how the heck did that happen??)
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