[Download] Free! - Iwatobi Channel Vol. 2 (イワトビちゃんねるVol.2)

Someone asked me to upload this CD. So here it is. The second Free! Radio CD, with booklet.
Download link: here.
Feel free to ask for other materials you want, and I'll try my best to share them with you.
Just give me a shout in our blog's comment box, or my twitter.

The difference between Cosplay makeup fails and wins: Contouring

Cosplay update: I've been AWOL for awhile, collecting stuff, making stuff and trialing stuff for my second cosplay (hopefully a win). I've taken quite a lot of photos of the costume creation process, makeup trials process etc etc. But not wanting to spoil mah super surprise post, I've just decided to gather all this and last months stuff into one super big post on the whole process. Hopefully I'll be able to help some people out...

Anyhoow I'm here to discuss the findings of my most recent makeup trial. Contouring. 

I know, I know, I've talked about it before, but hopefully this photo will convince you of the necessity of contouring your face up for a photoshoot or a cosplay.

Crud. It's a little blurry, but if you note my make up-ed side of my face, you'll see much more shadows and it looks more three dimensional. (Plus my eye seems to have grown a size. BTW Great eye makeup tutorial here: http://wenqiann.deviantart.com/art/Cosplay-eye-makeup-tutorial-351629070)

Anyway, point is. No matter how awesome your costume is, the finishing touch is the makeup.

Stuff to contour with:

-Bronzer

-Eyeshadow

-Actual contour-highlight palettes

Contour/Highlight Tick-off list: 

-Nose bridge: (Contour both sides and highlight the middle)

- Just under the cheekbones for a slimmer looking face.

-Highlight your chin

-Highlight under your eyes.

-Highlight the middle of your forehead.

-Highlight Brow bone

Cosplay update: Sneaky peek +Wig

Megane bishies. Who's your type?

The five main characters from the new anime, Meganebu!

Kimata Hayato

Kamatani Mitsuki 

Hachimine Takuma

Minabe Yukiya

Souma, Akira

We are megane-bu~u~

Pumpkin's [WIP] palette: Teiko Airlines part I.

Another 4 hours until KuroBasu season 2!!
I'll eventually draw the whole "Teiko Airlines"... maybe...

(Clearly, this is a spoof off the UtaPri Shining Airlines project.)

Seiyuu appreciation post: Eguchi Takuya's drawing skills

The latest Pokemon anime, Pokemon:The Origin, was aired a few nights ago, and seiyuu Eguchi Takuya is part of the cast voicing Green.
Last night he uploaded his Pikachu sketch on his twitter.

Well... he may have excelled in his career using his voice, but his artistic skills is somewhat lacking.

【Attack on Titan】 DIE YOUNG (SONG PARODY)

I came across this video while scrolling on Google+ and it is hilarious. Thanks to whoever posted this video on G+ and thanks to the awesome group that created the video!

WARNING : CONTAINS SPOILERS!



I was planning to post a couple of reviews this weekend, but I may not have time due to school and life. Please be patience :D

How to tie a tie: the trinity knot

Megabubbletea shared this post on to my news feed, it looked really cool so I decided to try it out tonight.

My attempt at the trinity knot.

And the complete outfit for tonight (excuse my toiletries).

Alrighty, time to head out!

Seiyuu appreciation post: Kaji Yuuki

New UtaPri Project - Shining Airlines

All your favourite boys in smart (sexy) attire - Pilot uniforms!

A tilt of their captain's cap, a wink and a kiss, what better way to wish you a safe and pleasant journey!

The UtaPri website updated tonight with its new project Shining Airlines, which will be presented at the Animate Girls Festival 2013 (02,03/Nov/2013). 

Yes, sadly, this is a Japan only project, where the merchandise displayed on the website will be sold. Though they say that other merchandise will be available at a later date.

Seiyuu appreciation post: Shimono Hiro and Taniyama Kishow

Anime Review - Shingeki No Kyojin : A Giant Success

Synopsis: 
Several hundred years ago, humans were nearly exterminated by titans. Titans are typically several stories tall, seem to have no intelligence, devour human beings and, worst of all, seem to do it for the pleasure rather than as a food source. A small percentage of humanity survived by walling themselves in a city protected by extremely high walls, even taller than the biggest of titans.

Flash forward to the present and the city has not seen a titan in over 100 years. Teenage boy Eren and his foster sister Mikasa witness something horrific as the city walls are destroyed by a colossal titan that appears out of thin air. As the smaller titans flood the city, the two kids watch in horror as their mother is eaten alive. Eren vows that he will murder every single titan and take revenge for all of mankind.
(Source : MangaHelpers)

A Creative Story : 8
Although Shingeki No Kyojin takes a ridiculously long time to unfold its story past the fifth episode, the story is quite a tearful one. As much as I want to say that this type of story (where humanity's existence is in peril and only a trio of characters can save the world) is cliche and omnipresent in the anime world, I can not. The reason being that in this story, nobody is safe. Everyone is at least a hair's length away from death. Even the strongest characters are physically or emotionally injured in some way, making this a unique anime that accurately portrays the life that is lived in a war-torn state.

The negative points about the story are the developing pace and the constant, useless recaps. I know that some watchers need that recap but it cuts down the actual episode time. Another problem is the developing pace. After the first five episodes or so, the pace is significantly slower. Tasks that should take an episode are prolonged and stretched to fit over three episodes. An example, I could watch episode 22 and I would only be slightly ahead of the story that was aired in episode 18. This was constantly frustrating since there wasn't really a story to follow in some points.

Fantastic Art : 10
Shingeki No Kyojin's best feature is the art, along with the soundtrack. People have commented on the art style, saying that the bold lines on the characters and scenes are a little unusual, but I find it eye appealing. I love how the creators weren't afraid to draw bloody gore; they didn't sugarcoat any of the violence during this calamity. A final feature that I admire about this anime is the artist's ability to draw the Titan's anatomy so well, since I suck at drawing human anatomy :D

Jean, Bertholdt and Annie

The animation in Shingeki No Kyojin is spectacular. From the first second of the opening, and to the last beat of the ending song, the animation is consist throughout, and there is no drop in quality. Even the 3D maneuver gear had no visible flaws. One could simply stare with their open mouth as Levi would go into Sonic mode to kill the Titans or see Mikasa expertly maneuver herself around on the ground. The various angled scenes add a certain type of intensity and excitement in every mission or battle, really capturing the viewer.

To the creators/animators who took the effort and time
 to perfect the animation, thank you very much!

Intense and Catchy Soundtrack : 10
I fell in love with all the opening and ending songs for this anime. They were well selected and ear pleasing, very energetic and intense. The inserted songs are also fantastic, not asking for too much attention but enough to add dramatic effect or intensity to a scene. One of the best soundtracks that I have heard during the spring and summer season.

Well-Developed and Realistic Characters : 9
Throughout this anime, the protagonists face numerous challenges and hardships that they must overcome in order to survival. And when they do, they don't remain the same character anymore, but have changed, even on a fundamental level.

The characters themselves were very realistic. Fear is a major theme in this anime and the characters reacted according to that fear. An example would be in the first episode when Hannes attempts to slay an approaching Titan in order to save Eren, Mikasa and their mother. Facing the Titan, you would expect that Hannes will be able to slay the beast and save the kids, since this is anime and everything is possible. However, this particular anime takes into consideration that humans panic, get cold-feet and runaway. They didn't try to hide this fact at all and it makes the anime all the more realistic.

Enjoyment and Tears : 9
You know the common anime phrase, "Main characters. Main characters die everywhere"? This anime basically took that line to the next level. I won't go into detail but there was a moment in the later episodes that took my heart, shattered it, and literally keep rubbing it into my face whenever I would see Levi's face. Although it is a cruel technique, it made the anime more enjoyable for me since I could connect to the characters on an emotional level.

The one negative that I have to say about this anime is that it took way to long to go from point A to point B in the story. Detail is good, but having a consistent pace throughout the anime is better. The first five or so episodes left you satisfied and longing for more. After that, however, each episode was filled with previous fillers and recaps, shorten the episode's time and leaving annoying cliffhangers.

Overall : Great (9)
Seemingly over-rated, Shingeki No Kyojin is a terrific anime to watch, containing an interesting story, amazing art, stunning story, and well-developed characters. Certainly not the best-anime-that-has-been-created-ever, but it sure is close.

Gotta go fast!

Until next time.
Nankurunaisa
sana_salim

Crystallize Annie! (Shingeki no Kyojin)

For those who have watched the final episode of SnK, here's a terrible Photoshop-based pun.

Levi (Shingeki no Kyojin) is shortest

Even Levi Heichou is shorter than Rilakkuma.

Source: pixiv

Seiyuu appreciation post: Pheromen (Suwabe Junichi and Toriumi Kousuke)

The dual unit Pheromen 「フェロ☆メン」 consists of seiyuus Suwabe Junichi and Toriumi Kousuke, and their style lean towards Visual Kei.
They will be releasing a new single in 2 days! More information at their official site.
In the meantime, I'm rofling at Be-sama in this pic.

Pokémon Dubstep Remix - Lindsey Stirling+Kurt Schneider

Two amazing musicians jam together a song we're all familiar with!

Seiyuu appreciation post: Nobuhiko Okamoto

This boy is too cute!

Anime Review - Dangan Ronpa The Animation : Bloody Okay

Synopsis:

A group of 15 elite high school students are gathered at a very special, high class high school. To graduate from this high school essentially means you'll succeed in life, but graduating is very difficult. The school is presided over by a bear called Monokuma, and he explains to them that their graduation hinges around committing a murder. The only way to graduate is to kill one of your classmates and get away with it. If the other classmates discover the identity of the killer, the killer is the only one executed. However, if they fail to catch the killer, only the killer graduates and the others are annihilated. Which of the 15 will survive the bloodbath to come?

Source : MU

Decent Story (6)

Doesn't the seating arrangement remind you a little of . . . 

The plot of the story gets a little predictable. I understand that the student have to keep dying and the classroom trials have to keep occurring, but it is repetitive. As well, the story seems rushed and you have little exposure to the characters themselves. The viewer rarely gets a chance to truly see the motives and reason behind each character's actions. I have heard several people, who have played the PSP game, comment that this series should have been made into twenty-five episodes rather than the thirteen. And I agree. The creators were too focused on including every element of this story into thirteen episodes and it left out the needed emotional connection between characters, making this story quite hollow.

Good Art (7)
There isn't much too comment on the art. Generally, it is okay, but there are moments where the animation is sloppy. During the execution scenes, I really love the change in art style. Of the entire anime, these scenes are my favourite. Monokuma has an interesting choice in how the students are executed . . . and I love it :D

Look at that beautiful shading!

Killer Soundtrack (9)
Dangan Ronpa's opening and ending songs are probably the top of my favourites this season, behind Guren No Yumiya and Uchouten Jinsei. The animation along with the opening song is a seamless perfection. The same can be said about the ending song. I am glad that Soraru got his anime debut and he does a wonderful job as always.

Gif from the opening scene, containing "all" the characters. 

Wait. . .there are characters? (4)
Blame the rushed pace for the terrible character development in this story. In all honesty, however, the rushed pace provided little opportunity for character growth and relationships. The relationships that are created seem carelessly tossed in, like Kirigiri and Naegi. There are moments where she seems to have feelings for him but other times it appears like she has no affection for him. It is a bit confusing.
The characters themselves are pretty much stereotypical and cookie-cut, but if you take in consideration of their "Super Duper High Schooler" title and selection, it makes sense. Naegi's character is a little annoying, but that is just me and my personal dislike of optimistic heroes.

Interesting Ride (7)
To be honest, I liked Dangan Ronpa, despite its obvious flaws. The pace, the overall rushed execution and the repetitive acts are bothersome, and I think halfway through the series, I watched simply for the soundtrack, classroom trials and executions. The murders were predictable, but nevertheless, I enjoyed watching the pieces unfold before me.

Overall : Good (7)
Saying this from the perspective of someone who has only experienced the anime version of this series, I enjoyed it. The awesome soundtrack and the well-animated execution scenes are something to look forward. However, if you are the type of watcher that loves a good story with good characters, Dangan Ronpa is not the anime for you. Instead, I recommend playing the PSP game, for it provides a more enjoyable experience.

Because why not :D 

Until next time.
Nankurunaisa
sana_salim

Riverfire 2013

It's been over 15 years since I last attended Brisbane's Riverfire festival.

It wasn't as packed with people as I anticipated. The bag security screening was absolutely stupid though, wasted 5 minutes of my life.

It was *great* seeing our tax money being burnt in vibrant colours for half an hour (oh the sarcasm).

After the fireworks show, we met up with a few other friends at the city to eat at a Korean restaurant called Funny Funny. The food was delicious! Especially the chilli chicken with herbs and rice.

It was a really fun night out.

There's extra photos of South Bank, which I went to yesterday morning. It was a very nice day out!

Please do excuse my terrible photography skills, and not good quality phone camera.

Seiyuu appreciation post: KENN, Toriumi Kousuke and Namikawa Daisuke

I stole this off Namikawa's latest blog post.

It's about the new release of the game: Meiji Tokyo Renka, of which KENN, Tori and Nami are participating in; and Nami's upcoming single release.

KuroBasu Season 2: Are you ready?

With less than 2 weeks to go until season 2 of Kuroko no Basuke is ready to air, the official anime site updated with some of the cast comments, which you can read here. Everyone looks ready to fight for the Interhigh trophy!

Seiyuu appreciation post: Kamiya Hiroshi

Anime Review - WataMote: It's Pretty Popular . . .

Synopsis: 
Kuroki Tomoko is a super popular, high school girl who has had 50 years of dating experience and 100 boys... in the Otome game world. In the real world, she is a 15-year-old shut-in who has all of the qualities of a "mojo" (a unpopular woman).
However, when school isn't going as she expected, and she isn't as popular as she had thought she was, she takes a look at herself in the mirror for the first time in a few years, and has some shocking revelations...
Source: (MU)

Awkwardly Amusing (7)
To be honest, there is no story, just Kuroki experiencing different everyday experiences where she tries her best, but keeps failing. And she tries again. And she fails again. The story gets really repetitive, and you can watch any episode without spoiling anything.
Putting that aside, it is quite amusing to watch Kuroki react through her everyday situations, but that might just be the sadistic side of me. The cringe-worthy scenes were both hilarious and depressing, because these kind of awkward moments happen in real life, and I can relate on a personal level. 

Nevertheless, WataMote is a great anime to watch when you need some comedic relief. 

Simple Yet Effective Artwork (7)
You can tell that this was a low-budget production, so the artwork isn't very impressive. Though, Kuroki isn't quite the attractive character nor the enthusiastic type, so it wouldn't make sense to use a "mainstream" art style. But don't judge that this is a bad anime because of the art style! This lack of quality is actually beneficial in making this an enjoyable anime, and adds extra laughs. Keep in mind that the style is a bit different and it does take some time getting use to.

Strange Soundtrack (8)

Kitta Izumi as Kuroki Tomoko. Perfect match!

As much as I find the opening animation strange, the soundtrack itself is wonderful. The opening song is very energetic. It gives you a burst of energy, but the episode's story slowly sucks it all away, until you are a miserable mess wishing that Kuroki had some sort of success. And to refresh you once again, the ending song is this cheerful, sweet song full of hope. With Kitta Izumi singing it with her Kuroki voice, it provides an overwhelming amount of motivation. 

The animation for the opening song is strange. Everytime, I keep thinking, "Is this is Death Note?". Note, that may just be my personal opinion. The ending song, on the other hand, is quite creative. I like the unique concept of the phone presenting Kuroki's life. The only other ending I can think of that is similar would be FMA Brotherhood, where Al and Ed "draw" the ending.

Also, Miku had an ending song appearance!

Lack of Development for Characters (6)
There is really only one character in this anime, and Kuroki doesn't have that much growth to her character. The last two episodes show some character development, but again, it isn't that much. Besides the development, Kuroki is a well-portrayed socially awkward high school girl, a little extreme albeit but still well-portrayed. She is an interesting character since she is different from the normal cut-out characters, and I love that about her. Also, Kitta Izumi does a terrific job in voicing Kuroki and she really brings a realistic side to Kuroki, because not all Japanese girls have an adorable, moe voice. 

The one thing that I would have liked in this season was to have the side characters make more frequent appearances. Naruse Yuu was a funny airhead and I wish that she had more lines, same with Kuroki's brother and Imae Megumi. The side characters add depth to the story and truly show how Kuroki interacts with different people. Hopefully, if there is a next season, I want the side characters to have a greater role.

Cringe-Worthy Experience - In a Good Way (8)
Every single episode had some sort of cringe-worthy moment. It was humorous, yes, but I kept wanting to pull my hair out. So many awkward scenes, but hey, they lighten the mood on the fact that Kuroki may never become popular. 

As well, I enjoyed the references to other anime, to the point where I would take screenshots and ask others if they recognized the reference.

Guess the anime reference :D
Screenshot by me

Overall: Good (7)
Watamote wouldn't be the anime that you would watch for story, or art or character; it is for the embarrassing and humorous moments. If you can relate to being socially awkward, then Watamote is perfect for you, unless you never want to open the door to your past again. And even if you can't relate, Watamote is an enjoyable, yet cringe-worthy anime that is worth a few laughs.   


Whew, done. 
Good night everyone~
Nankurunaisa
sana_salim

What's the time?

I want to have this watch!

Seiyuu appreciation post: Tetsuya Kakihara

Seiyuu appreciation post: Miyano Mamoru

Okay, I know, he's a dad. But still. ._. He's hot.

Anime Parodies: ServantXService #12

I love it when animes make fun of other animes. ServantXService and Watamote did quite a lot of that in the Summer season.
This week in ServantXService Chihaya takes 3 days off work to make cosplay costumes. Turns out she'll be cosplaying as Menma from AnoHana and someone from Shingeki no Kyojin!

Seiyuu appreciation post: Hatano Wataru and Terashima Takuma