Valvrave - Episode 24 [v.P]

Tissues. I need a whole box of them.
All my favourite characters dies. Everyone dies. Why do you do this to my poor weak heart Sunrise?

 First off, it was X-eins. He died in vain.

 I love this pair.

 Then Q-vier dies in his friend's hand.

 Sometimes you just need to face the truth.

 While Cain was a baddie, I still liked him.

 This scene totally broke my heart when Haruto used up all his runes and cannot remember anything at all.

 Well, good bye Haruto. Goodbye to all the Valvrave pilots.

 Marry me you two!

 Last bit of confusion: Who does this love-child belong to then?

Unbreakable Machine Dolls - Episode 12 [v.P]

One of the best harem animes I've watched. There needs to be a second season! There needs to be more Yaya!!!

How to combine split files in Linux

If you're a Linux user like me and are looking for simple methods to combine split files or split large files then look no further than lxsplit (http://lxsplit.sourceforge.net/).

Step 1: Open terminal
Step 2: Install lxsplit, i.e. type 'sudo apt-get install lxsplit'
Step 3: Type 'lxsplit -j filename.mp4.001'
And you're done!

Kuroko no Basuke - Episode 37 [v.P]

Almost a week late, and I've still got a huge backlog of anime to catch up on.

Anime Review - Coppelion

Synopsis: In 2016, a meltdown of a nuclear power plant creates a big catastrophe in Tokyo. 20 years later, the city has become a ghost town due to the high levels of radiation. From that area a distress signal is received. The Self Defense forces dispatch three girls from the special unit Coppelion to search for survivors. But why aren't they wearing any protection against radiation?
(Source: MU, edited)

Disappointing Story : 4
Coppelion started off as a good story. Post-nuclear disaster, no one can live there, and dolls, who have been created to withstand even the highest level of radiation, explore the broken city to rescue survivors. While I was watching, I expected to see these dolls, called Coppelion, to be emotionless artificial humans with unnatural powers going around and saving lives. Instead, this show features high school girls who have been ill-trained and are emotionally unstable. Sure, I do not mind if you cry due to frustration, or if someone close to you died, but after every single crisis, these girls burst into tears. This is so repetitive that it becomes irritating to watch them. This potentially wonderful story becomes nothing but a tear-fest with poor action scenes.

Cue the crying . . . now.

Wonderful Scenery But Terribly Drawn Characters : 7
This is an post-apocalyptic anime, so dull and simple colours for the background are to be expected. At the start of this anime, the scenery leads to a very promising horror and mysterious anime. Sadly, this is not the case and the backgrounds' effectiveness is diminished. 
The characters in Coppelion are terribly drawn. There is nothing unique about these characters; they all look the same. Yes, I know that people need to wear protective suits and the girls have their uniforms, but they shouldn't be a copy-and-paste of each other.

I love that background :D

Great Soundtrack : 8
The opening and ending songs by angela were terrific. The upbeat, fast-paced rhythm, along with her rapping made an excellent combination. Throughout the anime there was generally silence, which is understandable because the setting is a ghost town. In the action scenes, there is background music but it does nothing to add to the scene, and it is something I like to call "dead music". Be prepared: Coppelion has a lot of dead music.

Unmemorable Characters : 3
More like character. Ibara Naruse is pretty much the only character that is focused upon in this anime. She has almost no character development. Although she is the strong leader of her trio, she gets emotional and depressed very easily. Not to mention, she cries, a lot. And has a lot of pointless, "I want to save everyone and make sure everyone is happy" speeches. It is these types of optimistic characters that I truly dislike.

Everyone else is just there to take up space. The other two "main" girls have their tiny moments of fame, maybe three times in the overall show. These moments of fame do not really add to the story and seem completely unnecessary except to show the viewer that these characters exist. Different survivors are introduced in each episode and are almost never mentioned again. It is kind of disappointing because I was expecting at least a scene or two of these survivors and how they adapt to their new environment. 

Aoi Fukasaku's moment of fame. Why she can do this is
never explained, nor is it ever brought up again.

Watched for the Music and Backgrounds : 5
After the fourth episode, I really wanted to stop watching this anime. The terrible path of a promising story was a major disappointment for me, along with the weak characters. The cycle of attempting to rescue survivors, then crying because it is too difficult, then crying because one person is sacrificed and finally laughter because everyone is just so happy to be alive was dreadfully annoying and too damn repetitive. I think after I realize how terrible this anime was, I continued watching simply for the opening and ending songs, as well as the scenery. Honestly, I paid more attention to the opening song and ending song than the actual anime.

Overall: Average (5)
I usually try not to bash on an anime series, but Coppelion deserved it. Even writing this review was painful because I wanted to rant about every little mistake. This show had so much potential at the beginning, and by the end, it was a disaster. Instead of watching Coppelion, I would recommend Tokyo Magnitude 8.0. It has a similar concept with a better storyline and characters, and the artwork is not that bad. 

He is just playing with a grenade. No big deal.

Remember, time waits for no one,
sana_salim

Seiyuu appreciation post: Ohsaka Ryota, Shimono Hiro + Sakurai Takahiro

From Shimono's blog

It's way too hot today.

[Life] Bushwalking + Dinner

Today I went to Mt. Glorious with many friends and we enjoyed ourselves with the beautiful weather, soothing scenery, amazing food and up-building association.
The original plan was to eat and then go bushwalking, but I swapped the bushwalking with frisbee playing.

Afterwards, I went to a family friend's place to have dinner and after dinner we dug out some treasures - photos of when we were young!

Can you spot some of the authors of this blog?

With this I bid thee good night!

Meganebu ended

Meganbu was one of the best animes of the season. I loved it so much.

Seiyuu appreciation post: Hatano Wataru + Eguchi Takuya

Think I got this from either Hatano's twitter or Egu's twitter.

[Life] Beach day!

Today was a wonderful day for the beach. A group of friends and I hung out at Coolangatta beach. Got a little tanned, but the sea breeze and sun felt so good. Feeling really tired now and absolutely ready for bed, so please pardon the mushed up sentences.

Enjoy some of the photos below.

Woke up bright and early at 6am to prepare to go out.

Didn't slack off too much; Did some morning witnessing with the Gold Coast Chinese Congregation. Of course we stopped for an ice-cream break, and with fruitful results as we witnessed to the Korean shop attendant.

 Lunch time and beach time!

 A funky tree at the beach! Sand! Water!!

 Clear blue skies. Perfect beach weather.

 More beach.

 The girls (excluding me, since I was taking the photo).
We were just setting up and getting ready to hit the water.
We swam for about an hour, then sunbathed for another 40 or so minutes, then came back up to restock our energy (i.e. eat), then some beach volleyball, guitar+singing, making a human pyramid and kicking sand.

 Time to leave at 6:30pm. Beautiful sunset colours.

 Good bye beach~
Drove to Robina, had some really lovely Thai food.
Then headed back home.
It was a really fun day. I feel like glowing. It was a really good recharge. The beach is so relaxing. I'd love to come back.

Anime Review - Kyoukai No Kanata (Beyond the Horizon)

Synopsis: The dark fantasy follows a high school sophomore named Akihito Kanbara. Although the boy appears human, he is half youmu and invulnerable to wounds because he can heal quickly. One day, Akihito meets freshman Mirai Kuriyama when it seems she is about to jump from the school rooftop. Mirai is isolated because of her ability to manipulate blood, which is unique even among members of the spirit world. Disturbing events begin to unfold after Akihito saves Mirai.
Source : ANN and MAL

Twisty Story (6)
Kyoukai No Kanata (Knk for short here) starts off as your typical slice-of-life anime. Except the fact that demons coexist with humans. Somewhat unoriginal, but it is still a good show. That being said, there were several moments throughout the series were I was genuinely confused as to what was happening. Who is Izumi Nase? Why is Akihito's mother so special? What is the "Beyond the Boundary"? None of these questions are addressed. This becomes more frustrating as the anime continues, because the story unravels into a complex and twisted story line. Even after re-watching the later episodes, I still didn't completely understand what happened. With this confusion and lack of details, the overall anime, unfortunately, suffered. 

Nothing Less Than Expected (10)
It is Kyoto Animation. No matter what they produce, the art and animation will always be stunningly remarkable. I personally loved the character designs for Mirai and Hiromi. As well, the animation and skill it took to produce that dance scene. . . I think I watched that episode four or five times simply for the animation.

KyoAni just wants to brag about
how good their animation skills are.

Light-hearted and well-selected music (9)
The opening song was okay, but the ending song was terrific. Something about the singer's voice and the meaning of the song really moved me, especially the line, "I never say goodbye." It fits so well with the anime's overall theme.
The soundtrack throughout the action scenes blend well and does not disturb the fluidity of the scene, which is something I find rare.

Likeable Characters (9)
The main group is well-knit together and are a humourous bunch. They seem so realistic and innocent that it would be heartbreaking to see anything bad happen to them. And, halfway through, I can almost guarantee you that will continue watching to see Mirai and Akkey get together. Whether that happens or not, I cannot say. You will have to watch in order to find out.

Going into a little bit of detail, Mirai's character is very interesting. Her care for others at her own expense is admirable and, later on, requires a lot of bravery. She thinks that she will not benefit in life because of her cursed blood, so she gambles her own life in order to keep her friends alive. As well, her kind nature and complete innocence is so adorable that I felt very protective of her.

Ahhh that smile :D

Enjoyable Journey (8)
Aside from the earlier criticism about the storyline, Knk was a great anime to watch. The slow and comedic beginning was pleasant, until the darker and more confusing side of the show was revealed. Of course, if you include demons into an anime, things get confusing, but the execution of the later episodes was a major disappointment. Though the art, comedic relief and romance-in-the-air helped heal those wounds.

Overall: Very Good (8)
I recommend this anime, but be prepared for the surprises in store. I suggest that you know a few people who have also watched the anime, so you can ask for clarification as to what is going on. Trust me, you will explanations and clarifications if you actually watch this anime for plot.

Dat hair flip O.o

Remember, time waits for no one,
sana_salim

Pumpkin's Palette: Naruko

This is a gift for a dear friend of mine. She loves Naruko from Yowamushi Pedal.
I changed my colouring style again. I really like this colouring method because it's more efficient than my old styles.

Here's a 1366x768 wallpaper version.

[Life] A little splurge shouldn't hurt

So I bought a "little something" for myself tonight. This costed me half of what I earned today. But I think it's totally worth it. It's Haruto's Valrave kit.
Gonna build this with Dad over the Christmas holidays. I can't wait! VVV love forever!
(I was actually tossing up whether to buy this VVV kit or the [K] animation art book.)

Seiyuu appreciation post: Aoi Shouta

Can't get over how cute this boy is!

Pumpkin's palette: Chibi Fuji (PoT)

My friend Bella got me back into the TeniPuri (Prince of Tennis) fandom.

She drew a chibi Fuji Shunsuke (below).

After which I saw and instantly fell in love, so much that I wanted to lineart and colour it.

The final result:

I love Fuji. But I love Atobe more XD

Seiyuu appreciation post: Namikawa Daisuke

Kuroko no Basuke - Episode 36 [v.P]

 Love the interaction between Hyuuga and Teppei.

 Aomine baby!~<3

 lol whut? Poor Nigou.

YESSS! I see skin in next week's preview XD -drools-

HELLO SEXIES!! New computer BG!!

When earthquakes happen

Source: https://twitter.com/kso_/status/412086588449898496/photo/1

Nagi no Asukara - Episode 10 (part 2) [v.P]

Excuse me, drowning in feels.

Crying while eating sushi rolls? Okay, let me cry too.

Nagi no Asukara - Episode 10 [v.P]

So I was going with my usual routine of twitter stalking and watching anime (split screen) when I saw this scene and it totally broke my heart.

Brb. Feels.

Seiyuu appreciation post: Hatano Wataru

[Lyrics] 2 to 1 (Ukyo & Hikaru 右京＆光 ver.)

While I'm translating the BroConf Drama CDs it totally slipped my mind to translate the 2 to 1 song with Ukyo and Hikaru. I'm so sorry Ukyo honey!!
I got a little stumped over Hikaru's comparison with the "hard chewing gum", but I managed to figure out their message - Ukyo would be so proud of me :P (see the English translation section).

Description: Kanji lyrics, Romaji lyrics and English translated lyrics of 2 to 1 (Ukyo & Hikaru ver.).

Note: Lyrics taken from booklet. The parts in brackets ( ) in the English translation are there to help the meaning flow smoother.

It's kind of interesting how Ukyo mixes some of his "lawyer" terminology into the lyrics.

[Translation] Brothers Conflict Drama CD 2nd Series CD 1 with Azusa and Tsubaki - Track 5

[HELP! Dying in Tsubaki Moe-ness!! >//////<]
Brothers Conflict 2nd Series CD 1 with Azusa and Tsubaki
Track 5 Scene 5: To You (from Tsubaki)

"You really are the ideal little sister", that is what I, a person with little-sister-fetish, believe you are.
But right now I think “You really are the ideal lover”.
Of course I love your cuteness and gentleness, but everyone also loves the you that display how over cautious and self-concious you are, for example when you’re by yourself and can’t stop worrying about things, or when you don’t really take notice of your surroundings, or when you can’t speak your thoughts directly.
For me, regarding the things that I love, I am willing to dedicate everything to it, which of course includes my job. All along you’ve been by my side and watching me, so you understand right?
For you, I will do everything possible to give you happiness.
If you are with me, then we’ll definitely have fun and be happy every single day!
Hey, after I’ve said all of this, surely your reply can only be ‘OK’ right?
Ne~ Get married to me.
You want me to say the proper version?
*clears throat* Please… marry me!

[Translation] Brothers Conflict Drama CD 2nd Series CD 3 with Iori and Fuuto - Track 10

pumpkin has been translating today! Note: this translation can also be found on my tumblr, so I'm not "stealing" things from other people; Though if you do see other people reposting my translations without crediting please let me know because we don't like thieves!

Here's the goodies:
Brothers Conflict Drama CD 2nd Series CD 3 with Iori and Fuuto
Track 10 Scene 5: To You (from Fuuto)

Hey you, isn’t it about time you wanted to say something to me?
If you’re not gonna say anything then I’ll say it. Marry me.
It’s frustrating, but I can’t think of anything but you.
I never get bored of your funny reactions to my practical jokes and teasing.
Any distrust, or mischievousness or cuteness you show… I’ve always been watching these traits you show.
After I’ve said all of this, surely your answer can only be ‘yes’?
Hurry up and say “I want to belong only to you”.
After we’re officially married, we’ll go on a date and hold hands as we walk around town in the broad daylight.
I know you’ve been keeping quite about this, but you’ve been holding yourself back all along right?
Fu (laugh)~ I know, because that’s you, that’s why I’ve been captivated by you.

Seiyuu appreciation post: Sakurai Takahiro