thoughts on kimi ni todoke (1-25end)

True to for, i finished all 25 episodes of kimi ni todoke last week. The plan was to take one episode a day but things didn't go according to plan. I felt there should be a second season however i've not done any digging to confirm this but the end was not conclusive. There was the impression that things will continue where they left off in the future.

Overall i would rate it a solid 8.5 out of 10. This is an arbitrary number of course and reflects my bias :p but as love stories go this one is one of the well told ones. I'm sure going to miss the closing theme song :sigh:

-ONWARD

kimi ni todoke

While i prefer action anime like bleach, gundam and dragonball - I'm really enjoying dragonball kai now especially after ep 54 with the return of freeza and bleach just came out of another filler, on off seasons like these I like to watch something different. Last year was sora no manimani, a rather funny anime, something light to unwind to.

This year it was difficult knowing what to watch as my regular source of anime (my housemate) has been too busy to recommend new anime for me :( After spending some time in anidb kimi ni todoke turned out to be highly recommended by the reviewers. I'm lucky they only started in 2009 and the seeds are still quite active so getting all... now 12 of 25 episodes was easy thanks to fansubs and [Eclipse] subs.

I guess part of the reason i like it is because i can relate to the characters in some way. Worth the watch if you're into this kind of thing. I leave you now with the opening theme song.



-ONWARD

i trust you

Anime soundtracks are the best. Currently my favourite is this one from Yuna Ito. Its from the season 2 of Gundam 00. Sadly next week will be the last episode in the current season, can't wait but then i'll have nothing to watch on mondays :( anyway enjoy this one.

English translation

Flowers sway in the wind as if dancing
So that the rain moistens the earth
Even though this world is alive, coming closer together
Why do people hurt each other?
Why do partings come about?

Even if you go far away, still
You're always right in the middle of my heart
While they remain buried away by that kind smile
Even if I feel pain
In fragments of you that I held, because we'll still connect
I trust that we can meet again
I'm waiting for your love

I love you, I trust you
I want you to share your loneliness with me
I love you, I trust you
Even in light, even in darkness, because we're together
We're able to trust each other
Please don't leave anymore

Who saw the edge of the world?
Who announces the end of the journey?
Even if it's a long night and you can't see the answer now
I want you to advance on the road that you trusted
Because light is waiting ahead of there

The song that you taught me
Is right in the middle of my heart even now
The overflowing drops of feelings
That are resonating together with that kind voice
Warmly trail down my cheeks
I'll become strong; I trust that we're connected
I'm always by your side

I love you, I trust you
These tears keep flowing because of you
I love you, I trust you
You taught me what love was
No matter how you're lost on the road
I'm by your side

Waiting for your love
Always by your side
Youre the one that I love
Youre the one that I trust
Youre the only one

I love you, I trust you
I want you to share your loneliness with me
I love you, I trust you
Even in light, even in darkness
I love you, I trust you
Even in sorrow, even in joy
I love you, I trust you
I want to protect all of you

No matter how you're lost on the road
I'm by your side; we're able to trust each other
Please don't leave anymore

~shalom~

thoughts on gundam

I've been watching gundam 00 for the past few days and i really like it especially now that bleach is going off in {in my opinion} unnecessary tangents.

Its about war and the ideal of one man to eradicate war everywhere on earth by attacking nations that have a military agenda. At first its all innocent and no one really gets hurt but then the story gets very personal and the fighting does not really seem to yield any good except breed even more war and accelerate the development of more dangerous and sophisticated weapons of war with the aim also to eradicated war but by subduing rebel groups and those that are against the UN-like federated government forces and chief on the list is a group of trouble makers who with their gundams and a brilliant war strategist have given the rest of the war making world something to fight about.

Season 1 saw the emergence of these gundams with special abilities that at the time surpassed the world's best defense systems intervening in war torn countries and territories to achieve its goals albeit in an unconventional, forceful way that won them both allies and enemies. The pilots for these gundams were chosen by a computer system, veda which also sought out targets and gave information necessary to complete missions. It was a critical part of celestial being's arsenal as they even control the gundams but somehow this system was infiltrated and its information was manipulated by those who call themselves the innovators. They believe they are the future, when all humans have destroyed themselves in war and division they will reign as superior beings without the flaws of these humans. They believe it was all part of the plan to eradicate war yet were always at odds with the motives and goals of celestial being.

With season 2 things got very personal. The war had touched so many lives that everyone must take a side to either become a rebel or be a government force with their questionable methods. The season revealed the reason why the pilots that engage each other in these battles do what they do.

For Setsuna fighting is all he knows and after fighting all his life he has about had enough of all the wars and is drawn by the ideology of celestial being to stop all wars and lead the way to peace. Funny enough the way they chose to do this is to fight some more. He has lost everything, his homeland, his family and hence has nothing else to lose yet after an encounter with marina he questions his motives.

For saji its a chance to get back to louise, the love of his life who has joined the fed forces' A-Laws on a revenge mission to eradicate celestial being after gundams attacked her family and destroyed everything she had. Blessed with wealth and fueled by hate she quickly rises up the ranks funding and fighting the assault on celestial being. Through a series of unfortunate events he has found himself with celestial being through setsuna who was his strange neighbour. After sitting on the fence and allowing his selfish actions cause the death of so many he is almost at the point of realising that you are either with the A-Laws or with the rebels. He has as everyone else experience personal loss because of the intervention of celestial being and so has his grudges and does not subscribe to their ideology.

There are others with their own personal vendetta but this is a war fueled by anger, revenge, a sense of loss and duty to which ever side one pledges allegiance to. Hearts are torn apart, lives are lost, the reality of war and the irony of its eradication.

When you think of it, you can't help but seek a solution, one that is different from that offered by the writers of the story. You kind of wonder what happened to "...a soft answer turns away anger..."? Its interesting the solutions that the bible offers to conflicts and how they require humility yet how effective and unconventional they are. War cannot be eradicated by more fighting no matter the goal because all it breeds is hatred and where there is hatred there is rebellion.

We all are at war also. Some of us are like saji, living in denial, not willing to accept that he has to take a side, seeking to be neutral from all the killing. Yet some of us are like setsuna, resolute and focused. Knowing he has the tools to do what is right in his heart and giving his all to accomplish his ultimate goal.

~shalom~

Hooked on bleach

Sorry nothing much to update on except for me most recent pass time, the anime bleach. I don't want to go into it now, its a nice story except for all the demons and spirits thing.

I learn something about commitment and how the commitment of one person can make a huge difference even to the point of death, there still lies resolve. I want that.

Recently i've been missing home more and more. It doesn't matter where I am, there's no place like home. I feel like my siblings are growing up and i'm not in touch with what they like, what they do, their habits and stuff. I just miss being the big brother looking after everyone, settling quarrels and fights and stuff. I so miss my mom too and i also feel like minding my relationship with the big guy.

I also miss miri and all my friends and just hanging out around town, going for supper, vcf celebrations haih.

I know i sound so kolian but I can't help it la, thats how i feel la. But tomo.. today, we're going for a movie hehe. Going to watch the kingdom with obi wong and kenin is coming to kuching yay. Hope i can meet up with you tomorr.. er today hehe.

Father i pray for my brother, my sisters, my mummy, and the big guy, I ask you keep them safe and sound, in good health and in peace. Let there be at least one thing they can smile about everyday for what you have done. Keep them Father until i see them again. I miss them, Arigato o-tou-san.

~shalom~