Spoiler Rating: This is a Series Analysis, which attempts to analyze the series and present the author’s likes and dislikes of the series. On a scale of 1 to 10, ten being very high spoilers, the spoiler level is 5. Short episode summaries are presented for several episodes as well as thoughts about the ending. However, nothing in this post would be considered a major spoiler that would lower the enjoyment of the reader.

Personal Thoughts

To me, Saki was something that was at first hilarious. All of the yuri hints, constant blushing, and Yuuki were all funny. There’s nothing wrong with laughing at an anime, right? Sure. It’s entertainment. The plot is actually pretty good to be honest. Saki, the main character who attends Kiyosumi High School, hates mahjong. So she joins the Kiyosumi mahjong club and shows her incredible ability of getting +/- 0 every round. Pretty soon, Nodoka convinced her to permanently join the mahjong club as Saki want to compete at nationals with her sister.

Saki is an amazingly enjoyable series, nothing more, nothing less. There is no depth to Saki nor does it need any. Every episode is pure win. It is a great mix of comedy and excitement, with some yuri hinted at now and then. The amazing thing about Saki is that it manages to make everything exciting, including episode 5, an onsen episode. When I read the title, “Training Camp,” I went, “Oh no this is going to be bad.” But it wasn’t, because it was filled with exciting mahjong, not to mention Yuuki being hyper and weird, which is always a plus. Needless to say, I couldn’t believe how much I was enjoying an onsen episode. It was from that moment that I knew I would enjoy Saki very much.

And then we got the tournament, which was amazing. The mahjong playing was so enjoyable; I was on the edge of my seat every episode. Not only that, but some of the players are really cute, such as Hajime, Yuuki, and Kana. Other players are very likable, such as Hisa, Touka, and Mihoko. In fact, I do not hate any characters in Saki. I like each of them in some way, and with no bad feelings towards anything of Saki pretty much, I can just sit back and enjoy the show. Read the rest of this entry »

Spoiler Rating: This is a Movie Analysis, which attempts to analyze the movie and present the author’s likes and dislikes of the movie. On a scale of 1 to 10, ten being very high spoilers, the spoiler level is 10. A summary of the entire movie will be presented at the beginning of the post, followed by analysis then personal opinion.

Background

My Neighbor Totoro is a lighthearted movie by Miyazaki Hayao of Studio Ghibli. It had a theatrical release in 1988 along with Grave of the Fireflies, probably to counteract the depressing mood of the latter. Comparing all of Miyazaki’s movies, My Neighbor Totoro is probably the most “Japanese,” since the setting is very similar to a Japanese setting, unlike other Miyazaki movies with European or Western settings. In terms of genre and style, it is most like Spirited Away because it focuses less on plot and more on fantasy and character portrayal. My Neighbor Totoro succeeds at exploring children’s highly imaginative minds through blurring the lines of fantasy and reality.

Summary

The movie starts with a father and his two daughters, Satsuki and Mei, driving through the countryside with their truck loaded. Because Satsuki and Mei’s mother is in the hospital, the family wants to move closer, which in this case is a decrepit house in the rural area. The girls are seen as very energetic and playful, running around the new house, which is very old and supposedly haunted, to explore the different rooms and possible animal inhabitants. They soon find little soot-covered dust bunnies that like dark places. According to stories, these soot sprites will leave once the family is settled in and is comfortable. And that is what happens.

While playing outside, Mei, the younger daughter, finds an intriguing creature walking in the grass and follows it. Soon, she finds herself crawling through the forest tunnels, finding another world that exists in the forest. Mei eventually comes to the center of the forest where she meets a large creature that she calls Totoro. When she tells the story to Satsuki and his father, they do not believe Mei. Satsuki tries to crawl through the tunnels like Mei did but just comes out of another hole. After a while, though, they both believe the tale, and her father thought that Mei met the keeper of the forest. Read the rest of this entry »

Yeah because everyone super lazy and i munch too much cardboard i forgot Group H. Sorry guys.
Anyway back to serious business.

Hmmm are Kana will crying today ???

Day 1

A2-1

Minami Chiaki (Minami-ke)
Last Order (To Aru Majutsu no Index)
Kobayakawa Yutaka (Lucky Star)

Nice battle between all powerhouse. Yutaka, Last Order and Chiaki all is top finisher in preliminary. Yutaka also
have some help today with Tsukasa in other side.

Vote: Yutaka
Prediction: Chiaki

B2-1

Horo (Spice and Wolf)
Hiragii Tsukasa (Lucky Star)
Ikeda Kana (Saki)

One of unpredictable fight in round 2. Everyone in same level. They win round one in same margin of percentage. Horo have many gaijin otaku fan, Tsukasa quite strong in Japan and Kana have huge fanbase to support her. So who will win ??? We will see that today.

Vote: Ikeda Kana
Prediction: Hiragii Tsukasa

Day 2

A2-2

Ikaruga Ayame (Asu no Yoichi!)
Shokatsuryou “Shuri” Koumei (Koihime Musou)
Minna-Dietlinde Wilcke (Strike Witches)

Minna have advantage here but anything can happen in saimoe. Ayame have faithful follower and Koumei is have unpredictable Koihime fanbase to support her. Minna maybe manage to win but i hope Koumei and Ayame at least give Minna a close match.

Vote: Shuri
Prediction: Minna

B2-2

Yuno (Hidamari Sketch)
Ibuki Fuuko (Clannad)
Sairenji Haruna (To Love Ru)

Anyway this battle between Yuno and Fuuko. Haruna have disadvantages because some reason i dont want explain here. Yuno vs Fuuko battle maybe will be close but because some one said “Fuuko is no.1 japan loli*, Fuuko maybe manage win this match.

Vote: Yuno
Prediction: Fuuko

Day 3

A2-3

Nagase Minato (Akane-iro ni Somaru Saka)
Sunohara Mei (Clannad)
Kataoka Yuuki (Saki)

The only one Akaneiro surviver vs giant loli of Clannad and Saki. This match will only focus on Mei and Yuuki obviously. Lets see who will win, “The Power of Onii-chan” or “The Power of Tacos”.

Vote: Yuuki
Prediction: Yuuki

B2-3

Perrine H Clostermann (Strike Witches)
Minami Kana (Minami-ke)
Saginomiya Isumi (Hayate no Gotoku!!)

Kana still fresh with her upset on Mio but she will face two strong fanbase in this year saimoe, Strike Witches and Hayate. Can Kana make upset this time ???. Sure Perrine and Isumi fan will not allow this again.

Vote: Isumi
Prediction: Isumi

Day 4

A2-4

Hayakawa Misaki (Kemeko Deluxe!)
Nunnally Vi Britannia (Code Geass)
Hoshina Utau (Shugo Chara!)

Oh well Utau sure have advantage here. I just want see Misaki make upset again.

Vote: Haya-chan
Prediction: Hoshina Utau

B2-4

Hanabishi Miki (Hayate no Gotoku!!)
Nagi (Kannagi)
Shindou Chihiro (ef)

I feel Nagi will win this but Chihiro will give a good fight. Lets see if Hayate fanbase support Miki again this time.

Vote: Hanabishi Miki
Prediction: Nagi

Oh well the bold vote is one that i really care about. If Kana and Shuri lose, i will munch cardboard and maybe no preview after this lol…