Why is December the Month of Unlikely Couples, by RPGHero

December, Month of Unlikely Couples

Christmas is the best time of the year to fall in love and make a lifelong friend. Everywhere in the real world, they are trying to tell us (otaku!) all that there are many, countless unlikely couples. That is, a pair of people who share love and spend time with each other.

Personally, I've never been in a real loving couple before. I have always wanted to be with someone who would tell me that they would love me and mean it. Love is hard to come by in today's Era and it seems like we're all looking for it, and for happiness.












No two snowflakes are alike, but they're all drops of crystalline water that reflected the sun's light rays from outer space. That's like everyone, reflecting the sun's warmth, but for a drop of water to become a crystal it absorbs some of the sun's light, the atmosphere, and combines it with the particles inside that drop of water. Maybe that's why we all want love and happiness so much.

What about the hungry caterpillar that goes into their chrysalis cocoon and then moment after moment vibrates continuously, making just a little warmth so that it can become a beautiful butterfly?! That's like the constant vibrations and signals we send out daily so that we, people, can find love and happiness in this life.

When Christmas is here, there is so much light and deco that it's hard for anyone to pass up it's majestic beauty. People in the heart of Tokyo just like people in New York City go out or stay in so they can feel the warmth of Christmas. Its not going to be found in a shounen, shoujo, or shounen-ai anime either.

Everyday everyone has the chance to meet someone new. Even someone who might want to fall in love with you. A snowflake or a caterpillar would never try to find love because they have one goal, to be beautiful. People want beauty in life but they pass up the beautiful relationships that are formed every single day, to keep looking for beauty. This December, find an unlikely love, a person, place, or thing that makes you feel warmth and beauty. It is unlikely that you'll ever get this time back in the future and your now Beautiful Self!

~Merry Christmas!~

The Unusual Tales of Friendship: Nakama no Suto ri

How'd you meet your best friend? How did you meet your closest friends? Did you make a friend application and fill it out with your info? Nah, I don't think people do that to make friends. Most of our friends, we met by random coincidence and/or chance(s). 

All it takes is to take a chance on someone to be their friend.

A weak person usually has less friends right? 

*Face-palm*

That's not true. 

A person has friends like themselves. And no one is truly weak.

What about anime? Well I learned from anime that friendship takes more of a chance than in real life, if the storylines were real life. I know you've all thought, what if anime was real? But I guess some of us want it to be... 

That's not the point. 

Like in One Piece, remember Zoro? 

Luffy had to practically beg him and vow to him that he'd help him escape just for him to consider joining his no-pirate-yet crew. But Luffy didn't lose hope... I hope that's not a spoiler, if it is you should really watch One Piece at some time in the future.

After that it seemed easier for Luffy to make Nakama/friends. Luffy passed the "first step" that they say is the hardest or most difficult. After that Luffy was way more confident in being himself and being a pirate! But his journey is still continuing, as the anime is still running and the manga is still being printed. 

Ok, enough One Piece...!

Then on the brighter, lighter side of life (slice of life/drama) anime you've got Ouran Host Club. 

Haruhi was a new student and she was pretty much all alone at her new school. Those are the hardest days for everyone, the first day of school. She made a mistake and suddenly she found herself with new "friends" at the school's male host club. It took her a long time to actually be friends with everone there which is part of why the anime is so good! It's a good watch for sentimental people and anyone who hasn't seen it before.

I think I'll stop with the examples, you're all seasoned Otaku, right? Sometimes it just seems difficult making a new friend in the real world but anime makes it seem possible. It's possible for anyone!

*RPGhero signing out!*

Otaku Helping Others! Part 4

Today's "Otaku Helping Others!" post is about...

~Making Friends~

Aizen and friends ^^

Ooops

Tomoya and his true friends ^^

Its easy to make friends, in fact it's  so easy it's hard!

It's not easy in shounen anime,  you know how they say the best romances start off as friends?? Well in shounen the best friendships start off as rivals! That want to kill each other!

 

When Piccolo and Goku first met Piccolo wanted to rule the world and put humans in slavery. Goku wanted to beat Piccolo and eat a couple dozen turkeys (since Goku is addicted to food). The two later became friends and Goku's son Gohan even thinks of him as an uncle. Especially since Piccolo sacrificed his life for Goku's son later on.

Ichigo and Renji had a similar story. Ichigo wanted to save Rukia from execution but Renji wanted Ichigo to stay out of thier business. After Ichigo kicked his butt the two later became good friends especially because Ichigo saved Rukia who Renji likes. Renji forever remains weak though.

Is it me or does it seem like the more negative rival becomes the weaker person later on... 

Well that's cool but friendship is cooler!

Ooops that one got mixed in with the rest... Some rivals never become friends but remain rivals for an entire series... *Cough* Naruto *Cough*

What about making new friends you say?

Well even introverts can make friends! Take hope my e-friend!
And introverted guys usually meet a girl that wants to be their friend...

 Kyon sat in front of Haruhi at school. She later recruited him to be part of her supernatural/alien awareness club. He was dragged into the situation and made new friends... With an esper, alien, and a time traveler... who joined the club posing as regular students. Kyon later found that Haruhi can change the universe. Lucky!!!

Tomoya met Nagisa walking to school. He is an introverts introvert. He comes with dad problems, poor school attendance, and a lackluster or should I say first-class lack of motivation. He meets a girl who asks him to walk her up the hill to school and the two become best friends and then lovers!

Take heart even if you're not an introvert or fated to meet that special girl. You can still make friends. Let's look at the formula for a lasting friendship!

1. Have common interests!

In Yakitate Japan, Azuma found friends in his co-workers who all share a love of making delicious bread!

2. Have similar goals!

Luffy's crew are all friends who all want to find One Piece and live the pirate life! However the admirals and marines don't like pirates and they're strong... Along with ruthless pirates...

3. Need each others support!

In Tsubasa Chronicles, the band of friends stick together because without each other they may not find their way back to their own dimension. They become friends through their struggle to get to their home dimensions.

\4. Having someone to rag on!

 Jet always listens to Spike's problems. And likes to rag on him from time to time...









5. Possibility of going out!

I think that's the only reason Risa and Otani stayed friends... Even though they argued alot and had height issues.

6. RED STRING OF FATE?

Chansu and I almost discussed this at length... Does there exist a RED STRING of fate that ties two people together?? Well I really don't know... But I would think that it would make for a lasting friendship. and I don't know this anime...

Hey! If all else fails don't give up! RPGHero is friendless except for a few good people, even if they are just Chansu and Deretsun...

This is RPGHero signing out!!!

Black★Rock Shooter OVA Review

So, there's this thing called "Vocaloid" and this character called "Hatsune Miku" right? For some reason this confuses new people, because Miku isn't always as easy to recognize as you think. Sure, everyone knows the green hair and leek, but then someone slaps a red hoodie, black dress, or BFG on her and we get confused. Long story short, Black★Rock Shooter is indeed a Vocaloid song by Hatsune Miku.

But then what's this? This sleek and stylish anime that we've heard about? That is, indeed, the OVA for the song Black★Rock Shooter. Yes, an OVA for a song.

Black★Rock Shooter is surprisingly only half about Miku. Maybe even half of that half because she herself is called "Black★Rock Shooter." The story mainly revolves around Kuroi Mato, as she begins her first year as a Junior high student. With her excitable and spunky personality, she is able to befriend Takanashi Yomi, a rich and delicate girl. The main conflict focuses on the relationship between the two friends. So, where does Black★Rock Shooter come in?

[Mini twin-tail versus drill hair: Who will emerge victorious?!]

Really, I don't know. Every so often, the story switches to Black★RockShooter and her fight against "Dead Master," another mysterious girl with control over scythes, chains, and huge scary skulls. It's also immediately obvious that BRS is Mato in the other world and Dead Master is Yomi, probably. "Why do you sound so confused after watching the entire thing [twice]?" Well, everyone in the Black★Rock Shooter part refuses to talk. That's right, fights are silent except for the occassional action music, loud explosions, and a "hmph!" or "ugh!" which makes character development very strained. Of course this adds to the mystery of their universe, but it does get annoying at times...

[See the resemblance yet?]

Fans of Black★Rock Shooter will really love this. All the great scenes from the PV are developed nicely and provide nostalgic depth. While it's pretty easy, this OVA does a good job of pleasing the fans of the original video.

[Everyone should know this classic landscape!]

You can tell immediately that this anime is gender-neutral. There are no signs of romance or ecchi at all. Girls-friendship prevails as a main theme, and as we all know friendship is the great equalizer! But I would have to say that girls would be able to relate to this kind of story more than boys...

[ベタベタ～]

The storytelling aside, the style of this anime is nothing less than stylish, colorful, and fluid. Scenes transition very smoothly, making the back-and-forth between the BRS world and Mato's world less of a headache. The animation is flawless. The drawings are so colorful that it could probably entertain even the youngest audience.

We all know what we're here for though, right? THE FIGHT SCENES! And I must say, they do not disappoint in the least. I am at awe by how cool the fights are. Check out this video of one of the best fights, uploaded by OtakuReviewers on youtube!

» Click to show video «

One thing that disappointed me was the lack of explanations. There are two worlds in this show's universe. How the heck do they relate? Even by the end there isn't much of an explanation. That's really not a good thing if you ask me.

But it seems that there may be a sequel in the works! This is the only bit of news that sheds more light on the ending. There' no way I'd complain over more Miku!!

So, if you enjoy Vocaloids and you have a special place in your heart for Black★Rock Shooter and Hatsune Miku, this OVA will not disappoint!



-chansu