"I lingered round them, under that benign sky: watched the moths fluttering among the heath and harebells, listened to the soft wind breathing through the grass, and wondered how any one could ever imagine unquiet slumbers for the sleepers in that quiet earth."
List of clean-ups: 2023 May 20, 2023 May 21, 2023 Sep 25. I've significantly tamed down this profile since its inception, but at the cost of being less personal. For archived messier versions, see this page in an internet archive.
Congrats, you have just increased the number of this internet profile's views by one.
Greetings, this profile exists but the individual behind it may or may not exist. What is... nevermind.
List of some favorite episodes (in order of watching / re-watching):
Detective Conan episode 11; Serial Experiments Lain episode 1; Ergo Proxy episode 20; Revolutionary Girl Utena episode 6; Stand Alone Complex 2nd GIG episode 2, 11; Mousou Dairinin episode 3; Monster episode 29; Boogiepop Phantom episodes 5, 6, 11; Mousou Dairinin episode 8; Death Note episode 7; Ba Ma Laizi Er Ciyuan episode 11; Fei Ren Zai episode 96; Sonny Boy episode 12; Humanity Has Declined episodes 1, 2; Beryl and Sapphire episodes 1, 11, 13, 57; Han Hua Ri Ji S3 episode 1; Si Wu Xie episode 10; Kazemakase Tsukikage Ran episode 13; Zhongguo Qi Tan episodes 1, 2; Code Geass episodes 22, 23, 50; Revolutionary Girl Utena episode 33 (feels wrong to call this a "favorite"); Sabagebu episode 5; Panty & Stocking with Garterbelt episode 5; Fate/Zero episode 16; Ai no Idenshi episode 8; The Diary of Tortov Roddle Specials episode 3; Stand Alone Complex episode 19; The Irresponsible Captain Tylor episode 25.
Favorite characters in a nutshell (updated 2024 May 7):
Stelle: Yay.
Mayu: Hmm, I think she might be just a little bit poor. Also she's kind of like an older Lain.
Phos: Does a real Phos exist with all her different pieces? Also her story is concluded in the manga.
Lain: Who? Lain? I thought she was fake... Also she hacked MAL once so LOL.
September: Angry worker goes brrr...
Xie Lian: Some random person who puts a girl into a jar. How dare you?!
The Laughing Man: Memes.
Watashi: Would make a great local politician.
Ran: No, not Kudo Shinichi's girlfriend. Tsukikage Ran. But she also has some sick moves.
Comments on selected shows (updated 2024 May 7):
2nd GIG: Some unanswered questions get answered on subsequent viewings, so that's nice. Plenty of issues besides it, though. The Individual Eleven is forgettable; it should have been a group with its own agency. The relationship between Motoko and Kuze, aside from that paper crane episode, remains too brief. Kuze's motives are also muddy, so his POV is not entirely relatable. This means he remains 'distant' from the viewer's perspective throughout, and whatever ends up happening to him doesn't have that much of an impact. But overall the geopolitics and scheming of different groups is spot-on, and its use of an overarching plot instead of standalone episodes (unlike the first season) is respectable.
Monster: Despite some repetitiveness and arguably contrived moments as well as imbalances in the storytelling mechanic, the overall plot is solid and the ending is interesting. Some minor details (e.g., a couple of cinematographic techniques) really shine through. Finally, the story's realistic setting is really something to admire.
12 Kingdoms: The third arc is brilliant. You get to see meaningful development for not one, but three characters!
Ergo Proxy: Throws around too many philosophical terms, but otherwise it stays intriguing much of the time.
LoGH: Some iconic characters. But the world and history seems too derivative. The aesthetic is also extremely dated and the androcentrism is unfortunate. Also, what is that atrocious subplot about the Earth cult? Do something like in Foundation and Earth!
La maison en petits cubes: A toast!
Lain show: A girl who is definitely not human forgoes her potential for Alice. Great visuals and ending. The conspiracy theory part and the children subplot are pretty bad though, and the moment where every character appears again in the last episode feels contrived.
Utena: Highly respect this for its third arc. Its second arc is also interesting.
Fantastic Children: Managed to beat expectations, even after the reveal.
ACCA: Why so many cakes?
Nomad: Sakuma and the big evil corporation part feels flat, and after watching it I completely forgot there's someone called Mac.
Cang Lan Jue season 1 part 2: Rad. Lit. Let it cook. Whatever. Wang Mang is cool as heck and makes a nice contrast with Dongfang Qingcang.
CSM: In general, I don't consider OPs and EDs when evaluating shows. While this goes for CSM too, in this case I do want to salute those contracted animators who worked on the OPs and EDs for their hard work. (Although I didn't like every OP or ED of it.)
Daomu Biji Zhi Ri Ni Niang: Nice plot twist!
Misc. comments (updated 2024 May 4):
Extended favorites list (in order of watching / re-watching): Detective Conan Movie 03: The Last Magician of the Century, Cang Lan Jue season 1 both parts, Kara no Kyoukai 1: Overlooking View, Tokyo Godfathers, Yan Wang Guai Hualang, The Irresponsible Captain Tylor.
Selected funny moments (in order of watching): Kaguya-sama S3 episode 3 5:50, Shikong Zhi Xi episode 1 21:25, The Irresponsible Captain Tylor episode 21 12:25.
Selected OST with good synchronization of visuals and music at their beginnings (in order of watching):
Kaguya-sama: First Kiss wa Owaranai ED: The sea suggested by the paper art is clearly delimited, yet its deep colors combined with the clear, pensive overture suggests a subtle sense of scale in the setting, resulting in a convincing blend of sound and scene.
Welcome to the NHK ED 2: The grainy television and the slower, melancholic melody evokes a silent nostalgia.
Casshern Sins ED 1: The reverberation in the electronic notes pair well with the ripple effects. The optimism in the sound suggests a kind of ultramarine dawn, which is indeed shown later in the ending sequence.
Misc. comics chapters (in order of reading): 为毁灭世界加班吧 91, 142.5 (新年特别篇).
Favorite animation OST (possibly in some order):
Notes: Some links may not work in the future.
Our Glory Road - King's Avatar S2 ED
Ye Hang Xing - My Three-Body S3: Legend of Zhang Beihai
Since I Wasn't the Heroine OP (Listed twice)
Yi Shi Zhen (Listed twice)
WJDSXNZYK S1 ED
Ran's Theme - Detective Conan OST
Only My Railgun - A Certain Scientific Railgun S1 OP
Fei Ren Zai OP
The Tatami Galaxy ED
Bloom of Youth - Technically part of Kud Wafter OST
Glory Rises Again - King's Avatar Promotional Song / OVA OST
ACCA 13 OP
Alright - Link Click S1 OST
Won Chu Kiss Me! - Sakura Trick OP
Torukia - Stand Alone Complex 2nd GIG OST
Snowman - Ling Cage S1 Special ED
Replica - Solid State Society OST
Si Wuxie OP
Gintama 2015 ED1
Spy X Family ED2
Cupid's Chocolate S2 OP
Shao Qing You - White Cat Legend S1 ED
Yi Shi Zhen - White Cat Legend S1 Promotional Song
Before the Departure - Konosuba S1 OST
Strange Girl - Code Geass S1 OST
Wulin Buer Zhoukan ED
Since I Wasn't the Heroine OP
Twelve Kingdoms ED
Rinbu Revolution - Revolutionary Girl Utena OP
Toki ni ai wa - Adolescence of Utena OST
Scumbag System OP
Wu Shan Wu Xing S2 OP
CHRisTmas in the SiLenT ForeSt - Stand Alone Complex 2nd GIG OST
If You're There - Detective Conan OST
Velveteen - Stand Alone Complex OST
Misc. other shows / films:
Nirvana in Fire (9 / 10)
Breaking Bad (9 / 10). Episodes: Full Measures, Crawl Space, Dead Freight, Say My Name, Ozymandias, Granite State.
Crazy Stone (8.5 / 10)
Hot Fuzz (8.5 / 10)
The Last of Us (8.5 / 10): Grounded.
Arcane S1 (8 / 10): Excellent visuals.
Red vs Blue S1 (8 / 10): L. O. L.
Lurk (2009) (7 / 10): Some great acting, and the politics is perfect. Sadly it can be misogynistic.
Ji Nian Ri Kuai Le (7 / 10): A 2011 communications university project.
San ti (2023) (7 / 10): Bit too preachy, pacing can be very slow, and it introduces the theme of environmentalism which felt unnecessary. But a respectable adaptation otherwise, and its cinematography and use of colors are excellent.
Shaun of the Dead (7 / 10)
A Clockwork Orange (7 / 10): Pretty violent.
The Eight Hundred (6 / 10): The first half was amazing and intense.
Conquer (2003) (6 / 10): Badly paced and the BGM was too repetitive. Watchable otherwise.
Genius Loci (2020) (4 / 10): what
After two and a half years, I've finally decided to put a spoiler for the selected photos below:
This is the best show I have ever seen cried six times my son also cried. I must say that when god touches down on earth he will no longer be disappointed now that we have created this masterpiece. There is not much more to say other then wow I still cant believe that something this good was created its only episode 5 but I am still certain that the ending of this show will shock the havens along with the earth. To wrap things up I once again just want to gush about the city nut arc when that girl stepped on the guy and he wet his pants I can only say that I felt that as well.
Old attempts at poetry:
A flowing wind hath my way blew;
Its being on which rests no few
Paintings for the eye, harmonious
Suites and Banquets; but which pious
Care for Nature my station lacks.
Though barriers that separate
Fabled isles, attached souls and Fate
from Life hath its roots betwixt me
and what is admired, a Tree —
Lush yet ghostly, hovering as
a Mirage which, with splendor, hath
Rare leaves of a painter’s palette,
A-dancing in a French ballet,
Echoing Sonnets of their hearts
and “I see, I see” in their parts
that they learn, with artistic acts.
Silky Spirits to my wonder
Replied, “Do you, full with ponder
Earthly friend, savor more?”; but ere
a moment of fluid Time were
They vanish’d. Yet — Yes! and behold
A sea of sound, with much a fold,
With the urging of Impulse, go
Thundering with quiet, below
the watchful mirror of the Sea
which lights vividly upon me.
I hear a cry — and it is gone.
I hear a whisper of one Fawn
Who glints in its gaiety dance
of Gold and Jade; though knowing Chance
Had it died away. My mind starts
with want of more; but hope flaunt darts
in it. Hath arrived the climax?
(2020)
-----
the next one is very cringe do not read it
The horizon.
Nothing's there.
Yet so fiercely do we chase it, on and on.
Confined in our minor world
Confined by borders betwixt existence
and that which we are kept from.
When we look at the space staring back at us
We ask ourselves: what is there
What is there except
the twilight that we see even then, dancing in our gaze
Though it isn't...
We can never reach it.
But look at it - may,
Existing while our eyes are set
Locked onto that fusion of colors
We pretend, in space exists beauty
But what more?
So let us - yet again - march...
March towards that endless horizon
March until we cannot, and still see that
Fantastical mirage
Existing - or does it not?
(2021-05-27)
-----
"The perfect death for me, you ask? When I'd finish a long, satisfying story, lingering between our world, and that of tones and ambiences, of imagination and immersion, fading away even as memories are fresh - the final closure fills into my heart, overwhelms it, deep and deep, weighing my being down from touch, experience, out of consciousness. I'd imagine it would be the perfect moment to die, to depart here and reach, even if just in vain, that glimmering coalescence."
"What are you talking about..."
"Ah, I must go - my dream ends itself, and now gives way to morning."
"wtf"
-----
Finally, it seems - all of it will awash away...
...
What a way, what a way: I feel like I've trodden the sludge of decay (wtf)
(2022-5-16)
thanks for the add! it's fantastic to meet another Mayuko fan and someone else who enjoys Niea_7 in general--very rare, indeed! I'm also delighted to see someone else with Boogiepop Phantom in their faves: that's *also* very rare!
Thanks. I've had the GIF up there for a while, just as something to look at. I knew it was from one of the Conan films, though I haven't seen anything from the franchise myself.
For me I thought a lot of the humor was cringey, and the fact that I couldn't relate to being an otaku/hikki probably contributed to that. So while I do relate somewhat to being afraid to go out and do stuff, it's not to the extreme degree portrayed in the show. My main issue tho, is that I didn't like the fact that Misato showed up on his front door and what seems like codependency that develops between her and the MC. I say seems like because I only know it from reading ahead, as I dropped it early on. Do you feel like those were issues?
Yeah I definitely wouldn't knock your way of looking at it. A lot of it comes down to whether or not you're immersed in its atmosphere. It wasn't enough for me, personally, (perhaps it would've been different if more music was used to pair with the visuals) as I would've liked more happening and more dialogue. Hence the highlight of the movie for me was the dialogue talking about the alternative version of Noah's ark.
Also, what are your thoughts on Welcome to the NHK?
Yeah Utena isn't the easiest thing to watch so 2x speed is not a bad idea. Its structure is what lends it a lot of its thematic significance and at the same time makes it grueling to get through.
It's such a technical, dry exercise in interpreting literary devices, probably the most extreme example of this in the medium. Trying to analyze this show feels like sitting in English class. It is fascinating to try to puzzle it together, and at the same time, it does lead to over analysis. What makes it worthwhile to me is its craziness on top of all of it. But looking back, they could've told these stories in a more straightforward way that would not only be more informative concerning its themes but also more engaging. And to this day I don't think anyone knows for sure what it really means. I had to look stuff up to piece it together and from what I've seen, you kind of need to be in a feminist state of mind to get a lot of it.
Perfect Blue had a direction and point to it, whereas Millennium Actress felt repetitive after a while, so it makes sense that you found the latter boring. I don't think you're missing out on anything.
Boogiepop is, on paper, right up my alley. I love Ryuutarou Nakamura and I absolutely adore Hiroshi Hamasaki. But for some reason I just couldn't get through episodes without losing my concentration. I don't remember anything about it apart from that Nagi was cool and that black vignette lol.
I should rewatch it and give it a fair shake, or at least read the light novels.
> For me, I feel like I could've rated it literally any score (maybe except 9 and 10 lol)
That's interesting. Currently, when I watch something and I dig it, I at least think "oh it's 6+". But "any score", damn.
All Comments (165) Comments
Also, what are your thoughts on Welcome to the NHK?
It's such a technical, dry exercise in interpreting literary devices, probably the most extreme example of this in the medium. Trying to analyze this show feels like sitting in English class. It is fascinating to try to puzzle it together, and at the same time, it does lead to over analysis. What makes it worthwhile to me is its craziness on top of all of it. But looking back, they could've told these stories in a more straightforward way that would not only be more informative concerning its themes but also more engaging. And to this day I don't think anyone knows for sure what it really means. I had to look stuff up to piece it together and from what I've seen, you kind of need to be in a feminist state of mind to get a lot of it.
Perfect Blue had a direction and point to it, whereas Millennium Actress felt repetitive after a while, so it makes sense that you found the latter boring. I don't think you're missing out on anything.
I've taken the liberty of sending you an FR, hope you don't mind :)
I really like your profile, it's pretty funny. Your list looks great too. And you're quite the poet :)
I should rewatch it and give it a fair shake, or at least read the light novels.
> For me, I feel like I could've rated it literally any score (maybe except 9 and 10 lol)
That's interesting. Currently, when I watch something and I dig it, I at least think "oh it's 6+". But "any score", damn.
It's always been one of those anime I've really wanted to like but can't.