Anime club, memory lane, and Strawberry Panic???

Wazzup, Internet?

So yesterday was the first day of Anime Club, formed at my school but held at the library for our school's lack of screening rooms. I was nervous as fuck walking in, but then I remembered... wait... these are ANIME people... they're going to be NICER than people at school 8D
So I walked in without fear and, low and behold, had an awesome time! The people were friendly, though it was the first meeting so we were all overexcited and refused to shut up (Still, sorry about that, Mr. Vice Prez XD). They had some trouble getting the show up and running, so we watched a couple YouTube videos called "AMV Hell""- fricking hilarious! Severealy perverted, though 0_0
Anyways, once they got it up and running, we watched the first episode an an anime called "Strawberry Panic." I can't judge very well, as I only watched one episode and I had a very biased and judgemental person whispering in my ear the entire time (DEMYX T_T), but I don't think I'll be continuing that anime past the first few episodes. I admit, though, I was turned off of it the moment I heard the word "romance." The series is, as far as I can tell, a Shoujo about an all-girls' school. There is a new student and basically EVERYONE is obsessed with her, like toddlers with the shiny new toy or something. She finally reaches the school and, in her excitement, falls down a HILL 8 down there, she meets the most beautiful girl she's ever seen, who kisses her. Then she passes out and wakes in the hallway, where her roommate meets her and her school year begins.
On the bright side, it seems like it would be a very cute, very FUNNY anime, and pretty much everyone in it is a lesbian so it's not sexually biased or everything. it was actually a refreshing change, to see this as the norm instead of her freaking out because she realizes she's gay and whatnot. ANYWAY. *Ahem*. I was a bit bothered by the fact, though, that the beautiful girl and the new student (Sorry i've been forgetting all their names DX) seem to be in love before they even know each others' names. THAT is why romance bothers me.
Otherwise, it seems like it would be a very good anime to people who aren't bothered by homosexuality or love-at-first-sight-type romance. I think I'll watch one or two episodes to make up my mind and add it to the list if I think it's worth watching.

On a more personal note, yesterday was a very weird day for me. My mom and I were alone that night, the rest of the family out of the house for at least two hours, and normally when that happens we just grab a movie and some snacks. Which is why I thought it was a bit strange that my mom decided to take the dog and I for a two-hour walk instead........??
But it turned out to be one of the best nights I've had in a long time. See, a few days ago I admitted to my mom that I remembered basically NOTHING about my life before we moved into this new house, where we are now. I was about five or six when we left that house, so I WAS young, but you would think I'd remember SOMETHING, right? I guess that bothered her or something, because she drove me down to our old neighborhood and we walked the dog through it, talking about life and everything, and every time we passed something interesting or another house she recognized or I posed a question, she would tell me some sort of tale about it. It was so interesting, and funny a lot of the time, and a bit surreal because of all these pictures that flooded into my head. "This was where your babysitter lived" suddenly brought this vision of laying in bed, watching my sitter Jessica leave the room, and listening for mom's voice to see what she thought of the spaghetti Jaqueline and I had made for her and dad out of paper. I asked my mom and, as it turns out, that is a real memory. She used to play Candy Land with us.
I saw a lot of interesting things and now I have all these memories that feel new but have just been buried; it's a weird feeling. But I had an awesome night- I hope I don't forget it.

The last con....

No, not for me. I'm still going to cons whenever possible- though I think this year I'm skipping ColossalCon, if just because I need to save money for some serious cosplaying here!! (Zexion wig, HERE WE COME!) But someone we all know and love has gone to his last anime convention this past weekend. NDK Denver

That's right. Chris Patton.

Christopher Patton voices a lot of small characters and a few mains, but ALL of them I love! (Except in Narama Daikon Brothers..... but that's just because I couldn't stand the panda >_>) Including Greed in FMA, Asura in Soul Eater, Souske Sagara in Full Metal Panic, Lavi in D.Gray-Man, Hajime in Ghost Stories, Fakir in Princess TuTu, and Tatsuhiro in Welcome to the NHK. And those are just the ones I know by name!
The guy is not only an epic voice actor, but he is an amazing guy. Friendly and always good to his fans- and utterly HILARIOUS XD His last con was NDK in Denver, the one before in Michigan, where I met him for the first and, sadly, the last time. He says he had a blast, he thanked his fans on his Facebook page, and even though he's leaving the anime business I'm going to continue following him. I mean, he's not only a great guy, but he's strong and I like the way he thinks. I like to hear his thoughts and about his life.
So, congrats to the fantastic Mr. Patton for doing everything you wanted to do and now heading off into the sunset. I'll miss you in the anime world- still, I'm following you ;)

Manga: Full Metal Alchemist

Full Metal Alchemist, by Hiromu Arakawa, may just be the greatest manga ever written.

It is a yet to be finished series about two brothers, Edward and Alphonse Elric, who live in a world where alchemy is the science of life. After a terrible alchemic transmutation gone wrong, however, Edward lost his left leg and Alphonse lost his entire body. To keep his brother's soul in this world, he attached it to a body of armor by sacrificing his right arm. Throughout the series they persue the legendary Philosopher's Stone, an element that allows transmutation without equivalent exchange, so that they can get their bodies back. In order to do so, Ed has to become a State Alchemist, using the advantages of working for the government to help in their search for the Stone.

This manga is smart, clever, suspensful, and exciting. There is not ONE character in the series that I dislike- even the bad guys have personalities I can't resist! The action and adventure is broken up by comedic relief that makes me laugh out loud (so much that my family thinks I'm a lil' crazy! ^_^"). The plot is amazing- a storyline I could never come up with in a million years, and artistic skills to match. The amazing thing about this manga is that is doesn't patronize the characters- it's realistic, and it shows the flaws of characters and the world as they are. It's so clever that the simplest of people (*Ahem*... me....) can understand the politics- and somewhat relate them to our own world. The connection between the two is actually acknowleged at some point in the anime.... but I'm not allowed to tell ;)

I think this may just be my favorite manga of all time- it's definitely #1 on my recomendations list, if not just because it has a little something for everyone!
Come on, Miss Arakawa! I'm ready for more!!!!!!!

Soul Eater- Show

Soul Eater is, to say the least, a FANTASTIC series! The manga is by Atsushi Okubo, then the TV series was produced and just recently Funimation has finished the English dub.

The show is a great mixture of comedy, action, mystery, and sci-fi/fantasy type genres. The script is a perfect balance, as well as the characters. (EXCALIBURR..... EXCALIBUUURRRR!!!!) Comic relief is provided for the extreme action, awesome fight scenes, and scary, suspenseful mysteries.

The series is about a world where everybody has a specific Soul, and kids can be sent to the DWMA, a school to train fighters against evil souls. There are Weapons and Meisters, the weapons' wielders. The main characters are Maka Albarn and her scythe Soul Eater, Death the Kid (The Grim Reaper's son) and his twin guns, Liz and Patty, and Black Star and his weapon, Tsubaki. All of the students have totally different personalities and are best friends, striving to be the best, fight the best, and (In Soul's and Maka's case) gain enough souls to turn the weapon into a powerful Death Scythe.

It's a great series in general, the mood, the plot, the characters, the animation. The show follows the manga storyline very well for the first half of the series before veering away from the course. Nothing changes from the Japanese version to the English dub that really bothers me- except one thing.

No, the mouth flaps are great. Thescript isn't changed much at all, and in fact the dub is done very well. It's the voices that bother me. Or, rather, ONE voice.

What's up with Black Star, guise!?! He is voiced by Brittney Karbowski, who is (Obviously) female. The only problem? She makes Black Star sound female! HIS voice sounds like it belongs to a SHE. Black Star has a bit of an ego problem, and he shouts a lot, which doesn't help matters much. The voice is loud and annoying, and it just doesn't sound right after watching the whole series in Japanese, when Black Star has a rather deep and more natural voice for one of the world's strongest assassins. I don't mean to disrespect the voice actress, but I don't think this series was her best work.

That, in all, is the only thing of the whole series, Japanese and English, that bothers me! I've already stated everything else is fantastic- the only thing left to do with it is get EVERYONE to watch! ^_^