Toaru Kagaku no Railgun is the follow-up series to 2008/2009’s Toaru Majutsu no Index. The story focuses on Misaka Mikoto, or “railgun”, and her group of friends. If the show was done right it could’ve been a fantastic action thrill ride, but instead we’re left with a hodgepodge of mini stories with some occasional action. Off the top of my head I can think of two examples that I could do without: photography day and school festival day. I’m sure the studio knew the fame and following certain characters had and it’s not surprising such episodes exist, I just wish that kind of stuff was saved for something like DVD extras. When Railgun got down to business though it was a pretty fun ride. The action was large, in your face and provided some impressive visuals. Other than the rather lame cliched final battle this show gets a seal of action approval.
The cast of characters is a combination of old and new, and for the most part, works pretty well. Starting off I didn’t think I’d be able to handle the show since lead character Shirai Kuroko, voiced by Arai Satomi, had a fairly grating voice. It grew on me over time, and by the end felt completely natural. As for the two new main characters, Saten and Uiharu, it was really hit or miss. I liked Saten; some of the story arcs centered around her were enjoyable. I was disappointed, however, that her skill level of zero amounted to nothing, and should be taken to heart. I guess I expected there to be some special case as to why she was a zero. Uiharu, on the other hand, didn’t do it for me. First off that row of flowers in your hair is annoying. Secondly I found her personality to suck. It was a bit too whiny and really provided nothing special as far as I’m concerned. This especially came true for me near the end when she became sort of an uptight stubborn bitch.
Toaru Kagaku no Railgun does a fine job of being entertaining, but failed short of becoming a great show. Certain filler episodes and some weak characters held it all back. It also lacked one of the most enjoyable aspects of its predecessor, the Misaka/Touma arguments.
Seto no Hanayome’s story revolves around a young teenage boy named Nagasumi Michishio. One day during his summer vacation, Nagasumi was saved from drowning by a mermaid, Sun Seto, in the Seto Inland Sea. However, under mermaid law, if a mermaid’s identity as a mermaid has been revealed, either the mermaid who was involved or the human who saw the mermaid are to be killed. In an attempt to save both Nagasumi and Sun’s lives, Sun’s family, which is apparently the head of its own Yakuza mob, reluctantly decides that the two are to be married.
Gōzaburō, Sun’s father, however, is enraged about his daughter getting married, especially to a human whom he deems inferior. Between Gōzaburō’s attempts on his life and the madcap antics of a whole slew of antagonists — including the daughter of a rival mobster and a rich male transfer student with an attraction for Sun — Nagasumi is not enjoying a very smooth transition into his new lifestyle.
Kadokawa just LOVES milking their franchises to death huh? Oh yeah, because blind-obsessed fanboys like me eat them up!
I love cars/motor-sport. And I love anime. And yes, this isn’t quite a combining of the two. But that fact that Mr. Wa-Wa-Wa-Wasuemono is on board means WIN in my book. That and it has the name Lucky Star attached to it. Lucky Star Itasha Go-Karts? Hope so!
Track List
1. 私だけを見て (Watashi dake wo Mite)
2. Shy Girls -Amahara Kiyono ver.-)
3. 女の子の本音-天原清乃編- (Onna no Ko no Honne -Amahara Kiyono-hen-)
4. 私だけを見て -off vocal ver.-
As expected from Hikasa Yoko, these songs sound just like Mio. Not that I’m complaining~
Finally done these character songs, now to make my way through the rest of my queue… think I’ll do Kobato. OST next, because Kobato’s song is pretty~
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私だけを見て (Watashi dake wo Mite)
Amahara Kiyono (CV: Hikasa Yoko)
私だけを見て もっと側で watashi dake wo mite motto gawa de
誰よりも輝いて魅せるから dare yori mo kagayaite miseru kara
瞳奪って 焼き付けてあげるよ hitomi ubatte yakitsukete ageruyo
その胸の 高鳴りを 聞きたくて sono mune no takanari wo kikitakute
もっと早く時が 過ぎればいいのにね motto hayaku toki ga sugireba ii no ni ne
子供扱いなんてありえないから kodomo atsukai nante arienai kara
逃げたくないよ いつだって nigetakunaiyo itsudatte
凛としたら my way rin toshitara my way
間違いだとしても 歩いていくから machigaida toshitemo aruiteiku kara
一番キレイと云って 笑って ichiban kirei to itte waratte
誰もが息をのむ 華になる dare mo ga iki wo nomu hana ni naru
絶対ジャマなんてさせないよ zettai jama nante sasenaiyo
この胸も この髪も 誘ってる kono mune mo kono kami mo sasotteru
チャンスやハッピーを 待ってるだけじゃ嫌 chansu ya happi— wo matteru dake ja iya
手に入れる為なら なんでもできる te ni ireru tame nara nande mo dekiru
素直になっただけだから sunao ni natta dake dakara
ほっといてよ my way hottoiteyo my way
上手くかわさずに 受け止めてほしい umaku kawasazu ni uketomete hoshii
私だけを見て もっと側で watashi dake wo mite motto soba de
誰よりも輝いて魅せるから dare yori mo kagayaite miseru kara
瞳奪って 焼き付けてあげるよ hitomi ubatte yakitsukete ageruyo
その胸の 高鳴りを 聞きたくて sono mune no takanari wo kikitakute
ねぇ もっと見つめていて nee motto mitsumeteite
そらさないで 瞳から 体から sorasanai de hitomi kara karada kara
素顔の私を… sugao no watashi wo…
私だけを見て どんなときも watashi dake wo mite donna toki mo
このまま燃え尽きても良いから kono mama moetsukitemo ii kara
押さえきれない程の想いも osaekirenai hodo no omoi mo
この胸も この髪も 捧げたい kono mune mo kono kami mo sasagetai
To be honest, it makes me laugh how much people can get addicted to things. Some of my ridiculous addictions? Manga and anime. Not that I watch anime anymore, but come on, lets face it. I am still in love with anime.
How did this crazy addiction start, or came to be?
I blame it all on my cousin. Haha, I was in year seven when he first showed me and my siblings our first subbed (because I don’t really count the ones on TV. I.e Pokemon, Digimon…) anime. And guess what it was? ‘Onegai Teacher’ or ‘Please Teacher’. Haha, what a way to start of my addiction.
I remember when my cousin showed us Ichigo 100% and his friend walks in and gave a horrified look at the computer screen and then to Kuya and said, ‘Kerbs! What are you showing these kids?!’
I remember feeling my face burn when he replied: ‘They’re the ones watching it, not me.’
But yeah… I didn’t find out about manga probably a year later. And oh my God, what that addiction was. I still do read manga on my spare time. (Maybe I’ll post up my list of recommendations later) I fell in love with it straight away. The details, the characters, the storylines! It just amazed me!
I remember last year in one of my tutorials when we were on the topic of how manga and American comics were different. I remember feeling indignation when they started to say that manga didn’t have enough detail, or the backgrounds were scarce and it was a quick read. I wanted to speak up and say ‘That’s absolutely wrong! The plots are unique! Manga caters for all ages and genres…’ and so on. Bu~t I was too shy to speak up.
Anyway, I think that’s all I’ll say on that topic for now.
SHINICHI?!
