Crime goddess Michiko to Hatchin

Michiko to Hatchin opening episode 01

Hatchin, real name's Hana Morenos, is pretty much a "Cinderella" in this series titled "Michiko to Hatchin". Adopted by the Berembowser Yamada family purely for her child support money, she's abused and bullied by them everyday while Hana endures it all, secretly wishing someone to take her away from that horrible place. And then, here comes Michiko Malandro, a prisoner runaway from the recent prison fortress breakout featured in the news. After robbing a bank stylishly with a machine gun and a (super cool-looking) motorbike, she literally crashed into the Yamada family and took Hana away, fulfilling Hana's hope, albeit with a completely different scene. Now both runaways from various sides, they got together for a goal; to find Hana's real father whom Michiko fell in love at first sight for - Hiroshi Morenos.

Michiko to Hatchin opening episode 01


Michiko crashing into Yamada family episode 01

This series, Michiko to Hatchin gives a very similar smell of Cowboy Bebop, particularly the music and the overall art direction. It has to be actually, Cowboy Bebop's director Shinichirou Watanabe is also the music producer in Michiko to Hatchin. Although the storyline and mood is completely the opposite of Cowboy Bebop, it isn't lacking in anything else and almost as entertaining and engaging in both comedy and action. For me, perhaps the most intriguing point of this series is Michiko, she has such a spontaneous action and wild thinking! Breaking out from prison repeatly, eating off street beggar's food, robbing banks solo and kidnapping the daughter of her love in first sight mate for clues of him! It makes me feel that nothing's wrong even when she hasn't got any bullet holes from her non-dodging style of dealing attacks.
And the animation! Action's great; smooth, fast and funny. Character's awesome; pretty, cute and hot with a dash of distinguished personalities. And the music! It's fitting with the overall Latin-American-ish feel which I think is quite a special element in the series.
This anime is definitely something fresh and different for you if you are getting bored of all those moe-fied anime series currently airing.

Presenting.... New Layout!

New layout featuring one of my recent favourite shoujo pairings, Nagashima Haruna & Komiyama Yoh from Koukou Debut! Go here for more info about Koukou Debut, and join the fanlistings if you love them as well!
I've actually spent my whole weekend putting this up! There's still some minor adjustments which I'm too tired to fix them now. X.x I need my 6 hours sleep!

Credits:
Screentone brushes from Uchiki.net
Fonts used - Rosewood Std, Aristocrat & Line Dings all you can get them from DAFont.com (i think..)
Great tutorials from Celestial Stars on codings and ps tips!

Oh my!

I've accidentally clicked the wrong button and my whole previous layout got revert back to the previos one! Gahhhh!

Please bear with this while I finish up my upcoming new blog layout!

ACF Zero 2 2008 & Gintama

Taken from GempakStarz.com

It was a really a coincidence for both Rean and I yesterday when we got to attend this annual event ACF 2008 Zero 2 (Anime & Comic Fair 2008) which were held in Times Square for the weekend. The original plan for yesterday was to have a sushi lunch in Sunway Pyramid, but I changed my mind on the way to meet Rean, and we decided the plan to go for DVD burner hunting in Lowyat and have our sushi lunch around the area.
But we didn't get to follow the new plan. It ended with us spending the whole day in Times Square (quite near Lowyat), half of the time shopping for clothes and shoes (instead of burners) and another half stalking a certain cosplayer.
The word "stalking" maybe a bit exaggerating and sounded a bit scary when all we did were just keep going back to the event, only to look at that particular cosplayer again (it's probably just me alone who insisted doing it). We met s7even there too and chatted for awhile before we parted ways for shopping time. Basically, we walked in and out of the event area for a few times; walking through it, around it and standing there twice (looking at other cosplayers and during dance competition).
And the very main reason for our "stalking" was that I hope to take a picture together with that cosplayer, but I couldn't gather my courage to ask him! I hesitated for the whole evening, going there, and backing out again until Rean dared me to go or else she would be looking down on me (which I think she already did at that moment!).

Now, the real story behind such (public) fangirlish attitude of mine starts from here.

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Another side title of this post :

Gintama - Where the scary "other" side of obsession begins

Gintama manga Vol 01 Cover [scans from YAnime]

Taken from Gintama wiki:

Gin Tama (銀魂, Gintama, lit. Silver Soul) is a comedic manga created by Hideaki Sorachi. The original manga began in December 8, 2003 and is currently being published by Shueisha under Weekly Shōnen Jump. The manga has sold over 20 million copies in Japan. In March 2007, Shueisha announced that sales of the first volume had passed one million copies.
The manga has been licensed by VIZ Media in North America. In addition to publishing the individual volumes of the series, Viz serialized in its Shonen Jump manga anthology. It debuted in the January 2007 issue, and was serialized at a rate of one chapter a month.

An OVA of Gin Tama by Sunrise was showing at Jump Festa 2006 Anime Tour in 2005. This was followed by a full anime series which debuted on April 4, 2006 TV Tokyo. As of September 2008, 124 episodes have aired.

The subtitle for the Gin Tama anime could be loosely translated as "The starting point is the utmost importance for anything, so trying to outdo oneself is just about right."

Taken from Gintama (manga) ANN:

Sakata Gintoki is a broke samurai living in an era when samurai are no longer needed. To add to his troubles, oppressive aliens called Amanto have moved into town. Gintoki lives with Kagura and Shinpachi, taking on odd jobs to make the world a better place... and to pay their rent.

I knew about the manga series 2 years ago, but it's only past 3 months that I started watching the anime series. In barely a month, I finished watching around 50 episodes, and got myself extremely hooked on them up until now. (which I'm blaming it for the lack of blogposting)
This series is probably the only anime series that I managed to watch 80 episodes (by now) and still waiting for more episodes.
The very main reason is Sakata Gintoki, the main character of the series. To me, he's a large glob of fun, madness, illogics and various sorts of anti-hero manners that made me fell totally in love with him (literally). I could laugh out loud anytime just remembering his lazy voice (all thanks to Tomokazu Sugita) or any parts of his comedic appearances (Paako-chan and Makoto-chan lol)..

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Gintama anime episode 82 subbed by Rumbel-subs

Yes, so it's this Gin-chan cosplayer that we were "stalking" at most of the time.
And currently, I'm in deep regret on how I acted so embarrassingly that whole day... Gah!