Kiddy Grade 2 in the works!

Posted on September 30, 2006 by DarkMirage

Kiddy Grade

According to Moon Phase Zakki, a sequel to Kiddy Grade is in the works.

[タレコミ]「キディ・グレイド」続編「キディ・グレイド2（仮）」制作決定！

「涼宮ハルヒの憂鬱 SOS団ラジオ支部」第35回放送内で、リュミエール役の平野綾がしゃべってた模様。エクレールとリュミエールのその後を描く。パイロットフィルムを先行公開予定。

Demoonificator:

Kiddy Grade Sequel “Kiddy Grade 2” (tentative title) is in the works!

Aya Hirano, the seiyuu of Lumière, revealed that a second Kiddy Grade anime is in the works during the broadcast of “Suzumiya Haruhi no Yuuutsu SOS-dan Radio Subdivision” episode 35. The new anime will continue to focus on Éclair and Lumière. A pilot episode will be released first.

This has got to be true because Haruhi-sama said it! Continue reading for what I think Kiddy Grade 2 needs…

Continue reading →

Posted in Anime | Tagged , , , , , | 22 Comments

Mai-Otome Zwei press release

Posted on September 26, 2006 by DarkMirage

The upcoming OVA series Mai-Otome Zwei will be here 24th November. The limited edition Vol.1 will come with a special packaging, a CD with the theme song and a Mai-Otome illustration book. Most of the press release is recycled news, but it does reveal the title of the new theme song.

Mai-Otome Zwei

The story takes place one year after the end of the TV series and Arika is now Mashiro’s full-fledged Meister Otome. The new OP song is “Believe ～eien no kizuna～” performed by Mika Kikuchi (Arika Yumemiya).

All I can say is: WTF happened to Minami!?

P.S. You can preorder the limited edition on Amazon JP for ï¿¥2,000 cheaper than the official retail.

Posted in Anime | Tagged , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Speculating Genshiken OVA

Posted on September 26, 2006 by DarkMirage

Okay, so apparently Kujibiki Unbalance DVD sets will each come with one episode of Genshiken OVA. The first DVD box is due 22nd December. That’s the good news I guess.

Kujibiki Unbalance Noizi Style!

However, because Media Factory is once again releasing the DVDs in sets of twos, the new 12-episode Kujian will come in only 3 DVD box sets, which means a total of just 3 episodes of Genshiken. (i.e. a complete reversal of the Genshiken DVD box sets)

This may or may not be a good thing. Here’s why…

Continue reading →

Posted in Anime | Tagged , , , | 6 Comments

Akihabara: “Baka Gaijin”

Posted on September 25, 2006 by DarkMirage

American cosplayers: Akiba hates you! Okay, maybe not all of you. Especially not the hawt girls (pics pls, kthx). But you know who you are!

Just take a look at these posters that have been found stuck to lamp posts along Akihabara. (Original post by Akiba-blog)

They all depict a cosplaying gaijin with the words “Baka Gaijin” over them. Baka bakka~

Baka Gaijin
Image taken from Akiba-blog

I have to chalk this up as a fake: those fonts are nicely formatted and we all know that Japanese people can’t Photoshop for nuts! (Just take a look at 2ch, yuck) Those who can are probably too busy slaving away in office cubicles drawing the next episode of Naruto to find time to stick posters in Akihabara. :P

For those of you in Tokyo now, the lamp post in question is located right outside Gamers Honten. Go take more pics!!!

Interestingly, some other anonymous person has pasted replies to this with posters saying “I love Baka Gaijin“, ain’t that sweet. They love you!…

…but you are still stupid. XD

Posted in Otaku | Tagged , , , , | 22 Comments

Beginner’s Japanese – Chapter VI – Keigo

Posted on September 24, 2006 by DarkMirage

SOS-dan

You hear it in anime and drama all the time, often without realizing it. It is the bane non-native Japanese speakers (or at least one of the numerous). It lurks in the shadows as it descends upon you with such suddenness and ferocity that leaves you confused and speechless. It was invented by the Japanese with the sole purpose of making foreigners suffer in eternal damnation and to punish us for pretending to speak the language.

It is 敬語 (keigo), or the dreadful “levels of politeness” in Japanese. Haruhi save us all. Keigo mainly involves the manipulation of verbs. Please read the chapter on verbs first if you haven’t already.

Continue reading →

Posted in Japanese | Tagged , | 27 Comments

Importing a Japanese mobile phone

Posted on September 24, 2006 by DarkMirage

V903Sh
Vodafone 903SH

If you have been reading my blog since the b2 days, you would know that I own a Vodafone 903SH (the SH is for Sharp). At the time I got it, the phone was the latest 3G offering from Vodafone Japan and it’s equipped with a 3.2mp camera and all that jazz. I had to send mine to Japan for repairs some time ago and now I finally got it back today! Joy~~ I feel complete as a person once more. :P

Anyway, some people have been wondering about how to import Japanese phones for use in their own countries. Here are some things you should know first…

Continue reading →

Posted in Tech | 104 Comments

Hanbun no Tsuki ga Noboru Sora OP – Aoi Koufuku

Posted on September 22, 2006 by DarkMirage

Hanbun no Tsuki ga Noboru Sora

This song came up in my playlist shuffle today and I suddenly felt like translating it. Hanbun no Tsuki ga Noboru Sora is a story of love and hope about a girl who suffers from a terminal illness. The lyrics of the OP song to the OVA do a good job of conveying the bittersweet feel of the story.

Blue Happiness
Vocal: nobuko

The pale street, my swaying shadow,
I walk slowly, not knowing my destination.
My feelings can’t reach yours.

The things reflected in the depths of your eyes,
I started running in order to catch up to them.
I grip your outstretched hand without letting go.

On this night, the half moon shines upon us.
I shake off the flow of time chasing after us.
Though we are both half incomplete, we should be able to draw our future.

Your hair sways under the blue sky.
In order to mend your unsewn heart,
Let’s realize our feelings.

I wonder what the next page holds as I turn it.
You threw me just a hint of a smile.
I keep rereading this swirl of overflowing words.

On this night, the half moon shines upon tomorrow.
I kick about the darkness that stretches into the distance.
Under the half moon, we start to walk without stopping. Lalala…

On this night, the half moon shines upon us.
I shake off the flow of time chasing after us.
Though we are both half incomplete, we should be able to draw our future.

Read on for the transliteration and original:

Continue reading →

Posted in Music | Tagged , , , , | 5 Comments

The Complete Otaku’s Guide to Tsundere Linux

Posted on September 21, 2006 by DarkMirage

The moé self-help books just don’t stop coming. It has been scientifically proven that anything with the word “moé” or “tsundere” in its title will sell like hotcakes.

Tsundere Linux
Image from Akiba-blog

From Akiba-blog: Enter 「ツンデレ☆りなっくす」 or “Tsundere Linux”, a book that supposedly teaches you about the famous open source operating system in a totally moélicious manner. It even has a cute abbreviation もえりな (moerina).

Fedora core
Image from Akiba-blog

The book apparently covers various topics such as getting cheap second hand computers, explanations of the various distros and installation procedure for Debian, Firefox and 2ch browser. And a tsundere girl. Don’t forget the tsundere girl.

They totally need to make one of these for Cisco networking, the most goddamn boring topic in the world.

Posted in Otaku, Tech | Tagged , , , , , | 21 Comments

Aya Hirano – Ashita no PRISM

Posted on September 20, 2006 by DarkMirage

I translated it. Yup. I do realize the inherent irony, but it’s just about the only single that I’ve downloaded recently. When boredom attacks, anything at hand works.

Tomorrow’s Prism
Vocal: Aya Hirano

The sweet chimes ring in my heart, the signal to start.
I bid farewell to the days spent waiting for the wind’s arrival.

I just want to be myself, I don’t know if it’s right or not.
The clothes and colours I hated, they don’t look half bad now.

I’ve always longed for glorious courage, but what I have is something much more modest.
My tears will surely be a prism for tomorrow.
Say “Hello!” to the ideal future and let’s go meet it.

My determination on that day is now part of this seed full of anticipation.
The morning it blooms fully will be when I become the promised me.

If you make only one wish, even god will feel bored.
Since we all only live once, let’s fulfil as many wishes as we can.

My aspiration is to have an unwavering heart, but what I had instead was my crybaby self.
My tears will always bring me tomorrow.
Though I may be incomplete, I wish to fall in love too.

I’ve always longed for glorious courage, but what I have is something much more modest.

I will nurture my unwavering heart and transform today’s tears into a smile.
My tears will surely be a prism for tomorrow.
“Hello!” said my dream future as it winked at me.

Read on for the transliteration and original:

Continue reading →

Posted in Music | Tagged , , , | 10 Comments

5年目の放課後 Afterschool of the 5th Year

Posted on September 19, 2006 by DarkMirage

Cowgirl Haruhi

Some people were wondering where the picture of Haruhi in my new banner came from. It’s a doujin art by a circle called 5年目の放課後 (go-nenme no houkago) or as the doujin covers say, “Afterschool of the 5th Year”. It sounds only slightly less weird in Japanese… XD

Continue reading →

Posted in Otaku | Tagged , , , , | 7 Comments