か...み...ちゅ! (Kamichu!)

I just put Japanese script on my computers. That may explain the title...

In any case I am almost at the end of the season of Kamichu! which is one of those series you watch, merely for curiosity. I saw this for the first time with the anime club and truly thought it was another children's anime like 'Shugo Chara!' but even so, I found the animation most intriguing and the storyline a little fresher than usual. So I downloaded and gave it a go.
I should say that I am a slice of life junkie when it comes to anime, and when I got through five of the episodes I realised that I enjoyed the realism of the characters and of course the simple, simple, simple flow of life in Hinode. And not only that; the beautiful scene artwork and the crisp and dynamic animation blew my top off. One of the best examples is in the screenshot below when Yurie's mother and father are speaking; Akane was constantly moving while she spoke. The animation portrayed her charming behaviour with perfect, artistic accuracy.


I must say, I have never come across a woman in anime as ridiculously sweet and down to earth as Yurie's mother, it is hard not to smile whenever she comes on screen.

I still haven't mentioned one of the most wonderful points of this anime: the plot, concerning Yurie becoming a god amongst gods. I always feel a leap in my heart, a leap of surprise when I see the great big lion on the roof, the sea captain squid, the amusing tall (and seemingly naked) grey man and all the other numerous gods that form the world of Kamichu! And even more so, they don't appear too often unlike the more saturated children's programmes where they appear everywhere, lessening the delight of their own appearance. It is just brilliant, watching something that reminds you of those younger days watching children's tv, but without bringing your mind to the level of a child's. This series is short of a masterpiece and will definitely get a rewatch in the future.

The Convention of the Gods


Hinode harbour

Memories on paper

Most people see learning through the subjects (ie. English literature, mathematics and science; Philosophy and classics; etc.) as the only way to become a productive member of society in the learned context. But there is another way. Through teaching. Through martial art. And through wisdom.

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The confucius aspect of ancestory: helping the aged and ensuring their life and memories are acknowledged by another stranger.

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Psychological drugs have to be the most dangerous...imagine your life played out as a death scene from now. Take such drugs and this may just happen.

Most are blissfully unaware of this fact. But once you are aware...

you know it will happen.

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Interpretation of 'The Sky Crawlers'

A review about 'The Sky Crawlers" posted on the box (bakabt) by radionerd struck my eye and is possibly the most informative I have found. Not quite on the same level of vaguarity as Evangelion but still quite fascinating:

In Defense of the Sky Crawlers