AniFriday Issue #25 – Autumn Manga Special pt1: Hajime no Ippo

It’s been quite a while since I last talked about Hajime no Ippo in length.  And quite happening to be revisiting a discussion about this series in chunks.  It allows for a clearer, elongated perspective where I get to notice trends and not get so distracted by the moment to moment set ups of each chapter.  This post will be covering the final chapters of Ippo’s fight with Alredo Gonzales, the current #1 contender for the flyweight championship of the world, and the only man standing between Ippo and his ultimate goal of the world champ, Ricardo Martinez.  However, I’ll be talking about this fight as a whole at the end, from chapter 1030 to 1071.

I’m so hyped for Ippo!  God, I love this manga!

AniFriday Issue #23: July 25th, 2014 (Star Platinum/Jonathan Joestar wants you deep inside his body!)

I will refrain from going on a rant this week.  Instead, I’ll just say that I’m having a lot of fun with anime right now.  Especially since I’ve started narrowing down and finishing off lingering series.  Ao Haru Ride, Argevollen and Glasslip are gone.  Tokyo Ravens and Chaika are almost done.  It’s a whole lot more satisfying than what I have to deal with when it comes to manga.  The impression is being given that mega manga Bleach and Naruto are ending, but those lingering final battles are going to last a long time.  And if they aren’t f*cking amazing battles, it’s gonna leave a bad taste in everyone’s mouths.

There.  Nice and short.  Here are the anime & manga I’ll be covering in order:

• Stardust Crusaders ep15 & 16
• Tokyo Ravens ep21 & 22
• Chaika the Coffin Princess ep7
• Akame ga Kill! ep3
• Hajime no Ippo ch1059 & 1060
• Naruto ch685
• Bleach ch589

AniFriday Issue #22: July 18th, 2014 (Summer Camp for Anime)

Back from EVO (not literally) and feeling… tired.  Whew!  That was a long time to sit in front of a computer and WATCH people play video games.  And yet, I still found a little time to watch anime.  Not enough to watch ALL the anime I’m supposed to watch, but enough to try out a few new summer anime.  And boy is there a lot I’m not happy about or don’t care about.  It’s like being tasked with watching over a bunch of kids.  Some you really like, some kinda don’t get your attention, and then there are a few you just want to drop in the lake.  I will not be talking about those.

I have to say, I do wish I had time to check out some of the more popular series, but if I honestly don’t find myself excited about watching them, then it’s best I don’t waste my immediate time.  Though I will clarify, I doubt anyone expects me to, but I’m not watching Free S2, NEW Sailor Moon or Sword Art Online.  I love that women (and the gays) get to enjoy a show full of fluff for them like we do with so many of our shows.  Many people expect women to be “better” than men, with higher standards and more discerning tastes, but I’m calling bullshit on that.  In a sense, women don’t eat vegetables all the time, they don’t drink water with every meal and they may not wait to have sex (we call hope for that, right guys?).  So if they want to want to watch Free because they don’t have to think and it makes them feel good, then great.

The same goes for Sailor Moon.  That show has been lampooned for years, but to me, it’s the more feminine equivalent of Dragonball Z.  It’s point zero for so much anime fandom, that you can’t deny its importance, even as you want to deny its quality.  Sure, the main character is a blazing airhead who worries too much about boys and getting fat.  But that’s the cat’s problem, not our’s.  To me it’s just a show about girl’s want to be good, live their lives in relative peace, and to take the pretty trinkets they keep with them everyday and MURDER WHO EVER F*CKS WITH THEM!  And if I can have an insane fantasy in my immature anime, then everyone should be able to enjoy that same pleasure.

Then there’s SAO.

*sigh*

I WANT to give this anime a fair shot!  I really do!  But even with the quickest of glances, I can tell that it is eventually going to piss me off.  On top of that, the fandom and anti-fandom is so rabid that I don’t want any part of that unending war.  I have to ignore enough bombastic bullsh*t being an open Evangelion and Naruto fan.  I don’t care for one single more battle.  F*ck it I say!  Hate whatever you want!  Just don’t argue with me about it.  They’re opinions and you can keep your’s and choke on it, because I’m done arguing over my hobby.

Except for ZZ Gundam, that sh*t is still trash until the Sun explodes, the singularity wipes out time and space and family accepts that I’m never going back to school!

Now!  Time for a little anime and manga.  Here are the series I’ll be covering this week, enjoy!

• Akame ga Kill! ep1
• Hajime no Ippo ch1057 & 1058
• Naruto ch684

AniFriday Issue #21: July 11th 2014 (it’s gonna be a very busy, very loud summer)

Oh man!  Summer season is here!  And like furniture store or car lot with a crazy owner, I’m trying to clear out all the old inventory as quickly as possible.  I should change the borders of my blog to wacky, wavy inflatable flying tube men to get the full effect across.  That said, I’m still enjoying what’s on my plate at the moment, even if I’m anxiously trying to get through it to move on to new projects.  I’m getting the feeling that I really will miss Tokyo Ravens and Chaika when I’m threw with both shows.  Each is showing more heart than I was expecting in their own unique ways.  Other shows I’m watching are only going further down the road towards their crazy realm of bullsh*t – I’m looking right at you Stardust Crusaders!  And other shows say they’re ending, but it really feels more like their last world tour, as opposed to their last concert, Bleach and Naruto – I’m now staring at both of you!

Here are the anime and manga I’ll be covering this week, in order:

• Stardust Crusaders ep14
• Tokyo Ravens ep20
• Chaika the Coffin Princess ep6
• Ao Haru Ride ep1
• Hajime no Ippo chs 1055 & 1056
• Naruto ch683
• Bleach ch587
• Team Medical Dragon ch106
• Teppu ch5

AniFriday Issue #15 (May 23rd, 2014): Victory Through Anti-Hype

I dare say that I’m almost getting back on schedule.  I may be two days late posting this (killing my thought out defense that it’s Friday somewhere when I post these), but at least I’m almost regularly watching anime and reading manga now.  I’m still in the process of figuring out where I’m at in regards to the current anime world though.  In the process of doing this, I’ve tried taking up a little show called Captain Earth.  Let’s see how this goes, because I’m not exactly in the mood for a super robot show right now.

AniFriday Issue #14 (May 16th, 2014): Star Platinum is the Popular Kid

It’s been a long time coming, but I’m pushing out new posts.  I’ve come to grips with the fact that I’ve lost a lot of time, and that both the Winter and Spring seasons are lost for me.  I can only focus on what I have the energy to focus on at this point.  And that means that a lot of material will just have to wait a while.  For now I’m going to move forward on stuff that I’m having fun with and have a regular watch cycle I can continue.  That means JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure, Knights of Sidonia and a lot of manga.  I hope you guys follow along as I try to get back in the groove.

AniFriday Issue #13 (April 18th, 2014)

It’s a slow start, but AniFridays are back up – sans anime and smothered in manga butter.  Give me a break, it feels like I’m putting this blog back on track while pushing a boulder up a hill and juggling.  For now, I’m just gonna focus on the first half of the manga that I’ve been reading since February, with a continuation coming soon.

Here are the manga I’ll be covering this week in order:

• Naruto ch665-671
• Bleach ch569-573
• Hajime no Ippo ch1043-1046

AniFriday Issue #12 (February 14th, 2014)

It’s been a little bit more than rough past couple of weeks.  So I have to be honest.  I havne’t been much in the mood for anime.  All I’ve craved is peace and quiet.  Instead, it feels like there’s a chaos demon following me around.  Still, I haven’t given up.  I may be terribly behind on my anime, but I haven’t given up.  Instead, I’ve focused on taking time out of my day  to read a little manga.  So forgive me if this AniFriday is not only late, but a little bit manga heavy.  And there’s no lovey-dovey stuff in here either.  I’ll save the Valentine’s or anti-Valentine’s posts for later.  For now, here’s what I’ve been up to during these annoying winter storms and my own personal “blue” period.

Here is the material I’ll be covering this week:

• Nourin ep2
• Wizard Barristers eps 3 & 4
• Sakura Trick ep2
• Naruto ch663 & 664
• Bleach ch567 & 568
• Hajime no Ippo ch1040, 1041 & 1042
• Team Medical Dragon ch96 & 97
• Mission! School ch1
• Umi no Misaki ch2

Check-in Station: Hajime no Ippo: Rising ep1 (children of the seas)

I can’t imagine anyone more excited to see this series than me, aside from the staff that actually worked on the production. And this first episode did not disappoint at all. While I was a bit taken back at the downer that was the first half of this episode, everything was still done well, and quickly. No drawn out pacing issues and delaying so far in this series. And while I was a bit surprised at how quickly the Shimabakuro fight kicked in, I’m still glad that the first episode showed what this series is all about.

The bestest of news!

As some reading may know, I’m a huge fan of Hajime no Ippo. I’d put it up there with Gundam when it comes to the obsessive amount of attention and love I pay this franchise. And I’ve recently gotten word (yes, I’m quite late, by one or two weeks) that a 3rd series is being produced for the franchise, scheduled to air this Fall! I couldn’t be happier and fully plan to cover this show.

The highlight this time around will likely be the counter-heavy Sawamura vs. Ippo fight.  And even without the major events, there are great little stories and fights and Morikawa’s trademark, juvenile humour to look forward to as well.  I’m going to do a little remedial reading to see what exactly this third season will cover. I believe this upcoming season will deal heavily with the Dempsey Roll and its glaring weaknesses. Starting with Shimabakuro’s attack on it. I would really, really like to see the Miyata vs. Randy Boy Jr. match, and the Woli vs. Ippo match, but but of those are unlikely. Those major events lead right up to the Class A tournament, Volg’s world championship match and Ippo’s Big Decision.  All of which has just been covered in the manga. So I suspect that stuff would be ripe material for a fourth TV series, but that is gross speculation right now.

The main point is that Ippo is coming, and I am ready!  The Fall season can’t come soon enough!

Further Reading:

• Announcement from Mangastream & Anime News Network
• Hajime no Ippo 900 chapters review!