Just got back from my trip in Penang, and with it my headache as well. I can’t say it was the most enjoyable thing I’ve experienced in my life.

Ichibanzai 09′ was pretty crappy, a big gap compared to how it was last year although the quality of cosplayers had been upped a notch. The most notable ones being some character from Dot Hack, Clark Still, Cloud (I had enough of Cloud cosplayers) and Suzumiya Haruhi (this too).

Clark Still won the Best Cosplayer category by staying in-character throughout his presence on stage and he performed some moves as well. Suzumiya was very hyperactive although she fails by not portraying the character completely. Suzumiya Haruhi is a tsundere archetype yet her portrayal focused purely on the tsuntsun side and totally absent of the deredere side. Her incomplete cosplaying eventually led to her downfall, which otherwise would be an impressive one.

As some of you may have heard, my precious samsung u900 literally drop dead; from a table top all the way to the floor. I’ve sent it to a service centre in KL for checkup and they said it’s the screen which needs to be replaced, resulting in a hefty price tag of RM200, enough to make not only me but my ancestors weep in utter despair.

Worry not for I’ve decided to claim back my phone and send it to another trusted repairman for checkup back in Penang. Hopefully the screen won’t need repairing.

Anyways wish my phone a swift recovery k? I’ll give you lots of cookies :3

So FINALLY GONZO did learned something from their recent crisis eh? At first glance, this new production of theirs looks a lot more Japanese market oriented, with several promising characters abound to bring the burning fire of moeru out of anime otakus, will they recover this time!?

Image taken from anidb.net

The promotional poster depicts crisp lines, brilliantly outlined cel-shading and such, obviously a mark of GONZO’s forte but hold on, what really caught my attention to this would be the voice actors.

Fukuyu Jun (Lelouch), Koshimizu Ami (Horo from Wolf & Spice), Ueda Kana (Tohsaka Rin in F/SN, Yumi in Marimite), Rie Kugimiya (Taiga in Toradora and all other tsunderes ever) and Itou Shizuka (Rei in Marimite). qwewqrqgomfg so many tsundere chara voice actors! I’m getting moeru spasms just by reading their names alone!!

Though I don’t really know much on it’s storyline, aside from the obvious mahjong influence; with such brilliant cast in hand (Rie Kugimiya alone would also be more than enough of a factor for me to watch lol), coupled by the fact that it’s being handled by GONZO, this would be one of my personal pick for the first half of the year. Definitely an interesting  title to look forward to.

Looks like Gonzo is in the red already, with numerous back-to-back titles failing make a breakthrough sales in their local market, it is really a no-wonder. All of their animes since Vandread have been very geared towards the western market. Gonzo, of course being their stupid self never paid much attention to the demands of their home ground. They went on doing what they do best; anime for western market.

Of course, after all the poor sales it’s a wonder to how did Gonzo actually survived all these years? One can only assume GDH injecting funds from sister companies like Rosso to keep Gonzo staying afloat. Perhaps overall sales and licensing profits managed to keep them just enough to break even? One way or another, GDH couldn’t stand the loss anymore and have decided to retrench Gonzo’s original manpower of 130 to just 30 in the course of next 5 years. This, of course coupled by their previous claims of reducing anime production annually from 8 to 4 means they are really in a deep shit. Not to mention them making deals with Youtube and Crunchyroll to broadcast new productions with ready subtitles. Probably a way to hamper fansubs and increase overseas sales.

Perhaps Strike Witches is Gonzo’s last saving grace, and they know that very well. The TV version alone are blatantly littered with every possible fetish for the local masses to feed upon. Stuffs like pantyshots to striped panties and school swimsuits are a common sight throughout the anime. Of course who wouldn’t like an anime where innocent girls shamelessly display their glorious bottoms in the open? Not me lol, I totally and wholly approve of this production.

It seems that the second season of Strike Witches have been announced. This means that the first was a pretty decent success; enough to warrant itself a continuation. Of course Gonzo is putting everything on the line for the success of this anime. I hope so too, it’s a shame to see a great studio falling flat on it’s face.

It seems that gg has dropped subbing Maria Holic. Whether it’s their usual prank or not, their sudden ‘hiatus’ is obviously questionable.

There is, however another person who continues subbing Maria Holic. Please google up Finella and you’ll find the subber’s blog with its valid torrent link. Please do not get your torrent file from isohunt, irc or any search sites as you’ll end up getting a japanese dubbed version of House, just as I did.

Please be aware that the fake torrent has the same name as the original. It may be a troll again causing such uproar.