I haven't wrote one of these in ages.

I'm not as active here as I used to be. I joined GHlegend77's forum The Daily Happening, where I am spending much more time.

As for real life, it's a mixed bag. At times, I feel depressed and reticent. At other times, I feel complacent and nostalgic. I wish I could break out of this state, but at the same time, it makes life almost more interesting.I would say more, but doing so would turn this blog into an essay about how strange I think my life is. And even if I did write about that, I wouldn't be able explain everything properly. All I can say is that I certainly don't feel nostalgic or complacent these days; I'm in a somber mood at this time.

Happy New Year, guys.

-ghokle

I don't celebrate it, but nevertheless, I will enjoy the pretty lights and peppermint bark

Merry Christmas to you all :>

My mind is blank from analyzing myself. lol idiosyncratic views on nostalgia

omg wow

HAHHAHAHAHHAHA

(caps)

http://www.gamespot.com/pages/forums/show_msgs.php?topic_id=27511313&tag=topics%3Btitle

:|

Listen to it. :|

This anime is worthy of all the praise it recieves. Set in a surprsingly "realistic" futuristic setting, Cowboy Bebop intertwines musical elements - namely blues and hard rock - with a mellow atmosphere in such a way that whole series feels dynamic despite its episodic 5tyle.Indeed, the majority of the episodes are seperate stories by themselves, with character backgrounds and plot devices seldom thrown in. However, in each episode, some room is left for character developement, in which Cowboy Bebop truly shines.

The characters are three demensional and lively; they (with the obvious exception of Ed, though her character is fine) are realistic and natural for the most part, despite the series' occasional comedy relief moments. Moreover, they have interesting pasts, keeping viewers entertained throughout the series especially when the characters show their idiosyncracies.

Another great thing about this anime is the animation. For an anime made in 1998, the ant 5tyle is consistent and edgy, always pleasing to the eye. And unlike many anime in which the characters' eys are as large as golf balls, the characters' eyes in this anime still look anime-esque yet realistic. Of course, eyes aren't the only important thing, since the fluidity of the animation is what really contributes to the visuals. Spike's movements in battle are swift and energetic, easily trumping any cheesy fight moves performed in most shounen anime. And Ed's whimsical jerks and swings while walking accentuate her character's eccentricity. Essentially, there is no room for complaints here.

Finally, the soundtrack is sublime. In fact, it arguably makes the story roll foward. However, that is only realized while watching Cowboy Bebop. So unfortunately, not much can be said about the soundtrack in words. The only problem with this series is that it's too short. It could have been a season longer, with more episodes further deepening the story. Alas, there is no sign of a continuation in the future, though perhaps adding to the story would ruin it.*

Overall, Cowboy Bebop is a fantastic anime that everyone should watch, even people who despise anime. Indeed, this show alone can get anyone interested in anime.

Rating: 9.5/10

*What I said about the music does not constitute as a flaw in this series.

I'm not tagging anyone else. >_>

1. I like the 80s just because my synesthesiac mind associates it with silver and black; that means it signifies peace and understanding.

2. Any font like that of SEGA's logo makes me happy for some strange reason.

3. I'm self-analytical.

4. I don't like fish and I never will; I just can't stand the unique taste fish has.

5. Whenever I want to give money to someone, I usually don't have my wallet with me. (coincidentally) =P

6. I'm going to a college.

7. Winter is my favorite season.

8. I have social anxiety.

9. I'm serious about my educational pursuits, even if I don't do well in school.

10. My favorite mood is contentment.

That's all. >_>

Excuse me for my whining in the last blog. Lately, I've had the tendency to needlessly complain about and lament my life's endeavors. >_>

---

Having watched it only once at the time, I used to think Neon Genesis Evangelion was an overrated series that had a messy structure and an incredibly confusing story. However, this was when I had only watched the mediocre series ending; while it was a genuine conclusion, it was certainly flawed, due to the lazy animation, terrible repetitious special effects and strangedialogue. In short, I had an overall bad impression of NGE, and I consequently forgot about it, joining the NGE hate bandwagon later on. One notable reason that I disliked NGE at the time was that I thought Shinji was annoying (which he is, but understandably so). I also didn't like how the series watered down the mecha elements halfway through.

However, after watching the series again, along with End of Evangelion, my opinion has since changed. NGE is truly a fantastic series if you understand the characters well. Equally important is watching the real ending, EoE.

Many people who dislike this series tend to forget that main NGE's focus - besides the story - is character development, especially that of Shinji. A lot of people hate Shinji because he's weak, stubborn, self-depreciating, and immature. While I understand those criticisms, I still sympathize with Shinji. Being forced to pilot the Evangelion 01 by his cold, ruthless father Gendo is a quite a burden on him. Most of all, his psychological issues give insight as to how he really is, such as his yearning for acceptance and fear of rejection and betrayal. In light of that, I don't see how anyone could hate him. Generally, all of the characters have interesting personalities. The only character I've found dull is Kaji; he seems vacant most of the time.

[spoiler] Another reason people hate Shinji is that he tried to choke Asuka in EoE. While that was a terrible scene, I can't really say that's surprising after all he's been through. You could tell he was on the brink of going insane when he stopped choking Asuka so as to cry. And even if that isn't a good reason, I still think people should remember that Shinji is, by default, an immature 14-year-old kid. Of course, most normal kids do not choke people, but then again neither are many horrified by doing terrible things like being forced to kill a fellow classmate (Toji) [/spoiler]

Overall, NGE is an excellent anime that deserves all the praise it gets. If you understand the characters and watch the anime a few times, I'm sure you'll enjoy this series as well.