As you can tell...

I haven't been blogging as much. In fact, I haven't posted since the summer. However, a very sweet follower is prompting me to want to blog again. The fact that I even have followers is shocking still. :D

Anyway, I feel like before I start delving into my manga and anime frenzy again, I should update everyone with what's been going on in my life! I'm officially in college! I despise it worse than high school, but I guess that's what I get... I'm only halfway into my first semester, so I really can't complain too much - yet. Also, I kind of have a LIFE. When did this happen? I stopped reading as much shoujo manga and figured out I should probably stop reading about relationships and get one. ^_^ And... so far so good. I've been very happy, not to say I wasn't happy before, but now I feel like I've entered a different void. The last 3 or 4 months I haven't been on here, I've been out in the real world! Part of me thinks I deserve a pat on the back and then part of me feels like I've betrayed my anime/manga lover. However, I'm ready to use manga as coping mechanism for school, just as I did not so long ago. Hard to believe it's almost been a year since I started this blog. Time is flying.

I missed being here!!! Hope to post soon,
<3 Jayne

Pet Shop of Horrors by Matsuri Akino

Ahoy,

So, I'm back in action again on the manga front! Now, if I could only find some new anime series to watch and review... Anyway, I'm happy to start reviewing a series that is new to me, though in reality it's actually a pretty old series - I just completely bypassed it because it's a "horror" manga. Anyway, I'll begin. 

'Pet Shop of Horrors' is a horror manga series by Matsuri Akino, consisting of 41 chapters and an additional follow-up story that was released in 2008. The series first appeared in 1995 and ran through 1998. (Yes, I know I read a lot of 90's manga, usually considered the worst, but I think it's my true age showing through that I read so much of it!) 'Pet Shop of Horrors' follows the whereabouts and happenings at the eccentric pet store ran by the even more eccentric Count D. Count D's pet shop appears to be an average pet store with dogs, cats, and other typical animals, but when strange disappearances are linked to purchases at his store, the police becomes involved. The chapters show different encounters with Count D's customers and the unusual and rare pets he sells, as well as the unlikely friendship between Count D and the officer recruited for his case. As his officer attempts to catch Count D red handed knowingly selling dangerous pets, he begins to see that Count D is one of the most enigmatic people he will ever meet. 

I'm only about halfway through the series, but I was very impressed with it's unique story line. However, I'm not impressed with the artwork, which looks like the general 90's style of manga character sketches. I don't like to judge a manga series entirely on its artwork, so I'll say that the storyline is definitely strong enough to ignore the artwork. One of my favorite aspects of the manga is that most of the animals in Count D's shop appear to be human, which plays around with the question of what distinguishes animals from us at all. It's really a very intriguing series and I highly recommend it!

Read it here: http://manga.animea.net/pet-shop-of-horrors.html

And, now I'm off to enjoy summer away from the computer screen! ;)

Best, 

Pseudonymous Jayne 

Gravitation by Maki Murakami

Hello again,

So, look who's getting back on schedule here? I have been having such a good week, though to be honest I  still haven't been reading very much manga, and especially not watching any anime. I did catch up on some of the series I've reviewed though, since quite a few of them had new chapters released last month. This week I'm diving into the past for my manga review and picking one of the first manga series I ever read. In my opinion it's one of the best manga series made because it includes music, drama, romance, and it's hilarious. So, without further ado I'll introduce 'Gravitation' by Maki Murakami.

'Gravitation' is the story of Shuichi Shindou and his band who are on their way to becoming music icons, while also following the exploits of Shuichi in his attempts to make famous romance novelist, Eiri Yuki, fall in love with him. Shuichi and Yuki could not be more opposite, as Shuichi is a charismatic jokester and Yuki is harsh and cruel. The manga is both serious and comically ridiculous as it includes a lot of typical shonen-ai qualities, but also quirky additions like panda robots, machine gun femme fatales, and spontaneous nose bleeds. The story is also heavily rooted in the romance between Shuichi and Yuki, who are known for their majestic and sometimes painfully one sided gay romance, as Yuki cruelly plays with Shuichi's infatuation.

When I first read this manga, I was not impressed with the art. It looked rushed and in the old style of manga from the 90's. However, as I read more volumes, he art improved as did the unusually compelling storyline. I was definitely more interested in the romance between Shuichi and Yuki, because at that time I didn't realize my favorite genre was shoujo... but, the rest of the plot still kept me interested to keep reading. I don't think this manga is for everyone, as it takes itself a little too seriously or just not at all. The series ended in 2002, but new chapters are released for a sequel series called 'Gravitation Zero' or 'Gravitation EX'. The original series even has an OVA anime, which is supposed to be pretty good, though I didn't enjoy it as much as the manga.

Read 'Gravitation' here: http://manga.animea.net/gravitation.html

Best wishes,
Pseudonymous Jayne :)

Ren-ai Shijo Shugi by Minami Kanan

Hi all,

Again, I am failing at keeping up with this blog. I love reading and reviewing manga, but lately I just haven't had time to keep up with my series, nonetheless start new ones to tell everyone about. I've been living my own shoujo drama lately, so I just wasn't too keen on reading about one! :) Not sure how I feel about everything, however, I'm here this week to review one of my guilty pleasures: Minami Kanan. At first I thought about reviewing Minami Kanan's 'Honey X Honey Drops', but I felt it was too popular, considering all of Kanan's work is basically the same story plot... You read one, you've read them all - but, it never stops you from reading them anyway. ;) So, I decided to go with her second most popular series, which I adore almost more than her other series because it at least tries to have a strong female lead. 

'Ren-ai Shijo Shugi' is a series by the much loved Minami Kanan. Her work is best known for being some of the best smut manga. Now, usually I'm not proud of the fact that I read a lot of smut manga, but I feel that even the best manga readers have set their eyes on Kanan and loved her. :) Anyway, this story is slightly unique because of the female lead, Seri, and her desire to be strong and independent, though this ultimately fails once she meets Tamaki. Both Tamaki and Seri are skilled in karate, which is a running theme for the series since the two were childhood friends, turned lovers. However, the conflict in this story begins with Sari and Tamaki's relationship, which seems to bring about the most unappealing and forceful rivals that continually try to break apart Sari and Tamaki. Sari often finds herself stuck in a lot of very edgy sexual situations, disregarding her karate training completely...

This series is definitely not what I consider classy or top notch manga. In fact when people who haven't read any manga thing of manga, this is the sort of smutty and weak-plotted type they think of. However, Minami Kanan remains one of my favorite mangakas, simply for her bold style and intense artwork. The lack of character building is pretty relevant, but the fact that the series is able to capture the reader in spite of this is really quite amazing. If you're interested in a gripping and smut filled manga series, I highly recommend this series. 

Check it out here: http://manga.animea.net/ren-ai-shijo-shugi.html

Best,

Pseudonymous Jayne :3

'The Girl Who Leapt Through Time' by Madhouse Studios

Hi all,

So much for me keeping up with this blog. Well, I can officially say that all my prior engagements which took up all my time, are over. Hopefully I will have time to start blogging here again. I honestly haven't been reading very much manga or watching very much anime lately. It's been hard to keep up with my series and most of them are still awaiting chapters, so I haven't started anything new. Thus, I'm just going to blog about an anime movie I watched a little while ago and loved. Next week I'll have some new series to tell everyone about, for sure! :3

'The Girl who Leapt Through Time' was produced by Madhouse Studios and is a full length animated movie, made in 2006. It's been praised for it's graphics and beautiful illustration, which is all for good reason. The story line and art are absolutely stunning! Probably one of the best anime movies since 'Spirited Away' by Miyazaki. The story is about an average school girl, Konno Makoto, who mysteriously finds the power to leap through time. Initially he uses the power to gain selfish and silly things like the pudding her sister ate an hour before, but eventually she realizes her power beginning to fade. She also learns that her best friend is in love with her, which she at first dismisses his advances by using her power, going back and forward in time with ease. However, at the last minute she learns he is from a different world and that it wasn't by accident that she found the power to leap through time, while also seeing how her power doesn't just make life easier without a cost. She soon learns that changing fate can have huge consequences.

I really enjoyed this movie and was so pleased to have found it. I definitely recommend it! I was actually surprised it took me so long to find it when it's been such a noteworthy movie in the anime world.

Anyway, I've gotta run. Next week I'll something new to blog about! Sorry for the quick review.

Best,
Jayne :3

D.Gray-Man by Katsura Hoshino

Hi all,
Well, this week has probably been the hardest one for me in a while. My relationship just ended and it's really hard for me to get into the daily routine for things. Right now reading shoujo manga is really difficult because of the sheer unrealistic perfection of some of the relationships in manga, which make me want to gag. So, I'm detouring away from my usual favorite genre (at least while I get over this break-up) and I'm reviewing a shonen series. Hope you like it, though it's going to be brief  because it's just way too long of a series to get into too much detail.

'D.Gray-Man' is one my favorite series, and a good portion of the manga world's too. It's very popular and has over 200 chapters, so it keeps most of it's readers fairly occupied. I've been reading for a few months and I'm still not finished. The story is about a strange boy named Allen, who becomes a member of a group of exorcists. All exorcists have an ancient power called 'Innocence', which they use to combat akuma (or demons) and the ultimate villain, the Millennium Earl. Akuma are weapons made by the Millennium Earl to destroy humanity, preying on the pain and suffering of human beings. Allen is the protagonist of the story and he possesses a unique Innocence and power to see Akuma through his deformed eye. The story continues with Allen and his team of fellow exorcists as they destroy Akuma and the Millennium Earl, while both sides search for the greatest piece of Innocence called the 'Great Heart'. The story is fairly biblical, and it brings up some creative elements about good and evil.

'D.Gray-Man' is one of the most creative series I've read and I find the character sketches to be quite lovely. My favorite character Lenalee Lee was going to be my cosplay costume if I had went to the anime convention in my region. :) Anyway, I highly recommend the series. It's very action packed, as most of it involves fighting scenes between Akuma and the exorcists. This may sound boring, but it's very exciting and the art is fantastic.
Read it here: http://www.mangareader.net/210/dgray-man.html

Love,
Pseudonymous Jayne :3

Say I Love You by Kanae Hazuki

Hi guys,

I feel like a total slacker. I haven't kept up with blogging on either of my blogs! XP I love blogging so much, but life has been beyond hectic. I'm officially out of high school though, so at least that stress if over. It's a surreal feeling to be gone from that dreadful place. Though, when I'm bored I find myself missing it... I'm so confused. Oh well, I'm going to move onwards with the review now.

'Say I Love You' is a manga series by Kanae Hazuki and I absolutely adore it. My only problem with this manga is that the chapters don't come out fast enough! I've been waiting for the latest chapter for about a month and am hating every moment I have to wait for its release. The series follows the story of Mei and her unexpected relationship with the most popular boy at school, Yamato. Mei isn't the typical submissive and silly girl usually portrayed in shoujo manga. In fact, she runs from her feelings and Yamato ends up falling for her because of her dislike for him at first. The two become good friends and make for an exceptional pair of awkward lovers. Mei is insecure about her looks and her quite demeanor, which she thinks will make Yamato leave her, but in reality Mei grows into a beautiful and mysterious girl that makes her readers and Yamato fall for her.

I'm such a fan of the art of this manga - it is beautiful! Yamato's hair and character drawing is so great. Probably the best hair I've seen out of all my favorite series. I can't write too much today, but I definitely want to recommend 'Say I Love You'. I've been wanting to review it for a while, but there were never enough chapters out! There are currently 14 or 15 chapters out now, depending on the manga reader you choose to use. 

Read it here: http://www.mangareader.net/1145/say-i-love-you.html

Well, I've got places to name and things to do. I'll try to blog on time from now on! ;)

Best,

Pseudonymous Jayne