ARIA The Natural Drama CD II

Aria The Natural Drama CD has been released yesterday, 21st June 2006. I've pre-ordered Aria Piano Collection track list. Should receive it in August.

These are available at Yesasia.

Aria The Natural OST [Released]
Aria The Natural ED~Natsumachi [Released]
Aria The Natural OP~Euforia [Released]
Aria The Natural Drama I [Released]
Aria The Natural Drama II [Released]
Aria Piano Collection [2nd August]

Anime & Manga Updates

It's been a while since I have posts like this.

Anime [Now watching]:
Ah My Goddess Sorezore no Tsubasa
Aria The Natural
Air Gear
Binboushimai
Muteki Kanban Musume
Tsubasa Chronicle
Zegapain
Zero no Tsukaima

My favourites now are AMG sorezore no Tsubasa, Aria The Natural and Tsubasa Chronicle. AMG showed slight degradation in quality in episode 15, I just hope that the Hild arc and Keiichi parents arc would be done accordingly. Aria The Natural has the most consistent quality in backgrounds and settings since the first season. I enjoyed every bit of Aria as there many asides that's no in the manga. Tsubasa Chronicle, I hope they'll get to the release of true Syaron soon. The filler episodes are entertaining to watch, disregard lots people arguing they're waste of time. People need to learn to appreciate the animation rather than wishing the animation going the direction they want.

Zegapain is getting better and better, Ryoko and Kyo are together again but it's conditional. Zero Tsukaima and Muteki Kanban Musume are funny and entertaining, but Zero's better than Muteki. I wish Muteki has more food-related episodes but the manga wasnt really about food. Binboushimai... watch it just for fun. Air Gear...disappointment starts... watch it just for fan-service, quality's up and down.


Manga [Now reading]
Suzuka
Cross Game
Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicle
Air Gear
Aria Navigation
Prince of Tennis

Suzuka left and now what would Yamato do? So who'll be the focus now? Miki, Yui or Honoka? Cross Game should be interesting for now, with Aoba started to have different impression on Koh. She went to see Koh but arrived at the wrong destination and Koh went to find her. Tsubasa, things get heated! The true Syaoran appeared and confronted the Syaoran we knew. Kurogane noticed the emblem on true Syaoran, Fay in coma, Sakura trapped, the evil Syaoran has Fay's magic and both Syaoron battled. Air Gear has been a crap with the Genesis arc until the challenge of Sleeping Forest Ringo. Prince of Tennis... start to lose interest with the occurrence of techniques but enhanced.

AMG Tsubasa and Aria Natural Episode 15

AMG Sorezore no Tsubasa それぞれの翼
Episode 15: 「ああっ女神と悪魔の私っ？」

The three sister went had bath in a hot-spring (onsen). Keiichi was on the male side and encountered Mara. Keiichi was given a slap. Back in their room, Urd offered Mara wine and said that they used to drink together. Belldandy suggested that they forget their differences and enjoyed themselves without any fighting. Urd and Mara spent the night playing and competing each other. The next day, Keiichi and gang departed but Mara was still at the resort. Mara was secretly gathering Urd's hairs with Senbei help.

Urd accidentally agitated Skuld and she went out. She bought ice-creams but was confronted by Mara. She put a classical music playing headset on Urd and Urd fainted. At night, Belldandy found Urd's ice-cream and came to know Urd was caught by Mara. Skuld rushed out to find Urd with Banpei. Meanwhile, Urd was tied up and saw a clone of her. Mara wanted to extract the evil side of Urd and place it in the clone. Urd told her that even god couldnt seperate them. But,Mara said she had a demonic urn that could separate her characters. Urd's evil side was then transferred to the clone. Skuld met the evil Urd and was sealed in a mirror. She placed the mirror at Mara's hideout. Later the evil Urd went home and approached Belldandy and Keiichi. She lied to them and Keiichi went to find Skuld. Urd managed to free herself, heard Skuld cry and released Skuld from the mirror. Skuld was shocked to know what going on and bit disgusted at Urd extreme gentleness too. Back home, the evil Urd tried to implant an orb into Belldandy but missed many chances. She then kissed Keiichi to shatter Belldandy's heart. Episode ended with Belldandy running away in tears.

P/S: Episode 15 starts the arc from manga chapter 61-64, volume 11. The arc should finish next episode.

ARIA The Natural
Episode 15: 「その 広い輪っかの中で…」

Alicia and Aria sachou were out on a tourist request. Akari spent her afternoon having lunch under a tree nearby the water. Akira met her and joined her. Later Akitsuki appeared. He was running an errand for his brother nearby. Akatsuki saw the delicious food and Akari try to feed him with a prawn. He was embarassed and the
prawn was snatched by Akira. Akira and Akitsuki argued with each other. Al finished his purchases and sat down with them. He told Akari that they were like that since they were young. The scene switched to their childhood time. Al was having tea on the bench. Akitsuki and Woody was on a high slide trying stunts. He felt proud with his achievements. Akira and Alicia appeared and Akira wanted to try. She beat Akitsuki in all events.

Back to present, Akitsuki said that he admired the guy who beat him. But he had just realized that the guy was actually Akira. Alicia also joined them later. Akari saw them chatting happily and decided to distant herself. They noticed and asked her why. She replied that she was born on Earth and didnt belong to the circle. Akira later told her that she was now part of the circle and everyone had gathered around her. She then felt happy.



P/S: Pre-ordered Aria Piano Collection from Yesasia, scheduled release 2nd August. The collection features 12 songs from Aria The Animation and Aria The Natural. There are 2 monologues, 4 introduction to Neo Venezia seasons, theme songs and background musics in piano version.

Aria The Natural SD Figures

These SD figures are only available as special gift for the purchasing Aria The Natural Limited Edition PS2 game. More information on Alchemist website. In addition of the complimentary Aria sachou pin, you'll also receive one additional character pin of the six undines. You'll also have PS2 Aria OST in the L.E.

I wish the figures were part of a trading collection... =(

It's available for pre-order at Playasia, Normal and Limited Edition.

Suzuka 114 Airport

凉风 #114 空港 くうこう

In his dark room, lying on the bed, Yamato looked at Miki's message on his phone. She wrote that Suzuka's leaving in an hour and asked him to see her off. It was 9.37am. Yamato looks at the photo and said that Suzuka has managed to remember his birthday (30th July) before she left for America. Then, it reminded Yamato of Suzuka's birthday. He realized that he had forgotten Suzuka's birthday (1st June). Yamato remembered that it was also the day Yui was hospitalized [Refer to chapter 107]. He also realized that Suzuka was anticipating his remembrance the night before she moved out [Reference chapter 110]. Yamato then thought of the time he spent with Suzuka, that Suzuka had to endure her disappointment, while he was trying to supress his feeling to prevent confrontation with her. Yamato then decided to rush to the airport. It's 10am.

At the airport, the track team bid farewell to Suzuka. Miyamoto and Kinugasa sempai were asking about Yamato's whereabout. Miki asked Suzuka to wait and she would call Yamato again. Suzuka asked her not to and said she had bid farewell to him. Miki asked her if it was ok to break up like that. She answered she has decided. The boarding call for Suzuka's flight was announced. Everyone bid her farewell and Suzuka left.

Yamato rushed in from the other side and called Suzuka. Yamato apologized for forgetting her birthday. Suzuka asked if he rushed there just to tell her that. Yamato replied "that.. but also..." Suzuka asked "but .. what..?" Yamato looked at her, proclaimed that he loved her and he didnt want to break up with her. Suzuka was embarassed. He added, "Dont go to America". Suzuka was silent, turned around and then said "Stupid". She left and the exhausted Yamato sat down crying. Meanwhile Suzuka also wept. The chapter ended with the plane departed.

P/S: One thing that everyone in animesuki forum forgot is Suzuka's birthday, even me. I have the Suzuka official guide, a look would immediately help me to realize that Yamato forgot Suzuka's birthday. But the drama since chapter 110 had shocked us and kept us making all sort of guess. Looks like Kouji really knows what he's doing. I'm guessing the next chapter should be on IH competition. Suzuka should be out of the picture for a few chapters.

DB GT Boxset order

Last time, my gf played a "person guessing game" in our fellowship group. My sister did the description and my gf was asked to guess. The moment my sis saw the question, she hinted "Dragon Ball" and my gf guess it was me immediately. :P

My favourite is the DBZ manga and the 13 movies. The DBZ animation wasnt really for me when compared to the manga. Dragon Ball GT quality wasnt that great but considering there's no manga, I would have to settle for the animation. A nice collection to finish my Dragon Ball collection.

I have been longing for Dragon Ball GT DVD collection for years but it was painful to collect them DVD by DVD. Each cost around AUD$24 here in Australia. There's 15 DVDs excluding the lost episodes, so totaling about AUD$360.

Recently, I saw some irresistable offers from local Australia distributor JB Hi Fi. The boxset of 5 DVD usually cost around AUD$65-$70 now offered at AUD$40. I have ordered the whole collection of 3 boxsets, DVD 1-15 for a total of AUD$127.44 including freight of $7.50. There's no special offer for the lost episode boxset so I'll settle for it next time. There's also the movie boxset but I'm more interested in movie 12 and 13. Hope they will arrive next week.

Link: Boxset 1, Boxset 2 and Boxset 3

P/S: Offers end 14th August 2006.

Suzuka 113 Park

凉风 #113 公園 こうえん

First page shows the depressed Yamato reminiscing Suzuka's farewell in his room. The next day, Yamato put in all his effort in running. Kinugasa sempai was impressed with his effort and had high expectation in him for the coming IH. During the 2 minutes break, Miki approached Yamato. She complimented his spirit and added he shouldnt embarassed himself in the IH as Suzuka's boyfriend. Yamato didnt show much expression, Miki felt strange and asked if Yamato and Suzuka havent patch up. She added that there must be something wrong happening from his attitude and expresison. Yamato denied and walked away.

After the practice, Miki walked home with Yamato. She was puzzled since it wasn't Yamato's route back home. Yamato replied that he didnt feel like going home. Miki asked if he's still arguing with Suzuka. Yamato felt annoyed. Miki added that Suzuka would leave for America next week and asked if he would send her off. Yamato replied maybe not. Miki was shocked and told him to patch up with Suzuka since she's leaving soon. Yamato told her that they have broken up the night before. Miki asked him about the reason but Yamato replied that he didnt hear any. Miki was shocked to know that Yamato didnt ask for the reason from Suzuka. Yamato replied that she had expressed her feeling and he felt discouraged looking at her expression.

Crossing the road, Miki noticed that Yamato seem relieved. She felt incomprehensible since she knew Yamato liked Suzuka. She wondered why Suzuka would do that out of sudden. Yamato told her that maybe Suzuka felt that they were not comparable and he was not only clumsy but irresponsible as well. Miki denied and said that he's not irresponsible and he has shown that in his track practice. Yamato added that there has been many arguments between them and Suzuka might have grown tired of it. Miki asked Yamato to visit Suzuka tomorrow and she would accompany him. Yamato refused and said it could bother her. Yamato tripped and fell down. Miki remarked that he was indeed clumsy and asked if he's hurt. She then noticed Yamato crying. She understood Yamato's pain. Miki again suggested sending Suzuka off. Yamato refused.

My heart ache to see Yamato crying............

P/S: There's 50-50 chance of Yamato going to send Suzuka off or not. The last line from Yamato is rather hard to translate since it a casual speech, "ikane-yo". "Iku" means "go" and "ikanai" is the complement, "yo" is an emphasis. I think it should be "How could I" or "dont want". Kouji Seo has done a good job in capturing our interest in Suzuka, though it's sad to read.