haro-hawayu

[haro-hawayu]

Takanori Nishikawa – FREEDOM / THE FIRST TAKE

Man does not look like he's in his 50s... he doesn't look like he aged at!!

The Gundam SEED fangirl in me was hoping for INVOKE or Meteor, but this track has been growing on me as of late, esp the chorus.

Delulu talk here, but after seeing both Tamaki Nami and T.M. Revolution promoting their Gundam SEED franchise songs on First Take, I will absolutely lose my mind if SEE-SAW goes on First Take as well.

I'm seeing news that the movie is doing really well in Japan--my friend who's there said pamphlets were sold out after checking at multiple theaters too. I'm actually looking forward to seeing the movie if it has US release. I had somewhat bittersweet feelings about SEED/SEED Destiny, but being my first Gundam series it has a very special place in my heart.

#gundam seed destiny #gundam seed #music

[haro-hawayu]

Yuta has finally arrived~ I was thinking about Yuta the other week and decided to rewatch JJK0 and then wondering when he was gonna show up in S2 ahahaha~

Random, but I watched the opening animation with SPECIALZ for almost every single episode it played. I don't remember the last time I did that for a series where I didn't skip the theme song (maybe Gintama). The only exception was that 1 time because I had to be somewhere and wasn't sure if I'd even have time to finish the episode.

I heard there were mixed opinions, but that episode where they played the OP theme at the end during THAT Yuji scene? I thought it was great.

#jjk #jujutsu kaisen #anime

[haro-hawayu]

Year in Anime: 2023

I haven't done any anime-centric, "year-in" or "wrapped" type posts in forevahhh, I think it's also mainly bc I've been watching/reading other stuff in recent years that I don't talk about, so activity here has decreased... anyways, here is my attempt... LOL

Anime Watched in 2023:

Trigun Stampede

Demon Slayer: Swordsmith Village Arc

Ranking of Kings: The Treasure Chest of Courage

Horimiya: The Missing Pieces

Spy x Family S2

Jujutsu Kaisen S2

Ya Boy Kongming

To Your Eternity S2

Unlike past years where I try to bold/italicize my top faves and honorable mentions... it's kinda harder this time because the limited time I had for anime means I'll prioritize things I really want to watch LOL. As such, I pretty much liked everything I watched this year?? If it's not listed then it's probably bad enough for me to forget it happened.

Anime Films Watched in 2023:

One Piece Film: Red

Suzume no Tojimari

Yuru Camp Movie

Digimon Adventure 02: The Beginning

Fafner in the Azure: Behind the Line

I actually don't remember if I watched Yuru Camp this year or end of last year... but put it this year lol. One Piece was epic, and I think this year was an epic One Piece year in general. I finally picked up the manga again since Whole Cake Island arc, watched & loved the live action series. I just haven't picked up Wano Arc for anime, which is something I do want to do soonish tho.

Anime Song of 2023:

New Genesis - Ado

Watashi wa Saikyou - MRS. GREEN APPLE

Spinning Globe - Yonezu Kenshi

SPECIALZ - King Gnu

Kizuna no Kiseki - milet x MAN WITH A MISSION

My actual top song for Spotify Wrapped 2023 is Moongazing/Tsuki wo miteita by Yonezu Kenshi, and the rest of my top songs were anisong that I've listened to in the past.

And that's it~ maybe I'll finally get around to watching Gintama The FINAL movie. I think I've been putting it off just so it feels like... it hasn't ended yet *cries* ~

#anime #haro anime

[haro-hawayu]

CCS: Clear Card Ch. 80

FINAL CHAPTER! I actually read this the day it came out, but didn't get to finish this post and it was sitting in my drafts for a few days TuT. This chapter can be found on CLAMP-net’s YouTube Channel. As always, please check out @meimi-haneoka's post on the latest chapter for EN-JPN translation differences!!

Links for previous chapter reactions can be found here.

Reading Reactions:

And for our final chapter, our wonderful protagonist/heroine, Sakura

Whoaaa, so did Sakura split the books in order to better hide them?

Fujitaka-papa so kind.

I also can't help but made me think of Yuuko's shop...

Eriol and Sakura keeping us readers up to speed on what's happened XD

WHERE IS MOMO???

Awww Flight is still there!!

UM, THE KEYS?? MORE TRC REFERENCES???

Touya is the same as ever haha~always teasing, but always so kind

Lol, love that we can see Kero-chan and Touya being in the same scene even when things are back to "daily life" things

SYAORAN

SYAOSAKU ARE SO CUTE GAHHH

I really love how Yukito's bonding with Nakuru and Spinel~

AKIHO TuT

I'm sad that she's transferring, but at the same time, am happy that she's happy.

WHAAA STOPPED TIME!! STOPPED TIME?!!

I wonder if one of the major factors of Eriol deciding to help them stemmed from Clow & Yuuko stuff... oof, not the TRC/Holic feels again

Yes, KEEP TALKING KAITO! So many overdued words!!

asdfjsldjfj REAL NAME REVELATION!

I'm SO HAPPY THAT THEY'RE TALKING!!! TUT

Annnnd they're still keeping a space for her (i.e. Eriol buying the house so Akiho's stuff remains, Akiho's room remaining as is in the Kinomoto home), even tho she's leaving, she has a place with the people she's leaving behind, a place to return to

Awww it's cute that the boys are talking ahahah--they can actually be friends!! They even exchanged numbers!!

asdfjslajlk AKIHO HAS A REAL NAME TOO

It makes so much sense too!! TuT

THE END (????)

~~

Wow, just wow.

I'm sad that we didn't get to see Momo returning... I'm hoping that the special chapter that's coming out next year will address this... is it too much to ask???

For the most part, I am satisfied with this ending. There are some hinted tie-ins with TRC (the tattoo, the wand), prob a bit more than I expected, so I wonder if TRC will uhhh get a little jumpstart, or if we can see what's been going on over at the other side of things... Clear Card arc's end leaves things very hopeful. Even though the way they talked about how Kaito's time being "stopped" makes me think about Yuuko, there seems to be so much more hope that Akiho & Kaito will be able to find a solution to this, whereas with Yuuko, there seemed to be so much regret and problems as a result.

Speaking of Akiho & Kaito (I'll still call them as such LOL, their true names can be just for the ones they shared with... like how TRC SyaoSaku will always be SyaoSaku to me even after their name revelation), I'm glad they were able to have that talk in the end. With Kaito apologizing for his actions, and knowing WHAT he did wrong. As sad as I feel about the two of them leaving their friends, the fact that they will be together makes me feel very happy. I found it so cute at the end where Akiho shares her true name with Sakura and not Kaito yet bc she's still a bit upset with him XD oh Akiho~

This is so surreal because back then, it felt like such a far-fetched dream for there to be a CCS sequel. I still remember when TRC was FIRST announced ~2003 (wow 20 yrs ago), I thought it was a sequel since it's featuring Syaoran and Sakura. And when it was addressed that it's not the SAME two, I was hoping we will at least find out what happens after end of CCS bc of CLAMPverse (what I called CLAMP's version of multiverse). Seeing an ACTUAL CCS sequel just made me so so happy (although a part of me feared: but at what cost??!!--I think this was slight TRC/Holic trauma speaking). There definitely were some dark moments, especially involving Akiho, but I'm glad it had a good end. The anime adaptation was great as well, so I really look forward to the continuation.

CCS was the first anime series that I watched (USA dub) that got me into anime; in fact, it's still my favorite anime series of all time! But I was a very immature fan back then and it's kinda embarassing to admit LOL. I used to really dislike Meiling back then and wondered why they had to create her at all when I found out she was anime-only character (I saw her as a threat to SyaoSaku relationship). I also did not like the idea of Eriol x Kaho because I liked Eriol x Tomoyo more (ET still has a very special place in my heart... being one of my earliest uhh... fanon ships)... it was also to the point that I kinda disliked Kaho, until I rewatched CCS series in it's entirety. I love both Meiling and Kaho A LOT now btw. But gosh, I was such a silly child then... cuz I literally was XD I guess my point is that I'm glad that as an older fan, I am still able to follow Sakura's journey and the "essence" of the series/characters has not changed even after all this time.

Until next time~

#cardcaptor sakura #clear card hen #clear card arc #ccs #manga #clamp

[haro-hawayu]

Mrs. GREEN APPLE - 04. 私は最強 from Studio Session Live

Help, I just found out today that Ohmori (the vocalist) from Mrs. Green Apple wrote the song for Ado's "I'm Invincble" from One Piece Film Red and it was after listening to MGA's cover, I was like AHHH OF COURSE IT WAS WRITTEN BY THEM!! This song really fits them. I love both versions a lot but THIS STUDIO SESSION VERSION! IS! SO! GOOD!!!

I'm such a huge sucker for toms so when I heard the drummer playing mostly on them, I literally stopped whatever else I was multi-tasking on and started playing the song again from the beginning TuT it's great.

#music

[haro-hawayu]

Not the Spider origin story I imagined, but my feelings were kinda like Chrollo in that first panel of the second page T^T

#hunter x hunter #hxh #manga

[haro-hawayu]

MAJOR NORAGAMI MANGA SPOILERS!!!

I lost motivation to catch up with reading Noragami at one point (I was around mid-90s) because I read a spoiler by accident where people were melting down over Kazuma dying and I was like nuuuu this is not how I want to find out how it happens!! I did pick up the series again recently because I heard that the manga was ending in January, only to find out that uhhh yeah, the manga is ending like in the next chapter (forgot it was monthly, lol).

Something similar happened with another manga I'm btw, and I'm just like... ughhh.

#noragami #manga

[haro-hawayu]

Jujutsu Kaisen S2 OP / SPECIALZ by King Gnu

Is it just me or does the OP sequence give off 百鬼夜行 (Hyakkiyagyou / Night Parade of One Hundred Demons) vibes? If it's intentional, I think it's amazing/genius!!

#jujutsu kaisen #jjk #anime #music

[haro-hawayu]

Digimon Adventure 02: The Beginning

Watched Digimon 02 movie the other day with my friend in theaters~ not gonna go too much into details but just some general thoughts:

Random thoughts as I recall what happened, things won't be in order tho... but just wanted to say that I went in 99% blind. I only saw that ONE trailer where I posted that one screenshot. I had no expectations, it was literally at zero.

Bolero was literally all I remembered of the beginning LOL

I cherished/delighted over/soak up every single moment that had Takeru & Hikari together in the same frame #takari

^ I will 100% screencap those frames when there's a digital release

^ I also guarded myself because I knew there wasn't going to "anything" significant happening (hi Digimon Tri), but hey, I still love them so

I'm pleasantly surprised by the Ken & Miyako moments tho.

I love the designs for grown-up 02 kids, they all look so good.

Love how Daisuke & Veemon just going about at their own pace, and not being too swayed by all the "what ifs"--also love their #ramen way

The shadow/trauma that haunts Takeru every now & then will always gut me TuT I want him to be happy forever (not in the Ukkomon way tho)

Ohhh it's Ogata Megumi. I think I forgot that she was announced to be the VA for Rui, but I'm glad I can recognize her voice.

And Kugimiya Rie's of course.

I felt this weird laugh-cry emotion inside whenever they did the digivolutions, how did we sit through all of them as kids?? XD

Every time I hear Wada Kouji, Miyazaki Ayumu, and AiM, I feel so so so happy, but also feel that bittersweetness (Wada Kouji forever)

Rui in the movie is just like... what if Ikari Shinji existed in the Digimon world instead? (LOL I love Ogata Megumi)

The whole Ukkomon thing was just really creepy (like maybe except for the very very beginning when they first meet, and the very very end when they meet again), like dang, it way dark as heck.

Rui's backstory was just really sad too. Like I said, really dark, especially when things literally started falling/melting apart...

I'm a little sad that we only got to see Taichi out of everyone in the older gen, but I think I can appreciate why this was only about the 02 kids. I'm just glad Takeru & Hikari exist in both gens.

Takeru is old enough to drive and I kinda love that? Boy's all grown up.

Love the cameos we saw around the world too.

Loved the scene when everyone's Digivices just lit up the entire world, so pretty~

Random thought: The biggest brain move they could have made was have the movie released on 02/29/24 since it's kinda around the corner--maybe for digital release XD

Final thoughts: I'm glad that this movie just came as just one movie. I don't think I can handle it if it went on as long as Tri did, so that nothing gets too dragged out and resolves itself in one movie. No offence to Tri--I loved how Tri started, but things got weird and the resolution was kinda lacking imo, but I still appreciate all the good I remember of it tho. I think for Digimon 02 movie, I was able to just enjoy it as a standalone or alternative episode without thinking too much of how it ACTUALLY fits in to the bigger plot. Like the beginning, they talked about a Route 1 or A, and there's also a "Route 2"--I just think of this as a different route that our Chosen Ones could have taken. In my heart of hearts, their bonds are real, and their friendships are forever whether they have their Digivices or not, and whether they are together or not (Kizuna, I'm looking at you).

#digimon #digimon adventure 02 #anime #takari

[haro-hawayu]

CCS: Clear Card Ch. 79

Chapter 79!!! I usually try to avoid spoilers but got sorta-spoiled from an unexpected place prior to this chapter, but it wasn't TOO bad. The latest chapter can be found on CLAMP-net’s YouTube Channel. As always, please check out @meimi-haneoka's post on the latest chapter for EN-JPN translation differences!!

Links for previous chapter reactions can be found here.

Reading Reactions:

THE COVER PAGE! IS! BEAUTIFUL!!!

AHHHH!! I LOVE THE TWO TOGETHER!!!

Ruby Battery to the rescue!

I love that they're working together!! And they can kinda "joke" about things XD love their interactions!

Tomoyo from this side profile view is so lovely ♥

The way Kaito is holding onto Akiho, I'm--TuT

Sakura PROTECT MODE ON!

SAKURA BIG BRAIN!

BIGGEST BRAIN!

Sakura looks so kakkoi saying all this!!!

I love assertive and determined Sakura!

Kaito saying something along the lines of "you need lots of magical power to do this" and Sakura responds by showing off lots of magical power

LI MAMA!!! AHHHHHH!!! (this was where I kinda got accidentally spoiled prior to reading--but I'm still very happily surprised)

Wow, all this magic at work!

New card time!!

A card that resembles Akiho! WITH KAITO'S DRAGON WINGS!!

Card upgrade?? Card fusion?? Remind?!!

I love that the cards Sakura are creating resemble her friends~

Sakuraaaa

I love the art so much omgsh

Syaorannnn <3

HAND TOUCH!

Finally a reality where Kero and Touya can talk to face to face lolll omgshhh is this… the end?? soon??

Ahhhhh!!

Thoughts: I wrote my "reactions" on a sticky note yesterday when I read the chapter and I only found out today that the next chapter will be the last one!! Wow... how far we've come already. We're reaching the end, finally.

I absolutely loved how this chapter goes back to Sakura, our protagonist, doing protagonist things, and saving her friends. I know it's very cliche, but it feels so good seeing how she's able to make things right in her own way? Like, how genius is her idea of just making the villains forget? If that happened from the very start, so much pain/hurt/trauma would have been averted. But of course, it HAD to be Sakura to be the one to think of this idea and carry it out. She is, after all, the one with the power to create cards (and fuse them too, like in Movie 2), and when she was lacking in power, had the means to receive powers from others. This isn't "new" because she's received help/powers from other people before, and it's so wonderful that this time, she's receiving that help from Syaoran's mom. I hope they can meet face to face (can we get a bunch of extra chapters or something after the final??) because I just crave "mother-daughter" interactions FOR Sakura, and "mother-in-law & daughter-in-law" comes quite close for me, esp when it's Sakura LOL.

Also, I'm kinda relieved that next chapter is the end, meaning they won't get into more on the villains/Association because idk, I feel like this is a very satisfactory "resolution" for CCS. If they trek anymore into this route, we might have a very different story. So I'm glad that things went the way they did this chapter. Our Sakura still got her shining moment, so all is well with me.

For Akiho and Kaito, I hope we get more of them in the final chapter. BUT!!! WHERE IS MOMO??!? I hope she shows up and gives Kaito an earful before smothering him with her own brand of love/care XD I want the three of them to be happily together, and they can go travel the world or something. I wanna see Momo, Kero, and Spinel interact too XD

Until the final chapter... (unless we get extras, hehe)

#clear card hen #clear card arc #cardcaptor sakura #ccs #clamp #manga

[haro-hawayu]

Just some thoughts...

Minashiro Soushi being the awkward boy since Day 0 and they (and I) love him for that.

I guess this is the "missing" link that explains that sudden "romantic interest?" description from Soushi -> Maya that happened in Exodus.

I've always thought maybe he saw too many sides of "vulnerable" Maya (where he's always the one making her cry, but Kazuki' i's the one receiving her thanks) and fell for that side of her. I think that still holds true, but another aspect is the attraction of the "mystery/unknown" because Soushi being the awkward person that he is, was intrigued whenever Kazuki or Maya act/react in ways outside of his expectations, and it's this intrigue that grows on him. But here, Maya DOES thank Soushi, maybe that's why he reacted the way he did when he sees Maya thanking Kazuki.

Soukyuu no Fafner - Behind the Line

#soukyuu no fafner #soushi x maya #anime

[haro-hawayu]

Maya's Road to A+ Awesomeness

I wanna wrap them ALL up in blankets, but sometimes Maya more. I guess it's probably because she's the most "normal" one of the OG trio, with the other two being on some other plane of existence, sometimes a little too literally o(TヘTo)

Soukyuu no Fafner - Behind the Line

#soukyuu no fafner #anime

[haro-hawayu]

I missed you Hiroto .·´¯`(>▂<)´¯`·.

Soukyuu no Fafner - Behind the Line

#soukyuu no fafner #anime

[haro-hawayu]

I'm probably the only person on this side of the world who shipped them since S1 〒▽〒

Soukyuu no Fafner - Behind the Line

#soushi x maya #soukyuu no fafner #anime

[haro-hawayu]

Like Chika, Satowa's way too cute that I wanna hug her too (,,> <,,)♡

#kono oto tomare #manga

[haro-hawayu]

When I saw the preview for DOES appear on Twitter the other day during my lunch break, I had a very literal jaw-drop moment. Like, I actually felt, and was very aware of my facial muscles shifting as my jaw was dropping LOL. The Gintama fan in me was very very very excited, and very very very happy when the video dropped.

Waaah~I'm so glad that DOES gets a FT appearance and it's to DONTEN!!! Hoping that they have a few more appearances featuring their other Gintama songs.

#music #gintama

[haro-hawayu]

CCS: Clear Card Ch. 78

Chapter 78!!! Waaaa I got so busy the past week that I finally had time to check out the chapter today. The latest chapter can be found on CLAMP-net’s YouTube Channel. As always, please check out @meimi-haneoka's post on the latest chapter for EN-JPN translation differences!!

Links for previous chapter reactions can be found here.

Reading Reactions:

Sakura looks soooooo pretty on the cover!! I love the glowy lights!! It makes everything look so ethereal and soft.

Okay so it's not that he was JUST running away, but also wanted to save Akiho from danger, I'll give you that Kaito, I'm sorry for doubting you lol.

I'm so glad we get a chance to hear Akiho's thoughts now, speak up and say more!!! T^T

BLINK! I love the details of his eyes, even though he's not speaking, he's still conveying SO much!

Ahhhh I'm getting teary-eyed from this scene!!

Akiho knows she would never have asked for her memories of Kaito "whoever this is" to be erased.

I love how it's worded too (not leaving someone behind/removing oneself) and I hope there's no major translation discrepancies here...

Waaaa Lilie!! I love how things are starting to piece together now.

Rewind! Syaoran's reaction is kinda funny.

Wahhhh I'm teary-eyed again TuT

Kaito!!! I was so scared the chapter would end before he appears in human form!! THEY MEET!!!!!

Oh noo the wings stayed, but... but look really cool on him tho.

YES Akiho!!! You tell him all those things right now!!

Tell her your name!! LET HER SCOLD YOU!!

I'm crying so much this chapter. Ahhh. ><

Man, I knew it wasn't gonna last long enough for the danger to get resolved, but it could've ended in a more cliffhanger-way, and I'm glad we were spared... for now.

Thoughts:

There was so much happening! I got teary-eyed maybe 3 times reading this chapter, and 100% emotional and kinda crying as I'm thinking and writing about my thoughts.

I'm so happy that Akiho has her moment to finally say all the things she wants to say, even though she still doesn't have all her memories there. I think it's great that Kaito is finally listening, not running away, not stopping her, and only saying what's important. Like how he felt like it wouldn't have been necessary for him to be in that rewritten world. Even though those thoughts of his are wrong, it's important that Akiho is hearing this, so that she can respond to him with what he needs to hear (and she most wants to say). That he is her most important person, that he didn't have to do that (removing himself, her most impt person) just to ensure her happiness, and that she rather live in a world (even though things may be way more painful) WITH her most important person by her side. Ugh, these are the words that they both needed: for Kaito to hear, and for Akiho to declare. And omgsh, I'm tearing up just thinking about how Akiho's reflecting on the happiness that she was basking in (with friends and "family") but how she doesn't want that if it was all false, and she doesn't want that if her most important person isn't there. THERE'S SO MUCH MORE TO UNPACK REGARDING AKIHO AND KAITO BUT I DON'T HAVE THE WORDS?!!! I hope after they all get their memories back, that they can have a proper follow-up conversation. I need this to happen even though I know I'll be a sobby mess when it happens.

I also absolutely loved it that Sakura is encouraging them with her "you'll definitely be alright" spell! YOU HAVE BEEN BLESSED BY OUR PROTAG!!!!!! My heart just felt all super warm and hanyannnn that Sakura can be that voice of courage for others. It just shows how much our little 4th/5th grader has come along since the original CCS, and how much she has grown within the Clear Card series. I'm so very excited (but a little worried) to see the extent of Sakura's magical prowess as she's trying to figure out what to do to fix the time stuff.

Now, it's time for me to like recover from this chapter. It was just so much, so good, but so much XD

#clear card hen #clear card arc #cardcaptor sakura #ccs #manga #clamp