Darker than BLACK: Gemini of the Meteor episode 12 (finale)

I know I am way too late for my DTB Gemini of the Meteor review, but like they say, better late than never. Just to clear the air, I am without an internet access for the moment. Of course, I could just go to any WiFi hotspot in the city or probably use the internet in my office (which is unethical but everyone’s doing it anyway) or even borrow someone else’s mobile broadband (which is exactly what I am doing right now). But ultimately, I am going offline more often these days, rendering my lack of updates to this blog for days ahead. Sorry if I begin my review with a sour note but just wanting to inform you guys that I will be on my second (major) hiatus until this summer. I do hope I can make time to arrange the seasonal anime previews, a tradition started by Scamp of which I would like to continue but for certain, I won’t be posting any new post until I am done with my internship. Now, to the review.

Every final scene or episode must have a kissing scene.

2009 in Perspective: A year of comeback

No. This is not your typical post of Top 10 countdowns and quite frankly, I don’t think I am qualified to do that job because, and I admit it, I have not watch all the animes slated for this year. I am however feeling reflective as this year is coming to end, like anyone else before the coming of each and every new year. This is also my first year-round reflective post on everything anime since I began this blog nearly 3 years ago. I certainly hope I can make this an annual tradition for many years to come. I should not mull over this and saying out my points (honestly, I’m trying my best to avoid using the word “muse” that Scamp thought out to be pretentious, which is not what this post is all about). But first, I have to warn you: this is a very lengthy post. Not sure if it’s an interesting read but I do include my anime pick for 2009 at the end of the post.

Darker than BLACK: Gemini of the Meteor episode 11

The episode began with a murderous rampage by an unknown being whose appearance resembles similarly to a ghost. What is more terrifying is that this person kills contractors, an ability attributed to Izanami. This stark similarity goes further when it seemed that this person is able to manipulate contractors’ abilities against themselves and kill them. At this point, I am confused to label this new character as “the unknown being” mentioned in the Mitaka documents or as “Izanami”. While this is happening, Hei is taking things easy as he was preparing pelmeni for breakfast. More after the jump.

I’ve been wanting to do after seeing this particular shot of Mao in this episode.

I wish for a DTB sequel but I got an OVA instead

Yes, you are reading the title correctly. This is old news but I just found it out while checking out more news on the Code Geass Project. ANN reported that this OVA is a side-story that links the events between the first season of Darker than BLACK: Kuro no Keiyakusha to the season season of Darker than BLACK: Ryuusei no Gemini. The time gap here is two years, mind you. There will be four episodes in total and these will be bundled together with the soon-to-be released Blu-Ray discs and DVD volumes of DTB: Ryuusei no Gemini. Not much details were revealed about the OVA’s storyline but Aniplex is streaming a promotional video of the OVA on the DTB official site. From what I can tell, we will seeing more romantic moments between Hei and Yin, while Hei be fighting against more contractors for an unknown reason. Something tells me that the hunt for Izanami had already begun within this two-year gap and also, it is likely that we’ll be seeing the awakening of Yin’s contractor-killing ability in this OVA.

“Hei, this is Aniplex speaking. About that DTB sequel you’ve requested, lets not do it for now. Please don’t kill me.”

I bet there will be another season of DTB and SUNRISE announced Code Geass Project

Long title, I know. But I have a thought to share about DTB and also to confirm the news about Code Geass. First, DTB. Judging by the fact that there are only 2 episodes left to go for DTB Gemini of the Meteor, it is obvious that this season of DTB won’t be answering many of questions asked from the first season. This brings me to believe that there might be another season of DTB and they should. The second season of DTB fails to bring any closure to the events from the first season, and instead, asked more questions relevant to this season. To the least, there were a few points from the past brought to light. For instance, in the recent episode 10, we all get to see Mao’s original human body and how he lost his body to an explosion. The aftermath of the Tokyo explosion was also revealed in bits of details, not in a whole, just like how the writers like to do. What is certain, the events in this season of DTB only apply to this season alone without giving any significant relation to the actual plot from previous season. Questions like, how Hei got his power and why he is unique compared to most contractors; what is Hei’s sister, Bai, true capability and where is she at the moment; who are behind the Syndicate and what are their intentions; and lastly, how contractors, Heaven’s Gate, and Hell’s Gate come to exist. These questions were asked from the first season and yet, this sequel fails to carry out this sentiment and come forth with their conclusions. Despite being a drag, the writers did not fail to deliver the same intrigue they created from the first season of DTB. It is this intrigue that lures fans to the franchise and makes us beg for more. Having said so, I do want more DTB and this time, I hope the writers actually make an effort to draw an conclusion to the grand plot of the series.

These three are wishing to the shooting star for another sequel.

In an unrelated news, more words are surfacing about a Code Geass sequel. Honestly, it only came to my attention as this rumour was brought to the never-ending discussion of whether or not Lelouch is dead. A quick check with ANN confirms this. According to ANN, Bandai first teased a detail on Code Geass Project on their mobile website with an ominous call for a rebirth. From how I see it, it is a remake, just like how I hoped for before. In fact, SUNRISE did speculate earlier this year on future plans for Code Geass though it was not specified whether it is a sequel (I really doubt it) or a remake (better this way). Later on, SUNRISE played down that speculation. Finally, a confirmation was made by the producer of Code Geass, Kawaguchi Yoshitaka, on the official site, saying that a new project dubbed Code Geass Project is currently under development and is expected to debut on 2010. He promised more details to be revealed on the January issue of NewType. Just so you know, this new project is NOT A SEQUEL to Code Geass but I do believe that SUNRISE had finally decided to make Code Geass their permanent franchise, like what they did with Gundam. This means, it’s all about Geass but with different characters (though with similarities to the previous Code Geass) and a totally different timeline (like how SUNRISE does on the Gundam franchise). Some suggested that the Geass abilities are retained but not the mechas. But who are you kidding with? This is SUNRISE, for Pete’s sake! Without a doubt, I’m very sure mechas are still in play so that Bandai can reap out the profits from the franchise (credits to Immortal for the character pics).

New characters for the upcoming Code Geass project. Try to guess which is which? I’m pretty sure C.C. is the middle one.

Darker than BLACK: Gemini of the Meteor episode 10

We are down to 2 more episodes and it is getting more exciting as it is. Turns out the revelation revealed in the previous episode, about Suou being dead 12 years ago, is a key point to the whole plot for this season, which leads to this very important fact: Shion has the ability to replicate an object. This fact alone probably answers a whole lot of questions that we have in for this season and I have several theories of my own. Scroll to the bottom of the page for my thoughts of the episode. But first, the episode synopsis.

“I promise I won’t bite, Mom.”

Darker than BLACK: Gemini of the Meteor episode 8 and 9

Whoops! Another long hiatus and I’ve missed two episodes of DTB. Once I caught up to it, writing two separate reviews would be a pain in the arse. Hence, the bi-episodic review of DTB this time. As a matter of fact, these two episodes are very good episodes individually. In one episode, it’s a swimsuit special (and also the second time get to see Misaki in her swimsuit — oh, fanservice please!) and the return of the good ol’ Li Shun Sheng, or better known as Hei. On the other episode, we have the biggest plot twist to the season. Dum dum dummm! Getting more exciting, isn’t it? More after the jump.

The good old times. Or as how I see it: DTB swimsuit special.

November Roundup

I thought that this would be the year that everyone remembers as the year Crunchyroll got their hands on about half of the anime airing. But Crunchyroll appears to have a far less impression on the anime world than I originally thought they would. Is it because of the rather suspect quality of their streams and subtitles? As a subscriber myself I can certainly vouch for some very dodgy work on Book of Bantorra. Is it because they could only get their hands on the lower-quality anime airing? If you go to the tag cloud on Animenano, how many of the bigger tags are on Crunchyroll? Or is it because anime fans really are the biggest bunch of cheap-ass dickheads that the ANNfags claim they are? Ah well, at least Crunchyroll have Gintama and for that I will be eternally grateful.

Source for Gintama image