we're finally notdotq anymore

This is in part for CCY-senpai, who endured two hours of mostly terrible AMVs with me.

After noticing Nyoronyolo’s black sweatshirt in the Marriott hallway, being entranced the part of the design I could see and its trademark shade of purple, remarking to CCY, “dude, is that Nanoha? It’s Nanoha isn’t it?” and being correct, I pumped my fists.

Me: “Who’s good?! Who’s GOOD?! Just one corner of the spell circle, and I knew it was Nanoha’s!”
CCY: “How many shows have spell circles, though? Can’t be many.”
Me: “Hmmm… Fullmetal Alchemist… the watches in Eden of the East… oh! And Dennou Coil!!”
CCY: “Haha…”

Surprise of surprises, AniDB has a magic circle tag.

I’ve seen most of the shows in its lists: Scrapped Princess, Negima, Card Captor Sakura, etc. The ones I haven’t seen are fewer than the ones I’ve seen.

And the question is, are they worth watching? (And do they actually have lots of spell circles?)

- Kara no Kyoukai
- Strike Witches
- Macademi Wasshoi
- Pandora Hearts
- 07-Ghost
- Kurokami
- Tears to Tiara

Spell circles make everything better, but they don’t make shit better shit, so I really need to know if these shows are worth watching. Thanks.

What are the tubes, oh never mind.

Friday

Being at a convention, and understanding the difference between watching some clips on YouTube by myself using earbuds and watching those clips on a big screen with a crowd using bigass speakers, I rewatched AMV Hell 4. I was the only one who laughed at Maxwell’s Silver Hammer; I guess I’m “already not fashionable” or something. Also, more people recognized “I’m Blue” than “What is Love?”—what is wrong with these con-goers?

After AMV Hell 4, I decided to hit my room. I had still not gotten the Haruhi fix I’d intended to take before heading to San Jose and I was dying for some Hirano Aya lovin’. I considered whipping out my laptop and Haruhing it up on the concourse but figured that I didn’t want to attract too much attention from staff, given my perhaps banned sign. While walking through the hall to the Marriott I acquired a few smirks, some deranged laughter, and a “would you mind if I took a picture of you?” Sign-wearing win, so far.

I got back to my room, watched Haruhi 2.1, and came a million times to the dulcet tones of Aya’s instrument. Then I remembered that I had yet to go through the program guide, so I picked it up and flipped through it, making notes here and there on my pocket guide.

(1:56 PM) Now I’m sitting here, waiting for my buddies to arrive later in the afternoon. I’m kind of hungry but I don’t want to leave the convention center for necessity of removing my sign. There’s nothing to watch right now, panels aren’t open yet, and trawling the floor is depressing without a posse. I think I’ll spend the next few minutes lion-cashing my bills, and then I’ll begin harassing my friends’ cell phones.

(2:03 PM) Got the cash, got the car, got the–okay, just got the lion-cash. Friends didn’t answer, FML. I’ll play some Warcraft III while I wait (nothing interesting until 7).

I watched some people practice Karaoke a bit, then had some snacks.

(4:48 PM) Fuck am I hungry. Sitting in the lobby of the Marriott, where there is internet.

Hey. I know I’ve been delinquently silent in the ’sphere, and I apologize. I’m out of school now, done with my first semester at my dreamlocale of U.C. Berkeley, and moved into my dad’s apartment where I will spend three weeks fattening our handsome cat. This weekend, however, is a nice adrenaline-filled transition between the stress of finals and the wonderful calm of weeks of writing and felines: Fanime Con 2009.

I’ll be going, and I’ll be running Create That Anime in conjunction with coblogger lolikappa.

The plans are manyfold.

1. I’ll be running the aforementioned panel. Moderation will be rife with lame gimmicks.

2. I’ll be celebrating my 19th birthday a week early at some point on Saturday or Sunday.

3. I’ll be wearing a V mask.

4. I’ll be raging about Suzumiya Haruhi. Because it’s what I’m supposed to do.

5. I’ll be blogging the convention experience, volcanos and miniature black holes willing.

6. I’ll give head to CCY and IcyStorm. What? You want head? Go to Fanime. And be an aniblogger. And have a cock (sorry, Gia!).

7. Hentai room is go? I’m 18 and I have government ID that isn’t an expired passport!

8. OH MY GOD GUYS IT’S GOING TO ROCK SO HARD

9. I will read the schedule for Fanime after writing this post because I actually have no idea what’s going down there. School killed my on-top-of-things-ness.

Cheers!
-LK

“But never mind any of that,” says Sekai earnestly, “let’s practice!”

Watching School Days was possibly the most pleasing anime experience of my life. It was a Saturday night, Memorial Day weekend; I was with a friend in a dark viewing room at Fanime. I, being a proficient aniblogger, knew the spoilers. He didn’t. The rest of the room didn’t.

I’d been prepping my friend all day, throwing “Nice [Noun]” references all over the place. Quoting the final scenes of School Days such that he wouldn’t be able to guess what I was hinting at, all the while piquing his curiosity.

I was sleep-deprived, I was cold, I was hungry.

And I marathoned that mother-fucker with my friend and the rest of the viewing room. It was one hell of a painful show, but every additional moment of Makoto dipfaggery brought me one step closer to hilaritygasm. I knew what was in store for him. No one else in the room did. People were getting up and leaving in disgust. By the time shit really started hitting the fan, the room was half-empty.

My friend was on the edge of his seat.

I had figuratively creamed myself at least ten times.

“This isn’t practice anymore.” – Sekai

“I feel like if I stay with you, the same thing will happen to me as happened to Sekai.” – Hikari

“I was reckless and impatient back then! I’m different now.” – Makoto

What’s not to love about a show in which your typical weak male lead actually makes decisions, and those decisions involve bedding every single girl in his school? Oh, and let’s not forget to mention impregnating them. Heh, the Bible Belt would love Makoto, and so did I! The answer to my question is “not a whole lot, if you’re sleep-deprived and meme-prone.”

Makoto’s head got its ride on a pleasant ship, and those remaining in the viewing room stood up and gave that mofo a standing ovation.

School Days got a 10/10 from me, just for that one night stand.

Off to Fanime con 2008 next Thursday P.M., where I will apparently be meeting CCY and an anonymous. » Continue reading this…