Welcome to SpaceCatSamba.com, my personal domain. If it's your first time here, click here for a more detailed introduction. Otherwise, the main menu's up top, the skin menu's on the right - enjoy your stay :)
Category: Anime
The Usual Jabber
09/22/07 2:53 pm
I think the best way to understand why a website is not updating - at least those sites which are run by just one or two people - is to start up your own site, run it for at least a year, and see for yourself the sorts of things that distract you. Even when we're fond of our sites, other things in life can push their priority lower and lower.
Lately a dip in my health took a hit at my energy, but other, more pleasant factors have been a welcome diversion too. It may also be relevant to note that I've pretty much stopped watching anime on a regular basis. I still like it, but the quality of recent series is failing to impress me, I suppose. I'm also turning more to gaming for my passive geek hobby instead. So it's possible there'll just be more game skins here too.
Thanks to all of you who have left a kind word here and there! My apologies for being a bit negligent of commentators and contacts. I can't promise I'll get any better ;)
Filed under: Anime Life Site Related
Comic Con 2007
07/30/07 2:42 pm
Despite having lived in San Diego for the last 4 years (of college), this is the first time I've been here during the summer, which meant I had the opportunity to attend Comic Con for the first time this past weekend. Myself and a friend trekked down to the convention center on Sunday morning, braving the crowds and approximately 5,000 Uchiha Itachis. Seriously, is Naruto the only thing you people ever watch?
Anyway, if you want cool SquareEnix figures, apparently the last day of the con is not the day for you (see photo). I didn't end up buying anything, but still got several "sampler" volumes of manga and other fun freebies from various booths. Seeing Lucy Lawless on a panel was surprisingly amusing (who knew Xena was actually quite the comedian). Got to play some games, see "exclusive" (I'll bet someone's already posted a cellphone recording on Youtube) TV show and movie previews, and just generally have a good time amongst a veritable throng of geeks (if you shout, "Hey look it's Dumbledore!" at the Gandalf cosplayers, apparently they get angry... try it, it's fun!).
A good time was had by all; time and location permitting, I'd love to go back again next year.
TV, Anime, Quantum Mechanics
03/14/07 9:22 am
So I ran out of unwatched episodes of Arrested Development on the DVDs my brother lent me. I am very out-of-touch with shows on TV; I don't have cable, but even when I did there wasn't much I wanted to watch anyhow. So when I watch such a show, it's usually something my brother recommended and/or lent me episodes of.
Anyway, Arrested Development - character-driven, cleverly written comedy. Unfortunately Fox has a penchant for canceling shows prematurely, so this one's already over. But if you've never seen it, give the reruns a shot.
It's been nice having something I actually want to watch... anime seems to be losing my attention lately. There just doesn't seem to be anything too special out there at the moment (and if you want to argue otherwise, you're free to leave comments).
The most recent anime I really liked were Suzumiya Haruhi no Yuuutsu (seriously, three u's) and Ouran High School Host Club. Both character-driven, both comedic but with a dramatic undertone, and Haruhi in particular was quite unique in its plot, narrative structure, and cast of characters. I think Hataraki Man deserves a mention for trying something different as well, but for the most part it fails the "enjoyment" test - I think the stake out episode was the only memorable one for me (all hail Nakai Kazuya). Wait, that reminds me - Noein was exceptional as well: ya got your mix of thought-provoking sci-fi, drama, action, Nakai Kazuya, and an interesting "gritty" looking animation style. Hey wait, weren't Noein and Haruhi somewhat of the same idea in different tellings? Someone's trying - consciously or not - to collapse parallel worlds to keep the one they like? There you have it, unique shows canceling each other out! I shall call it, The Theory of Unique Collapsability, and if I put it in a box with Schrodinger's Cat, it'll save both his lives!
Filed under: TV & Movies Anime Opinion Random
ナルト疾風伝 - Naruto Shippuuden
02/16/07 1:53 pm
Oh glorious day that the Naruto anime has returned from the murky and mundane abyss of fillers! Though admittedly the whole episode was deja vu due to my having seen this all in the manga already. I don't normally read manga; I like animation better, especially when it's an action anime like Naruto. However, out of curiosity I did seek out this first chapter after the time jump and read it through.
It's disappointing to me that Sasuke has not changed more in the time jump - wasn't he supposed to have been possessed by Orochimaru by now? Otherwise it was a pleasing double-length episode. Opening's kinda silly though, I think (does it feel good to be a gangsta, Naruto?).
Also, this skin is apparently on its way to world domination. It's been on the site for less than a month and is already the fourth most-downloaded skin on the site (soon to be the third, most likely). Such a jump in popularity of skins in a particular category is sometimes the first indicator I have that "this show must've just started showing in English."
