{"id":313,"date":"2007-07-15T19:51:35","date_gmt":"2007-07-16T03:51:35","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.xjaymanx.com\/toybox\/2007\/07\/15\/blog-096-snowfalls-scissors\/"},"modified":"2007-07-15T19:51:35","modified_gmt":"2007-07-16T03:51:35","slug":"blog-096-snowfalls-scissors","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.xjaymanx.com\/toyboxx\/2007\/07\/15\/blog-096-snowfalls-scissors\/","title":{"rendered":"Blog 096 > Snowfalls & Scissors"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Ayu
\nAyu from Kanon (2006)<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n

+++++ Kanon (2006; 1-24) – Started 07\/10. Finished 07\/15. DOUBLE-WOW! Childhood romance, melancholy and mystery! Heartbreaking and breathtaking!<\/em><\/p>\n

Simply breathtaking. Before starting, I expected another cute heart-warming comedy. But when I sat down before the living room TV, the opening snowfall scene between Yuuichi and Nayuki, followed by the stunning opening song and credits, unexpectedly blew me away. At once, I sensed this wouldn’t be another ordinary teenaged comedy-drama. And it wasn’t. As the series unfolds, the 24-episode Kanon<\/em><\/a> (2006) introduces one leading male character — Yuuichi — and his five co-leading females — Nayuki, Matoko, Mai, Shiori, and Ayu — each with her own mysterious romantic ties to his forgotten childhood past.<\/p>\n

Animated in the familiar style of his previous project — Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya<\/em> (4 of 5 stars; my max for a half-season) — Director Tatsuya Ishihara employs the same brilliant techniques to tell this moving collection of stories. From Yuuichi’s narration — reminiscent of Kyon’s narration in Melancholy<\/em> and voiced by the same actor — to the stylish “camera” work — including hand-held camera blurs, split-second off-center close-ups, wide off-center perspectives — to the striking natural settings — moonlit snowfalls, sunset-lit pollen clouds, water fountain showers — Ishihara paints a natural yet supernatural world so nostalgic and personal that it rivals the quality and intensity of animated feature films, like Makoto Shinkai’s unforgettable Voices of a Distant Star<\/em>. And it is here, against Kanon<\/em>‘s magical backdrop, where the various high-school friends and family members experience everything from laughing adolescent antics to time-freezing tragedies. Complementing this vision is the equally haunting piano-laced bell-sprinkled soundtrack and use of Pachelbel’s Canon<\/em> as a fitting play on the series title. Typically, if a series is powerful enough to move me to the edge of tears — such as To Heart<\/em> (1999, 2004), Fruits Basket<\/em> (2001), Saikano<\/em> (2002), Mai-HiME<\/em> (2004), Negima!<\/em> (2005), and Shuffle!<\/em> (2005) — then it earns 5 of 5 stars (or 4 of 5 for a half season). But with Kanon<\/em>, I was on that edge three separate times — with Matoko’s, Mai’s, and Ayu’s heart-breaking stories. So my decision is easy… an overwhelming 5 of 5 stars!<\/p>\n

\"Alice
\nAlice L. Malvin from Pumpkin Scissors (2006)<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n

++++ Pumpkin Scissors (1-24) – Restarted 06\/21. Finished 07\/09. WOW, epic action, glorious inspiration, and demonic intrigue!<\/em><\/p>\n

What is a noble? What is a soldier? Struggling to answer these questions in an alternate-past timeline, the 24-episode series Pumpkin Scissors<\/em><\/a> (2006) depicts both the mundane and dangerous missions undertaken by the Imperial Army State Section III, a small motley crew of atypical soldiers nicknamed “Pumpkin Scissors”. Led by the fiery blonde Second Lieutenant Alice L. Malvin and the towering but soft-spoken Corporal Randel Oland, this small band resembles a retro-steampunk version of the cyberpunk “Section 9” from Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex<\/em> (2002-2005). In fact, Alice is easily reminiscent of another noble blonde — the Arthurian sword-wielding Saber from Fate\/Stay Night<\/em> (2006). However, while Alice is unquestionably an outstanding fighter, she differs from the cyborg Motoko or the stoic Saber in her uniquely outspoken, often reckless, and occasionally, even childish behavior. And it is this distinction which probably makes her, not only the most inspiring, but also the most endearing of the three. Beyond that, the epic orchestral soundtrack and consistently crisp animation push this series to 4 stars. Yet, despite the heart-stopping chills and goosebumps during the climactic battle, the lack of a deeper emotional connection or satisfactory resolution to the hidden conspiracy prevents it from rising to 5 stars. That is, until a second season is developed, haha. Nevertheless, a strong 4 of 5 stars!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Ayu from Kanon (2006) +++++ Kanon (2006; 1-24) – Started 07\/10. Finished 07\/15. DOUBLE-WOW! Childhood romance, melancholy and mystery! Heartbreaking and breathtaking! Simply breathtaking. Before starting, I expected another cute heart-warming comedy. But when I sat down before the living room TV, the opening snowfall scene between Yuuichi and Nayuki, followed by the stunning opening … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0},"categories":[14,86,87],"tags":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p7rIwb-53","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":325,"url":"http:\/\/www.xjaymanx.com\/toyboxx\/2007\/09\/16\/blog-108-figures-of-air-snow-death\/","url_meta":{"origin":313,"position":0},"title":"Blog 108 > Figures of Air, Snow & Death","author":"xjaymanx","date":"September 16, 2007","format":false,"excerpt":"Photo 2292 by xJAYMANx | Click to enlarge Can't wait for her photoshoot, lol. Wow, more than two months since my last collection update! Unfortunately, my 17 boxed figures have grown to 23. Argh, too busy for photoshoots! Nevertheless, here are my latest 7 of those 23 still-boxed figures, including\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Air"","block_context":{"text":"Air","link":"http:\/\/www.xjaymanx.com\/toyboxx\/category\/anime-titles\/air\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":1487,"url":"http:\/\/www.xjaymanx.com\/toyboxx\/2009\/02\/08\/blog-188-kanons-pirates-bloodbaths\/","url_meta":{"origin":313,"position":1},"title":"Blog 188 > Kanons, Pirates & Bloodbaths","author":"xjaymanx","date":"February 8, 2009","format":false,"excerpt":"07 Feb | Kanon Gals | Enlarge Greetings, my friendly neighborhood Toyboxers! Welcome to yet another weekly mega-broadcast from the Toybox! But beware. This time, I should warn you of the more bloody and sexy nature of the topics which swirl in the digital waters below, lol. Are you ready?\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Anime Figure Photos"","block_context":{"text":"Anime Figure Photos","link":"http:\/\/www.xjaymanx.com\/toyboxx\/category\/anime-figure\/anime-figure-photos\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/img.youtube.com\/vi\/YZgXg_7kVI8\/0.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":341,"url":"http:\/\/www.xjaymanx.com\/toyboxx\/2008\/01\/06\/blog-122-my-49-anime-in-2007\/","url_meta":{"origin":313,"position":2},"title":"Blog 122 > My 49 Anime in 2007","author":"xjaymanx","date":"January 6, 2008","format":false,"excerpt":"Kanon | Fave Drama! Happy New 2008, my fellow anime fanatics!... Back in my Blog 061, I noted that I watched 58 anime titles-seasons in 2006. While I couldn't match that number in 2007, watching 49 is still freakin' huge (or frakin' huge, for BSG fans), lol. That's almost one\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Air"","block_context":{"text":"Air","link":"http:\/\/www.xjaymanx.com\/toyboxx\/category\/anime-titles\/air\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":320,"url":"http:\/\/www.xjaymanx.com\/toyboxx\/2007\/08\/13\/blog-103-from-melancholy-until-death\/","url_meta":{"origin":313,"position":3},"title":"Blog 103 > From Melancholy Until Death","author":"xjaymanx","date":"August 13, 2007","format":false,"excerpt":"Death Note (2006) +++++ Death Note (1-37) - Started 08\/01\/07. Finished 08\/12\/07. D-WOW! Mesmerizing crime games and aspiring death gods! Mind-blowing and heart-stopping! 5 stars! Kano, Minagi and Misuzu from Air (2005) ++++ Air (1-13) - Started 08\/08\/07. Finished 08\/11\/07. WOW. Amazingly gentle and windblown summer beauty. Tearfully unforgettable. Another\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Air"","block_context":{"text":"Air","link":"http:\/\/www.xjaymanx.com\/toyboxx\/category\/anime-titles\/air\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":828,"url":"http:\/\/www.xjaymanx.com\/toyboxx\/2008\/10\/25\/blog-171-from-drunk-to-punk-trooper\/","url_meta":{"origin":313,"position":4},"title":"Blog 171 > From Drunk to Punk Trooper","author":"xjaymanx","date":"October 25, 2008","format":false,"excerpt":"Audio Broadcast | MP3 Length 16:27 Minutes | Click to play xJAYMANx_broadcast 002 \"From Drunk to Punk Trooper\" Saturday, 1:15am, 25 Oct 2008 MP3 Length 16:27 Minutes OP - \"Virgin's High\" by MELL from the anime \"Sky Girls\" [2007]. Second broadcast, hope not as crackly and staticky Jackie Chan's and\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Desert Punk"","block_context":{"text":"Desert Punk","link":"http:\/\/www.xjaymanx.com\/toyboxx\/category\/anime-titles\/desert-punk-anime-titles\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":84,"url":"http:\/\/www.xjaymanx.com\/toyboxx\/2006\/01\/11\/post-322-absolutely-breathtaking\/","url_meta":{"origin":313,"position":5},"title":"post 322 ~ absolutely breathtaking!","author":"xjaymanx","date":"January 11, 2006","format":false,"excerpt":"\"Le Portrait de Petite Cossette\" (2005) \"So Close\" (2002) post 322 ~ DVDs, towers, and penthouses... portrait of little cosette (netflix) ~ WOW... ab-so-lute-ly breathtaking!!! for any fan of anime, this is a must!... for those who've seen the 30-minute \"voices of a distant star\", this mystery\/horror anime recalls the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Asian Titles"","block_context":{"text":"Asian Titles","link":"http:\/\/www.xjaymanx.com\/toyboxx\/category\/asian-titles\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.xjaymanx.com\/toyboxx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/313"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.xjaymanx.com\/toyboxx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.xjaymanx.com\/toyboxx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.xjaymanx.com\/toyboxx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.xjaymanx.com\/toyboxx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=313"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"http:\/\/www.xjaymanx.com\/toyboxx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/313\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.xjaymanx.com\/toyboxx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=313"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.xjaymanx.com\/toyboxx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=313"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.xjaymanx.com\/toyboxx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=313"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}