reins - you got the eps! Ureshii yo!!!! Drum was where I started watching OP and even though Zoro was in that arc very little, the bit that he was in impressed me very much. From my journal: His grin was malevolent, his swords were sharp and stolen, his punch was hard, his final stance was arrogant, and his enemies were very dead. Sugoi... *grins* Melodramatic, but that's what I wrote because that's what I felt!
All of the Drum Arc impressed me. Luffy climbing the mountain was a favorite (though painful) moment and so was when Sanji was standing off against Walpol and the gang and told them, "Hey, hey. You don't treat a lady like that!" I loved that he didn't reserve the term 'lady' for just Nami or Vivi - a lady is a lady is a lady to Sanji. I hate to use the term chivalrous because it seems so cliched but that's what he is, ne? Oh and Sanji-ko and Chopper do have the same seiyuu.
I've been sending tapes to a friend back in the States and she's seen up to the end of Drum, without reference to any other arcs at the moment. She is highly unimpressed with Usopp and I have to agree that based solely on Drum, he does not shine. He's funny, but if you don't know his backstory, it leaves something out and Usopp becomes just another funny, cowardly cardboard character that every other anime is peopled with. Don't worry, Usopp, we know. You are da pimp. 'Nuff said.
On to the Alabasta Arc! The animators have no shame. Sheesh. Kohza's a skinny kid in the manga and he's so not in the anime. I'm not sure if I should complain that they should stay more true to the original or just keep my mouth shut and enjoy the eye candy. If I go with the second scenario, then I concur with you. The desert is very, very hot and Kohza does not need to wear the coat.
Shonen Jump: I keep getting more and more reasons to absolutely despise Eneru. Oda outdid himself with the drama and the blood this week. Moving onto another question - Wiper or Viper? Eneru or Ener? I've heard compelling cases for many sides and was wondering other's opinions. I like Viper because it sounds cooler. :)
Anime Update: Once I learned that the spring special was actually this weekend, I consoled myself by buying OP swag. *sets up SD Hina Vs. SD Mihawk* "Get his cape, Hina! Get it!" And you know why I love Japan? You can buy Luffy and Chopper plushies in 7-11.
Chou loves Good Omens? You have such good taste. The side story of Crowley and his impressive houseplants is one of my favorite parts of the book.
FYI Dev, as a child, caffeine was "dame" and my roommates in college banned chocolate covered espresso beans from the house. I've had Jolt once and the state of Kentucky has yet to recover from that incident. :)
Hey I know you worry and I truly appreciate the kindness, but please don't.
Roger: ...I’m taking off for a little stroll through the Grand Line. I’m so excited, I can’t help myself.
Man: Hey! Are you really headed for that cursed ocean?
Roger: Why not? You think it sounds bad?
Man: Well, not bad, really, just�EI won’t stop you, but please, don’t go. They say that’s a place no one returns from!
Roger: That’s why I'm going.
So, gimme some more rum, please. Another bottle would be good. Shishishishi.^_~
Inregards to the trip - I`m leaving May 11 (WAH! Hayai!) and coming back May 26. How am I paying for this? I have a lucrative side business in small arms dealing and drug trafficking with the yakuza down in Hiroshima. (Right, Sylph?) That`s how I became the dialect expert. ^_~
No, really, the funds come from the fact I`ve been eating peanut butter sandwiches (no jelly now, it`s Lent!) and miso soup and rice since January and haven`t had any real fun barring the one day I went to Hiroshima last month. Fum, I get paid quite well considering my qualifications (none) and also in comparison to what I would receive doing the same job at home, but at the same time, I earn every penny. I would get into how, but it would just devolve into a JET rant and those aren`t pretty. (Are they, Sharnice? ^_^ Leave a comment, durnit, and introduce yourself to the others!)
The excitement is building. Just a little more than a month and a half and I`ll have accomplished one more dream. When I get to Mongolia, I am going to drink the country until it fills me up and I drown.
Sylph, is it confederate jasmine wafting through your window!? Confederate jasmine is my favorite flower blossom. I associate it with such good memories. My grandmother and I spent a lot of time together when I was younger and I remember one night in particular when we were on a walk and the air was heavy with this beautiful fragrance and I asked her what it was and she said, "Confederate jasmine." I wanted to *be* confederate jasmine at that point and I think I almost hyperventilated trying to get my lungs full of it.
Wait! There`s no OP here! Um, Usopp is a pimp, Sanji is not French, Zoro has four swords, Luffy has the best facial expressions in the world, Nami is sooooo cute in pigtails, Nico vs. Da World - Nico: 1, Da World: Destroyed, Chopper IS Yoda, Vivi and Kohza forever and ever and ever, I won`t forget Bellemere, Mihawk and Smoker should have plushies made of them, Tashigi Rulez, Hina Rulez 2, Old Ben is Raiden, Young Ben is the Rock, and Shaaaaaaannkuuuusuuuuuuu! THE END
:: 8:16 PM
[+] ::
Not the god, just a god. I don`t want you to get a big head or she`ll find you impossible to live with. But did the over the top flattery work? Are you going to abuse Shiru`shard work again for my further amusement? I hope so!
I`m going on a trip! You may check out the long boring details here because believe it or not, my non-OP obsessed friends wanted to hear about.
(BTW I will not take responsibility for any mental health problems you may think I have after reading posts on a blog named after a hungover Danish woman. Word yo.)
(tearfully accepts the Nobel Prize from reins) You like me, you really like me!
Mihawk: That`s not why. She gave it to you because she knows you`re distracted by shiny things.
Stacey (who`s not listening): I`m gonna hide it under the couch!
Keeping Kuro in line will be detailed in another place in the future. The far, far future. Smut Update: I have the end of the smut garden written, however, the "filling the bit between the beginning and the end" is taking up all my time. Just wanted you all to know that. And now!
Paper Doll Theatre Presents: Yowai
Kuina: Look, girly-girly. I�fve got needs and they are getting fulfilled tonight one way or another. (leers at Kohza)
Kohza: You learned that from Zoro.
Vivi: What part of �ethat boy is mine,�f don�ft you understand, you psychotic slut?
(Collective gasp!)
Kuina: You are going down!!!!!
Zoro: I�fm here! I made it! Sorry I�fm late! (gushes) Oh, wow, Kuina, you look really pretty in a kimono.
Kuina: Get your eyeful now, buddy. It�fs coming off in 0.2 seconds!
Zoro: Alright! Hey, Vivi, Kohza. What�fre you doing here? I knew this was a lemon, but I didn�ft think it was *that* kind of lemon. (leers)
Vivi: Your woman was trying to get her groove thing on with Kohza.
Zoro: WHAT? You and the nerd?!!! Kuina!
Kohza (pouts): ..notanerd...
Vivi (soothingly): You aren�ft.
Kuina: I had a perfectly good reason.
Zoro: Which was?
Kuina: TWENTY-ONE YEARS!
Kohza and Vivi: She has a point.
Kuina: So stop talking and start getting. It. ON!
Zoro: Woohoo!
(Suddenly Kuina and Vivi are distracted.)
Kuina: Oh...
Vivi: ...my.
(Zoro and Kohza are immediately on the defensive against the eliciter of the �eoh mys.�f Who could it be? Sanji? Ace? Chopper dressed as Zoro?)
Zoro and Kohza: USOPP?
(Usopp is pimpin�f it in those pimpin�f outfits Shiru made.)
Usopp: Yo, muh bruthas.
Zoro and Kohza (directed offstage): WHAT?
Stacey (offstage): Don�ft �ewhat�f me. Those clothes are pimp-tacular.
Zoro: I`m offended. You took more time on HIS clothes than mine.
(Zoro offers exhibit A - his crappily cut out pants.)
Stacey (offstage): They were gonna be on you for about a minute.
Zoro: Oh yeah.
Kuina: EVERYONE GET OUT!
Zoro: Yeah, me and my lady are going to -
Kuina (grabs Usopp): You too, haramaki boy.
Vivi, Kohza, and Zoro: NANI?!
(Kuina kicks everyone out but Usopp out of the dojo. And so ends that tale of childhood promises, kimonos, and swords.)
THE END
SERIOUSLY
Non Paper Doll Omake (because one of these people isn`t a paper doll nor likely ever will be):
(Syrup Village)
Merii: Kaya Oujousama! The mail`s here. You have a letter...
(Merii walks into a dark room. A shaft of light pierces the curtains and glints off of glasses that are adjusted with the palm of a hand...)
Merii: YOU! (pause) No. Wait a sec. Kaya Oujousama?
(Kaya is wearing a lot more black than usual. And has two more mittens with pointy ends than she used to have.)
Kaya (adjusting her glasses): Kuina. Is. DEAD.
I have had an emergency request from a friend. If you know of good links to very large websites containing nothing but humor, then please put them in the comments box. I have links for the Onion and Dave Barry`s Blog and will probably be hitting her website for some stuff (the Canadian warship article still cracks me up), but if you know of any online publications that are satirical or just plain childish, please inform me. JETS NEED YOUR HELP!
:: 1:20 AM
[+] ::
:: Monday, March 24, 2003 ::
No OP in this week's Jump. What a waste of yen. Just kidding.
Anime Update: Yesterday’s ep should have been entitled: Cricket does the exposition. The guy *never* stopped talking, first about the Knock up Stream, then the Southbird. And the Southbird’s call was creep-tacular. It was a good ep, but I think they got a new animator on deck because everyone looked a little…odd. Especially Nico. Next week the anime is on pause and we get a Spring Special Event. I think it’s an hour special episode like “Navel of the Ocean” was. It looks promising, but right now everything looks promising! I love the changing of the seasons and it is very much spring in Japan. Spring in Japan is my favorite season.
I read Chou’s post on anime-types and mused on where I fit. I’m honestly not sure. I’m more artist/author loyal than genre loyal. Be it mecha/shonen/shoujo or what have you, if it rawks my socks I’ll love it. And if it doesn’t, *shrugs*
I sat down and watched the entire DVD of the first eps of the Alabasta Arc (somehow the player got stuck on the first episode and just kept repeating the bit with Kohza over and over again…odd that) The omake is the beginning of a Devil Fruit dictionary/encyclopedia series. My Japanese DVDs have a voice over of the written Japanese subtitles – in English – and not only is the English pronunciation nigh perfect, the grammar is impeccable. I love you again Avex Mode! I’m thinking of bringing it in to the junior high to teach pronunciation.
I feel for thee, Reins. I saw that chapter’s ‘moment’ too. I am much more suspicious since the Scene. Did you know Nami kicked Kuina during the Kuro Arc? I noticed that last night. Speaking of the sociopath, please minna-san keep fictionally blogging him. It amuses me so and he can never be tortured enough. But if I tried...I think he would run amuck and that would be bad. Or good. Depending on how you view massacres. :)
But he's haunting k-f's boards now BTW. And now for!
Stacey’s Unified Age Theory of Everything - OP Style!
This is the deal. Yes, I will swallow everyone’s ages.
BECAUSE age is based solely on a planet’s rotational cycle around the sun! Therefore if the OP planet has a longer rotational cycle – say 420 days as opposed to 365 – then, for example, if Nami is 18 in OP years, in Earth years she is 21! Vivi would be more like 18 or 19. (Luffy is the guy that disproves the rule. It’s his prerogative.) This bumps Shanks’ age to 42…but his youthful demeanor is mostly attitude and his near religious use of sunblock. Smoker would be pushing 40 too – and we all know why he looks old! (points finger dramatically) TOBACCO USE! BOO! HISS! Watch out, Sanji, or that will be you in a couple of years!
I am selectively brilliant! And I am a big NERD! And I am PROUD OF IT! And I *huggle* my theory and do not try and disprove it because my selective theory is an iron-clad certainty (selectively)! Like gravity and duct tape! THE END
PS: I have ninja monkey to rent out for cheap. Ask me about rates.
PPS: What part of "one-shot" don't you all understand? Okay, next post, I'll try a continuation of PD Yowai.
PPPS: Kohza screams like a girly-man - when you tickle his feet. Right, Vivi?
PS - V: Right. But if I catch Kuina tickling his feet -
PS - K: Whattaya gonna do about it, princess?
PPPPS: I said next post, you two.
:: 4:54 AM
[+] ::
:: Friday, March 21, 2003 ::
As we all know, I mock Sanji's ancestors quite mercilessly in the Smut Garden.
Sanji: I AM NOT FRENCH!
*cough, cough, repug, cough* I would like to make perfectly clear that my mocking does not stem from mis-guided "patriotism," the banner that the good men and women of Congress hide behind. "Reasons" are for wussies; it takes a truly courageous person to be blatantly xenophobic. ^_^ But all joking aside, this French-bashing has gone too far! My brother emailed me to inform me that in his college town, the students and townsfolk were - brace yourself - pouring wine out into the street and gutters! Has the world gone absolutely MAD? As a future drinking establishment owner I must say, "Leave the innocent alcohol out of your petty Anglo-Franco disputes!"
Fum, I'm glad you liked the images! I love that Makino one too! It's from the back on the Buggy/Alvida mini-poster. I wish I could get a better scan of the mini-poster, but it is too difficult. I'm really, really, really, really not supposed to be using the scanner for this stuff - but I have a taste for the danger, baby! Yeah, baby, yeah!
You asked, I answer. Ben's either gone white or grey. The verdict is still out. How odd that Shanks still has his glorious red locks...
Ben: It's because I do all the work and planning. He's just our mascot.
Shanks: Hey!
Ben: ...
Shanks: Okay. You're right.
Of course I would never even consider holding a brave warrior of the sea like Usopp back. I will gladly join de others and I'll be first in line to buy his new album, yo. And please, please keep fictionally blogging Kuro. He won't let me. :(
Kuro (dryly): And why do you think that is?
Because I love you. And you're not comfortable with affection. As will be evidenced by the next fic you're in. *evil grin*
Kuro: I'd almost prefer being in the Smut Garden.
*eviller grin* Give it time, darling. Give it time. And now onto something completely different!
=============
Paper Doll Theatre Presents - Paper Doll Yowai! (forgive me, Shiru. This is for humor purposes only)
(Paper doll Kuina is sitting in her house in her luverly kimono waiting for paper doll Zoro to show up. She waits. And waits. And waits some more.)
Kuina: I'm not getting any younger here!
(Off stage.)
Stacey: I'm cutting as fast as I can! Do you want Zoro - or Zoro doing a Shanks impersonation?
(Back to PD Kuina.)
Kuina: This sucks.
(A shadow looms in the door.)
Kuina: At last!
Voice: Excuse me, I'm looking for the library...
Kuina: ....what? You're not Zoro!
(It is none other than paper doll Kohza.)
Kohza: Yeah. We get confused a lot. That is - I get confused for him and he's just confused.
(Kuina screams in frustration...then gets an idea.)
Kuina: Close enough.
(She pulls him into the house and slams the paper screens shut. Kohza is trapped with a nubile young woman in a kimono - with a sword.)
Kohza: Miss, I really don't think you want to do this.
Kuina: 21 years says I do.
Kohza: Zoro's gonna kill me!
Kuina (evil grin): Assuming you survive.
(Kohza screams like a girly-man.)
Voice: Back up away from my man, beeyatch.
(Vivi is standing in the doorway, spinning her slashers in a threatening manner.)
Kohza: VIVI! Save me!
Trailer lines: What will happen next? Will Vivi save Kohza? Will Kuina's repressed libido prove too powerful for the peacock slashers? Will Stacey safely extract Zoro from his paper prison? Find out all this and more... actually this was a one-shot. I'm not writing any more.
Huh? What? Updated? The images...well, those images are what you get when you have to sneak into the school's computer lab to scan. I grabbed what ever was in the folder and scanned it, so if your favorite character seems to be neglect, hang tough. I'll get to every one eventually. Since most of what is in the folder is my Season 4 stickers, there is going to be a lot of Alabasta Arc stuff. You've been warned.
Lordy, you opened a can of worms! I could go on and on about my age opinions for OP. According to Oda, Vivi was five years old when she and Kohza met. (Way to be a man there, Kohza-kun, beating up a five year old. XD) So all those kids are what - 5, 6, 7? They all look a bit older to me, but OP kids tend to all look about the same. What's the difference between a five year old Vivi and a ten year old Nami. Not much I can see by looking at last year's OP calendar (hehe, another excuse to look at that adorable picture of chibi-pirates!)
It's either suspension of belief at Vivi's age (16? Sha right) or Kohza's because then we get into the murky business of how old one person can be to convincingly lead a rebellion against a kingdom. Why do I think an 18 or 19 year old could do it better than a 17 year old? Especially when there's Luffy running around after One Piece? *shrug* Saa na...
But, yeah, I do agree that Kohza is a completely unbiased person who does not believe in class or station. He yells at his king, he beats up the princess of his kingdom, and he gets into a shouting match with Chaka - and that's all before he hits puberty. ^_^ Kohza treats everyone with the same disdain and that's why I love him so *stacey has a fangrrling moment*
I've thought about this before (and obviously WAY too much), but it is only because I want to do Watermark right. Unfortunately I tend to overanalyze everything into pieces. Gomen to all who just endured my psychological analysis. Next edition - Smoker, 32, and poster boy for the aging effects of tobacco abuse!
:: 5:02 AM
[+] ::
:: Thursday, March 20, 2003 ::
So Zoro didn't raid Kuina's closet. Good. I was worried about him.
Kohza's age = The Blue Bible says naught upon this topic so it is up to us fans to decide. I say he's older than Vivi. And since he and Zoro are clones, he could be 19. But I could be talked down to 18. No younger than that because then we are in tricky "jail-bait" territory which shouldn't even be an issue with me since he's a fictional character. But it is. In any case, I like the number 19, so I vote for that.
Vivi: Plus I like older guys.
See? Vivi likes older guys.
I think it was a sign from a higher power that I got Shannikin and O-Ben when I checked your blog this morning. I'm working on that durn gallery. I'm an idiot and saved all my scans as jpgs so there goes my account space at angelfire. (shrugs) Eh. What can you do?
I'll write up something about JET someday for you, I promise.
And I love the 80s as many of you know from my abuse of that hallowed decade in Smut Garden, but my love does not even approach this man's. (link "borrowed" from Dave Barry's Blog.)
You are a tease. But anticipation makes it better! ;9 smutsmutsmutsmut And there is definitely nothing wrong with shoujo. That wasn`t a complaint, just a comment. Out of all the OP characters, Vivi is one of the few who could cross-over convincingly to shoujo.
Zoro is not ero-sukebe. It`s just highly ironic if I make him out to be one since he is the poster boy for the hormone-less and all.
When I question my journey on the road to insanity, I realize that there are others forging a path far, far, far ahead of me. Just kidding, Dev! I love the picture.
You flatter me. If you want art, gotoallthesepeople. But I`ll spam the oekaki board at tang whenever you want me to.
I hear your pleas and will gladly scan/make a gallery. I think the SD hilarity that is chibi-Buggy should be shared with the world. Clowns aren`t so scary when they`re missing their torsos. :)
A random question brought to you by Wesley Snipes and a sword: Is it just me or is Mihawk a `day-walker`? Scary pimpin` vampire swordspeople.
Another random question brought to you by Hanes six pack undershirts: When Zoro asked for the Wadou, did he also ask for whatever was in Kuina`s closet? Because his shirts now and her shirts then look awfully similar.
Addendum to the clown comment: Okay, clowns are scary when they`re missing their torsos in a Stephen King `It` kind of way.
:: 7:49 PM
[+] ::
:: Monday, March 17, 2003 ::
I realized, in the drug-enlightened state I am floating in, that I have a billion and one stickers (minus a few) all begging to be scanned and put into an image gallery. Plus there are all those cool mini-posters that come with the DVDs (Be jealous, Fum, I have a mini-poster of Buggy and Alvida!). Actually I wanna do it so I can put smart ass comments and inside jokes on the thumbnails. I already marked some with "Sukebe leer" and "Sexually harrassing a poor innocent..." for Zoro`s pics. Because it is and he does. Am I right?
News, comments, social time: Awesome new layout! I really like it. It is o-hanami prettiness. And I concur, school is a time-sucker. Stupid school.
Speaking of o-hanami, there is an awesome OP color spread of the gang. If you can get WSJ where you are, you MUST get this week`s. So I have said, so it must be.
Dev, I`m glad you liked the Sanji torture. I`m gonna take him to the brink of insanity and then drop-kick him in. :) Usopp is SO cool, pimpin` clothes or not.
Shiru, top o` the morning to ya! Lucky old St. Pat - I never knew he got kidnapped by pirates. Ah, it makes me all natsukashii... you know, there`s a bar in Dublin that opens at 6:30 am that I went to. Ain`t nothing like a nice thick frothy Guinness for breakfast. ;9 By the way, you have corrupted my free-time. Am I right? (pokes Fum) I have never sat down and played with dolls so much in all my life. If I`m not cutting out the funniest T-shirts ever (smut and spam jokes XD), I`m just, well, being weird.
(Paper Doll Kohza and Paper Doll Sanji meet. Paper Doll Kohza is wearing his `rage against the machine` shirt. Paper Doll Sanji is wearing his `I`m not French` shirt.)
Kohza (disgusted): Friggin` young Republicans.
Sanji: Huh? Oh, you mean the shirt. No! It`s not meant to be -
Kohza: Shove it, war-monger.
Sanji (blinks): ...that`s very odd. Coming from YOU!
(The paper doll boys devolve into a `political debate` ie a fist fight, that is stopped when Vivi and Nami saunter by in their barb wire and bustier combos...)
Cut me slack. I plead guilty to the crime of too much free time and the drugs are frying my brain...more than usual. Feel free to comment on my sanity and lack thereof. I won`t hear you because the butterflies are singing! Whee!
I tried my hand at fan-art for Watermark. It kinda worked. Vivi's looking a little shoujo and way older than her sixteen years there. I have no idea what the hell happened to Kohza. Not quite what I was looking to achieve, yet it inspired me to work towards an ending of sorts...
:: 9:14 AM
[+] ::
Shiru, pimpin` Usopp is SO cool. I knew he was. He just needed the clothes to prove it. Very shortly I will be well on my way to printing out all the boys. Ah, color printer, how I love thee! I had a strange dream about OP and jeans last night. I blame you for it.
Well, in my eternal sickness, I got bored this weekend so I did stuff to amuse myself. This only leads to trouble for everyone. What did I do this weekend, you ask? I printed on iron-on printing paper and took an old pink tank top and ironed Smut Garden right on the front. On a different tank top, I ironed this Top (big letters) - Fangrrl Underneath (smaller letters) - Seme. Uke. Not picky. Just gimme. I figure I should give everyone fair warning, ne? Next, in my big weekend of being bored, I sat down with an instant camera that wasn`t finished and made MasterOnePiece Theatre with all my action figures. I`ll find out if the pictures turned out tomorrow. If not, I`ll have to reshoot later. I`ll leave the Mak Daddy Paper Doll Smackdown Championship to her.
How else did I waste time? I tried to translate the `interviews` of the OP pirates in the back of my movie pamphlet. It`s really funny. The interviewer asks Nico what kind of clothes she likes and she says "What I like... I try to stay away from anything that might be labeled `cute.`" Hehehe. I figure when I get them all done I`ll put them up on SaDIstiC.
reins, what are you saying about Tashigi and Smoker? Coz you know Hina has her claws in the Captain and Tashigi would never win in that cat-fight. And of course, she`s just hunting Zoro because she knows how much he would go for on e-bay. Tashigi`s true love is her optometrist. ;)
:: 1:23 AM
[+] ::
:: Saturday, March 15, 2003 ::
Fic update - Watermark omake (please read Chapter 10 first) and the beginning of Sanji's 'Bad' Day. Hmm. More like 'Worst' day.
:: 1:53 AM
[+] ::
:: Friday, March 14, 2003 ::
I have been discussing the movie with a fellow JET and OP otaku and I did not screw up the Scene. I was correct in all my impressions which is a good thing because that means my Japanese doesn't suck as bad as I thought it did. I hope she doesn't kill me for pasting her comments, but here's what she said. I'm putting them here because she caught and remembered the Japanese much better than I did. And because, well, everyone needs to know. My comments are in italics.
=================
My favorite scene had to be the one with Nami and Kuina's sword. (Note: She likes ITSUMI.) Talk about unexpected.
Nami: Zoro, Katana Kariru! (Zoro, I'm borrowing your sword!)
Now were you thinking what I was thinking. . .no way he is going to say YES. But he didn't say no! He didn't get up or nothing. He sounded almost bored.
Zoro: Hito _takarun(?)_ jya nee yo. (You shouldn't lean over people like that.)
And then I got another shock when I saw what sword she picked up! Not the yuki sword or the oni one, but instead, KUINA'S SWORD!!! What the heck!! Symbolism there!!! Why is he letting her touch that!!! Then I started sinking into Nami x Zoro thoughts all of a sudden. You see, my mind has been corrupted by doujin. . . but I know for sure that the anime crew is Nami x Zoro teases because they usually draw Nami sitting next to Zoro if you watch closely. . . (An observation totally substantiated by the art for the movie. Absolutely rife! I'll try to scan something for you all.)
And then Nami tried to kill the little kid with KUINA'S SWORD!!! I doubled over in my seat, I was laughing so hard.(Not my reaction at all. More like shock and unrestrained horror.) And so was the Japanese middle schooler next to me. Zoro was so INTERESTED in what was going on there- Chopper trying to restrain the Oni-Nami. He was in full killer mode right there.(THE LEER!) Meanwhile the rest of the crew kyomin nai yo nee- they're busy eating. It was such a One Piece-y moment. Sniff.
There were other Nami x Zoro moments- like the choking scene- but I'll spare you. (Referring to the final scene when Zoro says something about the money they lost and Nami gets seriously pissed and chokes him. That was pretty funny, but I find Battle Royale funny too. :) )
================
To ease the pain this may bring some of us. I have posted some Watermark and OAG. Er, and since I can't get the dang link to work and am too tired to fiddle with it right now - Sanji and Vivi discuss propriety.
Bump of Chicken is mentioned on Dave Barry`s blog. And remember, he is the one who informed the nation about "Talk like a Pirate" Day. A closet OP fan? Who knows.
:: 8:09 PM
[+] ::
White Day! Happy Birthday, Smoker!
(On the Marine ship. Smoker is innocently doing Marine things, like checking charts and smoking.)
Tashigi: NOW!
(The entire shipload of Marines crams into the room and begins singing, "Happy Birthday to You." Someone brings out a cake. Tashigi, happily and also a little evilly, puts a paper hat on Smoker`s head.)
Tashigi: Make a wish, sir!
(Smoker makes a wish.)
Tashigi: Sir, you aren`t supposed to tell! It won`t come true. And I think `I hope you all rot in hell` is not a very nice wish, sir.
(One of the Marines begins cutting the cake and passing it out. Smoker sees that it is chocolate. He hates chocolate cake, but he knows Tashigi loves it. He shoots her a dirty look, but she doesn`t notice because she is too busy organizing the next part of the birthday celebrations. Tashigi claps her hands and Marines come in bearing present after present, laying them at Smoker`s feet. He begins unwrapping the mountain of similarly shaped packages. 15 minutes later...)
Tashigi: Wow, sir, all those cigars might last you a whole month! Oh, here`s a present from Captain Hina! Come on, sir. Open it!
(Smoker does...reluctantly. There are oohs and aahs from the assembled Marines.)
Smoker (grumbling): I`m going to kill her...
(It is a 12 month calendar called `Hot Pirates.` Alvida is featured prominently on the cover.)
Tashigi: Oh, sir, she got you just what you wanted!
Smoker: TASHIGI! I thought I told you never to -
Tashigi: And now it`s my turn!
(She gives him a very long, thin, wrapped tube.)
Smoker (dryly): Let me guess. You got me a sword.
Tashigi (beaming): Yup!
Smoker: And it`s White Day.
Tashigi: Yup!
Smoker: So how about I give this back to you as your White Day present?
Tashigi (fake shocked): But sir, I couldn`t! It`s your birthday present! And what would I ever do with a sword?!
Smoker: Cut the crap and take it.
(Tashigi does - with unrestrained glee. The assembled Marines all tearfully remark what wonderful superior officers they have. And they all think the chocolate cake is really good too. )
THE END
===============
This scene was brought to you by White Day, the official white chocolate/towel/underwear giving holiday of Japan. Oh, and the fact I have a caffeine drip into my arm. Hyper-Glee!)
PS The date on the entry says it`s Thursday the 13th. It`s Friday in Japan FYI.
Random thought: Kohza is voiced by Saionji's seiyuu. Saionji has green hair and is an intense bushido just like Zoro who is Kohza's clone!
:: 5:38 AM
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:: Wednesday, March 12, 2003 ::
Ah Dev, thanks for trying! XD Of course you`d get the fangirls` blogs. But I have found the information so prepare yourself for:
The Incestuous Seiyuu of Stacey's Suki Call it six degrees of everything I like. Oh what a tangled seiyuu web it is! I discovered that a Mr. Takeshi Kusao happens to voice my beloved revolutionaire. Not satisifed with leaving it at that, I did more research. Apparently characters with their eyes on revolution is his forte. *grins* I know what an insane Kohza sounds like! He sounds like Saionji! XDDDDDD When Saionji gets his butt kicked by Utena I'm gonna feel a lot more sympathetic...oh no wait. I won't. (glances at Kohza) Hmm, that does explain how you and Vivi met though.
Kohza: What?
Stacey: Just warming up before you transferred to Ohtori, was it? First princesses and then onto brides?
Kohza: I have no clue what you're talking about.
Stacey: For the revolution of Alabasta, then the world?
Kohza: What part of "I don't understand" don't you get, woman?!
Stacey: `Woman` is it? Someone is regressing. Hmm, I wonder where your and Vivi's exchange diary is...
Kohza (glumly): Pell burned it.
Yup, Mr. Kusao Takeshi is a busy man. He was also the voice for Parn in Lodoss War. But how about a purple haired fighter Kohza? Oh yes indeedy - Trunks and Kohza share the same seiyuu! XDDD
Kohza: If you even start on Vejita, I will kill you.
Stacey: Okay. But I must know. (leer) When you go Super Saiyan, does *all* your hair go blonde?
Kohza: You are disgusting.
Oh, I could amuse myself all day like this. But my favorite find of the day involves Ace's seiyuu, Mr. Toshio Furukawa, who like Mayumi Tanaka and Kusao, happened to do a stint on DBZ as well...as Piccolo! LOL This is priceless! Piccolo - dancing sexy!
Piccolo: I must take off my cape.
Mariachi Band: Don`t do it! It`s too sexy!
Piccolo: But I must.
XDDDDD Make it stop, make it stop! I can't breathe!
Avex Mode is ruining my life. They are putting out the Alabasta Arc with only three episodes per DVD plus they are releasing the suckers only one month apart! No doubt many of you are muttering, "Quit yer whining" but come on! Three eps? That's it? And then they decide to gouge me monthly instead of easing the pain over a two month period. Three eps! Ridiculous marketing bastards. I swear that when the Alabasta Arc is finished I am just gonna buy the Hong Kong subs. But the silver lining is that I get my reverent whisper: kohza that much sooner. Speaking of, I am trying to figure out his seiyuu but the kanji is absolutely killer. Nothing simple like Yamaguchi or Tanaka - it's a bunch of 12 stroke kanji monostrosities. Argh! Okay, enough for the rant of the day. I'm gonna watch my rebel boy's first appearance again.
That reminds me! You know how the animators buffed up Zoro a bit as compared to the manga? Yeah, they did that to his clone too.
===============
(At the palace. Kohza has just realized Crocodile's evil scheme and races to warn the people - Vivi throws herself on him and knocks him down.)
Kohza: Hey! What do you think you're doing, Vivi? Once the square turns into a battlefield, if it's going to be blown up -
Vivi: We cannot let it turn into a battlefield! You're still in shock! If the army... If the army...(pauses, then squeezes Kohza's delts) ... have you been working out?
Glad you liked the evil Tashigi. She is so flashy, isn't she? And the sprites were inspired.
Gomen ne to allwho are writing. I haven't reviewed. I will, I promise. This week is graduation so I'm kinda swamped (oh, not swamped enough to neglect a garden full of smut or spam the comments of tang~ of course...)
Sylph I printed out the paper dolls, have to get the new yukata forms, and my shinai's name is definitely Kurae-kun. It reminds me of what Smoker tells Marine Headquarters - "Tell the old men to eat shit." Hehehe. I love that line. Oh, I'll tell you about "The Strawberry Incident (sighs) Incident-s" when Sanji finds All Blue. ^_~ Unless you bribe me with Kohza smut. (hohoho! a project for after yowai! Let's get crackin on the toe-lickin' there, rebel boy!) And yeah, tanabata rocks - I love yukata; hate geta. There's something about the summer in Japan...once you eliminate the Starship Trooper size insects and constant frog mating of course.
Ginga, two things. I found a computer which will let me read your story, so I can review it now. Yippee! And you might want to sit down. Zoro discovered Chopper in Ohm's level. Our reindeer is unconscious and bleeding. *sniffles* Zoro was shocked (why did you come up here alone, he asks) and very upset and now he's going to kick some priest ass.
Which segues nicely to you - I am so very sorry. I never should have said anything about the Scene. ;_;
On another fangrrly note, today was my last day with the ninth graders. *sniff* They graduate Wednesday. *sniff* I talked in depth with Mayumi who is a ninth grader, volleyball player, homestayed at my house this summer and above all things, is a rabid Zoro fangrrl. She saw the movie too. But get this - ditched her friends to see the movie by herself! - pretty darn brave for a junior high kid. Anyway, we discussed the movie and when I asked her her favorite part she said, "All the parts with Zoro in it." *sniff* Look at my little fangrrl, all grown up...*sob*
Afuji has been busy - and all OP projects get As. So it has been said and so it shall be.
I'm sorry, youtwo. I could sing for you instead, how's about that? No. Wait. That's not a thing I should subject friends to...
Zee, Miss Nico Robin has the splash page for this week's chapter - I think Oda's saying something about her. It's a dark night with a full moon, bats are flying through the air, there's a creepy castle in the background, she's patting a wolf's head, and just in case we missed the subtle signals, "DARK" is plastered on the front of her shirt. Black eyeliner, anyone? I betcha Nico's a Cure fan too. Speaking of, did you get it yet? You know what I mean.
Chou, you rock. You have opinions, you defend them, and you aren't afraid to disagree with people - including friends. Post more stuff like that and I may become a fangirl. ^_~ (oh, do Sailor Moon next! I wanna see Sailor Jupiter vs. Zoro and Sanji vs. his raging libido.)
Had a dream last night. Luffy was getting ready to beat up Arlong and James Brown's Payback started to play in the background just as Luffy was making his "I can't use swords, can't cook, can't lie or navigate" speech. And then the music got louder and Brown's voice screamed out the line "I don't know karate - but I know CRAZY!" Yeah, I have weird dreams. But it was funny.
Why I need shoujo: Because having this thought - "Darn you, you bi-sexual cad, for leading the innocent clothes model along like that! ' Welcome to Paradise' indeed!" - doesn't work when you use the names Sanji and Nami. Or any other OP names for that matter. *smooches her Ai Yazawa manga* I forgive you, George, because you're a snappy dresser and have a nice car.
And then I was like - Wow. 991 hits is almost like 1000 and considering the 1000th hit will probably happen at 5:30 am, I might as well do it now. So I did. Half-assed; I gotta tweak it tomorrow. But most of it is up. Kowai dessho? Mmm, glassy goodness.
:: 8:13 AM
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:: Sunday, March 09, 2003 ::
Oh wait. Changed my mind. Updated. Lalalalasmutlalala.
:: 9:15 AM
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Hi - just wanted to inform everyone that on the 1000th hit at SaDIstiC, there will be a layout change. I've waited ages to do it...so any way - rack up the counter by randomly checking in.
What? Update before the layout change? Are you insane?
:: 5:20 AM
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:: Saturday, March 08, 2003 ::
OMG, THAT IS GREAT! I love them all! And I won't go into more until I'm sure everyone has a chance to see. No spoilers here! Just go!
:: 1:35 AM
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I now understand the pull of swordscraft. There is something inherently satisfying when all the training and practice comes together and you just
...WHAP THE CRAP OUT OF SOMEONE WITH YOUR SHINAI! Muwahahahaha! Hahaha! My first victory!
In celebration of this marvelous day, I have decided that my shinai needs a name. Suggestions? Feel free to make them inappropriate. ;9
:: 1:13 AM
[+] ::
Sorry, ginga, I totally forgot. Last week's Jump had no Chopper! Ohm was in it, but not hide nor hair of our darling blue-nosed reindeer. I worry so...
Okay, I tried to summarize the story, but it was 90 minutes of constant action, so it is hard to keep it concise. My apologies. I also kept out a ton of spoilers - that's half the fun of the movie!
Back Story: I went to see the movie on Tuesday to take advantage of the 1000 en ticket price. That would also leave me more money for swag. It also meant otaku only viewing since all the kiddies were in school. I got a few weird looks since I was the only foreigner in the theatre and I was alone. ^_^;; Bump of Chicken’s “Sailing Days” played continuously while we waited for the lights to dim…No short this time – we jumped straight into 90 minutes of awesome!
Plot Summary: Nami sniffs out the Dead End Race. It promises a lot of money and the only is that there are no rules. In the pirate bar where they sign up and where each towering level is occupied by different pirate crews, Luffy meets Shuria, the pirate executioner. He’s a bounty hunter and he gets in a fight with both a rival pirate crew and Luffy at the same time. It turns into a melee that ends on the highest level – the one occupied by Shogun Gaspode, a Marine turned pirate. We also meet his right hand man, Needles, who wears gloves with knives coming out of them. There's a bit of a cockfight between the four men, then Gaspode heads off to his ship to prepare for tomorrow's race.
On Gaspode’s ship, the Salamander, we learn that the old man who tends the boiler (oohh! Locomotion!) is sick. The young helper, Anaguma, begs Gaspode to give him money to buy medicine for the old man. Gaspode refuses, but gives Anaguma some advice…
The next morning the race starts. The race begins at the top of a mountain, only this isn’t a lovely water slide ride to the bottom like Reverse Mountain, this is a waterfall! As soon as the ships hit the canal at the bottom, the fighting begins. Each pirate crew tries to take out the other contestants while keeping on course, dodging wreckage, and defending themselves. At one point, Nico uses her powers in an AMAZING way. I won’t spoil it; tt is definitely something you have to see!
They get out on the open ocean. Zoro finds a stowaway; Anaguma who is trying to get Luffy’s bounty so he can buy medicine for Byura-jiisan. Once Anaguma learns that Luffy is a Gomu person and can’t be injured by guns, he gives up saying that it isn’t worth living if he can’t help the old man. Nami gets very pissed at how little Anaguma values his life and has to be restrained by Chopper from slicing the kid into little pieces!
By that evening the pirates learn that the race is rigged, the Eternal Pose is pointing to the heavily gunned Marine Base, Navaronne! once Anaguma informs them that Gaspode rigged the race and Luffy and Co. go to track down Gaspode and exact revenge . They can find Gaspode because Chopper can smell the boiler.
On Gaspode’s ship, we find that Shuria is about ready to destroy the boiler. The old man stops him and we learn the gist of Shuria’s background. Gaspode destroyed his town, killed his sister, and other fairly typical pirate stuff. Shuria became a bounty hunter in the hopes of killing Gaspode one day. Shuria doesn’t destroy the boiler but goes to the top deck to take the ex-Marine out himself. First he has to fight Needles. Shuria defeats him. Then he gets thrashed by Gaspode, who has the Ame Ame fruit (I’m going for the candy interpretation on this one, though Gaspode is more like green gel.) Just as Gaspode is about to get the final blow, the GMG appears and Luffy boards.
Luffy and Gaspode fight, devil fruit to devil fruit. Sanji lends a helping hand, not by entering the fight, but in a different spoilerish way. The old boiler guy sets the boiler for explode so that he can take out Gaspode. The fight between Luffy and Gaspode is vicious and just as Luffy wins, the boiler explodes.
But in the end, everyone is okay and they all live happily ever after, except Nami who is really put out about not getting any prize money. I know that sounds anti-climatic, but it's really not. ^_^
Impressions: From the opening scene, I was entranced. I think I sat there for a good minute just watching the wind blow the fringe on a Marine’s jacket. It was totally engrossing… Yeah, the graphics in this one are awesome.
Nami stole a good part of the movie; she’s the navigator and the money-maker, so she was vital to getting the plot moving by entering them in the race, then getting them in position to start, as well as sensing all the weather changes during the race. Nami, ya rock!
This is the first time that the obligatory little kid didn’t annoy me to the point of wanting someone to do physical damage to him. Even Akisu from Movie 2 can grate on me, but Anaguma manages to keep the annoyance level to a minimum and when he does get annoying, someone knocks him unconscious. As it should be (go Zoro!)
Awesome moments: I never thought that the rush I got when I first saw Reverse Mountain in “Entering the Grandline” episode could be recreated. It was – in spades. It’s Reverse Mountain with sea battles and explosions and crashes all at the same time. Head rush sugar high time! See Fanboy moments below.
I was so distracted everything that I did not even see the plot twist. I mean, most OP movie plot twists are more like gentle curves. It’s kind of embarrassing to admit it, yet it shows how good the movie was, that I suspended my normal cynical analysis and was caught off guard!
Not so awesome moments: One computer graphic-y moment is when we're 'introduced' to the port town of Hannibal. It kind of made my stomach sick coz it was all weavy and stuff.
There is one time when it looks like Sanji and Zoro are to lay waste about them when a rival pirate ship attempts to board, but their awesome fight is interrupted by the giant sea beasts of the Calm Belt. Very teasing! (pouts) I wanted to see my boys hurt people.
In fact, almost all fighting it done by Luffy. He was very much about exacting revenge on Gaspode all by his lonesome. Everyone is told very specifically not to interfere, so they don’t. If you’re a Luffy fan, it gets kind of painful because he takes a lot of damage. So does the hat. No doubt some people will say that the plot that deals with Shuria takes up too much screen-time with exposition and no pirate-ness…but man, the fights were wicked cool and Shuria is..um, yah. Whee! Watashi ga, Shuria fangrrl desu. Yoroshiku!
Fanboy moments: The opening is just BOOM! And the fights were like WHAM! In the face! And the blood spattered every where and the sound effects and you’re like, DUDE! That’s gotta hurt! But they keep fighting and you’re thinking, WOAH! And then, it’s like you just don’t mess with the hat, man. So why are you messing with the hat, man? And then it ended with another explosion! With a hurricane! It was just…yeah. Awesome.
And the Nami fan service will get two thumbs, among other things, up. Nami, you are just as your shirt declares. Evil. Perhaps not as much Nico fan service as some people would like that.
Fang*rl moments: I went squirrelly nuts when Nami asked Zoro if she could borrow a sword to teach Anaguma a lesson and then proceeds to unsheath the Wadou! NANI!? My brain froze and I missed a lot of the scene.
Not any extremely outstanding Sanji and Nami moments, just the usual, though Sanji is quite solicitous of Nico and leads her around by the hand at one point.
Um, Shuria should join up. Dye that boy’s hair a different shade of pink and add him to the crew. It's all about his jacket I think; gotta love a guy who pulls off feather cuffs.
Sanji has a talk with the gaki at one point. KAWAII~~~~~~. I was all, “Sanji, you’d make a great dad!” First time I have ever had a fangurly thought of that nature.
Chopper – KAWAII~~~~~ ‘nuff said.
There were lots more *owow, baby!* moments, but they all tend to run together in my general euphoric memories.
The swag: Mucho swag. Pins, pens, stationary sets, posters, wall hangings, T-shirts, pamphlets, Uno cards, shitajiki, mugs, straps, wristbands… I think I covered it all. I personally purchased the movie book, the T-shirt, and the mug. The T-shirt is black with “The Adventure of a Dead End” on the front and the pirate marks of the contestants and the other pirates from the OP series on the back. The mug is not as cool as the Sanji “Dozo” mug, but it holds my Café Diablo well.
Questions, comments? You know what to do.
:: 5:33 AM
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:: Wednesday, March 05, 2003 ::
question - what all do you want to know about the movie? A factual play by play account? Just my impressions? A list of all the swag I bought in the lobby? ;) Spoilers - yes or no? Leave feedback (and don`t forget - it`s "Insult Skippy" Week at the blog. No summary without insults!)
:: 12:06 AM
[+] ::
:: Tuesday, March 04, 2003 ::
I would like to say that in my humble opinion, Dead End no Bouken is awesome. ^_^ More later.
:: 7:01 AM
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:: Monday, March 03, 2003 ::
HAPPY LOVE MARINE HINA DAY! It's Hina's birthday and Hina Matsuri and because I am female I got inundated with matcha and okashi. (smacks lips together) Matchaaaaa.... legal green crack.
Look, look. OAG. And I bowed to the public pressure and put up a squishy moment chapter. Er, kinda. But if you really love me, you'll leave a review at Doin' Time. It looks so lonely without a review. (makes cute eyes at everyone.)
To reins - Runess men's fashion runs towards George Washington chic. The girls all look like Gone With the Wind exploded on them. And yeah, the Devil Fruit didn't count. Hehehe.
Oh, I had to share this. It's almost graduation time for the 9th graders and the 7th and 8th graders, as well as the teachers, put on skits for them. The 8th graders went all out and did a remake of the Ring. It was the funniest parody I have ever seen and so well put together. They even added the outtakes at the end! I wish I could put it up for you all to see. You would get the biggest kick out of it. It's days like these that make me love being a teacher!
Piyo. Piyo. And you thought Ace and Nico was weird? I wonder if I can get a story out of this. (cackles as she thinks of cages and kitties and other warped things.)
By the way, Skippy was mean and made fun of my Luffy drawing on SaDIstiC. I have to use the school's 15 year old scanner and deal with Japanese software; considering all that I think I do pretty damn well! Feel free to say horrible things about him in the comments box. You hear that, Skippy? You will feel the stinging paper-cut like wrath of the small friendlies! (come on, guys, don't make me look bad. Any insult is good. Use the biblical curse generator if you're stuck.)
Thanks for the fic praise, everyone. (purrs) I love ego strokes. Kidding. I know sometimes it might see that I have complete confidence in the quality of my writing, but I get 'dark tea-times of the soul' just like anybody else. Feedback helps me with that.
I hope no one minds a little radio silence. It's the end of the school year in Japan and I'm getting swamped, plus I really did eat the fic fic fruit and all my free time is spent trying to get things finished. That means less blogging and delays in replying to emails. And I think I'm gonna stop posting the OP Weekly Jump summaries because they're being posted on the weeklyjump mailing list and at Destination: Paradise too. I'll do a short Chopper update for you though. I promise to post about all the doujin I received later; either here or on tang. It's really too good not to share!
================
The Inappropriate Glomp of the Week is brought to you by this person's blog links.
GLOMP ON GALGARION!
(Stacey tackles Galgarion, slamming him face first into the ground.)
Galgarion: OW. Having your face smooshed inside a metal mask really hurts!
Stacey: You're funny. And evil. It's sooooo cute.
Galgarion: I'm not supposed to be cute! I'm a mad evil overlord!
Stacey: This is the inappropriate glomp of the week. It wouldn't be inappropriate if you were a fluffy animal mascot, would it?
Galgarion: Good point.
:: 12:14 AM
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